News Around the State

Hancock Medical Services Building at Port Bienville Industrial Park Re-opens

The Hancock Medical Services Robert H. Baxter building was reopened on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Hancock Medical’s maintenance staff, with help from the volunteer group that has made four mission trips from Hancock County, Indiana, completed all the work that went into getting the building back to operational status. The volunteer group from Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, IN, spent two of their four mission trips working to help re-open the building damaged in Hurricane Katrina. Located just inside the gate at Port Bienville Industrial Park, it helps serve the health care needs of residents and employees of businesses located in  the Port area and surrounding communities.

The building originally was dedicated in June 2001 and is named after Robert H. Baxter, a long-time member of the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees. Mr. Baxter is from Pearlington and dedicated supporter of the Hancock County hospital.

Hancock Medical maintained services in the area by operating out of a trailer unit since 2005 after the Robert H. Baxter building was damaged in Hurricane Katrina. The building features several exam rooms, an x-ray room, and an area containing a hearing booth.

In addition to the Port Bienville facility, Hancock Medical serves Hancock County and surrounding communities with the medical center in Bay St. Louis and clinics in Diamondhead and Kiln.

More than 100 physicians are on staff at Hancock Medical.

“We’re very pleased to be back in the building providing services to Port Bienville and the public in surrounding communities,” said Hancock Medical Administrator Hal W. Leftwich, DBA, FACHE.

Hancock Medical MRI technologists earn certification

Hancock Medical MRI Technologists Samantha McDaniel and Nicole Irias received certification for the custom fit knee replacement MRI’s used for the OtisKnee procedure.

Hancock Medical Center MRI Technologists Nicole Irias and Samantha McDaniel are certified to perform MRI’s for the OtisKnee custom fit knee replacement performed at Hancock Medical by Orthopedic Surgeon Tim D. Jackson, M.D.

The custom fit knee replacement with OtisKnee is done in a few simple steps. An MRI is performed to take very precise measurements of the patient’s knee. Special computer software uses the MRI to build a 3-D model of the knee. It then virtually corrects the deformity to restore your knee anatomy to normal. A computerized 3-D image of the implant to be used is then shape-matched to the anatomically correct model. This helps determine both the size of the implant needed and the exact position where it should be placed, based on the patient’s own normal knee anatomy.

Custom-fit knee is first for Hancock County

Orthopedic Surgeon Tim D. Jackson, M.D., performed Hancock County’s first OtisKnee ® replacement last week. With that advanced procedure performed by Dr. Jackson, Hancock Medical becomes one of the first hospitals on the Coast to offer custom fit total knee replacement with OtisKnee.

The OtisKnee replacement system allows surgeons to offer patients custom fit knees that are tailor made for each patient’s own normal (non-diseased) anatomy, and no one else’s.

The OtisKnee technique uses custom cutting equipment that is designed and individually produced prior to surgery, based on an MRI taken of the patient’s knee. The custom equipment assists the surgeon in making accurate bone cuts specific to the individual patient and ensures that the knee implanted is positioned and sized to fit the patient’s individual anatomy. The implant that is used is the Stryker Triathlon Total Knee, the fastest growing knee system in the United States.

With this specifically tailored procedure and the accurate fit obtained through the knee replacement system, patients should experience less pain and quicker recoveries, according to Dr. Jackson.

“Range of motion during recovery is better with more accurate positioning of the knee and, as a result, patients are able to resume normal activities faster,” said Dr. Jackson.

Total knee replacement is a very common procedure, with more than 500,000 knee replacement surgeries done each year in the U.S. While incremental improvements have been made over the past several decades – from implants and materials to nursing care and rehabilitation techniques –the OtisKnee replacement system is a significant improvement in the ability to accurately fit the knee to the individual patient anatomy.

Hancock Medical Center receives national award

Avatar International, an industry leader in health care quality improvement services, recently recognized its award winning hospital partners in 2008. Hancock Medical is being awarded Avatar International’s EXCEEDING PATIENT EXPECTATIONS award.

In making the announcement, David Medvedeff, PharmD, MBA, CEO of Avatar said, “The hallmark of exceptional service to patients is to consistently meet or exceed their expectations — not always an easy task. Hancock Medical has demonstrated that it exceeds its patients’ expectations in a tangible and measurable manner. As a winner of AVATAR’S EXCEEDING PATIENT EXPECTATIONS AWARD, I congratulate Hancock Medical for its continued and impressive efforts to put patients first.”

“The comments we receive from patients on the surveys are a tremendous help,” said hospital administrator Hal W. Leftwich, DBA, FACHE. “Patients are encouraged to share their hospital experiences so we can evaluate services, pinpoint areas that may need improvement and recognize the contributions of our caring and dedicated staff.”

Earlier this year, Hancock Medical received a Nightingale Award as Hospital of the Year (Less than 100 Beds) from the Mississippi Nurses Association. The Nightingale Award honors exceptional service in the nursing and health care profession.

Feedback from the Avatar patient surveys is delivered to Hancock Medical on a weekly basis. At the end of each survey, patients can write in comments and check a box to be contacted following their stay to discuss their experiences.

Avatar, a research and consulting company based in Orlando, FL, specializes in Evidence Based Intelligent Surveys™ and Innovative Strategies™ to transform information into significant quality and efficiency of care improvement for the healthcare industry. In addition to conducting surveys, Avatar also actively engages healthcare providers in process improvement, including training in service quality. Avatar serves healthcare organizations nationally, including small community hospitals, academic medical centers, large regional medical centers, integrated healthcare systems, long-term care and behavioral health organizations.

Podiatrists take on foot ulcers in Hancock County

When it comes to comprehensive foot health, Hancock Medical’s husband and wife podiatry team, Jeffrey Benzing, D.P.M. and Tracy Benzing, D.P.M., have got the medical know-how to keep you on your feet. However, keeping you on your feet can become a little tricky when your feet develop ulcers.

“Foot ulcers in the form of wounds or pressure sores are not that uncommon due to contributing factors like diabetes, neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, and a number of autoimmune diseases that effect one’s ability to heal,” said Dr. Jeffrey Benzing.

He says that any of those factors can turn a small skin tear or break into an ulcer that can be difficult to heal. Infection can result if not treated, he adds.

“Most are preventable and can heal in a short period of time if addressed as soon as detected,” says Dr. Tracy Benzing. “People with risk factors such as diabetes should keep a close eye on skin tears, no matter how insignificant the tear may seem.”

The Benzings note that corns, calluses, red skin, abrasions or sores are all stages of ulcer formation. Infection can happen at any stage and make things progressively worse. Many times the Benzings have seen patients who put off treatment only to see an infection move from soft tissue to deeper tissue and even bone. The deeper the infection, the more serious the complications can become.

Daily inspections of your feet and legs are highly recommended by the Benzings.

“Keeping your skin clean and well-moisturized can reduce the risk of ulcers,” said Dr. Jeffrey Benzing. “If an ulcer is present, the area should be kept clean with a mild soap and rinsed with bottled water.”

Even the smallest wound can have some degree of bacterial infection, says Dr. Benzing.

“A medical professional can select the correct antibiotics and the proper care regimen to get the ulcer healed before more serious complications arise.”

Both Benzings are board certified in primary care, and Dr. Jeffrey Benzing is also a board certified foot surgeon. They say most foot problems can be treated in the office, and surgery is available when conservative measures are exhausted. The most common problems that might require surgery include bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, fractures, limb preservation and removal of soft tissue masses. Recovery times vary, but most patients are allowed to return to weight bearing within a few days. It’s important to have an understanding of what is being done. The Benzings say the best question a patient can ask is, “What is going to be expected of me during my recovery?”

The Benzings’ Bay Foot Clinic is located at 100 Hancock Square, and they also see patients at the Hancock Medical Campus in Diamondhead.

Appointments can be made by calling (228) 467-2878.

New Pulmonary Function Machine at Hancock Medical helps evaluate patient breathing problems

 
Respiratory Therapist Mike Faul and Cardiopulmonary Department Director David Mayfield, of Hancock Medical in Bay St. Louis, show the hospital’s new pulmonary function machine to members of the Diamondhead Lions Club, who helped secure a grant to purchase the equipment.

The Lions Club of Diamondhead has made another positive impact on health care in Hancock County, helping Hancock Medical purchase a brand new pulmonary function machine for the hospital’s cardiopulmonary department.

The hospital was the recipient of a $62,000 grant from the Lions Club International Foundation. The grant was initiated by the Diamondhead Lions Club.

The new pulmonary function machine replaces the hospital’s current machine which received damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hancock Medical Respiratory Therapist Mike Faul, R.R.T., said the pulmonary function machine helps evaluate how well a patient’s lungs work.

“Tests from the machine determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, how well your lungs put oxygen into your blood and how well they remove carbon dioxide from your blood,” he said. “This new machine provides us with current technology that enables us to perform necessary tests patients with breathing difficulties need.”

With the new equipment, Faul can perform lung function analyses (pulmonary function and respiratory mechanics tests) and metabolic analyses (cardiopulmonary exercise tests and nutritional assessments). Uses include:

• Differential diagnosis (heart/lungs)
• Disability assessment
• Rehabilitation evaluation
• Exercise prescription
• Energy assessment
• Assessement of supplemental oxygen requirement
• Evaluation of medication effects
• Pulmonary function testing
• Pulmonary disability evaluation
• Bronchial challenge testing
• Pre-surgical risk evaluation
• Bedside lung function

Dolores Tanner, Chief Executive Officer for Lions Clubs in the state of Mississippi and a member of the Diamondhead Lions Club, said the Lions are happy to be able to help Hancock Medical and the communities the hospital serves.

“Hancock Medical is well-deserving of the grant,” she said, “and we’re so happy that this updated technology in the new pulmonary function machine will help so many residents on the Coast.”

Hancock Medical administrator Hal W. Leftwich, DBA, FACHE, received the grant from the Lions in August and said their generosity has been a big help in the community.

“The Lions have been very generous on the local level,” Leftwich said. “We are very grateful for their assistance in helping us provide quality health care to our residents.”

Students gain health care experience

 
Student Nurses from the University of Southern Mississippi (Alvin Walsh III and Mackenzie Knight) working with nurse Diana Broadhead, one of Hancock Medical’s experienced RNs on the Medical Unit at the Hospital.

There’s nothing like real-world experience to begin a career and Hancock Medical offers that to students from area colleges that feature nursing and other health care programs.

For years now, students and Hancock Medical Center have forged a beneficial relationship. The students gain valuable on-the-job training and many end up working for Hancock Medical upon graduation.

“It’s a win-win for the hospital and these future health care professionals,” said Angie Gambino, Chief Nursing Officer at Hancock Medical. “Hancock Medical values the student nurses who come to us for training and experience. We take them under our wing and spend time teaching them. As a result, they gain more confidence and become better nurses.”

Gambino began her career as a staff nurse at Hancock Medical and has worked her way up to Chief Nursing Officer during her 24-year career. Last year she was named one of the 50 Leading Business Women of 2007 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

“Many of the student nurses who train here, want to come back and work at Hancock Medical,” said Gambino. “We benefit the school nursing and health programs by helping educate students and they help us by graduating skilled nurses into the workforce.”

Alvin Walsh III, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, said the experience working at the hospital will help prepare him for the work expected of a registered nurse.

“The staff here is very knowledgable and they’re very helpful to the students who come through,” said Walsh.

USM nursing student Mackenzie Knight agrees.

“Working at the hospital allows us to experience real-life scenarios,” said Knight.

Most of our nurses are graduates from the nursing programs at our area schools,” said Audrey Dunn, Human Resource Director at Hancock Medical. “The schools do a great job with their nursing programs, producing quality nursing applicants for us and other hospitals on the Coast.”

Hancock Medical works with students in nursing, lab, radiology and respiratory therapy. Dunn said that today’s job applicants face more challenges than in the past.

“More than ever job applicants have to consider factors like distance to and from the job and affordable housing,” Dunn said. “The price of gas and the availability of affordable housing can definitely weigh into the decision on where a person decides to work.”

Insurance and retirement plans can also be important determining factors. Hancock Medical is in the state retirement plan and many nurses at the hospital have multiple years on the job. Putting that time in can build a secure future, one of the benefits to finding a job you love. Dunn said the nurses at Hancock Medical are a dedicated group.

“After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, our nursing staff took on non-nursing tasks so that they could help build back the hospital,” said Dunn.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, nurses and other hospital staff painted, removed debris, took inventory and did everything that needed to be done to temporarily rebuild the hospital. By doing so, they remained on staff and the hospital benefited by keeping its labor force intact.

“It was beneficial for all concerned,” said Dunn.

As for recruiting health care personnel, Dunn said it is important for hospitals to mentor students. Students gain lots of training by working with and observing Hancock Medical health care professionals on the job.

“It’s important for us as a hospital to provide opportunities for students to learn and get hands-on experience whenever possible,” Dunn said. “That’s probably our strongest recruiting tool.”

Dunn wins Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to Audrey Dunn of Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis (shown here with co-workers). She was given the MHA Society for Human Resources Administration's Distinguished Service Award.

A few achievements from Audrey’s nomination, written by Hal Leftwich, CEO of Hancock Medical, (pictured presenting the plaque above) are as follows:

“Audrey has been a valuable member of the Hancock team for over 18 years. She is dependable, reliable, hard working, and conscientious. She networks with peers and seeks opportunities for education and training. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Audrey received the Sodexho and Modern Healthcare Spirit of Excellence C.A.R.E.S. Award for her part in our efforts to return Hancock Medical to a fully functional state, providing healthcare to our devastated community. Audrey leads by example and many people find her sincerity and dedication both inspiring and motivating. She serves as a role model and mentor, and has helped us develop a workplace that encourages diversity and demonstrates cultural sensitivity. Mrs. Dunn is an excellent leader and certainly deserves this award. We are privileged to have her as a member of the Hancock Medical Team.”

Laparascopic surgery at Hancock Medical Center

General surgeons David “Trey” Rimmer, III, M.D., FACS, Brian Anthony, M.D., FACS, and Joseph R. Lee, M.D., FACS, in front of the new high-definition laparoscopic video tower at Hancock Medical.

Back in the early 1990s, the first gall bladder was removed laparoscopically and a new era of minimally-invasive surgery was born.

David “Trey” Rimmer III, M.D., FACS, was an undergraduate in college at the time, but even then he was aware that this advancement known as laparoscopic surgery would usher in a new era in the field of medicine in which he would one day specialize.

Today, the three general surgeons on staff at Hancock Medical, Dr. Rimmer, Joseph R. Lee, M.D., FACS, and Brian Anthony, M.D., FACS, perform laparoscopic surgery on a regular basis.

Dr. Lee performed the first laparoscopic procedure at Hancock Medical in the nineties. Since that time, thousands of these procedures have been performed at the hospital. He said advancements in the field have benefited patients greatly.

“Laparoscopic surgery is the way to go whenever possible,” said Dr. Lee. “The small incision makes it easier on patients, enabling them to recover quicker with less pain.”

With their many years of hands-on laparoscopic experience, the general surgeons on staff at Hancock Medical have become quite comfortable and adept at using the small scopes known as laparoscopes.

The laparoscope is a telescopic lens that attaches to a video camera and allows the surgeon to do select operations through a small incision in the abdomen. This small incision technique, compared to the larger incision operations of the past, is what results in reduced pain and quicker recovery time for patients. The new high-definition laparoscopic video tower at Hancock Medical increases and improves the surgeon’s field of vision and provides a crystal-clear view on LCD monitors.

“It’s easily some of the most advanced equipment available on the Coast,” said Dr. Rimmer.

Dr. Rimmer attends training conferences twice a year to keep up with laparoscopic advancements and his experience at Hancock Medical is earning him a reputation in the field. A graduate of the LSU School of Medicine, he is Board Certified in General Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. He also is a member of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons as well as the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

A resident of Bay St. Louis with his wife Rachel and their five children, Dr. Rimmer said he enjoys practicing medicine at his hometown hospital.

“The smaller surgical environment at Hancock Medical provides for more open communication with the team of anesthesiologists and nurses,” he said. “The size of the surgery department is ideal for delivering excellent care to our patients.”

Dr. Lee, a longtime resident of Bay St. Louis and also a graduate of the LSU School of Medicine, agrees.

“We have an experienced staff at Hancock Medical,” he said. “Our network of support is excellent and that makes a big difference.”

Laparoscopic surgery options at Hancock Medical include gall bladder removal, appendectomies, hernia repair, laparoscopic colon resections, and surgery to correct acid reflux disease, as well as minimally invasive lung and chest surgery.

“Our three general surgeons at Hancock Medical provide a real benefit to residents in Hancock County,” said Hancock Medical administrator Hal W. Leftwich, DBA, FACHE. “We’re pleased that our hospital is able to support them with some of the latest technology available.”

All three general surgeons see patients at offices in Bay St. Louis. Dr. Lee and Dr. Rimmer also see patients in Diamondhead.

Hancock Medical is accredited by The Joint Commission – meeting the standards for the Gold Seal of approval. The hospital also participates in the Surgical Care Improvement Project quality initiative.

Wade joins Hancock Medical Center as CFO

Donald Wade has been named chief financial officer at Hancock Medical Center. Donald is a Vicksburg, native who comes to HMC from Chicot Memorial Hospital in Lake Village, Arkansas. He and his wife, Susan, have two children, Cory, 28, and Lauren, 24. Lauren is in the Army and has served one tour of duty in Iraq and will head to Afghanistan in December. The Wades have one grandchild. Donald has been with QHR since 1996