Health briefs

MISSOURI DELTA GOES SMOKE-FREE

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Missouri Delta Medical Center is now smoke-free inside and out, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. According to Jason Schrumpf, president and CEO, the hospital has been working for almost a year on this transition to a smoke-free campus.

Saint Francis gets gold for blood drives

SAINT FRANCIS GETS GOLD FOR BLOOD DRIVES

Saint Francis Medical Center earned gold level status from the American Red Cross in its Champions for Life campaign. The Champions for Life initiative benefits the Red Cross in two ways: by increasing blood donations at hospital-sponsored blood drives and by recognizing hospital sponsors and blood donors for their efforts. Saint Francis' staff and the public played an integral part in collecting 314 pints of blood through five blood drives in 2011.

CARDA, JOHNSON LEAVING P.B. HOSPITAL

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center announced that Greg Carda, market chief operating officer, and Mark Johnson, chief financial officer, are leaving the hospital to pursue new opportunities, the Daily American Republic reported. Carda accepted a position as chief operating officer at University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tenn., also a Health Management Associates facility. Johnson accepted a position as chief operating and financial officer at Steward Health in Boston. Health Management Associates has begun a national search to fill the chief financial officer position. At this time, the hospital will not fill the role of market chief operating officer.

BARTOW JOINS CAPE SURGICAL CLINIC

Dr. Kevin N. Bartow, a general surgeon, is now associated with Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic Inc., 60 Doctors' Park in Cape Girardeau. Bartow, originally from St. Louis, is on the medical staff at both Cape Girardeau hospitals and is available for new patient appointments at Cape Surgical Clinic.

BLOOMSDALE CLINIC GETS NEW NAME

BLOOMSDALE, Mo. -- The facility formerly known as the Bloomsdale Women's Wellness and Primary Care Center has been renamed the Bloomsdale Medical Centre, the Ste. Genevieve Herald reported. An open house will be held at the facility on Oct. 28. The facility, being built near the Interstate 55 interchange with Route Y, will include Women's Wellness Services at Bloomsdale, Metis Breast Center at Bloomsdale, Bloomsdale Imaging Center, Bloomsdale Family Health Care, Bloomsdale Pharmacy and the Specialty Clinic at Bloomsdale.

EYECARE OFFICE CUTS RIBBON

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting with Dr. Kylie Divine to open Divine Family Eye Care, 1347 N. Westwood Blvd.

MISSOURI DELTA HIGHLIGHTED IN MAGAZINE

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Missouri Delta Medical Center was recently highlighted in Consumer Reports Magazine for its solid quality and safety scores. The August issue featured hospital ratings based on six categories: infections, readmissions, communication, CT scanning, complications and mortality. The safety ratings for 1,159 hospitals, based on the most current data available from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid, were presented in the magazine. Hospitals were ranked statewide and Missouri Delta Medical Center scored above the hospitals in both Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff, Mo. Missouri Delta also scored positively with Press Ganey, the industry's leader in health care performance improvement and surveyor of patient satisfaction for more than 2,700 hospitals nationwide.

COUNTY HAS NEW HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Rachelle Johnson began serving May 4 as administrator of the Mississippi County Health Department, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. She had already worked at the department for 15 years.

Chad Clippard

Wes Pruett

SAINT FRANCIS ADDS TO REFERRAL SERVICES TEAM

Saint Francis Medical Center added two referral services managers to its staff: Chad Clippard and Wesley Pruett. In his new role in services to business, Clippard will work primarily with companies in Saint Francis' service area, educating them on the services available at the hospital, including the Occupational Medicine Clinic and wellness programs. He previously worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for 11 years and a comfort consultant for Dutch Enterprises Inc. for nearly three years. Pruett will join the other referral services managers in cultivating positive relationships with area referring physicians by addressing issues, answering questions and providing information about new services and technology at the medical center. Pruett has more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales.

SAINT FRANCIS' ORTHOPEDIC PROGRAM RECOGNIZED

Saint Francis Medical Center was named to Becker's Hospital Review 2012 list of 100 hospitals nationwide with great orthopedic programs. The list highlights hospitals that have demonstrated continual innovation in orthopedic treatments and services, along with patient-centered care and forward-thinking research. Selection was based on extensive research and review of past achievements and industry benchmarking. An editorial team analyzed data from U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades and Thomson Reuters, as well as the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet status and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for Blue Distinction status.

HIGGINBOTHAM TAKES OVER DENTAL PRACTICE

KENNETT, Mo. -- Dr. Todd Higginbotham of Higginbotham Family Dental has taken over the practice of Dr. Thad L. Brown at 703 First St. Dr. Bryan Copeland, originally with the Brown and Copeland Dental Team, and Dr. Steven White will be working with Dr. Higginbotham. Higginbotham said the new practice will offer nearly everything in general dentistry, including surgeries, implants, dentures, fillings, crowns and root canals. In addition to the Kennett office, Higginbotham Dental also has offices in Paragould, Jonesboro, Blytheville, Truman and West Memphis, Ark.

BARTOW JOINS SURGICAL CLINIC

Dr. Kevin Bartow

Dr. Kevin Bartow is now associated with Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic Inc., 60 Doctors' Park in Cape Girardeau. Bartow, a surgeon originally from St. Louis, is also on staff at both Cape Girardeau hospitals.

MEDSTOP ADDS SOCIAL WORKER

Beverly Mirgeaux, a licensed clinical social worker, joined the staff at MedStop One Family Medical Practice, 3065 William St., Suite 209 in Cape Girardeau. She has more than 20 years of one-on-one professional therapy experience.

Steve Firmand

FIRMAND NAMED DIRECTOR OF TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT

Steve Firmand was named director of training and development at Saint Francis Medical Center. In this role, Firmand is responsible for overall management, design, development and delivery of enterprise learning for Saint Francis' more than 2,400 employees. He has worked in multiple industries, ranging from manufacturing and technology to academia and pharmaceuticals, implementing training and development programs for employees, top management and executives in the United States and abroad. He has also worked with other clients as a performance consultant.

LEE NAMED STAR SERVICE EMPLOYEE

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Jana Lee was Star Service Team Member for July at Parkland Health Center. She has worked at Parkland for 19 years and currently serves as unit secretary in the oncology department.

SIKESTON DOCTOR, STAFF CHOSEN FOR DIABETES PROGRAM

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dr. Vicki Roberts and Family Medicine of Southeast Missouri are now part of the GO Diabetes Master Clinician Program. The practice is one of four nationwide selected for the honor; others are in Oklahoma, Illinois and North Carolina. Roberts, Barb Mickel, family nurse practitioner, and other staff at the clinic participated in a training program at their office to become members of the program. Education and training were provided by the Florida Academy of Family Physicians Foundation through its medical director, Dr. Edward Shahady.