News Around the State

Shannon McLaughlin Promoted to Assistant Director of Marketing for River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital

Shannon McLaughlin has been promoted to Assistant Director of Marketing for River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital. Prior to this position, she served as Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator for the hospitals. Her new responsibilities include development and implementation of the marketing plan and related strategies to Woman’s Hospital, as well as marketing and communications support in the areas of human resources, physician relations and customer service. McLaughlin will continue to assist with the planning, organization and staging of special events, open houses, fundraising activities, media relations and community projects for both hospitals.

She is a graduate of Millsaps College and involved in various community activities including serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Rankin County Community Advisory Board.

Bruns named new CEO at River Oaks Hospital

J. Dale Armour, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mississippi Division of Health Management Associates, (HMA) recently announced that Dennis R. "Denny" Bruns has joined the HMA Mississippi management team as the new Chief Executive Officer of River Oaks Hospital.

Bruns earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry, math and biology and a master of healthcare administration degree from Indiana University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He most recently served as the President/Chief Executive Officer of Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.

In making the announcement, Armour said, “Denny has earned a reputation as a very skilled leader in the healthcare industry, where he has been employed in leadership and management roles for more than thirty years. Throughout his career he has established himself as a healthcare executive who maintains high physician, patient and employee satisfaction as well as fostering business development and outstanding civic service. The HMA corporate leadership team is very excited about the experience and knowledge he will bring to River Oaks and to the Mississippi market.”

River Oaks Hospital is one of ten hospitals operated by HMA in Mississippi. The ten hospitals combined employ over 5,500 with an annual payroll of $273 million and annual state taxes in excess of $29 million.

Richards named CEO at River Oaks

J. Dale Armour, Mississippi Divisional Vice President of Health Management Associates, Inc. (HMA), recently announced that Davis Richards has been named Chief Executive Officer of River Oaks Health System in Flowood, MS.

Richards began his tenure with HMA in 1997 as Vice President of Support Services at River Oaks Health System, comprised of River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital, and was promoted in June, 1998 to Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of River Oaks Health System. He was named chief executive officer at Rankin Medical Center, also an HMA facility, in 2002.

“Davis Richards has outstanding physician relations and teambuilding skills. He has done an excellent job at Rankin Medical Center; it is a much stronger community health resource as a result of his leadership.

When you couple Davis’ knowledge of River Oaks’ operations, and his personal commitment to the River Oaks philosophies of legendary service and excellence in healthcare, it makes him the obvious choice for the position,” Armour said in making the announcement.

Prior to joining HMA, Richards served as Associate Administrator of Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, MS, and as Senior Vice President with the Mississippi Hospital Association, Assistant Executive Director of the Mississippi State Medical Association, and Manager and Director of the Medicaid Claims Department of BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Inc.

A native of Canton, MS, Richards received his Associate of Arts degree from Holmes Community College and his Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University. He earned a Master of Business Administration and Master of Hospital Administration degrees from Mississippi College. He is a Certified Health Care Risk Manager through the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management. He is an Associate of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve with the Rank of Commander after 24 years of service in 2001. During his military tenure he worked within the Navy’s Medical Service Corp in Hospital Administration and in support of Marine Field Units.

Richards and his wife, Mary Ann, live in Brandon and are the parents of three children and five grandchildren.

Woman's Hospital names quarterly award winners

Woman’s Hospital at River Oaks in Flowood has named its employees of the third quarter, including Outstanding Department Manager Alicia Ferguson, director of clinical operations, Wound Care Center; Outstanding Employee, Mary Collins, unit clerk, Unit A; and Nursing Excellence of the Quarter, Jessica Ragan, RN, Labor and Delivery.

River Oaks recognizes outstanding employees

River Oaks Health System in Flowood recently honored its most outstanding employees for exemplary job performance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2006. River Oaks Hospital’s Employees of the Second Quarter are: Donna Malone, AA, Labor and Delivery, Outstanding Employee; Wendy Winn, RN, Employee Health, Nursing Excellence of the Quarter; and Beverly Greenhill, director of imaging, Outstanding Department Manager. Each winner received an engraved plaque and $250.

River Oaks wins Best Practice Award

River Oaks Hospital’s Emergency Department recently received The Schumacher Group’s Best Practice Award. The award is given to the hospital that has made the most improvement in patient care and best represents the ideals set for the TSG.

Carol Schwanebeck, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner in the ED, was also awarded the Service Excellence Award by TSG.

Art created by MSH patients, residents on display at Flowood Public Library

The artistic talent of Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) patients is currently on display at the Flowood Public Library, 103 Winners Circle, Flowood, Miss.

The display features a variety of works, from simple pen and ink drawings to very complex art pieces, including handmade ceramics.

The artwork is created through the hospital’s leisure enhancement division.

“We have an open studio where our patients and residents can come in and let their creativity flow,” said Evelyn Carpenter Bates, supervisor of art services. “It is very relaxing and they really enjoy it.”

Bates, who has taught art for 17 years, said her classes give the patients an outlet.

“Patients can open up more when participating in art class,” she said. “I’m proud to be able to provide something that is beneficial and therapeutic.”

Bates said placing the patients and residents’ artwork on display in a library setting helps to expose their talent.

“We want to make the community aware of the talent of our patients and residents,” she said.

Jan Neal, Branch Manager for the Flowood Public Library, said the MSH artwork display is always popular.

“We’ve had some of their work before, and we’re delighted to have it back,” Neal said. “We’re just so delighted to be able to display their work. It is always well received by the public.”

The artwork will be on display at the Flowood Public Library through May 31.

For more information on the art display or the hospital’s leisure services activities, call Evelyn Carpenter Bates, supervisor of art services, at (601) 351-4536.

Myers receives Young Alumni Award

Mississippi University for Women recognized five of its alumnae for contributions to MUW and their communities during Spring Homecoming convocation on Saturday, April 22.

Emily Myers of River Oak received the 2006 Young Alumni Achievement Award. Myers is director of marketing and public relations for River Oaks Health System.

Before joining River Oaks Health System, she served as communications director for former First Lady Melanie Musgrove. She has also served as director of marketing and communications for the American Red Cross of Central Mississippi and director of professional development for the Mississippi Pharmacists Association.

Named to the Mississippi Business Journal's Top 40 under 40 in 2000 and 50 Leading Business Women in 2001, Myers was also selected as River Oaks Hospital's Department Manager of the Quarter in 2004. A provisional member of the Junior League of Jackson, Myers is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Rankin and is a member of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rankin County and the Flowood YMCA. Her volunteer work includes the American Heart Association, March of Dimes and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

A former president of the MUW Jackson Alumnae Chapter, she also has served as secretary of the National Alumnae Association, chairman of the Young Alum Committee and publicity chair for "Southern Grace" cookbook committee.

Myers received a bachelor of science degree in journalism and public relations in 1995.

The awards ceremony was held in Rent Auditorium at Whitfield Hall. Prior to the ceremony, a reception was held in their honor at the historic Puckett House on campus.

After 10 years, Dr. North makes a "House Call"

A hospital might be an unusual place to hold a book signing, but for the fact that the author is an OB/GYN at the hospital. Dr. Darden North recently held a signing for his self-published first book, House Call, at Woman's Hospital in Flowood. (He's also held a signing at Lemuria Books in Jackson.)

The book is a medical murder/mystery that takes place in the fictional town of Montclair, Mississippi. For more information from the author or to request a signed copy, e-mail darden@dardennorth.com.

River Oaks to expand and add 81 new beds

River Oaks has plans to expand their diagnostic imaging services, inpatient physical therapy, medical records and cardiopulmonary services. The expansion will be 127,000 square feet of new space, including a new emergency services department. The ER is currently situated on the back side of the building, but its new place will be in the center of the facility. The rest of the expansion will be built up from there, essentially a four-story patient tower.

The new addition will see 81 licensed beds added to the facility - 33 designated for obstetrics, 33 for medical/surgical care and 15 designated for the hospital's NICU. The project will cost an estimated $46 million and bring in about 118 new jobs.