News Around the State

Franklin receives Hero Award at MSH

Sandra Franklin, of Cleveland, Miss., received the Hero Award for May at Mississippi State Hospital.

Franklin, a native of Mound Bayou, Miss., is an Active Treatment Technician at the Cleveland Crisis Intervention Center. She has been employed at Mississippi State Hospital for five years.

The Hero Award is given every month to employees who go above and beyond the scope of their work, or who through their positions perform a heroic act to assist a patient in some way. Employees can be nominated either by their co-workers or by patients and residents.

Herron named director of Cleveland Crisis Intervention Center

Lee Herron of Batesville has been named director of Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) Crisis Intervention Center in Cleveland. Herron oversees operation of the 16-bed center, which provides short-term treatment to individuals in need of acute mental health care.

A native of Batesville, Herron earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He previously worked as a supervisor at North Mississippi Regional Center in Oxford before serving as a manager for Dunlap and Kyle Company Inc. While at Ole Miss, he served as an athletic trainer for the football and baseball teams and worked in the university’s sports medicine clinic.

Herron said he is excited about being able to help the individuals served at the Cleveland center.

“I’m very happy to be returning to the medical field,” he said. “I’m especially happy to be a part of the MSH family.”

“We’re very pleased to add Mr. Herron to our staff,” said MSH Clinical Director Dr. Lydia Weisser. “He is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to manage our regional crisis center, which provides critically important psychiatric services in northwest Mississippi.”

Herron and his wife Teresa have two children, 8-year-old Nathan and 3-year-old Ainsley.

Stovall named director of MSH's Cleveland Crisis Intervention Center

Mark Stovall of Clarksdale has been named director of Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) Crisis Intervention Center in Cleveland. In his new role, Stovall oversees operation of the 16-bed center, which provides short-term treatment to adult males in need of acute mental health care.

Stovall, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s of education degree in community counseling from Delta State University, most recently worked at Sunflower Landing, an adolescent residential alcohol and drug treatment center in Coahoma County.

“We’re very pleased to recruit someone with the professional experience and academic background of Mr. Stovall,” said MSH Director James G. Chastain. “He is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to manage our regional crisis center, which provides critically important psychiatric services in northwest Mississippi.”

Stovall is familiar with the state’s mental health needs. “I’m extremely grateful and excited about the opportunity to lend my experience and expertise in this new role,” he said. “I love helping people, and this is a great opportunity to do just that.”

Away from the office, Stovall said he enjoys spending time with his 8-year-old son, Jon Mark.

MSH operates three Crisis Intervention Centers in Brookhaven, Cleveland and Grenada. Each 16-bed regional center provides short-term, acute psychiatric treatment to adults who live in the hospital’s designated 51-county catchment area, are in crisis and have been admitted through the Chancery Court system, but for whom a hospital bed is not readily available. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates seven similar centers statewide.

Chatman named Employee of the Month at MSH

Marcellus Chatman of Mound Bayou has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) August 2006 Employee of the Month for Direct Care Services.

Chatman, a native of Milan, Tenn., is an Active Treatment Technician at MSH’s Cleveland Crisis Intervention Center. Chatman, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, has been employed at the Cleveland CIC for more than a year.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

Bolivar hold annual Auxiliary Awards Luncheon

Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland recently held its annual Auxiliary Awards Luncheon. Members were presented with certificates and pins for their service hours in the past year.

Bobbie McLelland was named Volunteer of the Year during the luncheon. McLelland works on the OB floor checking on new mothers and also works as a hostess in the main lobby. She is vice president and membership chair for the auxiliary.

Frances Wong was also honored for a total of 10,000 volunteer hours.

Santa visits patients at Cleveland's Crisis Intervention Center

Billy Moorehead traded his usual shirt and tie for a red suit and a beard to deliver gifts to patients at Mississippi State Hospital’s Charles W. Capps Jr. Crisis Intervention Center in Cleveland. Moorehead, who is the vice president of finance at Delta State University, gave each patient a personalized gift bag on Dec. 21. Santa Day is an annual event that began several years ago at Mississippi State Hospital’s Whitfield campus. The tradition spread to Cleveland after the hospital opened the crisis intervention center in Cleveland last year.

People from all over the state donate gifts and volunteer their time to make sure each of the more than 1,100 people in Mississippi State Hospital’s care enjoy a merry Christmas.

“These Santa Day gifts were generously given to us from people all over Mississippi, including several whose homes were flooded or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina,” said James G. Chastain, MSH director. “It is humbling to see people who have lost so much care enough to give so much, to put their own needs and troubles aside to make sure our patients receive gifts for Christmas.”

Although December is the busiest month, the hospital accepts donations and encourage volunteer activities throughout the year. To learn more, contact the volunteer services office at (601) 351-8377.

Blake finds new home at BMC

Dr. Roger Blake did not have intentions of staying when he accepted a temporary surgeon position at Bolivar Medical Center, but he grew to love the small community. Still adjusting to his new practice, Blake said he was first hired to assist the hospital's surgical staff while Dr. Bennie Wright served the military overseas. Before moving to Cleveland, he was employed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center as an assistant professor in surgery. He is board certified in General Surgery and Critical Care.

BMC joins LifePoint community

Bolivar Medical Center is now a member of the LifePoint community of hospitals after the merger with Province Healthcare by LifePoint Hospitals and its affiliates.

The transaction, effective April 15, creates a leading hospital company focused on providing health care services in non-urban communities. More than 18,000 LifePoint affiliated employees provide health care at 50 hospitals in 20 states.