Business Notebook: Saint Francis wins marketing, patient survey awards

Saint Francis Medical Center recently won 21 Show-Me Excellence awards for excellence in health-care marketing from the Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing -- more than any hospital in the state.

The medical center was awarded eight first-place, eight second-place and five third-place awards, according to a news release from the medical center.

The awards recognize Missouri hospitals and health-care systems' efforts to educate communities about health-related issues and services, and acknowledge quality advertising, marketing and public relations projects produced by those institutions, the release said.

The association was formed in 1978 and is an affiliated organization of the Missouri Hospital Association and an affiliated chapter of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.

* Saint Francis Medical Center has been recognized with a 2014 Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award based on patients' surveys. The medical center is one of 10 hospitals in Missouri that received the award, according to a news release from Saint Francis.

Healthgrades, an online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, awarded 447 hospitals nationwide -- distinguished as the top 15 percent of hospitals -- based on patients' responses to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey for visits between April 2012 and March 2013, according to the release.

Healthgrades' analysis of data revealed patients are more likely to recommend an organization to family and friends and give it a high overall rating if they have positive experiences with nurse communication, pain control, receiving discharge instructions, receiving help quickly and how well staff explained medications, the release said.

Shared-Work Program extension signed into law

Gov. Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 844, legislation that extends the federal Shared-Work Program, into law on Friday.

During temporary declines in business, the Shared-Work Program allows participating companies to reduce hours of permanent employees, and those employees can collect partial unemployment payments to make up for lost wages.

The program has helped businesses avoid layoffs during temporary slowdowns and allowed them to retain skilled workers, according to a previous news release from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which favors the bill.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Bob Dixon, a Republican from Springfield, was given unanimous support by the Missouri General Assembly.

Early bird hunting seasons, limits approved

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following early migratory bird hunting seasons and limits:

* Mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves and white-winged doves: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with limits of a combined total for all three species of 15 daily and 45 in possession.

* Blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and cinnamon teal: If the blue-winged teal breeding population index is below 3.3 million, the season is closed. If its breeding population index is at least 3.3 million but fewer than 4.7 million, this year's season will be Sept. 6 through 14. If its breeding population index is 4.7 million or greater, the season will be Sept. 6 through 21. If there is an early teal season, the limits will be six daily and 18 in possession.

* Sora and Virginia rails: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9, with a daily limit of a combined total for both species of 25 and a possession limit of 75.

* Wilson's "common" snipe: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16, with a daily limit of eight and a possession limit of 24.

* American woodcock: Oct. 15 through Nov. 28, with a daily limit of three and a possession limit of nine.

For more information on early migratory bird hunting seasons, visit mdc.mo.gov.

Business roundup

* Muriel's Garden, a flower and gift shop at 202 Independence St., opened.

* Reruns, a resale store at 110 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, has switched ownership from Cathy Davis, who retired after owning the store for 25 years, to Pam Deneke. Davis's last day was Saturday, and Deneke will take over ownership Tuesday.

* Ophelia, a women's clothing boutique at 125 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

* Bel Air Grill, a restaurant and bar at 24 S. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a ribbon-cutting Friday.

TAN purchased by Kidd Investments Inc.

Technology and Networking Inc., or TAN, an information technology and managed services provider, recently announced Adam Kidd, CEO of Kidd Investments Inc., acquired all the company's assets.

TAN, formerly known as Automation Services Company, is a provider of computer network design, implementation and maintenance services for the region since 1987, supporting businesses and organizations including banking, health care, retail and utility companies.

TAN's focus remains on service while growing its customer base, Matt Hopkins, new director of sales, said in the release. "In addition, we will continue to introduce new and innovative technologies to enable our clients to improve productivity."

Staxx Restaurant opening in Scott City

Staxx Restaurant will open in the Rhodes 101 Travel Center at Interstate 55 and Nash Road in Scott City, according to a recent news release from Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the lease transaction.

The restaurant, where Huddle House used to be within the travel center, will serve breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner. Staxx will be open in about a week, according to the release.

The restaurant partners, Staxx Restaurant Group LLC, have a background in operating IHOP locations, and "much of the IHOP concept will be incorporated into this restaurant," the release said.

Huddle House vacated the location months ago after its lease expired, Kelsey said in the release.

The property owner, Rhodes 101 Partners LP, remodeled the space, including installing new fixtures and equipment, according to the release.