Health briefs

VA RECEIVES ACCREDITATION

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- John J. Pershing VA Medical Center announced that inspections by the Joint Commission have been completed and the medical center has received full accreditation by this national body. Accreditation by the Joint Commission is essential to ensuring that hospitals and health care organizations establish controls and practices that create healthful and safe environments for patients and staff. Accreditation is generally granted for three years.

VA HONORS EMPLOYEES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- John J. Pershing VA Medical Center recently honored three employees for years of service. Those recognized were Terry Farmer, registered nurse-patient care and nursing service, 30 years of service; Tim Darnell, VA police service, 35 years; and Sharon Moss, nutrition and food service, 35 years.

BROWN NAMED LANDMARK CEO

Landmark Hospital of Cape Girardeau LLC named Rodney Brown as CEO. Brown previously served as Landmark's chief clinical officer. He has extensive experience both as a clinician and business manager. In his new role, he will be responsible for overall operations of the hospital, including ensuring quality service, improving processes and managing costs.

DALE NAMED SOUTHEAST ER MANAGER

Julie Dale accepted the position of manager of the Southeast Hospital Emergency Department. She has been assistant manager for the department for the past three years. Dale, a board-certified emergency nurse with trauma nurse certification, has 10 years of experience in nursing, with nearly five years in professional management.

BLACK JOINS POTOSI CLINIC

POTOSI, Mo. -- Christine Black, Farmington, Mo., joined the clinical staff at Resolutions, an affiliate of Washington County Memorial Hospital, and began seeing patients Nov. 22. She is a licensed clinical social worker with several years of behavioral health experience.

PARKLAND ANNOUNCES STAR SERVICE AWARDS

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Parkland Health Center named Jacob Pollard and Gayle Pinkston as its Star Service Employees for September and October. Pollard has served as Parkland chaplain for five years. Pinkston, a medical laboratory technician, has worked at Parkland for 19 years. Star Service Employees for July and August were Bonnie Grimwood and Bill Pinkley. Grimwood, a registered phlebotomist, is a laboratory assistant in the Farmington, Mo., lab. She has worked at Parkland Health Center and Bonne Terre Hospital, one of Parkland's predecessors, for 37 years. Pinkley has been a maintenance mechanic in Parkland's facilities management department for three years.

VOSHAGE EARNS CASE MANAGER CERTIFICATION

Karen Voshage, case management care coordinator at Southeast Hospital, has become a certified accredited case manager with the American Case Management Association. She is the fourth person at Southeast to earn the certification, which is specifically designed for hospital case management professionals. Voshage has been a nurse at Southeast for 25 years, including 15 years in case management and 10 years in the intensive care unit.

MADISON MEDICAL CENTER HAS NEW ER COMPANY

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- As of Jan. 1, a new emergency room company, EMC, is providing physicians to staff the Madison Medical Center emergency room. The hospital's contract with HLES Inc. expired Dec. 31.

PERRY OAKS HONORS EMPLOYEES

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry Oaks Nursing & Rehab recently recognized employees for their service. They include Debra Fox, Trudy Mitchell, Denise Seabaugh, Stacy Deppe and Angela Morrison, five years of service; Rebecca Byrd and Pat Huber, 10 years; Leona Kester, 25 years; Dot Myers and Kathy Stueve, 35 years; Trudy Mitchell, employee of the year; and Tabitha Groff, honorable mention.

DR. MOORE CLOSES PRACTICE

Dr. Richard E. Moore closed Moore Pain Management LLC after 30 years of pain management practice in Cape Girardeau. He will continue his practice of anesthesiology with Anesthesia Associates of Cape Girardeau at Southeast Hospital.

BREAST SURGEON JOINS STE. GENEVIEVE HOSPITAL

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Dr. Theresa Cavins joined the medical staff at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. Cavins, a general surgeon specializing in breast surgery, previously practiced for 10 years in St. Louis. Her new office is in the Plaza Medical Center.