News Around the State

OCH Admissions Supervisor Selected as Regional Delegate for National Organization

OCH Regional Medical Center’s Admissions Supervisor Steve Cochran has been selected as the delegate for the National Association of Healthcare Access Management’s (NAHAM) Southeast Region. This prestigious position includes attending conferences as the Southeast Region’s representative for NAHAM, increasing membership and keeping members up-to-date on upcoming events and conferences and new information in the field of patient access. 

Cochran has been employed at OCH since 2005 and is a former president of the Mississippi State Chapter of NAHAM. He has served as a guest speaker at many regional and national conferences, focusing on excellent customer service in healthcare. 

“It’s a huge honor to be chosen as a leader for this organization that helps to provide tools and resources to improve the process of patient access in today’s changing healthcare environment,” said Cochran. “This organization has been a large contributing factor in my growth and education as the OCH Admissions Supervisor, and I look forward to helping others learn more about providing high-quality service to patients,” he added.

Cochran assumed the position of Southeast Regional Delegate at the conclusion of the 39th Annual Conference and Exposition of NAHAM on May 18 in Atlanta, Georgia. The term of office is two years with a maximum of two terms of service.

National Hearing and Speech Month Sheds Light on Widespread Disorders

OCH Rehab Services Speech Language Pathologist works one-on-one with Lois Williams who came to OCH for outpatient speech therapy after her stroke. Williams said, "Working with Laurel was great! She helped me so much!"

It’s estimated that speech, hearing and language disorders affect 14 million Americans, and since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has celebrated National Better Hearing and Speech Month each May to raise public awareness about these widespread conditions.

Speech and language disorders can take many forms and can limit academic achievement, social adjustment, and career advancement. An individual may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.

OCH Rehab Services’ Licensed Speech Language Pathologists Laurel Jones and Lori Windle provide identification, evaluation and rehabilitation for a variety of speech, language, fluency, voice, swallowing, and cognitive disorders.

"Fortunately, most people with speech and language problems can be helped," said Jones, SLP. "Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach people with speech and language problems strategies to help them cope. People may not fully regain their capacity to speak and understand, but we can help them live more independently,” stated Jones.

Jones and Windle offer free hearing, speech-language and swallowing screens to identify if an evaluation by a speech language pathologist is warranted. If so, the patient’s physician will be contacted to request a referral order.

Speech therapy varies according to each patient’s specific condition, evaluation results, and personal goals. Treatment includes identifying the best techniques for interaction, voicing, or swallowing with the patient and implementing those strategies found to be most successful in managing the deficit at hand.

Screenings are available by appointment Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the OCH Speech Language Therapy Department, call (662) 615-3020.

OCH Respiratory Therapy Recognized for Quality Laboratory Services

The OCH Regional Medical Center Arterial Blood Gas Lab in respiratory therapy has received 100% approval rating from COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization. This accreditation is given only to laboratories that apply rigid standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing, and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey. The OCH ABG lab has earned COLA accreditation as a result of a long-term commitment to provide quality service to its patients.

The ABG lab test primarily measures the amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity of the blood. This information is vital when caring for patients with critical illness or respiratory disease. As a result, the ABG is one of the most common tests performed on patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

“The team of respiratory therapists at OCH work and train hard, so it is nice to see these efforts providing such amazing outcomes,” said OCH Director of Respiratory Therapy Wes Andrews, RRT, CHEP. “With the technical support of our main lab and the information technology services here at OCH, we maintain three analyzers that are pre-staged throughout the facility to provide the quickest response times anywhere. Because of this, our physicians do not have to wait as long to get critical results and information, which results in excellent care for our patients,” he explained.
COLA is a nonprofit, physician-directed organization promoting quality and excellence in medicine and patient care through programs of voluntary education, achievement and accreditation.
COLA is approved by the federal government and sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.

OCH Diabetes Education Program Merits American Diabetes Association Recognition

The OCH Diabetes Education Program Coordinator Nicky Yeatman, RD, LD, CDE, works one-one-one with patients to develop a plan to aid them in living longer, healthier lives.

OCH Regional Medical Center’s Diabetes Self-Management Education Program has been awarded continued recognition from the American Diabetes Association. The program was originally recognized in May of 2006 and offers high-quality education services to the patients it serves.

The ADA Education Recognition effort, begun in the fall of 1986, is a voluntary process which assures that approved education programs have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Programs that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management for participants.

“The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of the services we provide,” said Nicky Yeatman, program coordinator at OCH. “And, of course, it helps consumers to identify these quality programs that aid them in living healthier lives.”

Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment. All approved education programs cover the following topics as needed: diabetes disease process; nutritional management; physical activity; medications; monitoring, preventing, detecting and treating acute complications; preventing, detecting and treating chronic complications through risk reduction; goal setting and problem solving; psychological adjustment; and preconception care, management during pregnancy, and gestational management.

OCH also offers a free monthly diabetes support group, with the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the OCH Educational Facility. For more information about the support group or the self-management education program, contact Yeatman at (662) 615-2668.

OCH Regional Medical Center’s Administrator/CEO Attends Homeland Security Training

When disaster strikes, healthcare providers are among the first to respond. Emergency responder and OCH Regional Medical Center’s Administrator/CEO Richard Hilton recently completed training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), in Anniston, Alabama. The CDP is operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training facility in the nation.

Resident training at the CDP includes healthcare and public health courses at the Noble Training Facility, the nation’s only hospital dedicated to training healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response.

“I walked away from this experience with a tremendous awareness of how all response agencies come together to meet the community’s safety needs. Sometimes, the response team not only involves local agencies, but also regional and state agencies working together depending upon the geographic extent of the particular disaster incident,” said Hilton. “Healthcare plays a critical role in mass casualty response, and understanding what resources and assets are available and the speed in which it is received only improves the ability for delivery of life-saving quality care,” he added.

The CDP develops and delivers advanced training for emergency response providers, emergency managers, and other government officials from state, local, and tribal governments. The CDP offers more than 50 training courses focusing on incident management, mass casualty response, and emergency response to a catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. Training at the CDP campus is federally funded at no cost to state, local, and tribal emergency response professionals or their agency.

A number of resident training courses culminate at the CDP’s Chemical, Ordinance, Biological and Radiological Training Facility (COBRA). The COBRA is the nation’s only facility featuring civilian training exercises in a true toxic environment using chemical agents. The advanced hands-on training enables responders to effectively prevent, respond to and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials.

Responders, like Hilton, participating in CDP training gain critical skills and confidence to respond effectively to local incidents or potential WMD events. For more information about the CDP, contact the CDP External Affairs Office, at (256) 847-2212/2316 or e-mail pao@cdpemail.dhs.gov

OCH Regional Medical Center Honors Employees Who Volunteer

Pictured Left to Right (Back Row) OCH Associate Administrator/COO Mike Andrews, Cathy Brewster, Elaine Baker, Jennifer Malone, Elzena Neal, Flora Graise, Alice Neal, Hazel English and Kennedy Neal (Middle Row) Sarah Outlaw, Patsy Prisock, Pat Kelly, Terri Blake, Dana Brooks and Karen Tiffin (Front Row) Bridgett Sanford, Joni Weeks, Susan Self and Lynne Sizemore (Not Pictured) Steve Cochran, Paula Hamilton, Bella Oswalt, Chrissy Villavaso and Tamesha Waller.

OCH Regional Medical Center employees who participated in the 2012 "Catch Me Caring Program" were honored at a luncheon on February 13 for their many hours of service to the Medical Center. The "Catch Me Caring" Volunteers assist with local health fairs, Relay for Life, Starkville's Christmas Parade, Santa's Sweet Shoppe, Bunny Bash and numerous other events.

Mrs. Cathy Brewster served as the guest speaker and spoke about the importance of altruism and shared stories from her many years of volunteerism.

OCH Regional Medical Center First to Offer Single-Site Surgery in North MS

OCH Regional Medical Center reached new horizons in January as it became the first medical facility in North Mississippi to offer single-site surgery using the da Vinci SI Surgical System, according to Dorsey Hardeman with Intuitive Surgical. General Surgeon Daryl P. Guest, MD, recently began performing robotic-assisted cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal) through a single incision in the navel.

The procedure is made possible through new FDA-approved single-site advancement to the da Vinci System. This groundbreaking procedure enables surgeons to reduce the traditional number of incisions from four small incisions to one incision that is an inch in length and hidden in the navel.

“Not only does it result in less pain and a shorter recovery time for the patient, but it’s also a cosmetic benefit because the patient is left with a barely-visible scar inside the navel,” said Dr. Guest.

Dorothy Crowson was Dr. Guest’s first patient to undergo single-site surgery. “I had been sick for years and missed out on a lot, but in December, I had another attack so bad that I passed out. That’s when I went to see Dr. Guest, and he recommended having my gallbladder removed,” said Crowson.

At 72 years of age, Crowson said the cosmetic benefit was not the selling point for robotic surgery, but rather the result of less pain and a quicker recovery time. “For the younger people who still wear the bikinis, it would be a big benefit for them to not have scarring, but for me, I was thankful my husband and I could go home that same day and sleep in our own bed.”

Before leaving OCH, Crowson was able to see her great-grandchild who was born at the Medical Center the same day. “I was thankful that I felt well enough after surgery to see my great-grandchild and be a part of that special day,” said Crowson. “I’ve done so well with my recovery, and I would recommend this procedure to anyone. I’d have it done again, but I only have one gallbladder,” she laughed.

Dr. Guest believes single-site surgery will expand to include more procedures. “I’m excited to make single-site surgery available to my patients, and I think as the robotic system improves, we are going to be able to offer more and more applications in general surgery,” said Dr. Guest. “Robotic surgery is continually evolving, and it’s going to get even better. The visualization with the equipment is far superior to even the best laparoscopic procedure because it provides a three-dimensional image, better depth perception and a magnified picture. Ultimately, what that means is a better outcome for the patient,” he added.

Over the past year, surgeons have performed more than 150 urological, gynecological and general robotic surgeries at OCH, with the Medical Center being the first in North Mississippi to offer general robotic surgery.

“The fact that OCH is one of very few hospitals in the entire state and the only one in North Mississippi to offer the cutting-edge technology of single-site robotic surgery says a lot about our medical community and speaks highly of the Medical Center’s commitment to offering the best care for its patients,” Dr. Guest added.

“It’s unusual that a small town would have a hospital that would offer this type of advanced procedure, but we are so blessed to have this surgery available right here at home. Otherwise, we would have had to travel to Jackson,” said Crowson.

Now that she’s had the surgery, Crowson said she’s looking forward to church, family gatherings and getting back to her normal routine.

 

OCH Works with State, Local Emergency Responders to Conduct Disaster Drill

OCH Regional Medical Center conducted a routine disaster safety drill Friday, January 25, in which local and state emergency responders participated. The focus of the drill was to evaluate and improve communication, triage and transfer of patients, incident command system set-up and interaction with outside agencies during a disaster situation. 

The scenario included a credible bomb threat in which an actor placed a package in the basement of the Medical Center. Although hospital staff members and emergency responders participated in the drill, mannequins were used as patients and were relocated from dangerous areas to limit any inconvenience or interference of care to actual patients and their families. 

“This demonstrates the heightened level of preparedness to disaster situations in our community and our state,” said OCH Disaster Preparedness Officer and Director of Respiratory Care Wes Andrews, RRT, CHEP. “We have advanced technology, a well-trained staff and a protocol to follow to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and employees, and this dramatic scenario carried out today shows how committed we are to being proactive and ready for any situation,” he added.

The Mississippi State Department of Health, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, Tupelo Bomb Squad, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Starkville Police Department, Starkville Fire Department and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department all participated in the drill organized by the OCH Disaster Preparedness Team. Following the drill, controllers, evaluators and participants attended a debriefing in which exercise observations were discussed in an open forum to gather information to help improve the disaster response process and protocol.

Certified Diabetes Educator Provides Specialized Care for Patients

OCH Registered Dietician Nicky Yeatman talks to Bridgett Sanford about correct food portion sizes, which is one of many different topics that is covered in the Diabetes Self-Management Training Program offered at OCH Regional Medical Center.

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Nicky Yeatman, Diabetes Self Management Training Coordinator and Registered Dietician at OCH Regional Medical Center, has renewed the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) status. CDE candidates meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be entitled for certification.

This certification reflects the educator’s specialized knowledge of the disease, and her desire to help others. For the past 14 years, Yeatman has educated diabetic patients about how to manage their disease and live a healthy life.

“Diabetes is a growing epidemic affecting the lives of many throughout the Golden Triangle and Mississippi,” said Yeatman. “I enjoy empowering those living with diabetes towards better health and an overall better quality of life, and that’s our main goal with the outpatient diabetes education programs available at OCH.”

The OCH Diabetes Support Group meets every month and covers different topics related to the disease such as diet, exercise, medications, foot care, blood glucose monitoring and much more. The next Diabetes Support Group is Tuesday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the OCH Educational Facility. The class is free and open to public.

Diabetes Self-Management Training programs are offered every two weeks and require a physician referral. For more information, contact Yeatman at (662) 615-2668.

Certified Diabetes Educator Provides Specialized Care for Patients

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Nicky Yeatman, Diabetes Self Management Training Coordinator and Registered Dietician at OCH Regional Medical Center, has renewed the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) status. CDE candidates meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be entitled for certification.

This certification reflects the educator’s specialized knowledge of the disease, and her desire to help others. For the past 14 years, Yeatman has educated diabetic patients about how to manage their disease and live a healthy life.

“Diabetes is a growing epidemic affecting the lives of many throughout the Golden Triangle and Mississippi,” said Yeatman. “I enjoy empowering those living with diabetes towards better health and an overall better quality of life, and that’s our main goal with the outpatient diabetes education programs available at OCH.”

The OCH Diabetes Support Group meets every month and covers different topics related to the disease such as diet, exercise, medications, foot care, blood glucose monitoring and much more. The next Diabetes Support Group is Tuesday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the OCH Educational Facility. The class is free and open to public.

Diabetes Self-Management Training programs are offered every two weeks and require a physician referral. For more information, contact Yeatman at (662) 615-2668.