News Around the State

Wesley Medical Center Names Lee Byrd Director of Laboratory Services

Wesley Medical Center recently named Lee Byrd Director of Laboratory Services. Byrd has been employed with Wesley Medical Center since 2008 and has served as Interim Laboratory Director since November 26, 2012. 

Byrd brings 23 years of clinical experience to the position, including previous experience as a lab director. He is certified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)CM and a Technologist in Hematology by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and has also been certified as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist(CLS) by the National Crediting Agency. 

A graduate of both Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi, Byrd is currently pursuing a Masters in Clinical Laboratory Science at USM, where he also serves as Educational Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty member.

Byrd has been honored with several personal and professional awards throughout his career and has held leadership positions in both state and national professional organizations. He currently serves as President of the Mississippi Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Wesley Laboratory Services earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for laboratory accreditation in 2012 after a rigorous on-site survey.

Wesley CEO Earns Top Healthcare Credential

Michael S. Neuendorf, CEO for Wesley Medical Center, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders.

“Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 8,500 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years. Neuendorf now has privileges to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management and ACHE Fellow status.

“Fellowship in the American College of Health Executives was important to me because I’m dedicated to the Wesley Medical Center’s mission of providing high-quality medical care,” said Neuendorf. “Becoming a Fellow allows me to make a greater contribution toward meeting that goal.”

Neuendorf serves as Wesley Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer. Neuendorf earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and his Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He served in the United States Army as a member of the Alabama and Georgia National Guard from 1992 to 2003 where he was a medical evacuation pilot, unit mobilization officer and unit weapons qualification officer.

 

Ora Shaheed of Forrest General: Offering comfort and care

Throughout her 38-year career at Forrest General Hospital, Ora Lee Shaheed has never stopped learning about her patients and staff members. Shaheed, who is the hospital's System Chief of Clinical Operations, began as a registered nurse in 1975, fresh out of the University of Southern Mississippi nursing program - a career field she had admired for many years.

Read more here.

Forrest General Rehabilitation Unit achieves CARF accreditation

Forrest General’s Rehabilitation Unit recently announced that they have earned a three year accreditation from CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). 

CARF accreditation is recognized in several categories, with the main category designated as Adult Inpatient Specialty. Accreditation in this main specialty alone requires compliance with more than 200 patient care standards. The Rehab Unit also achieved certification in two additional Specialty Programs this year, completing the requirements to be accredited for the first time in the categories of Brain Injury and Amputation Specialty. The interdisciplinary Rehab Unit staff members work together and operate under the hospital’s “We C.A.R.E.” philosophy to achieve their vision of restoring lives through a team approach. We C.A.R.E. outlines how staff create positive patient experiences by Communicating with Compassion and Courtesy, Acknowledging and taking Action, Respecting and Reassuring the patient and Empathizing and Explaining what is taking place.

“I am extremely proud of the Rehabilitation staff and their ability to continuously provide the level of excellent patient care that the Pine Belt expects from Forrest General,” said Brenda Cain, Director of Forrest General’s Rehabilitation Unit. “This program seeks and uses input from persons served, personnel and other stakeholders to continuously improve the care given and outcomes achieved. Our vision in the Rehab Unit is to restore lives through a team approach, and we would not be able to achieve that goal without our outstanding staff and physicians. On behalf of the entire Rehabilitation Team, I would like to thank all of the Forrest General staff for their support during this time of accreditation and throughout the year.”

Wesley Medical Center First Hospital in Mississippi to Offer Breakthrough Nuclear Camera Technology

Wesley Medical Center recently invested in the Discovery 530c nuclear camera, making them the first and only hospital in Mississippi to offer this breakthrough technology to patients. Developed by General Electric, the Discovery 530c solid state detector nuclear camera offers lower radiation and more accurate imaging in a much shorter length of time.

“I don’t believe there’s been a more significant advance in stress testing since we began using nuclear cameras decades ago,” said Daniel Grantham, Director of Radiology for Wesley Medical Center. “The Discovery 530c takes simultaneous images from multiple views, which means that we don’t have to move the patient or the equipment during the scan.”

The camera, primarily used for cardiac stress tests, provides heart images four times faster than previous technology, and makes it possible to limit radiation exposure to the patient by as much as 50 percent. Using older technology scans took 20 minutes, but by upgrading to the Discovery 530c Wesley Medical Center can now conduct scans in as little as three minutes. The shorter scan results in increased patient comfort.

During a nuclear heart scan, a safe, radioactive material called a tracer is injected into the bloodstream. Special cameras outside of the body detect energy from the tracer once it reaches the heart. With prior technology, patients were required to hold their arms above their head for 15-20 minutes for scans. For patients with shoulder or back problems, that was often difficult and uncomfortable. Also, the open design of the Discovery 530c removes the feeling of claustrophobia that some patients experienced during scans.

“The Discovery 530c gives us more precise results and gives patients a better experience,” said Mike Neuendorf, CEO for Wesley Medical Center. “We strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients, and investing almost $1 million in this technology demonstrates our commitment to that mission.”

 

Milestone da Vinci Robotic-Assisted Surgery Performed at Wesley Medical Center: 1,000th Minimally Invasive Surgery Completed

Recently, da Vinci Masters Level surgeon Dr. Joseph Washburne completed the 1000^th da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery to be performed at Wesley Medical Center. Reaching this milestone makes Wesley’s the most experienced da Vinci surgical program in south Mississippi.

“Every da Vinci surgery is exciting because the technology is truly incredible, but breaking the 1,000 mark is a remarkable thing,” said Dr. Washburne. “I believe da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery offers the best possible clinical outcomes, so the expansion of the robotics program to this level is a very good thing for patients.”

Dr. Washburne, an OB/GYN with Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi, earned the Masters Level da Vinci surgical skill designation in 2011 and has performed nearly 250 robotic-assisted surgeries using the da Vinci surgical system. The 1,000^th da Vinci surgery was a minimally invasive hysterectomy procedure, performed using only a few incisions less than one inch long. The small incisions often result in significantly less pain and scarring as compared to other surgical techniques. 

 “With robotics, patients have very little pain compared to traditional laparoscopy,” said Washburne. “There is no comparison to an abdominal hysterectomy.”

 Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery often results in notably better clinical outcomes. Other benefits for patients may include significantly less pain, less blood loss, less scarring and a shorter recovery time.

 Wesley Medical Center introduced da Vinci surgery to the Pine Belt in 2007 and remains committed to being the leader in robotic-assisted surgery for the area.  In 2011, their upgrade to the newest da Vinci Si Surgical System enabled physicians to take a minimally invasive approach for even more complex surgical procedures and made single-incision surgery an option for specially trained physicians.

 In 2012, the first single-incision gall bladder removal surgery in south Mississippi was performed at Wesley. Dr. Wesley Girod, a general surgeon with Southern Surgery and Urology Center, completed the surgery using only a single, inch-long incision camouflaged by the belly button. Dr. Girod has performed more than 80 surgeries using da Vinci robotic-assisted technology. Wesley Medical Center is one of only a small percentage of hospitals nationwide to offer single-incision da Vinci surgery.

 The da Vinci Si Surgical System integrates robotic technology to virtually extend the surgeon’s eyes and hands. Using the system, the surgeon operates while seated at a console viewing a 3-D image of the surgical area. The system mimics the surgeon’s hand movements in real time, on a smaller scale, within the operating site in the patient’s body. Wesley Medical Center’s team of da Vinci Si Surgical System trained physicians includes Dr. Andrea Carter, Dr. Lee Drake, Dr. Joel Flynt, Dr. Wesley Girod, Dr. Charles Moore, Dr. Bill Pace and Dr. Joseph Washburne. No other da Vinci surgical team in south Mississippi is as experienced as the surgeons at Wesley Medical Center.

“Patients are traveling great distances to take advantage of the minimally invasive da Vinci surgical options at Wesley and providing 1,000 patients the benefits of such a dramatically different surgical experience is something we’re very proud to have accomplished,” said Mike Neuendorf, CEO for Wesley Medical Center. “Da Vinci technology means that we’re able to meet our ultimate goal of getting patients returned to health and back to their lives faster.”

 Wesley Medical Center is committed to providing superior care to the Pine Belt and has been recognized for patient safety and top performance on key quality measures. The da Vinci minimally invasive surgical program at Wesley is one of the fastest growing in the state. 

 

Wesley Behavioral Health Welcomes Psychologist John C. Clemmons

Wesley Medical Center recently welcomed John C. Clemmons, Psychologist, to the staff of Wesley Behavioral Health. Dr. Clemmons is a board certified Psychologist with nearly a decade of experience in the areas of behavioral health, traumatic brain injury and pediatrics. 

Dr. Clemmons earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska. He has held both research and teaching positions at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Clemmons is accepting new patients and will maintain office hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

Wesley Behavioral Health is located directly behind Wesley Medical Center at 239 Methodist Boulevard. For questions, or to make an appointment, please call 601-296-2125.  

Forrest General Announces Winners of We C.A.R.E. Awards, Philip Rogers Awards and Employee of the Year During Annual Party

Forrest General recently presented its top employee and physician awards during the hospital’s annual Employee Christmas Party on December 7. Awards given included the Employee of the Year and We C.A.R.E. Awards, the 7th Annual Philip Rogers Awards, Service Award recognition for employees who have served 30+ years at the hospital.

Forrest General is pleased to announce that Vance Green has been selected as the hospital’s Employee of the Year for 2012. Green, who serves as Assistant Director of Information Services, has worked at the hospital since 1984. According to Rick Golladay, Forrest General Director of Information Services, “Vance cares about each patient and the care that they receive. He takes personal responsibility for the care provided, based on the use of the network and computers at Forrest General. Vance always works ‘in the trenches’ with each employee in the IS department no matter what the problem or cause until complete resolution. Vance is the type of friend and boss that everyone wants to have, and he is the type of person that everyone wants to be more like. Vance lives the We C.A.R.E. philosophy!”

Four Forrest General employees and one physician were honored with We C.A.R.E. Awards for upholding the hospital’s We C.A.R.E. philosophy. The winners were selected based on comments from patients, patients’ family members and co-workers. The four employees were recognized for specific letters in the acronym of Forrest General’s We C.A.R.E. philosophy. The letters stand for: Communicate with Compassion and Courtesy; Acknowledge and take Action; Respect and Reassure and Empathize and Explain. The winners are: C: Rachel Spillman, 9T Unit Secretary; A: Samuel Rosa, Pine Grove Licensed Clinical Therapist and Patient Advocate; R: Gloria Thompson, catering hostess for Food and Nutrition Services; E: Cerena Johnson-Smith, Registration Call Center and the We C.A.R.E. Physician Award: John Holland, M.D.; OB-GYN.

Also honored were the four winners of the 7th Annual Philip Rogers Quality Award. The award is named for Dr. Philip Rogers, a nephrologist with Hattiesburg Clinic, who dedicated 32 years of his life to serving the people of South Mississippi as a physician, mentor and humanitarian. Dr. Rogers, Forrest General’s first nephrologist, was known as a kind-hearted, brilliant physician and great medical staff leader, and was greatly admired and respected for his commitment to his patients and the medical field. Four recipients, each influential and important members of Hattiesburg’s medical community, were honored during the event. Congratulations to this year’s winners: Leadership Award: Melita Miller, RN, Director of Home Care and Hospice; Humanitarian Award: The Nurses of 6T South/Neurosurgery; Mentor Award: Bill Peters, M.D. and Innovator Award: Cathy Blythe, RN, Infection Preventionist.

Wesley Medical Center Names Employee of the Year, Managers of the Month

Wesley Medical Center recently named Karen “Kay” Sullivan as the 2012 recipient of the Margaret LaFon Employee of the Year Award. Sullivan is a pharmacist who has devoted 25 years of service to Wesley. She serves as a mentor to employees in the pharmacy and is especially dedicated to ensuring patient safety. 

“Kay Sullivan stands out as a servant-leader whose tireless devotion to the Wesley Medical Center staff and patients is highly commendable,” said Wesley Pharmacy Director, Pam Graham. “Kay is responsive to the needs of our patients and staff, to the point of being very proactive. She communicates with the physicians and staff to ensure the most complex medication regimen is simplified and everyone is on the same page.”

In the summer of 2012, the Board of Trustees of Wesley Medical Center inaugurated the Margaret LaFon Employee of the Year Award to be presented annually to an employee as recognition for their outstanding work and service in honor of the late Margaret LaFon, who served as a registered nurse for Wesley Medical Center for over 25 years. LaFon served as a leader and mentor in the field of nursing. In tribute to the influence of her life’s work, the Margaret LaFon Employee of the Year Award will be given annually, to a Wesley Medical Center employee who demonstrates honesty, enthusiasm, compassion and personal integrity in their work. Kay Sullivan is the inaugural recipient.

Wesley Medical Center also names Clinical Manager of the Year, Sandy Johnson, and Non-Clinical Manager of the Year, Robert Volentine.

Johnson, Director of Critical Care, has been with Wesley Medical Center since 1990. She serves as a member of the newly developed Community Emergency Management Operations task force, numerous hospital core groups and was a member of both Wesley’s Chest Pain Center accreditation team and Heart Failure accreditation team.

“Throughout this year, we’ve undertaken many large nursing projects and Sandy has been instrumental in assisting and managing all of these,” said Chief Nursing Officer, Phebe McKay. “I am grateful to have someone like Sandy working with me. Consistency and follow through are her best traits.”

Volentine, Director of IT, joined Wesley in 2011. He is a Master Sargent in the Louisiana National Guard and has been activated in support of Emergency Operations personnel to provide satellite communications during hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Isaac. 

“Robert does a great job in leading by example in his department,” said Chief Operating Officer Travis Sisson. “One way that Robert demonstrates this is his willingness to go to a physician that is having trouble and personally assist them. He’s very comfortable going to a nursing unit or physician office and taking the time to ensure our physicians have what they need to care for our patients.”

Each year, Wesley names a clinical and non-clinical manager of the year based on the demonstration of extraordinary dedication to their work. Also during this time, one employee is recognized as employee of the year for exemplary service and dedication to their field. Employees are nominated by their supervising directors and the hospital’s senior staff determines winners based on those nominations.

Forrest General Named Top 25 in Spine Fusion by North American Spine Society

Forrest General has been recognized as one of the Top 25 hospitals in the nation for spine fusion by the North American Spine Society in its publication Orthopedics This Month.

Spine fusion is a very delicate, specialized procedure that requires expert training and technology. Forrest General’s ranking as 13th out of the top 25 hospitals named in the publication is the result of national research compiling each hospital’s number of procedures, complication rate, charges and other considerations.

“Our recognition in the Top 25 is completely attributed to our outstanding neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and staff who take advantage of state-of-the-art technology and facilities to consistently give our patients a positive experience – from the time they check in for their procedure to the time they go home,” said Forrest General Orthopedics and Neurology Service Line Leader Steve Jackson. “We are honored to be recognized by this well-known organization for our accomplishments in spine fusion.”

Spinal fusion is a surgical technique that fuses, or unites, two vertebrae in the spine so that there is no movement between them. A fusion procedure involves using bone grafts or other hardware, such as plates, to connect the two vertebrae, with healing occurring over several months following surgery. Spinal fusion can be used to treat a variety of problems, including back pain of unknown cause or related to a fractured vertebrae, spinal deformities, disc herniations or instability.
Research for the ranking was conducted by Scott Ellison of PearlDiver Data Technologies, a leader in the Life Sciences Information Industry. PearlDiver has built one of the largest healthcare databases in the world with more than 1.1 billion HIPAA-compliant patient records. From this base, PearlDiver is able to offer hospitals, medical professionals, medical device company executives, analysts, and regulatory agencies critical insights and actionable information.