Hospital recognizes commitment to health care at annual meeting

Southeast Missouri Hospital's annual meeting Thursday night was highlighted by the celebration of the Cape Girardeau hospital's 75th birthday, as well as recognizing four people who advanced the quality of health care in the community.

During the meeting of Southeast Missouri Hospital Association, the Outstanding Service Award -- established in 1982 -- was presented to hospital trustees Walter J. Ford, Charles L. Hutson and J. Ronald Fischer. The award is intended to recognize and thank those who strive to advance the quality of health care.

Meanwhile, Ilena Aslin, immediate past president of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary and Missouri's Auxilian of the Year, received the board of trustees' Special Service Award.

Held at the Show Me Center, the dinner attracted over 800 association members and guests.

Ford, Fischer and Hutson had a long list of accomplishments that were read by David Hahs, the president of the board of trustees.

"But I won't read all of them," he said. "If I did that, I suspect we would be here until the hospital's 100th anniversary."

Together, these men have given years of service and leadership to the hospital, Hahs said, and their combined years of service as trustees totals 90. As association members, their years of service total 106.

An association member since 1969, "Doc" Ford, an owner of Ford and Sons Funeral Home, was first elected to the board of trustees in 1971. He has served on a number of board committees, including one to plan for the establishment of a hospital foundation.

Served as director

Two months after the foundation was incorporated in 1977, Ford began serving as a director on the first foundation board. He served as vice president of that board from 1989 to 1991 and as foundation board president from 1991 to 1993.

Hutson, who owns Hutson's Fine Furniture, an association member since 1969, was first elected to the board in 1979 and has served numerous roles, including president.

He also has served on the board's executive committee continuously since 1983 as well as a member and chairman of four other major board committees.

Fischer, Cape Girardeau's former mayor and city manager, joined the association in 1965 and began his service record on the board of trustees in 1969. Still serving on the active board, Fischer, with 34 years to his credit, is the longest serving trustee of the present board members.

Aslin, who was presented with the Special Service Award, was recognized for her leadership as auxiliary secretary, vice president and president as well as for her efforts to revitalize the auxiliary, attract new members, introduce new programs and services and achieve new and greater fund-raising goals. A Life Member of the Auxiliary, Aslin has given more than 3,400 hours of service to Southeast and the hospital's patients, families and visitors.

In his report as medical staff president, Khalid Khan recognized 17 physicians who are new to Southeast's medical staff since April 2002. He also praised the entire staff.

"Southeast and its medical staff have been connected by a shared mission since the early 1920s when a small group of business leaders and doctors began planning to build Southeast Missouri Hospital," he said.

In his annual administrator's report, Southeast administrator and CEO Jim Wente outlined accomplishments of the past year.

Visible progress continues on the Hospital's first major construction program of the new century -- the Harrison Annex bed modernization project. Once complete in 2005, 42 percent of Southeast's rooms will be private and five existing nursing units within the hospital will be completely redesigned.

'Something patients want'

"This is something patients want, and we are happy that soon we will be able to better accommodate their wishes," he said.

The redesigned Dennis B. Elrod, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology Center opened last spring to rave reviews from families, Wente said, as has the hospital's new comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation unit which opened in fall 2002.

Among technological advances at the Hospital over the past 12 months have been implementation of positron emission tomography (PET) and digital imaging in the radiology department. Wente also reported that Southeast will strength its position as the region's leader in cancer treatment with a powerful new linear accelerator scheduled to go on line soon at the Regional Cancer Center.

He also reported that the Hospital's Web site is being completely redesigned and will feature virtual tours, an online gift shop, e-mail patient cards and more. Southeast's Web site is a popular one, he said. In January, the hospital set a new record for Web traffic with nearly 65,000 visitors.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137