News Around the State

Akins named Employee of the Year at NMSH

Jimmy Akins, a graduate of Starkville High School, was recently named Employee of the Year at North Mississippi State Hospital. Akins has served as a Mental Health technician at the Hospital for seven years. He has also worked at Millcreek of Pontotoc and Community counseling Services – Diamond Grove.  

He holds an Associate degree from East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.  

He is certified in the Mandt system of reducing workplace violence through building positive relationships.  He also holds certificates in CPR, Technical Crisis Intervention and Crisis Behavior Techniques.   

Akins lives in Tupelo with his wife Annette Holman Akins and daughter Jordyn.  

Hospital Director Paul A. Callens, Ph.D., praised Akins for his ability to work with patients to calm them and to offer compassion.  “Jimmy is the kind of employee who keeps morale high by creating laughter with all of our staff.  He is an all-around team player.  We appreciate his dedication to our patients and to our hospital.”   

 

NMMC Designated as Level II Trauma Center, Secondary PediatricTrauma Center

The Mississippi State Department of Health has designated North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo as a Level II Trauma Center and Secondary Pediatric Trauma Center in the Mississippi Trauma Care System. 

NMMC is one of five Level II Trauma Centers in Mississippi and one of two in the north half of the state to earn this designation.

According to the MSDH criteria, a Level II Trauma Center is an acute care facility with the commitment, resources and specialty training necessary to provide sophisticated trauma care. In addition, they must have specific departments, divisions, or sections: General Surgery; Neurological Surgery; Orthopedic Surgery; Emergency Medicine; Anesthesia; Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU); and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

In addition, each Trauma Center maintains a Trauma Registry with up-to-date information. "Trauma is any event that causes an injury to the patient," said Wanda Della-Calce, RN, administrator of NMMC's emergency and behavioral health services. "

NMMC is equipped to handle everything but the most complex cases, such as complex pelvis trauma, or those that require pediatric subspecialists. Pediatric patients that require subspecialists are stabilized and then transported to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis."

NMMC first earned its Level II designation in 2000 following the passage of House Bill 966, the Mississippi Trauma Care System Law. NMMC treated approximately 80,000 patients through its Emergency Services Department last year, including patients who walk in on their own, are transported by ambulance or medical helicopter from an accident site or other location, or from another hospital. The volume continues to increase yearly.

 

NMHS named as one of nation's top health systems

North Mississippi Health Services has been selected for inclusion in Modern Healthcare magazine's listing of the nation's Top Health Systems.

The annual rankings, compiled by Thomson Reuters, is based on patient satisfaction and clinical quality outcomes. 

"We are honored to be included in this ranking of the nation's top 20 percent of health systems in the United States," said John Heer, North Mississippi Health Services president and chief executive officer. "This honor validates that our organization is focused on the right things: our patients and the quality of care and service provided to them."

NMHS was the only health care organization in Mississippi to make the list. Sixty-four health care systems of the 321 systems studied earned this designation. 

Akins named NMSH Employee of the Quarter

Jimmy Akins was named Employee of the 4th Quarter of 2011 at North Mississippi State Hospital.  Akins has served as a mental health technician at the Hospital for seven years.  He has also worked at Millcreek of Pontotoc and Community Counseling Services – Diamond Grove.

A graduate of Starkville High School, he holds an associate degree from East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.  He is certified in The Mandt System of Reducing Workplace Violence through Building Positive Relationships.  He also holds certificates in CPR, Technical Crisis Intervention, and Crisis Behavior Techniques.

Akins lives in Tupelo with his wife Annette Holman Akins and their daughter Jordyn.

Hospital Director, Paul A. Callens, Ph.D., praised Akins for his ability to work with patients to calm them and to offer compassion.  “Jimmy is the kind of employee who keeps morale high by creating laughter with all of our staff.  He is an all-around team player.  We appreciate his dedication to our patients and to our Hospital.”

 

 

NMMC announces 2011 All-Star Team

Eleven North Mississippi Medical Center employees have been named
to the organization’s All Star Team for 2011.

The employees were recognized by NMMC’s Stars On-Line program for outstanding performance throughout the year. NMMC launched the Stars On-Line program in 1999 to recognize employees who exhibit extraordinary care and concern for their patients, customers and coworkers. The All Stars were honored at a banquet Nov. 11.

The honorees include:

• Heather Bowen of Guntown, clinical educator at Women’s Hospital Surgery and
  PACU. Bowen has been with NMMC since 2003.
• Beth Buse, LMSW, of New Albany, medical social worker at Home Health and
  Hospice. Buse has been with NMMC since 2003.
• Cindy Cockell, RN, of Houston, with Home Health and Hospice. Cockell joined the
  NMMC staff in 1997.
• Tina Bell Floyd of Plantersville, certified nursing assistant with Home Health and
  Hospice. Floyd has been with NMMC since 2004.
• Carolyn Hood of Baldwyn, office coordinator with Home Health and Hospice. Hood
  joined the NMMC staff in 1996.
• Bessie Griffin of Eupora, admission/discharge specialist at Eupora Medical Clinic.
  Griffin has been with NMMC since 1993.
• Eddie Moye of West Point, security manager at NMMC-West Point. Moye joined the
  NMMC staff in 2000.
• Paula Rumore of Eupora, office manager at Eupora Medical Clinic. Rumore joined the
  NMMC staff in 2007.
• Katherine Souter of Pontotoc, restorative care technician at NMMC-Pontotoc Long
  Term Care. Souter has been with NMMC since 2007.
• Kimmy Vinson of Hamilton, Ala., physical therapy assistant at NMMC-Hamilton.
  Vinson joined the NMMC staff in 2009.
• Shirley Wood of Verona, medical social worker with Home Health and Hospice.
  Wood joined the NMMC staff in 1987.

NMMC Unveils First Hybrid Operating Room for Complex Surgeries

North Mississippi Medical Center recently opened the first hybrid operating room in north Mississippi, transforming conventional surgery techniques and paving the way for new minimally invasive surgeries.

Located on the second floor of the hospital's East Tower, the hybrid OR combines operating room capabilities with the most advanced imaging systems available. This feature enables physicians to make a diagnosis and then quickly proceed with treatment, without moving the patient or scheduling separate times for procedures.

Being able to perform multiple procedures in the same location improves patient care and efficiency. Potential benefits include fewer required surgeries, less risk for infection, shorter hospital stays, safer procedures, faster recoveries and better outcomes.

"In the hybrid OR, we have both imaging capabilities and surgical capabilities," explained cardiothoracic surgeon Vishal Sachdev, M.D. "This new technology allows us to combine catheter-based procedures with traditional surgery and move toward more minimally-invasive surgeries.

"Because of enhanced imaging in the hybrid OR, we can perform more complex procedures," he said. "For example, during a thoracic and abdominal stenting procedure, the room's C-arm allows us to do a rapid CT scan at the time of surgery so we can see if there's a leak in the stent before we complete the procedure."

The hybrid OR is extremely valuable when emergency cardiopulmonary bypass is required, or when a doctor halts an endoscopic procedure and decides conventional surgery is required.

The key to a hybrid OR is versatility. "This is a state-of-the-art surgical suite that allows interventional cardiologists and surgeons to move seamlessly between minimally invasive and open or endovascular procedures without needing to move the patient," said interventional cardiologist Amit Gupta, M.D.

"Because the hybrid OR has full capabilities of a modern operating room and a cardiovascular catheterization lab, we can look forward to performing a combination of minimally invasive cardiac bypass surgery and coronary or carotid artery stenting in the same setting on certain high risk patients. The hybrid OR will change how we approach complex cardiovascular conditions."

The hybrid OR covers 1,300 square feet, including a control room, scrub area and supplies. Large monitors located throughout the room can connect to more than 20 advanced imaging sources, giving physicians access to countless past and real-time three-dimensional X-rays, CT scans and more. During a case, physicians can easily consult with specialists by sending real-time images via computer.
They hybrid OR will enable Danny Sanders, M.D., and other general surgeons to combine procedures for the patients' benefit. "Vascular surgery is becoming less and less invasive," Dr. Sanders said.

"Oftentimes, a patient's vascular disease will involve an inflow problem, which we like to treat with a stent in the cath lab, and also an outflow problem that we need to treat with an open bypass. In the past, we had to schedule two separate procedures in different locations, sometimes on different days, with the patient being sedated twice. With the hybrid OR, we will be able to sedate the patient once and do both procedures during the same case."

Surgeons will potentially use the hybrid OR for cases such as carotid, thoracic and abdominal stents; complex endovascular procedures; hybrid coronary artery bypass graft; minimally-invasive heart valve repair or replacement; and implanting ventricular assist devices for patients in cardiogenic shock. The facility also opens the door for other minimally-invasive procedures in cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedics.
 

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MississippiFoundation Awards $250,000 Grant to HealthWorks!

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi for a HealthWorks! project that will expand children's health education school outreach programming and provide schools in the region with additional resources to develop and sustain their school health councils. 

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation grant was awarded as a part of its continuing effort to fund successful health programs and initiatives that work to improve the health of Mississippians, especially children's health and physical education. "Mississippi continues to make progress toward a healthier future, and the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is facilitating this progress by providing the resources, funding and leadership needed to continue in our commitment to a healthier Mississippi," said Sheila Grogan, Executive Director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.  "HealthWorks! successes have proven to be significant toward much of that progress. Our board is excited about this grant, and we look forward to partnering with Health Care Foundation and HealthWorks! on this innovative project."

School health councils are volunteer advisory groups that advise schools on aspects of their comprehensive school health program.  Research has shown that when properly implemented, these groups can have significant, positive impacts on student health. "Although school health councils are mandated by the Mississippi Department of Education, many schools report being only minimally effective in implementing them," says Kathy Tucker, SHAPE coordinator at HealthWorks! and grant project manager. "The Blue Cross grant will specifically support efforts to expand specialized health education outreach programming and other resources to targeted schools. Our goal is for 90 percent of all schools in 21 counties in north Mississippi to have health councils that are taking specific action toward becoming effective and sustainable."

With this donation Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation becomes the center's most significant contributor. In 2006 the Foundation contributed $500,000 to the initial capital campaign to develop the center. 

HealthWorks!, an interactive children's health education center, opened in early 2009. To date, more than 70,000 students, teachers and parents have participated in the center's programs. As a certified supplemental health education provider with the Mississippi Department of Education, the center provides curriculum-based health education through class field trips and community programs.  Admission fees are greatly reduced from actual costs, providing many more K-8 students and families with program opportunities. More than two-thirds of the center's $450,000 operating budget is subsidized through charitable contributions to Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi.

 

NMMC Announces 2011 All Star Team

Eleven North Mississippi Medical Center employees have been named to the organization's All Star Team for 2011. 

The employees were recognized by NMMC's Stars On-Line program for outstanding performance throughout the year. NMMC launched the Stars On-Line program in 1999 to recognize employees who exhibit extraordinary care and concern for their patients, customers and coworkers. The All Stars were honored at a banquet Nov. 11.

The honorees include:

• Heather Bowen of Guntown, clinical educator at Women's Hospital Surgery and PACU. Bowen has been with NMMC since 2003.
• Beth Buse, LMSW, of New Albany, medical social worker at Home Health and Hospice. Buse has been with NMMC since 2003.
• Cindy Cockell, RN, of Houston, with Home Health and Hospice. Cockell joined the NMMC staff in 1997.
• Tina Bell Floyd of Plantersville, certified nursing assistant with Home Health and Hospice. Floyd has been with NMMC since 2004.
• Carolyn Hood of Baldwyn, office coordinator with Home Health and Hospice. Hood joined the NMMC staff in 1996.
• Bessie Griffin of Eupora, admission/discharge specialist at Eupora Medical Clinic. Griffin has been with NMMC since 1993.
• Eddie Moye of West Point, security manager at NMMC-West Point. Moye joined the NMMC staff in 2000.
• Paula Rumore of Eupora, office manager at Eupora Medical Clinic. Rumore joined the NMMC staff in 2007.
• Katherine Souter of Pontotoc, restorative care technician at NMMC-Pontotoc Long Term Care. Souter has been with NMMC since 2007.
• Kimmy Vinson of Hamilton, Ala., physical therapy assistant at NMMC-Hamilton. Vinson joined the NMMC staff in 2009.
• Shirley Wood of Verona, medical social worker with Home Health and Hospice. Wood joined the NMMC staff in 1987.

 

NMSH Names Employee of the Quarter

Anniece Riddle has been named Employee of the Quarter for North Mississippi State Hospital in Tupelo.  Ms. Riddle serves as a member of the Housekeeping Department and was previously a member of the Dietary Department.  She, along with the entire Dietary Department, was recognized as an Employee of the Quarter in 2010.

She is a graduate of Austin High School in Chicago, Illinois.  She also studied at the AMTI of Nursing in Chicago and the Sawyer Business College in Oak Park, Illinois.  Prior to joining the staff at NMSH, she has been a substitute teacher for the Aberdeen School System and a Ward Clerk and Nurses’ Aide for the Aberdeen Hospital.  She has two sons and one daughter and one grandson.

In naming Ms. Riddle Employee of the Quarter, Hospital Director Paul A. Callens, Ph.D., had this to say, “Anniece goes above and beyond her job description in helping our hospital keep its sparkle and shine.  She is self-motivated to do a good job and takes pride in her work.  All of her exemplary qualities are amplified through her constant infectious smiles and laughter.  We are fortunate to have her on our staff and pleased to name her as our Employee of the Quarter.”

Employees of the Quarter are nominated and chosen by their colleagues at NMSH, an acute psychiatric hospital which is part of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

Starling certified in heart failure nursing

 

Jan Starling, RN, CHFN, of Mantachie has met the qualifications to become Mississippi's first Certified Heart Failure Nurse.

Offered through the Heart Failure Certification Board, this certification promotes the highest standards of practice within the specialty, validates attainment of a common knowledge base required for practice, and encourages continued educational growth. To be eligible, a nurse must have an active license and have practiced full time for at least two years; have a minimum of 1,200 recent clinical hours caring for heart failure patients; and have completed 30 hours of continuing education within the last two years, including at least 15 related to heart failure care.

Starling has been an employee of North Mississippi Medical Center for 20 years, with 18 of those being with NMMC Home Health and Hospice. A graduate of Saltillo High School, she earned her associate's degree in nursing from Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville in 1991 and her bachelor's degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women in 2010.

Starling received the American Nurses Association Honorary Nursing Practice Award in 2010 and the Mississippi Nurses Association Nurse of the Year, Nightingale Award in 2009. She is a member of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. She and her husband Joe have two children, Bradley and Sallie.