June 14, 2004

MHA NewsWeekly Electronic Edition
Vol. 22, No. 22
June 14, 2004

Quote of the Week
“One wonderful thing about a vacation is that it makes you feel good enough to go back to work and poor enough so that you have to.”
~ James A. Nix

In this week's edition...
1. MSU Researchers Invent Diabetes Breath Analyzer Device
2. ONW & MDA Holding Healthcare Workforce Summit 
3. MHA Hosting Ambulance Services Coding Workshop 
4. Program to answer seniors' questions about Medicare, Medicaid
5. Mississippi Blood Services gets specialty tag
6. Reminder: Upcoming tabletop exercises
7. CMS' Open Door Forum for Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals on June 21
8. CMS holding Open Door Forum for Home Health & Hospice on June 23
9. Medical malpractice battle gets personal
10. Mammograms harder to get, study finds
11. First human cases of West Nile reported this season
12. Web site offers tools to help Medicare patients find prescription drug savings
13. AHRQ takes first public step toward outpatient care assessment tool
14. AHA survey to assess impact of EMTALA on health care safety net
15. NFID shares strategies for boosting health care worker flu vaccinations
16. CDC issues updated flu prevention, control recommendations
17. 'Five steps to safer care' poster now available in Spanish
18. CMS increases online education of providers
19. Free Toolkit Helps Hospitals Comply with JCAHO Protocol
20. CMS Offering New Listserves
21. Positions Available
22. People in the News
23. News Around the State
24. MHA Education Calendar

1. MSU Researchers Invent Diabetes Breath Analyzer Device 
 Scientists at Mississippi State University have developed a high-tech breath analyzer to detect the early stages of diabetes.
 John Plodinec, the director of MSU’s Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory, and Chuji Wang, an assistant research professor, worked on the idea together and are seeking a patent. They hope for commercial distribution.
 Irena McClain, the associate director of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, said having the breathalyzer on the market would likely increase the number of people who get tested for diabetes as some people have a phobia of getting their finger stuck.
 Plodinec said the idea of detecting diabetes by capturing a sampling of breath followed a conversation in which someone pointed out that acetone in the breath is a good indicator of the disease. But acetone is present in breath in minuscule amounts, or parts-per-billion/
 Their device uses cavity ring-down techniques that are 100 times more sensitive than most lab instruments. The researchers achieved proof of concept, designed a prototype early this year and applied for a patent with the U.S. Patent Office, initiating a process that usually takes from 12 to 18 months for a decision.

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2. ONW & MDA Holding Healthcare Workforce Summit 
 The Office of Nursing Workforce (ONW) and the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) are hosting the Healthcare Workforce Summit: Accepting the Challenge on Friday, June 25, 2004, at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson to address the effect of Mississippi’s health care workforce shortage on economic development within the state. The event is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) and the Mississippi Nurses Association (MNA).
 Keynote speakers for the event include Gov. Haley Barbour; Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Department of Labor; and Dr. James Bentley, director of the American Hospital Association Workforce Commission. Other speakers include representatives from the MDA, ONW, MHA, MNA and leading workforce consultants.
 The purpose of this summit is to bring key issues facing Mississippi’s health care industry — a shortage of nursing and allied health care personnel and faculty, higher student attrition rates within schools of nursing — to the forefront. The summit will also address the increase in demand for qualified professionals across all healthcare-related disciplines and will initiate the development of
new partnerships between private industry, governmental, non-profit and faith-based organizations related to Mississippi’s health care needs.
 Aggressive job growth through workforce investment will lead to positive outcomes in health care employability and quality health care for all Mississippi citizens. The speakers will address state and national perspectives and strategies related to the health care workforce crisis.
 Space is limited to 300 and is filling up quickly. There is no fee for this summit. For more information or to register, call ONW at (601) 368-3321. To receive daily updates about workforce issues, join the Workforce Community at MyMHA.

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3. MHA Hosting Ambulance Services Coding Workshop 
 On July 15, the Mississippi Hospital Association will host Ambulance Service Reimbursement Class at the MHA Atrium Conference Center in Jackson. The workshop is designed for staff responsible for ambulance billing, auditing, coding ambulance claims and compliance officers.
 The workshop will review methodologies for Medicare, Medicaid and other payors in reimbursement for ambulance services in this class. Topics will include linkages, medical necessity and information, ICD-9-CM diagnosis assignment, OIG guidance and third party billing.
 Jean Ann Hartzell is the instructor. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. The workshop will adjourn at 3:30 p.m. MHA will award five hours of continuing education hours for this workshop.
 The cost for the workshop is $110 per person. Registration is limited to 60 people. MHA has secured a rate of $69.99/$75.99 per night at the Drury Inn & Suites at 610 E. County Line Road. For more information on the hotel or the workshop or to have a registration form sent to you, contact Gay Salter at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3233 or gsalter@mhanet.org. To receive daily updates about billing and coding issues, join the Medical Coding/HIM Community at MyMHA.

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4. Program to answer seniors' questions about Medicare, Medicaid
 Many seniors in Mississippi are concerned and have numerous questions about the new Medicare Modernization Act administered through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Questions include: How do I enroll in the Medicare Approved Drug Program? Am I eligible for the $600 credit?  Which pharmacy should I choose?  How will I finance my prescription drugs if the $600 credit is used up?
 On Tuesday, June 22, 2004, Constantine I. Miskis, JD, Regional Director for the U.S. Office of the Secretary Tommy Thompson in Washington D.C. will be in Jackson, at the Agricultural Museum in the Forestry Building, to discuss the Medicare Act and to answer these and other questions. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and should end no later than 11:00 a.m. 
 Warren A. Jones, M.D., FAAFP, Executive Director, Office of the
Governor, Division of Medicaid, and Donald Taylor, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services will be included on the program to discuss the Medicaid Reform Act of 2004. 
 The meeting is open to the public, especially seniors, social workers, and other administrators who will be explaining these changes to clients.
  To receive daily updates about Medicare and Medicaid issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community at MyMHA.

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5. Mississippi Blood Services gets specialty tag
 Mississippi Blood Services has created its own specialty car tag in conjunction with the Mississippi Tax Commission. To recognize donors’ dedication to the mission of Mississippi Blood Services, the company will pay the specialty fee of $30 for the first 200 people to complete an application. For more information, contact Wendy Copeland, manager of public relations and communications, at (601) 368-2666 or wcopeland@msblood.com.

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6. Reminder: Upcoming tabletop exercises
 Regional table top exercises are being conducted through the MSU Center for Governmental Affairs Training Center around the state. The exercises will be done from the end of June through July. For more information, contact Tom Ball of MSU at tomb@ext.msstate.edu.  You may also contact your hospital’s ERC (Health Dept. Emergency Response Coordinator) for more information. To receive daily updates on bioterrorism/disaster preparedness, join the Bioterrorism/Disaster Preparedness Community at MyMHA.

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7. CMS' Open Door Forum for Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals on June 21
 On June 21 at 2 p.m. EST, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host its Physician, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum. There are two ways to participate - in person or by phone.
 To participate in person at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building RSVPs and Security Clearance are required. The RSVP deadline is June 18th at 2 p.m. EST.  To RSVP, e-mail PHYSICIANODF-L.CO5.BALT5@cms.hhs.gov with the name of your organization.
 Persons who have not RSVP'd may not be permitted entrance to the building and thus will be unable to attend the forum. Upon entry into the building, you will be required to show Government issued photo identification, preferably a valid driver's license, and may be subject to vehicular search before entering the complex. Please arrive no later than 1:30 PM. 
 Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP. To participate by phone, call 1-800-837-1935 and reference Conference ID   4368077. TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
 "Encore" is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID., beginning two hours after the call has ended. The recording expires after 3 full days. The Encore number is  1-800-642-1687 and the Conf. ID is 4368077.
 For Forum Schedule updates, Listserv registration and Frequently Asked Questions, click here. To receive daily updates about Medicare and Medicaid issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community at MyMHA.

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8. CMS holding Open Door Forum for Home Health & Hospice on June 23
  On June 23 at 2 p.m. EST, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host its Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum. There are two ways to participate - in person or by phone.
 To participate in person at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building RSVPs and Security Clearance are required. The RSVP deadline is June 18th at 2 p.m. EST.  To RSVP, e-mail HOMEHEALTH_HOSPICE_DMEODF-L.CO5.BALT5@cms.hhs.gov with the name of your organization.
 Persons who have not RSVP'd may not be permitted entrance to the building and thus will be unable to attend the forum. Upon entry into the building, you will be required to show Government issued photo identification, preferably a valid driver's license, and may be subject to vehicular search before entering the complex. Please arrive no later than 1:30 PM. 
 Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP. To participate by phone, call 1-800-837-1935 and reference Conference ID   4354235. TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
 "Encore" is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID., beginning two hours after the call has ended. The recording expires after 3 full days. The Encore number is  1-800-642-1687 and the Conf. ID is 4354235.
 For Forum Schedule updates, Listserv registration and Frequently Asked Questions, click here. To receive daily updates about Medicare and Medicaid issues or home health care and hospice issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community or Home Health/Hospice Community at  MyMHA.

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9. Medical malpractice battle gets personal
 Hospital administrators and doctors across the nation, furious over what they see as waves of frivolous lawsuits that have driven up malpractice insurance costs, are striking back against lawyers with hardball tactics that, in some cases, are raising ethical questions. For the full story in USA Today, click here.

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10. Mammograms harder to get, study finds
 A shortage of providers is threatening women's access to mammograms, a federal health advisory panel said in a report released on June 10. The number of mammography sites has dropped more than 8 percent since 2000, to a total of 8,600 around the country.
 The scans, while imperfect, remain the best method for detecting breast cancer when it is most treatable, the panel, the Institute of Medicine, said. The group recommended improving access through steps like allowing specially trained nondoctors to help radiologists do the work. But the American College of Radiology immediately criticized the idea of letting nondoctors, even those given extra training, play any role in reading mammograms.
 Fewer radiologists are specializing in breast imaging because of long hours, low reimbursement, heavy regulation and fear of lawsuits. Only about 60 percent of the women old enough for routine mammograms get them, and every year, 1.2 million more women turn 40, the age when some groups suggest they should begin getting the tests.
 Lack of insurance, lack of a system for notifying women to have a checkup and fear about breast cancer detection all play a role in the problem, the institute's report says. At the same time, it found, women have a 1 in 10 chance of a suspicious spot on the mammogram turning out to be noncancerous, so-called false-positive readings that have nearly doubled since the 1980's. That may be due partly to radiologists' practicing "defensive medicine" in hopes of avoiding lawsuits, but it leads to costly, unnecessary repeat testing.

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11. First human cases of West Nile reported this season
 The year's first human cases of West Nile virus were reported last month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of June 1, seven cases of the mosquito-borne infection were reported in the U.S., six in Arizona and one in New Mexico. Of the seven cases reported, two were reported as the milder form of the virus, West Nile fever, and three were reported as the more severe West Nile meningitis or encephalitis. No deaths have been reported. The virus has been reported in mosquitoes, birds and other animals in 19 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. Last year, nearly 10,000 human cases of West Nile virus were reported in 45 states and the District of Columbia, more than a quarter of them in Colorado, and 264 deaths were attributed to the illness. For more on the West Nile virus, click here.

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12. Web site offers tools to help Medicare patients find prescription drug savings
 The Access to Benefits Coalition, a group of more than 70 national non-profit organization's including the AHA, has launched a Web site containing tools that hospitals and others can use to help Medicare beneficiaries access public and private prescription drug savings programs, including the new Medicare-approved prescription drug discount cards. The site includes examples of promising outreach and enrollment practices; a Web-based decision support tool to help low-income beneficiaries find prescription savings programs for which they qualify; state prescription drug savings guides; and savings program enrollment forms. To access these and other tools, visit www.accesstobenefits.org.

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13. AHRQ takes first public step toward outpatient care assessment tool
 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently took the first public step toward creating a patient perception of care tool for measuring care provided in the ambulatory setting. In a Federal Register notice, the agency solicited from health plans, health care providers and others instruments or survey items that measure patients' perceptions of ambulatory care quality. It said it plans to review existing tools and redesign its Consumer Assessment of Health Plans (CAHPS) tool to capture patients' ambulatory care experiences and perceptions at the various levels of ambulatory health care delivery, such as services provided by individual primary care providers, sites of care, group practices and health plans. For more information, see the notice under "Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality" here. To receive daily updates about quality issues, join the Patient Safety/Quality Community at MyMHA.

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14. AHA survey to assess impact of EMTALA on health care safety net
 With nearly half of hospitals surveyed earlier this year by the AHA reporting that their emergency departments are at or over capacity, the association is conducting a survey to gauge the impact of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. The demands of the regulation, combined with persistent staff shortages and other challenges, is straining what has long been the nation's health care safety net, forcing many hospitals - nearly 70 percent of those in urban areas - to divert ambulances to other facilities, said AHA President Dick Davidson in a letter prefacing the survey. "The regulatory requirements of EMTALA represent an unfunded mandate for hospitals that contribute to the more than $22 billion in uncompensated care hospitals provide annually," Davidson said. "Information [from the survey], together with information you already have provided regarding the challenges facing your ED, will be critical as we represent your interests before Congress." The confidential survey was mailed to hospitals June 8 and also is available online here. A pilot was conducted with a small number of hospitals last fall. The AHA is encouraging hospitals to designate a primary contact to coordinate their response to the survey, which must be completed and returned to the AHA by Wednesday, June 30. To receive daily updates about EMTALA and other compliance issues, join the Compliance Community at MyMHA.

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15. NFID shares strategies for boosting health care worker flu vaccinations
 With only 36% of health care workers vaccinated for flu each year, the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases has published strategies to help increase influenza immunization rates in health care settings. The strategies are based on roundtable discussions last November with the AHA and 26 other health care organizations. Strategies include making vaccination convenient and low-cost or free for health care workers, educating workers about the vaccine's safety and importance in protecting patients from flu, and selecting a leader to plan and administer a vaccination program. The AHA-endorsed document also includes hospital case studies and examples, including Brigham and Women's Hospital's (Boston) comprehensive, yearlong flu immunization schedule. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites vaccination of health care workers as the single most effective way to prevent the spread of flu in health care settings. Research also suggests that vaccination of health care workers reduces sick days, which can compound workforce shortages. "Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Health Care Workers: Strategies to Increase Protection for Workers and Patients," is available on the Web at www.nfid.org.

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16. CDC issues updated flu prevention, control recommendations
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently released revised recommendations for the prevention and control of flu. The new recommendations update 2003 ACIP recommendations for the use of the influenza vaccine, including dosage and administration instructions, potential adverse reactions, and populations who should not be vaccinated, as well as the use of antiviral medications. Among its recommendations, ACIP says health care facilities should offer free, on-site influenza vaccinations to all employees, including night and weekend staff, beginning in October of each year, with special priority given to workers who care for at-risk patients. ACIP also recommends that acute care hospitals strongly encourage patients who are age 50 or older or have high-risk conditions to receive a flu vaccine before they are discharged. The revised recommendations are available here.

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17. 'Five steps to safer care' poster now available in Spanish
 A consumer poster developed by the Department of Health and Human Services that summarizes five steps patients can take to ensure safer care is now available in Spanish. The poster, part of an AHA effort to help hospitals communicate better with patients and families, can be downloaded here. Other communication resources include "The Patient Care Partnership: Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities," which is translated into seven languages. To receive daily updates on patient safety issues, join the Patient Safety/Quality Community at MyMHA.

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18. CMS increases online education of providers
 The CMS said it is making available on its Web site new resources for health care providers, including listserves that distribute regularly updated information on specialized topics. Those include one focused on issues important to acute-care hospitals. The CMS also launched a "Medicare Learning Network" on its Web site to help providers understand new policies and fiscal intermediary instructions. To subscribe to a listserve, click here. For the learning network, click here. To receive daily updates about Medicare issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community at MyMHA.

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19. Free Toolkit Helps Hospitals Comply with JCAHO Protocol
 The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has sent a toolkit to every hospital in the U.S. designed to help them comply with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s (JCAHO’s) new surgical safety protocol before the July 1 implementation deadline. Endorsed by the AHA and its American Society of Healthcare Risk Management, among other health care organizations, the free kit was mailed to more than 50,000 hospital CEOs, risk managers and perioperative nurses.
 The kit contains an informational CD-Rom, pocket reference guide, sample correct-site surgery policy, patient brochure, frequently asked questions and other materials to help hospitals implement the Universal Protocol for Eliminating Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery. The protocol includes the use of two patient identifiers, marking of the surgical site and a “time out” just before the surgical procedure. For more on the toolkit, visit www.aorn.org, or call the organization at (303) 755-6304. To receive daily updates about JCAHO issues, join the Accreditation Community at MyMHA.

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20. CMS Offering New Listserves
 Hospitals, inpatient psych facilities and durable medical equipment suppliers are the latest health care organizations to join the Medicare listserve community.
 CMS recently unveiled a series of new listerves that will allow these groups better access to relevant Medicare and provider information online. Other CMS listserves available include ambulance services, disability, home health agencies, acute care, long term care and HIPAA, just to name a few. To sign up for a provider listserve mailing list, click here. To receive daily updates on Medicare issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community at MyMHA.

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21. Positions Available
 South Mississippi State Hospital is now accepting applications for the director of the Crisis Intervention Center in Laurel. Applicants must have a master’s degree in nursing, health care administration, public health, business administration or public administration and eight years of experience, four years of which must have included supervision OR a bachelor’s degree and nine years of experience. For more information contact Gwen Kelly or Linda Eaton at (601) 794-0100. Resumes may be mailed to 823 Highway 589, Purvis, MS 39475.
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 Magnolia Regional Health Center is currently accepting applications for Vice President of Clinical Services/Director of Nursing. A Master’s degree in nursing is required, with two years management experience as VP or Director of Nursing. An online application and more information can be found at www.mrhc.org. Resumes and applications may also be faxed to (662) 293-4285. For more information, contact MRHC Human Resources at (662) 293-1300.
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 Winston Medical Center has an immediate opening for a Director of Pharmacy. Applicants should have previous hospital experience. Resumes may be e-mailed to mnowell@winstonmedical.org or mailed to Michelle Nowell, Human Resources Director, P.O. Box 967, Louisville, MS 39339.
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 Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian has an immediate opening for the position of Director of Women’s Services. A minimum of 5 years RN experience in Women & Infant Services, Nursery, NICU and Postpartum required. A BSN, NALS certification and management experience preferred. Apply online at www.rushhealthsystems.org or fax resumes to (601) 703-4477. For more information, call (601) 703-4459.
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 North Mississippi State Hospital is currently accepting applications for Registered Nurses for our Tupelo campus and for our Crisis Intervention Center in Corinth. Must be licensed in the state of Mississippi. For an application or information, contact Human Resources at (662) 690-4200.

For a listing of additional hospital jobs available in Mississippi and to post your confidential resume for health care recruiters to view, visit www.mshealthjobs.com.

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22. People in the News
 John R. Heer, Jr., has joined North Mississippi Health Services as president and chief executive officer. Previously, he served as president of Baptist Hospital Inc. in Pensacola, Fla. He holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Tex., and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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 Sheri Brocke has joined Mississippi State Hospital’s Social Services Department as a social worker. A former HIV social worker with the Mississippi State Department of Health, Brocke earned her BSW from Mississippi State University and her MSW from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a native of Grenada.
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 Sarena Lee has joined Mississippi State Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department as a mental health recreational therapist. She earned her BS in therapeutic recreation from the University of Southern Mississippi.
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 Ryan Zuber has joined Mississippi State Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department as a mental health recreational therapist. A native of Starkville, he earned his BS in fitness management and his MA in health, physical education and recreation from the University of Northern Alabama.
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 Charles Voelkel has been named Singing River Hospital’s Auxilian of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2003-2004. Charles came to SRH after retirement. His career involved working with several different companies, including Abbestone Corporation and Prager, Inc., in New Orleans and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.
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 Bill Ermann has recently joined Singing River Hospital System as controller. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public accounting with an emphasis on managerial accounting from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. He has CPA certification and is currently working on his MBA at the University of South Alabama.
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 Donna Russell, RN, works in the Emergency Department at Ocean Springs Hospital in Ocean Springs and has been named the Employee of the Month for May. She received her associate’s degree in nursing from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College-Jackson County. She began her career at OSH in 1999 as a nurse tech on Three East. After earning her nursing degree in 2000, she worked there as an RN and moved to the Emergency Department in June of that year.
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 University Hospitals & Clinics recently recognized compassion, exemplary patient care and expertise in nursing with their 2004 Excellence in Nursing awards. From 22 nominees six finalists were selected. The winners were Dorothy Lyle, adult outpatient; Mary Katherine Holman, Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children; Patricia Dickerson, Wallace Conerly Hospital for Critical Care; Kevin Gilmore, perioperative services; JanNysse Gray, University Hospital and Diane Dowell, Winfred L. Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants.  
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 Lee Ann Foreman has been promoted to compensation manager at Baptist Health Systems in Jackson. She has worked as a Baptist recruiter, compensation analyst and HR generalist. She holds a bachelor's in sociology from Mississippi State University.
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 Julie Ferguson, RN, has been promoted to coordinator for Baptist Women's Heart. She previously served as Baptist's women's health consultant. Ferguson earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Mississippi College. She is pursuing a master's degree in health science administration from Mississippi College.
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 Stephanie Jackson, a certified family nurse practitioner, has joined Baptist Cancer Services, where she will oversee cancer screenings. Jackson earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Mississippi.
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 Ginny Smith, RN, has been named clinical director of Baptist Women & Children's Services. Smith earned a master's in nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an associate's and bachelor's in nursing from Maryville University and a bachelor's in education from University of Missouri-Columbia.
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 Richard J. Baltz, director of the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service, thanks in part to patient satisfaction with VA's services. Each year, the President recognizes and celebrates a small group of career senior executives for exceptional long-term accomplishments. Baltz has led the center since October of 2000. In a VA career that began in 1977, he has served at six medical centers. He will receive his award certificate, signed by President Bush, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June.
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 Tory Groves, a mental health technician, was recently named South Mississippi State Hospital's 2003 Employee of the Year. A native of Gulfport, he attended Livingston University in Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi. He joined the SMSH team in 2000.
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 Norma Brewer, a clinical dietitian, was recently selected as the Employee of the Quarter at South Mississippi State Hospital for the first quarter of 2004. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and has worked as a registered dietitian for 21 years. She has been with SMSH since November of 2001.
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 Biloxi Regional Medical Center presented service awards to the following in May: Danielle Misch and Vicky Rosetti, five years; John Mohan, Veronica Holley and Mary Smith, 10 years; Connie Broadhead, 15 years; Nellicia Sturgis, 20 years; and Vera Weldy and Virginia Maxine Parchman, 30 years.
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 Biloxi Regional recently honored several employees for excellence in service to customers and co-workers in the first quarter of 2004. Dot Wescovich, cardiopulmonary, was named Employee of the Quarter. Mike Lomax, RN, operating room, as the recipient of the Nursing Excellence Award. Sherry Bass, RN, operating room, was named Department Manager of the Quarter. Linda Staten, nutritional services, was named Contract Employee of the Quarter. And Tonsie Gaude, volunteer, was named Exceptional Volunteer of the Quarter. Gaude has been active at BRMC for 43 years and has given more than 10,000 hours of her time. (And she recently celebrated her 101st birthday!)
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 Biloxi Regional Medical Center recently awarded three students with scholarships for nursing school. Michael Fay of Ocean Springs attends USM in Long Beach, Rachel Taylor of Gulfport attends USM in Long Beach and Rachel McCallister of Biloxi attends Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. For more information on BRMC's Nursing Education Scholarships, call (228) 436-1290.
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 Rankin Medical Center in Brandon recently presented Winning with Teamwork pins for the month of March to Robert Trimble and Carolyn Winstead. Trimble is an attendant. Winstead is a registered nurse and a four-month employee.
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 North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka has awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to Emily Michelle Shelby of Tishomingo County High School. She plans to study nursing at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville.
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 Amy Frazier McMillan of Forest, Lola M. Beckham of Philadelphia and Lindsey Walker of Union have been chosen as the beneficiary of $400 college scholarships to East Central Community College in Decatur. The Laird Hospital Volunteers raise money each year for the scholarships.
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 Lynda Reich has been named the 2003 Employee of the Year at North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo. An employee of NMMC since 1981, she currently serves as a branch office coordinator at the NMMC Home Health Agency billing department. She previously served as a nursing assistant in postpartum/labor and delivery.
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 John Mitchell, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the North Mississippi Medical Center's 2003 Golden Tongue Blade Award. The award is given annually to an NMMC physician for outstanding contributions to customer service, teamwork, quality of care and leadership. Dr. Mitchell is a board certified family physician with NMMC Family Medicine. He completed his medical studies at the University of Mississippi school of Medicine and his family medicine residency at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
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 Sandra Gordon, RN, has been named North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo's Employee of the Month for March. A psychiatric resource nurse with the Home Health Agency, Gordon has been with NMMC for 24 years. She earned her associate's degree in nursing from Itawamba Community College.

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23. News Around the State
 Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth recently added an alternative for patients in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The SilverHawk Plaque Excision System is a new FDA-cleared device for the safe removal of harmful plaque from blocked arteries in the leg. Like angioplasty, plaque excision is a minimally invasive procedure performed through a tiny puncture site.
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 University Hospitals & Clinics-Holmes County was recently awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography by the American College of Radiology.
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 Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula is developing a new joint replacement pathway program, with the help of SRH Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Eric Washington, to make the process of joint replacement less painful and inhibiting for patients. The program is designed to make nursing care, pain management and rehabilitation for joint replacements more uniform. Dr. Washington is working to include a pre-admission education segment, including videos, pamphlets and staff consultation, into the pathway program.  
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 Singing River Hospital recently opened their Chest Pain Center, a special cardiac monitoring unit located within the hospital that monitors patients with chest pain. Dr. Pavel Khimenko serves as medical director of the Center.
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 North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo recently selected A4 Health System’s HealthMatics ED system as its emergency department information system (EDIS) to automate the hospital’s ED. The system provides a digital environment designed to improve clinical care, increase workflow and administrative efficiencies, reduce hospital costs and enhance patient/provider satisfaction levels. Thomas E.  Bozeman serves as chief information officer.
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 North Mississippi Medical Center’s recent hiring of 100 graduate nurses is no small feat (and nearly double the amount NMMC normally hires). The accomplishment is the result of a financial commitment from NMMC to area nursing programs. In 2002, NMMC presented $100,000 each to Itawamba Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College and Mississippi University for Women over two years to fund nursing instructor positions to be able to increase class enrollment. ICC received an additional $100,000 to benefit its other health-related programs.
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 Forrest General Hospital will install and use ForHealth Technologies' Pharmacy Robotic Technology IntelliFill IV to place additional emphasis on patient safety and efficiency. The technology automates the compounding and labeling of intravenous doses in syringes and offers employee bar code scanning, vision systems and weight confirmation steps.
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 The King's Daughters Hospital in Greenville recently opened the Women's Clinic at 302 Arnold Avenue, across the street from the hospital. The clinic was formerly the practice of Dr. Jack McNeil, who retired after practicing medicine for 32 years and now serves on the board of directors of the hospital. Now Dr. James Perkins and Dr. Nichola Viyuoh run the clinic and provide a full spectrum of services form women's needs. In October, Dr. Desiree Granados will be joining the clinic after completing her residency in Florida.
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 Staff members of Biloxi Regional recently participated in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica event in Harrison County. Led by Becky Smith, team captain, BRMC raised over $4,795 to support the mission of March of Dimes.
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  Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville was named the Industry of the Year during the Greater Starkville Development Partnership's annual Industry Appreciation Dinner in May. OCH is a 96-bed hospital serving a seven-county area with more than 500 employees that serve more than 20,000 patients in the ER alone. The hospital is currently undergoing a $30 million expansion that is expected to be complete in 2006.
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 Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital in Hazlehurst recently held an Open House to celebrate and show off recent technology purchases and facility upgrades made at the 53-year-old structure. Some of the new technology recently purchased and installed include a mobile X-ray machine, new radiology equipment that is smaller and easier to operate and a mobile multi-function sonogram unit. Physical improvements were made in the OB Department, where mothers can now rest across the hall from the birthing room, instead of in a separate wing. Ambulance service has been improved with the addition of a third ambulance. The upgrades cost around $250,000.
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 North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo recently donated 25 computers to Mantachie Elementary School. The computers will be used to help students raise standardized test scores. NMMC has donated 2,750 personal computers to schools and programs throughout its 22-county service area.

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24. MHA Education Calendar

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