News Around the State

Cardiovascular Services of Central Mississippi expands to Flowood

Cardiovascular Services of Central Mississippi, presently located in the Medical Office Building on the campus of Central Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, has expanded its location and services to include a clinic and sophisticated vascular lab in Flowood to provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases effective June 11.

The team of board certified specialists is comprised of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons Craig V. Adams, MD, FACS and Gerhard H. Mundinger, Jr., MD, LL.D, FACS and interventional cardiologist Abdul Bahro, MD, FACC, FSCAI.

“We are very excited to have Cardiovascular Services of Central Mississippi on the campus of River Oaks Hospital in Flowood,” said President and CEO of River Oaks Hospital Dwayne Blaylock. “River Oaks Hospital has a long standing reputation for excellence and that will continue as we expand our services to include these distinguished physicians who will provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases. Our team has nearly 60 years of combined expertise to assist patients through innovative and advanced vascular procedures.”

Cardiovascular Services of Central Mississippi treats conditions of the vascular system (arteries and veins) and performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as arteriograms and angioplasty, as well as surgical and endovascular treatments for vascular disease. The clinic specializes in minimally invasive techniques such as angioplasty and endovascular methods.

The clinic offers both minimally-invasive and open procedures to address a wide range of artery and vein disorders. It is always the goal to perform the most effective, least invasive procedure to address each specific medical issue.

The Flowood clinic is located at 1020 River Oaks Drive, Suite 480 and the Jackson clinic is located at 1860 Chadwick Drive, Suite 256. For more information, call (601) 376-1394.

Dr. Ashley Hood named President of the Osteopathic Medical Association

Dr. Ashley Hood, an OB/GYN, has been named the President of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association (MOMA). Dr. Hood, whose practice is located in the Suites of River Oaks Hospital, will begin his two-year term with the association at the end of May. 

"I am extremely excited and humbled to represent the more than 300 osteopathic physicians and over 400 osteopathic medical students here in the state of Mississippi,” said Dr. Hood. “The Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association is a vital state medical association that represents osteopathic physicians and students throughout the state of Mississippi.” 

Hood added that many people in Mississippi do not have access to the medical services they need. “Medical problems such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even teenage pregnancies are far too common in our state,” he said. “With quality education of our students and continuing education of our physicians, I believe that we can foster and promote health in our state, and swing the pendulum in the opposite direction.”

Blalock named CEO at River Oaks

River Oaks Hospital recently announced that Dwayne Blaylock has accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for River Oaks Hospital in Flowood, Mississippi. Blaylock moves from his position as the CEO at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory, MS, where he has been since 2008. Blaylock is returning to River Oaks Hospital where he served as Chief Operations Officer from 2002 through 2004.

Read more here.

Woman’s Hospital pathologist earns advanced breast pathology certification

Woman’s Hospital recently announced that J. Christopher Hancock, M.D., a pathologist for the hospital, has earned certification in Multidisciplinary Breast Pathology through the College of American Pathologists’ Advanced Practical Pathology Program.

The program is designed for pathologists seeking a higher skill level in breast pathology. As a result of completing the program, Dr. Hancock has received additional knowledge in correlating the findings from major breast imaging modalities with clinical information in order to insure all women receives the appropriate treatment. He is also trained to interpret breast test results of women representing all levels of complexity and communicate results and patient treatment options to other physicians, health care teams and patients.

Dr. Hancock received his medical degree from University of Mississippi School of Medicine. After completing a residency at UMMC and fellowship at University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. He is board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematology.

Rankin County Hospital Leadership, MHA Represented at Hand Hygiene Education Project with First Lady Deborah Bryant

Several board members of the Greater Jackson Chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) joined efforts with Mississippi’s first lady Deborah Bryant in a Hand Hygiene Education project at Isable Elementary School in Jackson. The Hand Hygiene program was funded by a grant awarded to the chapter from the National APIC. The local chapter was one of six chapters in the nation awarded this grant. Each month the chapter has been visiting two elementary schools, and performing the Hand Hygiene Education project with the kindergarten students. 

Marie Bagwell, Director of Education & Infection Prevention at Crossgates River Oaks in Brandon, MS (bottom row right), and Wendy Winn, Director of Infection Prevention/Employee Health at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood, MS (bottom row second from left), both serve on the board and are pictured below with Mrs. Bryant. Joyce Pearson, program manager for the Mississippi Hospital Association's Emergency Preparedness Program, is pictured in the back row on the far right.

Pediatric Surgery Center at River Oaks Hospital opens

River Oaks Hospital opened the state’s only free standing Pediatric Surgery Center in Flowood this week. The Pediatric Surgery Center is specifically designed to perform same-day procedures for children ages three months to 19 years of age. The center will be used by physicians from a variety of specialties from across the state. 
    “Our state of the art facility and professional staff will provide quality treatment with warm compassion in a personalized environment,” said River Oaks Hospital Interim CEO Barry Keel. “This center offers parents the convenience of being located near their homes and communities and is designed just for children, so everyone in the family will feel more comfortable. River Oak Hospital has a long standing reputation of excellence in surgical services and we are proud to be able to offer pediatric surgery in our community.”

     Dr. April Ulmer, Medical Director and fellowship-trained pediatric gastroenterologist with GI Associates, performed the first surgical case at the Pediatric Surgery Center at River Oaks. “The Pediatric Surgery Center offers parents, whose children are having minor outpatient surgery, the option to have the procedure in a nurturing, comfortable environment with professional medical staff,” said Dr. Ulmer. “It was an honor to perform the first case at the Center.”

    Dr. Jay Young with Central Mississippi Ear, Nose and Throat, who completed his residency in otolaryngology, is also performing several surgery cases at the Pediatric Surgery Center this week. 

   The Pediatric Surgery Center is located adjacent to River Oaks Hospital in Flowood. 

River Oaks Hospital selects Associates of 2012

River Oaks Hospital “Associates of the Year” were announced recently at an employee meeting. The Associate, Nurse and Director of the Year were selected based on nominations during the 2012 year based on servant leadership traits that Health Management works hard to foster through its culture.

“Brad Farmer, Nikita Bennett and Jan Shannon consistently received positive feedback from our patients and fellow Associates at River Oaks Hospital. Their dependable nature and focus on teamwork are some of the many reasons that they were selected as the 2012 Associates of the Year,” said Chief Operating Officer Cindy Dishongh. “We are very proud of them and their commitment to providing the best care possible.”

Brad Farmer - River Oaks Associate of the Year

Brad Farmer received the River Oaks Associate of the Year award. Since 1995, Farmer has been an associate at River Oaks where he currently serves as the Laboratory’s Point-of-Care Testing Supervisor. Farmer started as a student, was hired as a lab assistant, graduated from the Medical Laboratory Technician program, used the tuition reimbursement benefit to complete Medical Technology school while still working fulltime, and accepted many areas of responsibility over his seventeen years of employment. His strengths of communication and ability to teach others are critical to the success and growth of the point-of-care testing program. Farmer resides in Madison.

Nikita Bennett - River Oaks Nurse of the Year

Nikita Bennett, RN, was selected for River Oaks Nurse of the Year award. Bennett started her nursing career as a Nursing Assistant in 1985 at Mississippi State Hospital. She completed her Licensed Practical Nurse training in 1986 from Hinds Community College and remained at MS State Hospital in the LPN role. In 1997, Nikita returned to Hinds Community College and furthered her education to become a Registered Nurse. At this point, Nikita knew she “wanted and needed to work in a hospital setting” and began working at River Oaks Hospital. She has been a RN on the same unit since August of 1997 and serves as a role model to her fellow nurses and co-workers. Bennett resides in Jackson.

Jan Shannon – River Oaks Director of the Year

Jan Shannon, RN, was awarded River Oaks Director of the Year Award. Shannon has been the Director of Quality Management for River Oaks Hospital for the past five years. Before transferring to River Oaks Hospital in 2007, she worked at HMA’s Central Mississippi Medical Center for 26 years, initially as a staff nurse, and progressively assuming additional responsibilities and promotions, including GYN/General Surgery Head Nurse and Quality Management Director. Shannon has always been known as a resource for other clinical professionals, and is an expert in compliance and accreditation guidelines. Shannon resides in Byram.

Woman’s Hospital’ Sherry Pitts named chairperson of 2013 Metro Jackson Area March for Babies

The March of Dimes Metro Jackson Area Chapter recently announced that Sherry J. Pitts, chief executive officer of Woman’s Hospital in Flowood, has accepted the important role of Chairperson for the 2013 Metro Jackson Area March for Babies.

The nation’s premier walking event, March for Babies, is annually held in 900 communities across the country and involves more than 7 million people, raising more than $2 billion. The event is also the largest annual fundraising event for the March of Dimes, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013. The Metro Jackson Area March will be held Saturday, May 4 at the Seller's pedestrian mall across from the State Capitol.

More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and the March of Dimes has helped each one of them through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. During an average week in Mississippi, 864 babies are born and 156 of that number are born prematurely. Over 100 Mississippi babies are born at low birth weight, while 138 are born to teen mothers. Even more notable, nine babies from this group will die before their first birthday.

As CEO of Mississippi’s only hospital built for and dedicated exclusively to the care of women, Pitts has witnessed first-hand the miracle of the birth of thousands of healthy babies. Additionally, the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and staff of neonatal physicians and nurses has cared for thousands of babies whose premature births necessitated specialized care. Pitts is a strong supporter of Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, which seeks to lower the state’s teen pregnancy rate, which coincides so perfectly with the mission of the March of Dimes.

“Mississippi is at the top of several lists, including number one in the nation for teen births and number of infant deaths due to premature births and low birth weight,” Pitts said. “Working with the Mississippi Department of Health, these are numbers the Governor is seeking to reverse with this much-needed initiative.”

Pitts’ vast healthcare experience and her long association with and support for the March of Dimes made her a natural choice for 2013 chairperson during the organization’s anniversary year. One of her responsibilities will be to raise awareness among prospective parents and families affected by premature births. She will also coordinate the 2013 March for Babies, the organization’s largest fundraiser and one that involves hundreds of companies, participants and volunteers.

“At Women’s Hospital, our tiniest patients have benefitted from the dramatic changes that research and medical breakthroughs have fostered in the care and survival of premature births,” Pitts said. “I attribute much of the progress made over the past few decades in prenatal education and neonatal care to the exemplary work of the March of Dimes, including the resourcefulness of our state organization. For this reason, I am committed to making this year’s March the most successful ever in terms of raising community awareness and much-needed funds to ensure all babies have the right start at birth.”

For the 2013 March for Babies, Pitts has set a goal of $200,000. To reach that goal, Pitts is actively recruiting executives from area corporations and businesses to support the event with monetary donations and employee teams; working on bringing new teams to the event and cultivating and encouraging existing teams.

Dina Ray, state director for the Metro Jackson March of Dimes chapter, said Pitts’ long involvement with the organization as a board member and active supporter through strong corporate donations and fundraisers made her selection as chair a natural choice.

“Sherry has a long history as a hospital CEO who truly cares about the future of Mississippi’s babies,” said Ray. “In addition to her busy schedule at Woman’s Hospital, she has always been willing to lend her time and talents to the March of Dimes board and to support our fundraising efforts. I am confident her leadership over the 2013 March for Babies will result in one of our most successful events in history.”

Jackson-area residents can sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family and friends.

River Oaks Hospital is one of Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Overall Orthopedics™ 2013

River Oaks Hospital on Jan. 7 announced that it is among America’s top 100 hospitals for overall orthopedics in 2013 and the only hospital in Mississippi to be 5-Star rated for overall orthopedics for 5 years in a row (2009-2013). Healthgrades is the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital. This recognition is part of new findings released in American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which evaluates the performance of approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across nearly 30 procedures and conditions. A 5-star quality measurement indicates that River Oaks Hospital’s clinical performance is better than expected.

River Oaks Hospital Chief Executive Officer Tim Mitchell said the top ranking serves as a key measure consumers can use when making important choices about healthcare, including surgery.

“Our success in orthopedics illustrates a commitment to excellence and teamwork among our physicians, administrative team, employees and entire staff,” said Mitchell. “Our orthopedic program includes detailed, patient-centered education and thorough preparation prior to surgery. Offering patients access to top surgeons and being recognized as one of the safest places to have surgery makes River Oaks the hospital of choice for thousands of patients each year.”

River Oaks Hospital is also ranked as one of the safest medical facilities in the nation at which to receive medical care, Mitchell said. According to the Healthgrades report, patients were 61% less likely to experience a major in-hospital complication when being treated at a hospital receiving 5 stars when compared with hospitals receiving 1 star across a range of common procedures.

Additionally, patients were 42 percent less likely to experience an in-hospital complication in hospitals receiving 5 stars versus all other hospitals. River Oaks has one of the lowest complication and infection rates in the nation, according to Mitchell.

“River Oaks Hospital is proud to have a Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease Prevention led by Dr. David Smith,” said Mitchell. “This is instrumental in preventing surgical infection. We also utilize stringent standardized protocols during the pre- and post-operative stages.”

River Oaks Hospital is also a recipient of the following Healthgrades accolades:

Orthopedic
• Recipient of the HealthGrades Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award™ in 2013
• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2013
• Ranked #4 in MS for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2013
• Ranked #5 in MS for Joint Replacement in 2013
• Ranked #4 in MS for Spine Surgery in 2013
• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for Overall Orthopedic Services for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013) (Ranked 4 in 2013)
• Ranked Among the Top 10 in MS for Joint Replacement for 6 Years in a Row (2008-2013) (Ranked 5 in 2013)
• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for Spine Surgery for 8 Years in a Row (2006-2013) (Ranked 4 in 2013)
• Five-Star Recipient for Overall Orthopedic Services for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013)
• Five-Star Recipient for Joint Replacement for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013)
• Five-Star Recipient for Spine Surgery for 8 Years in a Row (2006-2013)
• Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013)
• Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment in 2013
• Five-Star Recipient for Back and Neck Surgery (except Spinal Fusion) for 11 Years in a Row (2003-2013)

Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of being measured, and no hospital pays to be measured. Healthgrades risk adjusts for patient demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors, thereby taking into account how sick patients are upon hospital admission.

More information on the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality.

Woman’s Hospital completes major renovation project

Woman’s Hospital has recently undergone a significant facelift that has changed the exterior of the familiar building on North Flowood and transformed patient and visitor areas into contemporary spaces. The renovations, which began in mid-2012 and were completed earlier this month, are part of an ongoing effort to provide a feeling of exclusivity to the hospital’s public and patient spaces, said hospital officials. 

Improvements made to the hospital originally built in 1975 include a complete renovation of the main lobby and waiting area due to the incorporation of adjacent space and offers easier accessibility to the hospital’s admissions and business offices. The accompanying refurbishment project added upscale, yet comfortable seating areas; fresh paint in modern and uplifting colors and new flooring throughout.

Outside, a modern and spacious covered drive-through area was constructed, offering additional space for patients disembarking and entering vehicles. Other exterior changes include the addition of a new parking lot on the southwest corner of the grounds; a complete facelift of the building and accompanying landscaping improvements. The latest renovation project complements one that was completed several years ago, said Sherry Pitts, chief executive officer. The hospital continues to upgrade exterior and interior spaces in an effort to further complement Woman’s boutique-like atmosphere.

"We understand that patients need more than just medical care when they visit our hospital,” Pitts said. “They are dealing with issues of time, convenience, privacy and the comfort of family members. We continue to implement the latest design elements combined with comfortable, soothing aesthetics. In addition to the medical care and treatment they have come to expect from Woman’s, we feel we’ve successfully enhanced the feeling of exclusivity patients expect when they enter our doors.”