Health briefs

ASLIN, SCHUPP PROMOTED AT SOUTHEAST

Judy Aslin is now executive director of the Southeast Cancer Center, and Nick Schupp is director of radiation therapy at Southeast Hospital. Aslin was most recently director of patient care services. Her new responsibilities include oversight of the quality of care, staffing, budgeting, nursing practice and compliance issues for medical telemetry, the surgical unit, orthopedic unit, psychiatric unit, infusion services, tumor registry and house supervisors/patient placement. Schupp has worked at Southeast since 2005 and has experience in stereotactic radio surgery, intensity modulated radiotherapy and brachytherapy procedures.

TOLENTINO RECOGNIZED BY SURGERY BOARD

Dr. Paul Tolentino, neurosurgeon at the Brain and NeuroSpine Clinic of Missouri in Cape Girardeau, became a certified diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is certified to practice medicine by the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts, has received numerous honors for his research and is a member of many medical associations. Tolentino's postdoctoral education focused on regulated gene therapy in response to traumatic brain injury. He has practiced at the Brain and NeuroSpine Clinic for seven years.

AWL CLINIC RELOCATES

AWL Family Healthcare relocated Jan. 31 to 1435 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite 200, Cape Girardeau.

CANCER INSTITUTE GRANTED CERTIFICATE OF NEED

Saint Francis Medical Center's Cancer Institute announced Jan. 5 that it received approval from the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee to acquire the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System. This will be the only system of its type in the area and will broaden the treatment options available to patients with tumors. The CyberKnife offers an alternative to surgery for the treatment of cancerous and noncancerous tumors. The noninvasive system delivers beams of high-dose radiation with great accuracy and can treat tumors anywhere in the body. Patients will be able to receive fewer doses of radiation over a shorter period of time compared to conventional radiation therapy. The CyberKnife will be in the new Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute, set to open in July.

DENTAL OFFICE OPENS IN KENNETT

KENNETT, Mo. -- Brown and Copeland Dental Team is now open at 703 First St., Kennett. The team includes Drs. Thad L. Brown and Bryan Copeland.

DAVIS CERTIFIED FOR WOUND CARE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Damon Davis attended training at the Wound Care Education Institute and completed a comprehensive exam by the National Alliance of Wound Care. Davis, who works at Mid South Health Clinic in Poplar Bluff, is now certified to diagnose and treat pressure, diabetic, venous and arterial wounds.

PEDIATRICIAN JOINS CAPE PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES

Shylaja Nuguri

Dr. Shylaja Nuguri is a new pediatrician on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center. She joins 12 other physicians at the primary care practice of Cape Physician Associates. Naguri has experience diagnosing and treating childhood health issues and disorders. She has cared for hospitalized children in addition to treating children in urgent care and clinic settings. She has special clinical interest in infectious diseases, child nutrition and childhood obesity.

SOUTHEAST RECOGNIZED FOR STROKE CARE

Southeast Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines: Stroke bronze performance achievement award. The award recognizes Southeast's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

GRANTS TO LOCAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS

ST. LOUIS -- Seven nonprofits in lower east central Missouri received a total of more than $1 million in grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The grants are part of $4 million of funding approved by MFH's board. Grants went to the following organizations: Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, $475,662 for tutoring and skill-building programs in its accelerated bachelor of nursing degree program; Community Counseling Center, Cape Girardeau, $196,903 to give seniors depression screening, referrals and mobile services; Perry County Memorial Hospital, Perryville, $149,878 to improve patients' access to care through new mental health services, preventive screenings and education; Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, Ste. Genevieve, $198,464 to expand diabetes education and assessment capabilities; Bollinger County Health Center, Marble Hill, $17,138 for technical assistance in organizational assessment and planning so it can pursue new accreditation; Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, Cape Girardeau, $17,138 for the same purpose; and Madison County Health Department, Fredericktown, $16,964 to perform organizational assessment and plan for new accreditation.

STE. GENEVIEVE HOSPITAL HONORS EMPLOYEES

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital announced three award winners at its annual Christmas party Dec. 5. Pharmacist Bill Mitchell received the outstanding director award, Chrissy Wolk was employee of the year and Anita Kertz was the nursing excellence award winner. Kertz has worked at the hospital for 30 years; Wolk is a 14-year employee and Mitchell has worked at the hospital for eight years. Hospital staff voted for the winners.

MUNCH REELECTED TO HEALTH BOARD

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Dr. Dorothy Munch, Poplar Bluff, was reelected to the board of the Missouri Foundation for Health. She will serve a second three-year term with MFH, Missouri's largest nongovernmental funder of community health activities.

HEALTH NETWORK GETS ACS AWARD

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The SEMO Health Network received the Harold P. Freeman Service Award from the American Cancer Society's High Plains Division, reported the Dexter Daily Statesman. The award is presented to individuals, groups, organizations or companies that show exemplary achievement in saving lives, diminishing suffering or improving quality of life from cancer in underserved communities. The SEMO Health Network, based in New Madrid, Mo., was recognized for providing the highest quality of health care to Southeast Missouri residents regardless of their ability to pay. The organization was one of six to receive this award in the High Plains Division, which includes Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

SOUTHEAST ADDS FOUR DOCTORS

Southeast Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Tim Duke to Southeast Primary Care, 1723 Broadway, Suite 205, Cape Girardeau. Duke specializes in pediatric and adult practice medicine. Additionally, Dr. Cheree Wheeler-Duke, pediatric and adult practice medicine; Dr. Mourad Nessim, internal medicine physician; and Dr. Paul Leland, pediatrics, are all working at Southeast Medical Plaza on South Mount Auburn Road.

SOUTHEAST GET HIGH MARKS FROM HEALTHGRADES

Southeast Hospital ranks among the nation's best hospitals for patient care, according to HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings organization. The hospital was ranked No. 1 in Missouri for vascular surgery in 2011; second for coronary interventional procedures; fourth in prostatectomy; sixth in cardiology services; seventh in overall orthopedic services; eighth in overall cardiac services and 10th for stroke treatment. Mary Sweet, HealthGrades services consultant, presented awards to hospital staff during a Jan. 13 news conference in Cape Girardeau. HealthGrades evaluates 5,000 hospitals annually, looking at mortality and complication rates for 27 different medical procedures. Rankings can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

THREE DOCTORS EARN CERTIFICATION

Drs. Tim Duke, Cheree Wheeler-Duke and S. Danette Miller, all on staff at Southeast Hospital, recently earned board certification from the American Board of Family Practice Medicine. The three are now certified as diplomates of the American Board of Family Practice Medicine.

CRECELIUS JOINS STE. GENEVIEVE HOSPITAL

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Women's health nurse practitioner Mary Crecelius joined the women's wellness services staff at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. Crecelius has been a nurse since 1982 and a nurse practitioner since 1997. She is seeing patients at the hospital's women's wellness services center, the Plaza Medical Center at Pointe Basse and the Bloomsdale Family Health Center.

HARRIS ELECTED SOUTHEAST COUNCIL PRESIDENT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Paula Harris, CEO of Advanced Health Care Management Services LLC, Poplar Bluff, Mo., was elected to a one-year term as president of the Missouri Hospital Association's Southeast District Council. Her term began Jan. 1. As district council president, Harris' responsibilities include presiding over council meetings, guiding discussions on association policies and activities, and directing input from council members to the MHA board of trustees. Presidents also select recipients of MHA's Excellence in Governance awards. Harris is one of six district council presidents.

SAINT FRANCIS ADDS PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE

Saint Francis Medical Center recently welcomed its newest physician practice partner, Jackson Family Care, formerly Jackson Family Clinic, 545 Broadridge Drive, Jackson. Dr. Kennett D. Asher, a board-certified family practitioner who has been on Saint Francis' medical staff for more than 30 years, leads the practice.

SOUTHEAST HIRES VP OF PHYSICIAN SERVICES

William J. "Bill" Pfingsten was named vice president of physician services at SoutheastHEALTH, effective Feb. 17. He comes to Cape Girardeau from Bozeman, Mont., where he served as vice president of the Bozeman Deaconess Health Group, a 15-clinic, 53-physician multispecialty group associated with Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

BREAST CARE CENTER GETS EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION

SoutheastHEALTH's Breast Care & Diagnostic Center was designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. ACR designation recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound, including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. Peer-review evaluations, conducted at each center by board-certified physicians and medical physicists, determined that Southeast's facility has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.

VETERANS HOME HAS NEW ASST. ADMINISTRATOR

Mindi Pruitt joined the Missouri Veterans Home of Cape Girardeau as assistant administrator. She previously worked for Fountainbleau for 13 years, where she managed the daily operations of three large nursing homes. Pruitt replaces former assistant administrator Rich Denning, who has retired.

ROBERTS NAMED CHIEF OF STAFF

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The board of trustees at Mineral Area Regional Medical center named Dr. Justin W. Roberts as chief of staff for 2011. Roberts, a Farmington native, has been on the hospital staff since June 2008. He finished his residency in otolaryngology in 2008 and has been an independent private practice in Farmington since then.

SCOTT NAMED HR DIRECTOR AT SOUTHEAST

Lincoln C. Scott was appointed director of human resources and total rewards at SoutheastHEALTH. His primary focus will be implementation of total rewards, which involve compensation and benefits; human resources information systems; human resources policies and procedures; regulatory compliance related to benefits; organizational development and employee relations. Debbie Bowers will continue her duties as director of human resources administrative services. Scott comes to SoutheastHEALTH with more than 30 years of human resources experience; he most recently served as assistant to the president at Southeast Missouri State University.

NEW ER, TRAUMA CENTER OPENS

Saint Francis Medical Center opens new emergency room and trauma center.

On Feb. 8, Saint Francis Medical Center opened its completed Gene E. Huckstep Emergency and Trauma Center for patient care. The facility's $12 million expansion and renovation will allow emergency staff to treat the most life-threatening and disabling injuries and give patients exceptional emergency care. The facility has nearly tripled in size, with 30,000 square feet added to the original 11,600, and a total of 32 treatment rooms. It is the region's only state-designated Level III trauma center and has three trauma rooms, two triage rooms, a special procedures room and, upon completion of Phase II, a total of 26 private treatment rooms with direct access to bathrooms. It also houses Saint Francis' Chest Pain Center and Stroke Center, a 64-slice CT scanner, the latest X-ray equipment, a decontamination room, paperless record-keeping system and room monitors.