Starting on August 1, 2012, two new faces will join the team at Delta Regional Medical Center (DRMC) as part of a new partnership between the hospital and William Carey University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Harriet Crockett and Ben Groves are third year medical students and will be joining the Delta Regional team as a part of the education and training required to graduate from the program at the University.
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Delta Regional Medical Center (DRMC) recently announced the addition of Chandler Ewing, CPA, FACHE, to its Senior Leadership team as Vice President of Support Services. In his new role, he will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the ancillary functions of the hospital.
He brings a wealth of knowledge and a track record of success to DRMC. J. Stansel Harvey, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer at DRMC said, "With Chandler's extensive background in operations and finance, we will be able to move quickly on achieving our strategic initiatives and truly put our mission of caring for and caring about our community front and foremost in our daily operations. Chandler's experience and background as a passionate and motivational leader is an ideal fit with our current Administrative Team here at DRMC."
Ewing, originally from Cleveland, Mississippi, has spent the last 11 years at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, Mississippi. While at UMMC, he served as Interim Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer and Administrator of Finance at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.
After receiving his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University, Ewing continued his education and completed his master's of business administration at Millsaps College. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Donna N. Couvion, RN, BSN, is the new clinical director of the Intensive Care Unit and Heart and Vascular Center at Delta Regional Medical Center. Couvion brings over 20 years of nursing experience with her to the unit.
Couvion received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus.
She has worked in several critical care areas including neonatal intensive care, cardiac care and Air Evac flight units. Her most recent position was as a team leader for DRMC’s Heart and Vascular Center.
Jamila Bell, RN, BSN; Christy Reynolds, RN, BSN; Tiffany Johnson; and Latroy Johnson with (babies, from left) Annasten Johnson and Landen Johnson
Opened on July 19, 2010, Delta Regional Medical Center's 10-bed, Level IIIA NICU provides care for premature, sick, or low-birth-weight newborns. It truly takes a team to care for these tiny patients. The NICU staff includes a neonatologist, neonatal nurse practitioners, along with 18 registered nurses who are specially trained to care for infants with special needs. In addition, staff members from DRMC’s Respiratory Care, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Cardiology, Radiology, Pharmacy, Laboratory and Dr. Kenneth J. Hayles, Ophthalmologist, work closely with the unit.
“The Mississippi Delta has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Having a NICU at Delta Regional allows us to fight this statistic while keeping many more babies closer to their parents as opposed to transferring them to Jackson or Memphis for care which is a two or three hour drive for most families in the Mississippi Delta,” said Dr. Madhusudhan R. Pabbathi, neonatologist. “It is very rewarding to be able to offer cutting-edge technology including continuous ventilation support and life-support measures to provide excellent care for at-risk babies, close to home,” he added.
It’s a mother’s worst nightmare. Tiffany Johnson, first time parent, after having a normal pregnancy, found herself in labor with her twins at just 32 weeks. Tiffany and her husband, Latroy, were very nervous and scared about their tiny premature twins. Landen was born weighing only 3 pounds and Annasten at only 3 pounds and 9 ounces. Tiffany said, “I am a nurse myself, but it’s very different when it’s your family or loved ones who are sick and in the hospital. Besides being overwhelmed with first time motherhood and twins, I now had all of these extra worries and concerns. The nurses and doctor were great! They kept me and my husband both in the loop by answering all of our questions, plus questions we didn’t even know to ask. They helped ease our worries, and let us grow as parents as our babies grew. And, with the open visiting hours, my husband was able to come spend a couple of hours in the evenings when he got off work to hold our babies and feed them, which is huge when you can’t take your babies home. I am very excited to say that after four weeks in the NICU our sweet twins came home on July 13th. Each day they are getting stronger and stronger. Now Landen weighs 4 pounds and 13 ounces and Annasten weighs 5 pounds and 3 ounces.”
In November 2010, DRMC began its Neonatal Transport program to provide a way to get sick newborns to DRMC when they are born at a hospital without a Level III NICU. During the last eight months, there have been 14 patients transported to DRMC from Bolivar, Sunflower, Leflore and Sharkey counties. The newborn is transported in a special isolette specially designed for the critically ill patient, and is equipped for advanced life support, including mechanical ventilation and the continuous monitoring of every aspect of the baby's condition while in transit. The Neonatal Transport Crew is comprised of a neonatologist, specially trained registered nurse and respiratory therapist; each crew member plays a key role in caring for and stabilizing the baby before, during and after the transport.
During its first year of operation, Delta Regional’s NICU cared for 172 neonatal patients, as small as one pound and three ounces. Additionally, the majority of the babies treated in the NICU were born before 34 weeks of gestation and weighted less than four pounds. Registered nurse of 18 years, Christy Reynolds, RN, BSN, said it’s very fulfilling working with such little miracles. “Sometimes our babies just need a little more time to mature before they are ready to go home, other times it’s more serious,” she said. “We strive to give all of our babies their best chance to live and thrive. It’s a wonderful feeling to see how much joy the parents have when their baby gets to go home.”
Avatar International, an industry leader in healthcare quality improvement services, recently recognized Delta Regional Medical Center as one of its 2010 award winning hospital partners. Delta Regional Medical Center received Avatar International’s Most Improved – Loyalty and Endorsement - Home Health Award, Exemplary Service – Most Improved – Home Health Award, and the Five Star Service – Loyalty & Endorsement – Home Health Award all for the year 2010.
In making the announcement, David Medvedeff, Pharm.D., MBA, CEO of Avatar said, “I congratulate the staff of Delta Regional Medical Center for these hard-earned awards and for their dedication to providing a quality patient care experience. We at Avatar recognize Delta Regional Medical Center’s significant achievements and acknowledge their continued efforts to put patients first.”
Cindy Van Woeart, RN, BSN, COS-C, HCS-D, Director of Home Health and Hospice at DRMC said, “The home health team is dedicated to serving our patients, not only caring for them with high quality skills, but caring about them as well; and these awards are a testimony to that dedication. One of our team members, Cindi Jarrett, PT, has defined the level of caring for the DRMC home health team- ‘Your home is where OUR heart is!’ I am very proud of my team and know that this level of commitment carries on every day with every patient contact.”
Sandy Solomon, RN, CHPN, Assistant Director of Delta Regional Medical Center’s Home Care, was nominated for the 2011 Heart of Hospice Award. The Louisiana – Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization created the Heart of Hospice Award to recognize an individual from each of the two states who has attained repeated outstanding achievements in hospice and end-of-life care.
“Sandy was instrumental in developing and opening the DRMC Hospice Program in 1997. As a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN), Sandy embraces the hospice philosophy and is a strong advocate for end-of-life care,” states Cindy Van Woeart, Director of DRMC Home Care. “It was so natural to nominate Sandy for this honor as she truly exemplifies what being a nurse, and indeed a hospice nurse, is all about --- it is about the compassion and care Sandy shows for her patients and their families during the most challenging time in their lives. Sandy is there for them throughout their experience and even after their loved one passes on --- Sandy is still there for them.”
After graduating from Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1986, Sandy has served the Delta community ever since. Joining the Delta Regional team in 1986 as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, Sandy quickly found her “true calling” was in the field of Home Health and Hospice. Sandy has instilled her passion for caring for and caring about her patients in other members of the DRMC Home Care team. Sandy uses her expertise to guide and educate team members on end-of-life pain and symptom management techniques. Not only does Sandy strive to better herself clinically and professionally, her goal is to pass that knowledge on to the entire team and to enhance their skills and abilities at the same time.
“Without Sandy on our team, I believe we would be missing a vital link to our success at DRMC Home Care,” says Mazie Whalen, Senior Vice President of Nursing at DRMC. “Sandy is a strong representation of what the field of nursing is all about and that is the selfless dedication and service to others during their time of greatest need. We are proud to have Sandy Solomon as part of our team and are incredibly pleased at her nomination for this prestigious Heart of Hospice Award.”
Delta Regional Medical Center has been recognized for participating with Information & Quality Healthcare (IQH), the state’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, in a project focused on reducing the rate of healthcare-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection. Shown are Amy Walker, RN, MSN, Vice President of Quality, and Melinda Grubb RN, CCRN, Infection Prevention Nurse, at the hospital.
MRSA is a bacterial infection highly resistant to some antibiotics. “Delta Regional Medical Center is honored to be recognized for our partnership with IQH and is committed to working on this project, as well as many others, to improve the quality of care our patients are receiving while in our care,” comments Amy Walker. “Our partnership with IQH allows us to access nation-wide resources and best practices all developed and proven to positively impact patient safety and other key clinical quality initiatives across the continuum of patient care here at DRMC.”
IQH recognized the hospital for its cooperation in the project which is a part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national quality improvement program. “The hospital’s commitment to quality is demonstrated through its participation in this quality improvement program,” said Mary Helen Conner, RN, IQH project leader, in presenting the award.
Drs. Kathleen and Michael Mansour at the installation ceremony at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans, LA.
Michael Mansour, MD, FACC recently assumed the role of Mississippi Governor to the American College of Cardiology. In addition, Dr. Mansour will concurrently serve a three year term as the President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. He represents the interests of Mississippi cardiologists and their patients at National Forums on Cardiovascular Medicine and Policy and facilitates implementation of national healthcare initiatives that serve to advance the practice of cardiology with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Mansour is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical School and received his post graduate training at the Ochsner Clinic, the University of Florida and Harvard Medical School. He served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Emory University. In 1998 Dr. Mansour returned to the Mississippi Delta to join an outstanding team of cardiovascular physicians, nurses, and support personnel.
Dr. Mansour is married to Kathleen Mansour, MD, FACC. Since relocating to Greenville in 1998, they have been committed to improving the well-being and health of the community through support of many organizations including the American Heart Association, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Delta Center Stage among others. They have been the presenting sponsor of the YMCA’s Cotton Classic since 2007. With over 700 participants in this year’s Cotton Classic, Drs. Michael and Kathleen Mansour hope to promote the Greenville community and simultaneously promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging participation in activities like the 5K walk, 10K run, and 1 mile fun run for children.
The health care challenges in Mississippi and the Delta are not unique, but they are more pervasive than elsewhere in the country. In the last decade, Mississippi and the Delta have seen a nearly 35% decrease in cardiovascular death. This exceeds the national trend of approximately 26% decrease and is a tribute to the cardiovascular professionals and heart programs in Mississippi and especially here in the Delta. This success is particularly remarkable in an area so desperately underserved in health care services.
Delta Regional Medical Center recently announced the addition of Timothy E. Watkins, RN, BSN, to their staff. Watkins is joining DRMC as the new Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO). As the new ACNO, Watkins will be providing support to DRMC’s Senior Vice President of Nursing Services, Mazie Whalen, RN, MSN.
Whalen says, “We have full faith that Timothy was the right choice for this position here at DRMC. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the field of nursing, both at the bedside and in leadership capacities. Timothy’s heart led him to a career in nursing and his enthusiasm and ability to inspire others led him further to a career in nursing administration. We are thrilled to have him join our Leadership Team and we are anxiously looking forward to new accomplishments fueled by Timothy’s passion for nursing and service to others.”
Watkins comes to DRMC from Memphis, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Union University in Germantown, Tennessee and his Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from Strayer University in Memphis, Tennessee.
When asked why he became a nurse, his immediate response was, “Because I love patients. I would not last without patient interaction.” During his career, Watkins has held several leadership roles at different facilities in Memphis, Tennessee, most recently as the Administrative Manager and Central Staffing Officer for Nursing Special Services at Regional Medical Center.
Watkins chose Delta Regional based on his impression of the Senior Leadership Team. He says, “Prior to my interview here with Delta Regional Medical Center, I happened to run across the CEO’s message and that peaked my interest. While reading the mission and value statements, it was the vision statement, ‘To be the best hospital in Mississippi to receive care, practice medicine, and to work,’ that sealed the deal. It is my goal to dedicate my tenure with Delta Regional Medical Center to the goals of the vision statement. For where ‘there is no vision, people do perish.’ I am delighted to be afforded the opportunity to serve the patients and employees of this great hospital.”
Watkins is looking forward to this new chapter in his life. He and his son, Trevor, are settling into Greenville. He says, “For me, nursing has always been and shall always be a profession of ministry. We minister through the touch of our hands when patients and families are in pain and in the calmness and empathy of our voices when they are afraid and feeling alone. It’s our job to let them know we are right there with them, no matter the outcome, we won’t leave them.”
