News Around the State

Earnest C. Simmons, M.D. Joins Medical Staff of Biloxi Regional Medical Center

Earnest C. Simmons, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Biloxi Regional Medical Center where he will practice as a Hospitalist.

Dr. Simmons attended Howard University College of Medicine. He completed residencies at Medical College of Georgia and Howard University Hospital. Dr. Simmons is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physician and is a member of the American Medical Association and the National Medical Associated. He has received numerous honors and awards including Physician of the Year.

New nursing director named at Baptist Golden Triangle

Lauri Sansing has recently been named nursing director for critical care, the progressive care unit and the emergency department at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. She has served as director of staff education since May 2009. In her new role, she will oversee the overall operations of the three patient care units of the hospital.

Originally from Steens, Miss., Sansing is a graduate of New Hope High School and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women in 1998. She began her nursing career at Baptist Golden Triangle in 1998 as a nurse in the critical care unit.

She transferred to the nursing staff development department in 2003 and was promoted to director of the department in May 2009.

She is a 2011 graduate of the Baptist Nursing Leadership Institute, an 18-month corporate -based program that provides leadership development and succession planning for select nurse managers or directors throughout the Baptist Memorial Health Care system.

Sansing has also served as an American Heart Association Training Center Coordinator and was named to a two-year term as a Mississippi Regional Faculty member in 2011. She is a certified instructor for Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

“Lauri is a proven leader. Her many accomplishments as the director of education made her the obvious choice to lead the emergency department, critical care and progressive care to the next level. I am very excited to have Lauri's expertise and talent leading these departments,” said Mary Ellen Sumrall, Baptist Golden Triangle’s chief nursing officer.

Sansing and her husband Ashley have two children and are members of Piney Grove Methodist Church in Steens, Miss. where they lead the youth group. She currently serves as vice president of Tentholders for Tabernacle Campground. In her free time she enjoys reading, fishing and spending time with her family.

Baptist Golden Triangle receives award from East Mississippi Community College

Dr. Rick Young, president, EMCC, Lauri Sansing and Dr. Raj Shaunak, vice president of Workforce & Community Services at EMCC.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle recently received a Workforce Services ‘Best Practices’ award from East Mississippi Community College The hospital was recognized for providing outstanding examples of workforce training quality management and business practices.

The award was presented at the college's 23rd Annual Industry Appreciation luncheon held April 18 at its Mayhew campus near Columbus.

Baptist Golden Triangle serves as a model training site and training partner for future healthcare professionals from EMCC and Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. The hospital has served as an American Heart Association Training Center since 1998 providing training for AHA staff as well as members of the community.

Baptist Golden Triangle nursing director Lauri Sansing serves as coordinator of the Training Center. She was also recently appointed as Regional Faculty for the State of Mississippi for the 2011-2013 term.

Sansing served as director of the hospital’s staff education department from May 2009 until April 2012, when she was promoted to director of the critical care unit, progressive care unit and emergency department.

“Baptist is a major health care provider for East Mississippi and West Alabama residents. To provide quality health care, Baptist employees are involved in continuous training to stay current on patient care procedures and medical technological advances,” said Sansing.

The Workforce Services program at EMCC is designed to enhance the economic opportunities for residents in the area. It allows the school to partner with area business and industry to meet their workforce training needs. The program provides counseling and employability skills training for individuals looking for a job or looking to change jobs and assists local economic organizations in retaining and expanding existing business and industry and recruiting new business and industry to the community.

Forrest General Earns ACR Accreditation

Forrest General has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography (CT) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). CT scanning — sometimes called CAT scanning — is a highly accurate medical test that uses cross-sectional 2D and 3D images to help physicians diagnose and tailor treatments for various medical conditions.

While this accreditation focuses on one type of radiology test, this recognition by the ACR further demonstrates Forrest General’s commitment to provide quality comprehensive radiology services for the Pine Belt.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed.

“Forrest General has received ACR accreditation for mammography, MRI, ultrasound and radiation oncology in recent years, and this CT accreditation is further testament to our ongoing work to provide the best services available,” said Radiology Service Line Administrator Joe Marcello. “Receiving ACR accreditation for radiology services is an important demonstration of Forrest General’s commitment to our WE C.A.R.E. mission and vision for each and every patient. Knowing that our staff and facility has passed the ACR’s rigorous evaluation provides patients and physicians with the confidence that Forrest General is the best choice for radiology services in our area.”

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

River Oaks Hospital first in state to perform minimally invasive iFuse Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Fusion

River Oaks Hospital recently announced that it is pioneering the use of a minimally invasive surgical device to treat the sacroiliac (SI) joint. Dr. Winston Capel, a neurosurgeon, has performed the state’s first SI joint fusion surgery at River Oaks Hospital using the minimally-invasive iFuse Implant System.

“River Oaks’ optimal surgical treatment options and reputation as the premier facility for surgery is growing as we treat patients with low back pain from across the state,” said Dennis R. Bruns, FACHE, President and CEO of River Oaks Hospital. Dr. Capel, the only surgeon in Mississippi currently trained to perform this surgery, said the procedure is ideal for patients with unresolved low back symptoms related to the SI joint.

“The entire process is done through a small incision that, unlike traditional back surgery, involves minimal soft tissue injury. Patients are generally discharged from the hospital the day following surgery and typically resume daily living activities within six weeks,” Dr. Capel said.

The iFuse Implant System provides fusion for the SI joint through the insertion of small titanium implants. Not only is the procedure a minimally invasive surgical approach, but the small implants offer many benefits to patients who formally had fewer options when undergoing open surgery procedures.

Low back pain caused by SI joint disorders has been prevalent for over a century and is the predominant cause of lost productivity among American workers. Americans seeking relief from low back pain are the second leading cause of medical visits, preceded only by those seeking treatment for the common cold.

Capel said ideal candidates for the new procedure are those that either do not respond well to medications and/or physical therapy, or have not experienced long-lasting pain relief from less-invasive therapies. A series of tests to determine the cause and source of pain must be performed prior to undergoing the procedure.

Forrest General Rehab Unit Receives 2012 Top Performer Recognition

Pictured, from left are Joshua Maksi, M.D., Rehab Medical Director; Maelang Bradley, Rehab Patient Care Manager; Brenda Cain, Director of Inpatient Rehab and Therapy Services and Toni Hudson, Therapy Manager.

Forrest General’s Rehabilitation Unit recently announced that it ranked in the top 3 percent in the nation for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities that qualified to be ranked in the IRF database of Uniform Data Systems for Medical Rehabilitation(UDSMR) in 2011.

The facility’s ranking is based on three categories of results – patient functional performance outcomes, the percentage of patients that leave the unit and go home, and the percentage of patients that leave the unit and return to acute care.  The goal of the performance evaluation is to recognize high-performing facilities for their delivery of quality patient care that is effective, efficient, timely, and patient-centered.

“Through a team approach, Forrest General’s Rehab progressed from the 59th percentile in 2010 to the 97th percentile in 2011,” said Rehab Director Brenda Cain. “It takes passion and dedication to build a program like we have here at Forrest General Rehab. We are living our vision every day, which is to restore lives through a team approach because We C.A.R.E.”

Forrest General Rehab specializes in rehabilitation services for patients with functional deficits such as strokes, trauma, spinal cord injury, head injury and other disabling impairments.  Our passionate and supportive staff helps patients recover quickly and return home safely with a renewed since of self-sufficiency. 

Forrest General Rehab is CARF Accredited (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and is a Stroke Accredited Specialty Program.

 

CMRC names Employee of the Year

On January 20, 2012, Central Mississippi Residential Center (CMRC) hosted the Employee of the Year celebration honoring the 2011 Employees of the Month. Glenda Crump, CEO of Dream, Inc. was the keynote speaker and delivered an inspiring message about never giving up and continuing to pursue your dreams. Each 2011 Employee of the month was presented a ceramic figurine, which was designed and made by individual receiving services at CMRC.

Debbie Ferguson, Linda Campbell, & Glenda Crump

The Employee of the Year is selected by the staff of CMRC. Linda Campbell was recognized as the Employee of the Year. She has worked in Direct Care Services in the Communi-ty Living program and recently trans-ferred to Footprints Adult Day Services.

(L to R) Frank Norman, Tamara Gentry, Darren Townsend, Nancy Hall, Cache Longmire, & Lorraine Walker

Congratulations to Linda & to other 2011 honorees, including Lorraine Walker, Linda Campbell, Marcia Ford, Anthony Merriweather, Darren Townsend, Michael Coleman, Tamara Gentry, Cache Longmire, Megan Sanderson, Nancy Hall, & Frank Norman.

Patricia Albin of River Oaks Hospital was named “Associate of the Year” by Health Management Associates

Gary Newsome, President and CEO of Health Management Associates presents River Oaks Hospital employee Patricia Albin with the HMA Associate of the Year Award.

Patricia Albin was one of five Associates to receive the coveted title “Associate of the Year” by Health Management Associates. She was also named “Associate of the Year” at River Oaks Hospital, and was then nominated by River Oaks President and CEO Dennis R. Bruns and chosen out of more than 40,500 Associates to receive this prestigious award from the hospital’s parent company.

“Patricia possesses an exemplary work ethic and proceeds to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone who visits our hospital receives quality and compassionate service. Patricia truly lives up to the mission of our hospital and Health Management. I am proud that she was honored by the organization,” said Bruns.

Winners of the “Associate of the Year” award were recognized at a company meeting earlier this month. Other categories included “Director of the Year”, “CEO of the Year” and “Nurse of the Year”. Each winner was nominated by the CEO of his/her local hospital and ultimately shares the good traits that Health Management works hard to foster through its culture.

“Patricia consistently receives positive feedback from our patients and fellow Associates at River Oaks Hospital. Her dependable nature and focus on teamwork made my nomination an easy choice,” continued Bruns. “We want our local community to know about Patricia and her high level of commitment to serving them on a daily basis.”

In 2005, Albin received the Auxiliary Scholarship, which is voted on by hospital volunteers and awarded to one deserving recipient each year. She used her scholarship to attend Hinds County Community College and continues to pursue her educational goals. She is currently employed in River Oaks Guest Services Information Department.

Innovative advance care planning program arrives at Baptist Golden Triangle

Physicians, nurses and other clinical staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle now have another tool to help promote shared decision-making and better outcomes. Baptist Golden Triangle is the only hospital in Mississippi and in the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care System to use the web-based collection of Advance Care Planning Patient Education Videos.

The videos are designed to educate patients about advance care planning and end-of-life care treatment options and to help them make better informed decisions about the care they want, said Dr. Bryan Hilliard, the hospital’s health care ethics consultant. Hilliard is also a professor of philosophy at Mississippi University for Women.

“The videos are very patient/family centered and really do a good job of providing patients the information they need to make informed treatment decisions that are in accord with their wishes and values,” Hilliard said.

The hospital’s Bioethics Advisory Committee is taking the lead in introducing physicians, nurses and other clinical staff to the videos. Hilliard along with Steve Brown, director of pastoral care and vice chair of the hospital’s BAC, are educating clinicians in how to use the videos with patients and families.

The videos were developed by physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Some of the video topics include the goals of care, CPR, the goals of care in advanced disease, cancer and dementia goals of care, advanced dementia and feeding tubes. Clinicians also have access to a Facilitators Guide and a patient and family checklist to help them understand what advance care planning is, to clarify values and beliefs how to use the video library and document conversations.

“We know that patients have a legal and ethical right to information about their disease process and the benefits, burdens and alternatives to proposed treatments. The advance care planning videos are an adjuvant to, not a substitute for, a meaningful and productive patient-physician relationship,” Hilliard said. “When clinicians and patient communicate effectively, dignity is preserved, autonomy is respected and values are honored,” he added.

SRHS Welcomes Dr. Robert Johnson as Cardiovascular Surgeon

Singing River Health System recently welcomed Dr. Robert Johnson as a cardiovascular surgeon with full medical privileges at Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospital.

Johnson completed his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma and a cardiovascular surgery fellowship at Harvard Medical School.  He practiced for 14 years in Boston, Mass and affiliated with Beth Israel Hospital, New England Deaconess Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, ultimately serving as the divisional chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center.  Johnson comes to SRHS from St. Louis University/Tenet Hospital, where he spent the last 12 years as the chief of surgery.

Johnson joins fellow cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Richard Eubanks, at the SRHS Center for Cardiovascular Surgery.  Both physicians are board certified thoracic surgeons with full medical privileges at SRHS’s hospitals.  They specialize in coronary artery bypass, mitral valve repair, aortic valve and aortic root replacement, maze procedures, re-operative surgeries, pacemakers, carotid endarterectomy, abdominal and thoracic aortic endograft placements, lung cancer and general thoracic and vascular procedures.