News Around the State

Medical Associates of Vicksburg Receives Computed Tomography Award

Medical Associates of Vicksburg has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography following a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

CT scanning, sometimes known as a CAT scan, is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and tailor treatments for various medical conditions. "We are proud to receive this gold seal standard of accreditation for CT, especially since it is only given to approximately 300 facilities in the United States,” said Paul Pierce III, MD, Medical Associates of Vicksburg.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

"I am very proud of the hard work and commitment demonstrated by our staff,” said Dr. Pierce. “Earning this designation is a process we voluntarily chose to complete to make sure our patients benefit from the highest level of service possible."

Medical Associates of Vicksburg is staffed by several board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and professional office staff members. In addition to the main location in Vicksburg, the clinic operates other locations in Jackson, Port Gibson and Delphi, La.

ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Vicksburg and River Region announce launch of Lifenet System

The city of Vicksburg and River Region Medical Center recently announced the launching of the LIFENET System from Physio-Control. The first web-based system of its kind, this system has the goal of reducing the time it takes to treat patients in the Vicksburg area who experience a dangerous type of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The system will help River Region reduce door-to-balloon times for STEMI patients.

Beard and Moore named to MGMA board

Two River Region Medical Center clinic managers have been named to the Mississippi Medical Group Management Association board.

Bobbie Beard was elected secretary of the state chapter of MGMA and John Moore was named the organization’s treasurer.

Beard, who supervises the Street Clinic, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in health services administration. She is a certified medical manager with 27 years of management experience and seven years with River Region.

Moore manages the Family Medicine Clinic, Southern Orthopedics and Vicksburg Clinic. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s of business administration. He has 15 years of management experience, including seven years with River Region.

River Region earns pioneering accreditation

River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg has received full accreditation from the Accreditation Review Committee. The accreditation, which expires April 17, 2009, makes River Region the first accredited chest pain center in Mississippi and the 259th in the nation.

The Chest Pain Center at River Region demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team from the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

Jimmerson joins River Region

LaKesha Jimmerson has joined River Region Health System as assistant administrator.

Jimmerson, who oversees River Region's Laboratory and Food and Nutrition Services, received a bachelor's degree in public policy from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Cal., and a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex.

She served a two-year residency and fellowship with Texas Health Resources, working in the health care system's Harris Methodist HEB Hospital of Dallas. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Weiselogel named Clinic Business Office Director at River Region

Art Weiselogel has been hired as Clinic Business Office Director for River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He will be responsible for billing and collections of physician services.

Weiselogel received his bachelor of business administration in accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Weiselogel has worked in health care since 1983. A native of Arlington, he worked in Dallas as a billing operations manager for the Dermatology Department at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He was also clinic manager of the Urology Department and manager of Billing Support Services for an ambulatory care center.

Weiselogel has been manager of Patient Business Services at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, director of patient accounts for Children's Hospital in New Orleans, business office manager at Flow Memorial Hospital in Denton, Tex., and an assistant controller at Diagnostic Center Hospital in Houston.

Hopson Recognized by Ole Miss Alumni Association

The University of Mississippi Alumni Association recently recognized Dr. W. Briggs Hopson, Jr., of Vicksburg, along with six other alumni, with the highest annual honors. He was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Hopson is medical director and vice president for medical affairs at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Southeastern Surgical Congress, American Association of Surgery of Trauma and the Mississippi State Medical Association. He is credited with developing a statewide trauma network, helping develop and teaching the state's first advanced Trauma Life Support Course and chairing Gov. Kirk Fordice's Committee on Health Care.

Hopson was president of the Ole Miss Alumni Association for two year and has served as CEO and board chairman of the Miss Mississippi pageant for 18 years.

Pfister, Pratt join staff at River Region

Two people have joined the staff at River Region Health Systems in Vicksburg.

Scott Pfister is the new chief financial officer and Bonnie Pratt is the new chief nursing officer.

Pfister has worked in health care since 1985, most recently as chief financial officer for Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, Ore.

Pfister will play a key role in developing annual strategic business plans and capital spending plans for River Region.

Pfister received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska.

Pratt received her nursing degree from Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans. She later received a bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico State University.

River Region approved as Parkinson's info center

River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg has been approved as Mississippi's first and only American Parkinson Disease Association Information and Referral Center by the executive board of the association.

The center's medical director is Dr. Lee Voulters, a River Region Health System neurologist in practice at The Vicksburg Clinic.

The APDA made its selection because Voulters is the only fellowship-trained movement disorder specialist in Mississippi. A movement disorder specialist sees patients with a variety of neurological disorders of which Parkinson's is the most common.

Voulters completed his fellowship training in movement disorders at the Neurological Institute at Columbia University in New York. He received his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degree from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine at the University of London in England. His training included serving as house physician and later house surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He completed his residency and served as chief resident in neurology at the University of Western Ontario in Ontario, Canada. He also has a master's degree in business administration from George Mason University.

Mississippi's APDA Information and Referral Center provides a 24-hour answering service and a staff coordinator, trained in social work or nursing, to field questions.

The center is at River Region West Campus, 1111 N. Frontage Rd., Vicksburg. The telephone number is (601) 619-3287.

River Region offering custom menus

River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg recently began a new program where patients are allowed to pick their meals. Under the new plan, a patient receives a daily menu folder that contains choices available for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next day.  The hospital also has menu hosts that help patients fill out the menu and answer questions. There are seven menus available: regular, low-fat/low-cholesterol, low sodium, cardiac, calorie-diabetic, renal and soft. The primary physician determines which menu patients can choose from.