News Around the State

Norman selected as NMMC-West Point Employee of the Quarter

Sleep Laboratory coordinator Eric Norman has been selected as North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point’s Employee of the Quarter. Norman graduated from Newton County Academy and received his associate’s degree from East Central Mississippi Community College in 1996. He attended Mississippi State University and earned his associate’s degree in respiratory therapy from Meridian Community College in 1998.

He passed the National Board of Respiratory Care examination in November 1999. He joined the NMMC-West Point staff in April 2000 and trained at the Institute of Sleep Medicine in Birmingham that year. He became a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist in December 2003.

Norman’s nominator described him as a true example of teamwork and a person who is willing to help anyone in need. His nomination stated he is always productive at work and played a large part in helping the hospital’s Sleep Laboratory earn certification. “He does everything with a smile,” his nomination reads. “The best part of my job is providing great health care to my community,” Norman said. “What I love the most about my job is helping others in need.”

He and his wife Amber have one son, Slade. They attend Pinelake Baptist Church in Starkville.

NMMC-West Point Sleep Lab accredited

NMMC-West Point Sleep Laboratory staff includes (from left) Andrew Wartak, M.D., who is board-certified in sleep medicine, and registered polysomnographers Robin Ballard and Eric Norman.

North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point Sleep Laboratory received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

"The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point Sleep Laboratory on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving accreditation as a sleep disorders center," Said Dr. Clete Kushida, AASM president. "The Center is a significant resource to the local medical community and will provide academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders."

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center's facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts and physician training. Additionally, the facility's goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

Located at 835 Medical Center Drive, the NMMC-West Point Sleep Laboratory is directed by Andrew Wartak, M.D., who is board certified in sleep medicine. E.A. Miller Jr., M.D., also serves as a Sleep Laboratory staff physician. For more information, call (662) 495-2143 or 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).

NMMC-West Point honors employees for years of service

North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point recently honored 73 employees for their years of service. Included were Amanda Cable, Susan Terry, Martha Brown, Mindy Dennis, Nora Hartness, 5 years; Lisa Bean, Calamity McClinton, Brenda Wilson, Georgia Williams, 10 years; Nikki Raines, Joni Tharp, Liza Burroughs, 15 years; Debra Wynn, Carlie Godwin, Glenda Brinkley, 20 years; Rachel Nace, Glenda Prather, 25 years; and Rosie Tallie, 30 years.

NMMC-West Point welcomes new administrator

The staff of North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point recently welcomed W. Kent Rogers as hospital administrator. Rogers comes to West Point from Maryville, Tenn., where he has served as executive director of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., a 52-bed assisted living facility, since 2005. For 12 years prior to that, he worked as an executive team member for Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville.

Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1987. He earned a master’s degree from Millsaps College and the University of London School of Economics in 1988. He also earned a master’s degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1994. He completed a health care executive fellowship with the J.W. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in 1997.

Rogers and his wife, Bonnie, have been married for more than 16 years and have two children, a 10-year-old daughter, Jordan, and a 5-year-old son, Grant.

He was reared in Lexington, Tenn., and says his Mississippi ties come through his father, a Lafayette County native. Bonnie hails from Tulsa, Okla.

“Mississippi has been such an important part of my family’s history, and I am very excited about bringing my family to West Point,” Rogers said. “This community is obviously very proud of its medical center and the many people that make it successful. I’m looking forward to being a part of this great team.”

Rogers enjoys hunting, fishing and golf, as well as riding bikes and other activities with his children.

Moore named to Bancorp South's Community Board

Timothy H. Moore, administrator of North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point, was recently elected to the Bancorp South's Community Board. He has been at the hospital since 2003.

A native of Forest, Moore is a graduate of Mississippi State University in Industrial Science and received his Master's of Health Care Management from the University of New Orleans. He currently serves on the Finance Committee of the Mississippi Hospital Association. He is an affiliate of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

He is involved in the community  through the Clay County Economic Development Corporation Board and the Boy Scouts of America. He currently serves as secretary of the Rotary Club of West Point. He is married to the former Janice Cullum of Meridian. They have two sons, Matthew and Ross.

NMMC-West Point celebrates 20 years

North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point recently celebrated 20 years of service to the West Point community. But the community has also always served the hospital. When family physicians Dr. Ron Powell and Dr. William Billington agreed to come to West Point, 20 citizens signed promissory notes to fund a new medical building downtown. Then they faced the hurdle of paying for a brand new hospital, despite the county’s bond limit and the credit history of the old Ivy Memorial Hospital, which NMMC-West Point replaced. Ivy Memorial became affiliated with North Mississippi Health Services in November 1982. With backing from NMHS and overwhelming community support, Clay County Medical Center opened its doors on Sept. 29, 1985. In 2003, the hospital changed its name to NMMC-West Point to better reflect its affiliation with NMMC.

Chandler named Outstanding Employee at NMMC-West Point

Chris Chandler, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department, has been selected as North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point’s most recent Employee of the Quarter.

Chandler joined the hospital staff in June 2000. A graduate of East Webster High School, he earned his associate’s degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. He has additional training as a trauma nurse and emergency medical technician, and is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

“The best part of my job is the challenge of not knowing what will come into our Emergency Department and working closely with other members of the team to have a positive impact on those patients’ lives,” Chandler said.

Co-workers nominated him because he treats individuals with respect, is knowledgeable and strives to continue learning, and is a real team player. Chandler is an active member of Mathiston First Baptist Church, where he serves as a Sunday School teacher. He also plays softball and recently went on a mission trip to the Ukraine. He and his wife Kelley have a 2-year-old son, Evan, and are expecting their second child in March.

NMMC-West Point's surgery, anesthesia departments compete, lose 158 pounds

North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point’s Surgery and Anesthesia departments are lighter on their feet these days since embarking on their own “The Biggest Loser” competition.

Sparked by the nationally-televised version, their contest ran Jan. 3-March 28. They formed two teams—Team A and Team B—each with six members who wanted to lose weight. Each member put up $5 to make the competition more interesting.

Each member weighed in at the beginning of the contest and then once a week thereafter. Each week, the team that lost the least weight had to furnish healthy snacks for the next week. Plus, each member of the losing team had to divvy up another $1 toward the cause.

To keep themselves motivated, many team members ate and exercised together. To help them along, Tracy Stebbins, NMMC-West Point Wellness Center director, scheduled a circuit training class three days a week in the afternoons after they got off work.

By the end of March, the teams had lost a total of 157 pounds. The overall winner was the person who lost the highest percentage of body weight. Surgery nurse Anita Klutts, RN, was “The Biggest Loser,” losing 17.2 percent of her body weight and taking home a pot of $130.

While some participants have reached their target weight, others have vowed to continue another 12 weeks. In the end, all of them lost the fat and gained a sense of accomplishment.