Health briefs

FARKAS NAMED DIRECTOR OF NURSES

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Kelly Farkas of Bonne Terre, Mo., was named director of nurses at Safe Harbor Hospice. She has been a registered nurse for six years and has worked in hospice for two years.

HOSPITAL MOVES BILLING DEPARTMENT, LOSES 17 JOBS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A decision by Health Management Associates of Naples, Fla., to consolidate billing operations resulted in 17 job losses in the business office at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, the Daily American Republic reported. The employees were notified June 1. According to Tiffany Jenkins, director of marketing and public relations, the hospital is trying to find other jobs in the hospital for those workers who want to remain working there. Jenkins said the billing is being consolidated with the billing department at the HMA-owned Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark.

CENTRO RECEIVES 50-YEAR HONOR

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dr. Donald P. Centro of Sikeston received the Missouri State Medical Association's 50-Year Physician pin during its annual convention in St. Louis.

Dr. Louis P. Caragine Jr.,

Dr. Bradley K. Bittle

Dr. W. Keith Graham

THREE CREDENTIALED BY MD ANDERSON

Saint Francis Medical Center announced that three of its physicians and medical partners were credentialed by MD Anderson Physicians Network: Dr. Louis P. Caragine Jr., neurosurgeon and endovascular neurosurgeon at Cape Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery; and Dr. Bradley K. Bittle and Dr. W. Keith Graham, pulmonologists/sleep medicine physicians at Cape Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. Credentialing gives these physicians access to advanced, evidence-based treatment processes developed by MD Anderson Cancer Center, the nation's leader in cancer care. Bittle, Caragine and Graham can now collaborate with 750 MD Anderson peers to share insights and gain added value of consultations.

REIS BECOMES BOARD CERTIFIED

Dr. Christopher Reis

The American Board of Anesthesiology announced that Dr. Christopher Reis, a pain management specialist at the Brain & NeuroSpine Clinic of Missouri in Cape Girardeau, became board-certified in anesthesiology. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, Reis provides comprehensive pain management related to chronic spine, joint and myofascial pain. A diplomate of the board must possess knowledge, judgment, adaptability, clinical skills, technical facility and personal characteristics sufficient to carry out the entire scope of anesthesiology practice.

VAMC TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Eric K. Shinseki, secretary of veterans affairs, announced the department will add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians and nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce. The VA estimates that five clinicians and one support person will be hired to support mental health operations at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Funding has been distributed to the medical center and recruitment is underway. Currently, 45 mental health clinicians and support staff work to support 18,848 veterans in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

GIBSON CLOSES BOLLINGER COUNTY FACILITY

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau-based Gibson Center closed its Bollinger County facility in Marble Hill at the end of June. Angie Silvey, who had overseen the site, has been transferred to the Gibson Center facility in Perryville, Mo. Gibson Center director John Gary said grants from various state and federal sources have been drying up, and over the years the center has had to cut services in other locations. This year it was forced to close centers in Bollinger and Ste. Genevieve counties. Bollinger County residents who need the Gibson Center's services will be referred to either Perryville or Cape Girardeau. Gary said the center plans to hire a driver to help provide transportation from Bollinger County to these areas.

SOUTHEAST HONORED AS FIT-FRIENDLY COMPANY

SoutheastHEALTH was recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association for helping employees improve nutrition and fitness.

SOUTHEAST REACHES SILVER LEVEL

SoutheastHEALTH earned Silver Level achievement status in the Champions for Life campaign of the American Red Cross to increase blood donations.

REVELLE IS HOMEMAKER OF THE MONTH

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Delta Revelle was homemaker of the month for June at the Butler County Health Department. She has worked for the department since April 1984.

TWIN RIVERS HONORS EMPLOYEES

KENNETT, Mo. -- Employees of the month for May at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center were Brad Robinson, registered nurse in the ICU, nurse of the month; Terry Wilson, certified respiratory technician, clinical associate of the month; and Jeannie Winberry of the Kennett Orthopaedics Center, support associate of the month.

Dr. Sam Duncan

DUNCAN JOINS SOUTHEAST FOUNDATION

Dr. Sam Duncan was named senior development officer for the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation. He most recently served as director of development and constituents at Southeast Missouri State University. In his new role, Duncan is responsible for implementing a comprehensive development program for both short- and long-range giving.

BLACK RIVER MEDICAL CENTER OPENS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Black River Medical Center completed inspection by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on June 14 and opened for business on June 18. Created through a partnership between Poplar Bluff Medical Partners and Saint Francis Healthcare System, Black River is a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital at 217 Physicians Park Drive, off Highways PP and 67 on the Physicians Park campus. The three-bed hospital was designed by local physicians and offers Poplar Bluff residents a choice for inpatient hospitalization. Michael Burcham Sr. is president and chief executive officer of the hospital, which also offers emergency services, laboratory services, respiratory care, dietary services, pharmacy and a number of other associated medical services.

ADVANCE MEDICAL CLINIC OPENS

ADVANCE, Mo. -- A new option for medical treatment is now available in the old Almond clinic on the corner of Oak and Sturdivant streets in Advance, the North Stoddard Countian reported. Nurse practitioner Lori Williams said that her clinic of four years had outgrown its Bell City, Mo., location, so she was looking for larger accommodations. Williams is under the supervision of Dr. Ramiro Icaza, who operates Heartland Family Physicians and Prompt Care in Jackson.

JIBBEN HIRED AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR

DEXTER, Mo. -- Dr. Bobby Jibben was hired as medical director for the Stoddard County Ambulance District, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. He replaces Dr. Michael L. Moen, who resigned. Jibben started his new duties June 1.

NAGEL JOINS JACKSON, MARBLE HILL PHARMACIES

Denae Nagel joined the team at Jones Drug Store in uptown Jackson and Twin City Pharmacy in Marble Hill, Mo. Nagel has 10 years of experience in pharmacy and four years as a pharmacist.

TILGHMAN COMPLETES IMMUNIZATION TRAINING

Jim Tilghman, a pharmacist with Broadway Prescription Shop in Cape Girardeau, completed training with the Missouri Pharmacy Association to administer immunizations.

WEBSTER JOINS SOUTHEAST FOOD SERVICES

Jedediah "JD" Webster was named director of food and nutrition services at SoutheastHEALTH, beginning June 16. Webster joined Sodexo in 2002 and has food service experience in both health care and campus services divisions. He comes from Bloomfield, Iowa, where he managed food, laundry and environmental services for Davis County Hospital. He previously managed services for three hospitals operated by Mercy Health System of Kansas.

SAINT FRANCIS GETS GRANT FOR TELEMEDICINE PROJECT

Saint Francis Medical Center was awarded $262,068 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help purchase equipment for the first regional telestroke and teletrauma program in Southeast Missouri. With the funds, Saint Francis' Telestroke and Teletrauma Network Project will provide the equipment needed for telemedicine consultations to patients at three rural hospitals: Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo., Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital in Hayti, Mo., and Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Mo. The service will benefit patients in Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne counties who arrive in the emergency room with symptoms of an acute stroke and/or trauma. Debby Sprandel, director of medical management and neurosciences, and Robert Grayhek, director of trauma and disaster services, will lead the project at Saint Francis.

GILLILAND IS DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, CONSTRUCTION

Brian Gilliland of Millersville was named director of facilities and construction for SoutheastHEALTH. He has served as interim director of facilities management for the past four and a half months. In his new position, he will provide focused leadership for engineering, facilities maintenance, construction and the environment of care for SoutheastHEALTH. Gilliland has worked at Southeast for more than 22 years.