Health briefs

ALLERGY CLINIC OPENS IN CAPE

Allergy Solutions opened at 1417 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite D, Cape Girardeau. Affiliated with United Allergy Laboratories, Allergy Solutions specializes in pain-free skin allergy testing and also offers oral in-home allergy treatment. Allergens tested are molds, pollens, dust mites, grasses, trees, pet dander and weeds.

BEHAVIOR HEALTH CENTER CUTS RIBBON

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting April 21 for the Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health facility on Business Highway 60. The center provides mental health and substance abuse treatment.

PINCHOFF JOINS KNEIBERT

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Pediatrician Dr. Rebecca Pinchoff joined Kneibert Clinic. She provides routine checkups, immunizations and developmental screenings; is available for sick visits on a walk-in basis; and provides in-hospital care.

KENNEDY NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

DEXTER, Mo. -- Tammy Kennedy, Dexter, was 2010 Employee of the Year at Bootheel Counseling Services. Kennedy, an LPN, has been with the agency for two years as a nurse liaison.

SERENITY HOSPICE RECOGNIZED FOR VETERANS' CARE

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Serenity HospiceCare has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Serenity has met stringent requirements that will help improve the care provided to veterans. The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, grateful acknowledgment and veteran-centered education of health care staff.

MINERAL AREA REGIONAL EARNS AWARD

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Mineral Area Regional Medical Center was named a 2011 Excellence Through lnsight Award recipient in the category of "overall physician satisfaction" by HealthStream Research, the research business group of HealthStream Inc. The award was presented during HealthStream's educational Summit on May 5 in Nashville, Tenn. Specifically, the hospital was honored for "most improved overall physician satisfaction" in the medium hospital category. To qualify for an award, a hospital must have been a medical staff satisfaction client of HealthStream Research in 2010, scored in the 75th percentile or higher and conducted a minimum of 50 physician surveys.

RIPLEY COUNTY ADDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Senior Behavioral Health opened as a new inpatient service of Ripley County Memorial Hospital, helping patients 65 and older with emotional and behavioral issues. Located in a renovated wing of the Doniphan, Mo., hospital, the eight-bed clinic is the only senior-focused unit between Springfield, Mo., and the Bootheel.

HAHN-BROWN NAMED PATIENT CARE MANAGER

Tammy Hahn Brown

Saint Francis Medical Center named Tammy Hahn-Brown as patient care manager of Orthopaedic Services. She reports to Gerry Salter, service line director for orthopaedics. Hahn-Brown first joined Saint Francis in 1994 as a technician in the orthopaedics unit. She helped organize the opening of Saint Francis' Center for Joint Replacement in 2007 and spent several years with Orthopaedic Associates of Southeast Missouri before returning to Saint Francis.

SPRATT IS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR

Aaron Spratt

Saint Francis Medical Center named Aaron Spratt as director of ARRA program implementation in medical affairs. ARRA is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Spratt joined Saint Francis in July 2009 as accreditation compliance coordinator. In his new position, he reports to Dr. James A. Schell II, vice president – medical affairs. Spratt's main duty is overseeing compliance with the meaningful use requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as Saint Francis implements an electronic medical record system.

PRESBYTERIAN MANOR NAMED TO NATIONAL LIST

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Farmington Presbyterian Manor is on the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes list for 2011, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. The retirement community received the highest score of a five-star rating to make the list. U.S. News rankings use information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which compile data from surveys conducted by state agencies. CMS assigns one to five stars to each community for how well it performs in health inspections, nurse staffing and level of care. Survey teams from the state conduct inspections in each community every 12 to 15 months. Surveys cover a checklist of about 180 items, including medication management, food preparation and delivery, paperwork and resident enrichment activities.

EYE CLINIC RELOCATES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Melton Eye Care Associates moved to 4061 Highway PP, Suite 1, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

P.B. HOSPITAL ADDS FIVE TO BOARD

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center has expanded its board of directors by an additional five seats to better reflect the hospital's growth and foster community involvement, reported the Daily American Republic. Those added to the board were Dr. John Blaich, Dental Arts; Sam Griffin, Bob Griffin Insurance; Doug Libla, Mid Continent Nail Corp.; Dr. Devin Stephenson, Three Rivers College; and Sandy Wood, First Community Bank.

CYPRESS POINT GETS SERVICE AWARD

DEXTER, Mo. -- Cypress Point, an Americare skilled nursing facility, received an award for patient care during the company' annual meeting in Branson, Mo. Cypress was selected from Americare's 21 skilled nursing facilities to receive the award based on quality of resident services. John Langley is administrator of Cypress Point. The facility also entered the company's Honor Club for 2011, proof that the company has shown excellence in all areas of operation in the past year.

MINERAL AREA NAMES NEW DIRECTORS

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Shelley Layton, Desloge, Mo., was named director of nursing services at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center. She has been a registered nurse since 2001 and is working toward her Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Harley Taylor was named director of medical/surgical services at the hospital. A Perryville, Mo., native, he moved back to the area after working as director of surgical services at Renaissance Hospital in Terrell, Texas.

MINERAL AREA RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Dr. William C. Sippo, general surgeon, was physician of the month for February at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center. He has worked at the hospital for three years in the Mineral Area Family Surgery Clinic. Beth DeHaven was nurse of the month for February. She has worked at the hospital for 11 years and currently serves as educational services coordinator. LaTasha Franklin was employee of the month for February. She has worked at Mineral Area for four years and is director of rehabilitation services.

CHIROPRACTOR HAS NEW LOCATION

Givens Chiropractic held a ribbon cutting April 8 for its new location, 2917 Independence, Suite 400, Cape Girardeau.

TWIN RIVERS HONORS EMPLOYEES

KENNETT, Mo. -- Cassie Bratton was nurse of the first quarter at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center. She is an RN in the emergency department and has worked at the hospital since August 2007. Terry Napier was manager of the quarter. She is the medical records/health information management director and has worked at the hospital since August 1981. Darryl Wyatt, nuclear medicine technologist in the radiology department, was associate of the quarter. He has worked at the hospital since January 1990. Twin Rivers honors a nurse, manager and associate each month. Associates of the quarter are chosen from that selection.

MILEUR TO LEAD AHA TRAINING CENTER

Lisa Mileur

Lisa Mileur is the new administrator of the American Heart Association Training Center at Saint Francis Medical Center. She reports to Marie T. Gladue, director of training and development. Mileur is responsible for coordination of the hospital's AHA Training Center, including all affiliate training sites and instructors. She joined Saint Francis in 1993 and has been transitioning into her new role since September. She has experience as a nurse, preceptor, clinical educator and basic arrhythmia instructor, including more than 20 years with ACLS certification.

MATTHEWS FINISHES ASPERGER'S COURSE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mindy Matthews, registered physical therapist at Kneibert Clinic, completed a course on Asperger's syndrome. The course, held at Cross Country Education in St. Louis, was taught by Timothy Kowalski, a speech language pathologist and nationally known expert on Asperger's and high-functioning autism.

TWO COMPLETE HEALTH LEADERSHIP SERIES

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Rick Lane and Laura Hoefer, both of SoutheastHEALTH of Ripley County, graduated from the Missouri Hospital Association Center for Education's Health Care Leadership Series on April 8. The program provides leadership training to a diverse cross-section of hospital and health care supervisors and managers. Lane and Hoefer were two of 48 to graduate from the seven-month program.

CHAFFEE NURSING CENTER GETS AWARD

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee Nursing Center, owned and operated by Americare, received an award for resident service during the company's annual meeting in Branson, Mo. Chaffee Nursing Center was selected from Americare's 21 skilled nursing facilities to receive the award based on exemplary quality in the area of fiscal responsibility. The local center also entered the company's Honor Club for 2011.

BOOTHEEL COUNSELING CUTS RIBBON

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Bootheel Regional Counseling Services' new Family Medical Clinic. The clinic, in the BCS building at 760 Plantation Blvd., Sikeston, is headed by Lisa Kail, a family nurse practitioner.

PARKLAND HEALTH HONORS EMPLOYEES

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Tracy Carter was Star Service Employee for March at Parkland Health Center, and Tony Hampton was Star Service Employee for April. Carter has worked as a medical records coder at Parkland for almost three years. Hampton has worked at Parkland for 12 years and currently serves as a clerk in the employee education department.

CAPE RADIOLOGY ADDS LOCATION

Cape Radiology Group opened an office at 1404 Old Cape Road, Jackson. A ribbon cutting was held recently with the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.