News Around the State

Sansing named nursing director

Lauri Sansing has recently been named nursing director for critical care, the progressive care unit (PCU) 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., she 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.

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.

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.

New endodondist joins Baptist Golden Triangle medical staff

Callee Cosby, DDS, has joined the staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. Cosby began her duties as an endodontist in February. Her practice, Cosby Endodontics, is located at 1277 Hwy. 45 North in Columbus.     

Originally from Columbus, she is a graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Cosby is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis, and she completed her residency in endodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.     

She is a member of the American Association of Endodontics and the national and local affiliates of the American Dental Association.     

Cosby has received numerous professional and scholastic awards and recognitions including being named an American Association of Endodontists (AAE) DentSply Oral Research Presentation Top 10 winner in 2011 and receiving the AAE Endodontic Award from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 2009.  She was also selected vice president of the American Chemical Society; and named a Mississippi Eminent Scholar and a Millsaps Second Century Scholar. 

Cosby has participated in extensive fund raising efforts for St. Jude Cancer Research, the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.    

“We are extremely proud to have Dr. Cosby join our medical staff,’ said Baptist Golden Triangle Administrator and CEO Paul Cade. “We are always pleased when young physicians from this area choose to return to their home town to open their practice,” Cade said. “It is good for the hospital, and it is even better for the residents of the community,” he added.       

 

 

Three new physicians join Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle

Three new physicians have joined the medical staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle: psychiatrist Stephen Smith, M.D., and two orthopedic surgeons, Ryan Aaron, M.D, and Chris Galjour, M.D.

Smith is a 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, and completed his residency in general psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Hospital and Clinics in Jackson in 2011 where he was chief resident. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Mississippi Psychiatric Association.  Smith’s practice is located in the new Baptist Behavioral Health Care Golden Triangle facility at 2520 5th St. North in Columbus.

Aaron is a native of Birmingham, Ala. He received his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Alabama Medical Center. Aaron completed a fellowship in interventional spine care at The Orthopedic Clinic Association in Phoenix Ariz. in August 2011. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Aaron has joined the Columbus Orthopedic Clinic located at 670 Leigh Dr. in Columbus.

Galjour is a 2002 summa cum laude graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. He received his medical degree from the University of  Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson where he graduated magna cum laude. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Tennessee and a fellowship in orthopedic surgery with the Campbell Clinic at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Galjour has joined the Columbus Orthopedic Clinic located at 670 Leigh Dr. in Columbus.

“We are extremely pleased to have these three fine physicians join our already outstanding medical staff. We look forward to working with them for many years to come,” said Baptist Golden Triangle Administrator and CEO Paul Cade.  

 

U.S. News and World Report names Baptist Golden Triangle’s unit one of America’s Best Nursing Homes

U.S. News and World Report recently named Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle’s non-residential transitional care unit as one of the country’s best nursing home facilities.

Baptist Golden Triangle received a high ranking of five stars overall in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Nursing Homes, which recognized top-rated nursing home facilities in all 50 states offering important guidance to families and health care providers.  Baptist Golden Triangle Transitional Care Unit received five-star overall rating for all four quarters in 2011.

“We are so pleased to have our transitional care unit named as one of America’s Best Nursing Homes for the second time,” said Baptist Golden Triangle CEO and Administrator Paul Cade. “The recognition is truly a testament to the staff’s hard work and dedication.”

Baptist-Golden Triangle’s non-residential transitional care unit has 23 beds; and patients typically stay in the unit 10-14 days. The unit is for patients who are not ready for the next level of care, whether it is returning to their home, a nursing home, intense rehab or an assisted living facility.

An interdisciplinary team assesses the patients’ needs and works toward improving independence. The therapy, dietary, respiratory and pharmacy departments work with the transitional care unit staff to implement an individualized plan of care. A weekly team conference is held for each patient, where family members are able to receive progress reports, preparing
them for the patient’s return home. 

“More than three million Americans will spend part of 2012 in a nursing home, and trying to decide under pressure which one is best isn’t easy,” said Avery Comarow, health rankings editor. “Top-rated nursing homes are worth considering and deserve special recognition.”

U.S. News and World Report’s evaluation of nursing homes is based on data from Nursing Home Compare, a consumer website run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The government agency sets and enforces standards for nursing homes, which are defined as facilities or portions of facilities enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid that provide 24-hour nursing care and other medical services. Nursing home facilities earn an overall rating of one to five stars, as well as up to five stars in each of three underlying categories: health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of care. U.S. News and World Report updates each nursing home’s ratings data quarterly. 
  

Baptist Golden Triangle begins new program to help improve patient care

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle has been selected to participate in the Society of Hospital Medicine’s year-long Project BOOST, (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions) Mentoring Program, which aims to improve the care of patients as they transition from hospital to home or other care facilities.

Initially, Baptist Golden Triangle will implement the program on the hospital’s fifth floor and will eventually roll it out to all inpatient units over the next year. The hospital will receive training from a BOOST mentor and work through a team-based approach to optimize patient care.

Project BOOST assesses each patient’s individual risk for re-hospitalization and customizes the discharge process by working with the patient and his or her family to ensure they understand their diagnosis and their prescribed medications and confirm follow-up care after hospitalization.

The program will fall under the hospital’s case management department. Case management has traditionally been seen as the bridge between the clinical and financial realms of health care but today it is so much more, said Kim Criswell, director of case management at Baptist Golden Triangle.

“In light of healthcare reform, case management now has the primary goal of being the patient’s advocate for safe transitions throughout the continuum of care,” said Criswell. The RN case managers and social workers promote self management through patient and family involvement and ownership in their disease process.”

Case managers and social workers cover every inpatient unit in the facility as well as the emergency department. Every patient admitted is seen and followed by the case management department. Social workers provide assistance as well to those in the outpatient areas in need of service. 

According to a 2009 study, one in five patients is readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Baptist Golden Triangle is among more than 100 hospitals nationwide that have participated in Project BOOST, reducing unplanned readmissions rates and improving patient care. 

“Baptist Golden Triangle is very excited to be a part of this opportunity to improve the quality of transitions in care from the hospital to the community. No one wants to be in the hospital and it is our goal to make it possible for patients to have a safe discharge back into the community that allows them to remain with their families and friends,” Criswell added.

Baptist Golden Triangle is one of only two hospitals in the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care System to be selected to participate in the program.
 

Baptist Golden Triangle opens new behavioral health center

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is opening the new Baptist Behavioral Health Care-Golden Triangle center on Dec. 20.

The 26,100-square-foot building is connected to the north side of Baptist Golden Triangle. The facility includes a 14-bed closed unit and two eight-bed open units with one wing dedicated to senior adults with psychiatric and/or chemical dependency problems.

“The new facility will have larger, private rooms that are more aesthetically pleasing for patients and visitors, with a private courtyard in the center of the facility,” said David Johnson, director of behavioral health at Baptist Golden Triangle. “When building a behavioral health center, we incorporated certain patient safety measures in the design, such as secure furniture and shatter-proof glass windows.”

The behavioral health care center has premier technology, like the ability to control patient room temperatures at the nurses’ desk with a simple button, added Johnson.

“We’ve also added a separate entrance for patient privacy,” said Johnson.

“Baptist Golden Triangle is proud to offer behavioral health care to the community,” said Paul Cade, administrator and CEO of Baptist Golden Triangle. “The center will operate as a high-functioning hospital, especially for those patients with dual diagnoses.”

The behavioral health care center will also offer specialized care for geriatric patients.

The facility will continue to provide inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency and psychiatric services; psychiatric and chemical dependency aftercare; individual, couples and family counseling; group therapy; medication management; and partial hospitalization.

Baptist Behavioral Health Care-Golden Triangle will begin taking patients the first week of January 2012.

Baptist Golden Triangle receives national achievement award

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle recently received the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s 2011 NCDR ACTION Registry–GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award for its commitment to implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.

The award recognizes that Baptist Golden Triangle has reached an aggressive goal of treating cardiac patients at the levels of care as outlined by American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

Baptist Golden Triangle is one of only 94 hospitals nationwide to win this award.

“We are proud of our physicians and employees for being recognized nationwide for our cardiac care,” said Paul Cade, administrator and CEO of Baptist Golden Triangle. “Our hospital remains committed to providing innovative technology and advanced care to the community.”

ACTION Registry–GWTG is a partnership between the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association with partnering support from the American College of Emergency Physicians, Society of Chest Pain Centers and the Society of Hospital Medicine. ACTION Registry-GWTG empowers health care provider teams to treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease.