|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
HSCMC NEWS
Doctors' Day
National Doctors’ Day, which is observed on March 30th, provides a time for people to show appreciation to the doctors who care for them or their loved ones. Sheila Williams, CEO of HSC Medical Center, comments that “Doctor’s Day is an annual opportunity for us to let our doctors know how much we appreciate them and the services they provide to our community. We are so fortunate to have doctors who have chosen to practice medicine in Malvern. I encourage everyone to tell our doctors how much they are valued and to thank them for their dedication.” HSC Medical Center and the community are blessed to have such dedicated physicians taking care of its citizens, young and old. Currently, Dr. Dylan Thaxton serves as the Chief of Staff over 12 active medical staff at HSC Medical Center. In addition, there are 10 emergency department medical staff and 41 consulting medical staff members. The first Doctors’ Day was observed on March 30, 1933 in Winder, Georgia. The idea came from Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles Almond. The date was the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetic in surgery. To commemorate the event, the Barrow County Medical Auxiliary proclaimed the day as “Doctors’ Day,” which was celebrated by mailing cards to physicians and their spouses and placing flowers on the graves of deceased doctors. The United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors’ Day on March 30, 1958. In 1990, legislation was introduced in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate to establish a National Doctors’ Day. With overwhelming approval from the House and Senate, President George Bush signed a resolution to designate March 30 as National Doctors’ Day. The first National Doctors’ Day was celebrated in 1991. “HSC Medical Center has top notch physicians,” comments Dee Schall, Chief Nursing Officer at HSC Medical Center. “Our nursing staff is very privileged to work with physicians who truly make them part of the team to ensure excellent patient care is given. Physicians at HSC Medical Center have instilled confidence and loyalty in their patients by providing the best there is to offer in family care. We are very lucky to have this group of physicians here at HSC Medical Center.”
Angie Weeks
The HSC Medical Center Dietary Department is proud to announce the addition of a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) to their staff. Angie Weeks has been employed at HSC Medical Center for thirteen years. Weeks initially worked as a cashier and went on to work in all positions of the dietary department. In December 2012, she successfully completed the examination requirements to obtain the credential CDM/CFPP which stands for Certified Dietary Manager/Certified Food Protection Professional. An individual must complete an eighteen month correspondence course under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian and then successfully pass the certification exam by the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers. A CDM/CFPP has achieved competencies in gathering and applying nutrition data, employee supervision and development, managing food production, and ensuring safety and sanitation practices are in place.
AHA Awards
HSC Medical Center brought home three awards from the Arkansas Hospital Association Annual Meeting that was held October 3-5 in Little Rock. Sheila Williams received the AHA Auxiliary Administrator of the Year award, Ann Gasper accepted the Diamond Award for excellence in hospital marketing, and HSCMC was recognized with an award from the AHA Worker’s Compensation Self-Insured Trust. Williams was nominated for her award by the HSCMC Auxiliary for Administrators at hospitals with less than 100 beds. After determining that she met the criteria, the Auxiliary submitted an essay in support of the nomination. The essay cited numerous reasons to honor Williams including her “open support of any and all projects that the Auxiliary undertakes”. The award was presented during the AHA Auxiliary luncheon. The Diamond Award recognizes excellence in hospital marketing in various categories and hospital sizes. The Annual Community Report for 2011 as submitted by Gasper and was selected for the honor for the Annual Report category. Gasper collaborated with the Malvern Daily Record in creating the report which was distributed as a tabloid in the newspaper. The award was presented at the AHA Awards Dinner. HSC Medical Center was honored as one of fourteen hospitals in Arkansas for its outstanding performance and commitment to workplace safety in 2011. To qualify, HSCMC achieved a combined average rate for medical only and lost time claims of 49% or less of the Bureau of Labor Statistics incidence rates for hospitals. Williams accepted this award during the AHA Trade Show.
Diabetes Grant
Malvern Middle School 8th grade students will be the beneficiary of an Arkansas Rural Health Services Revolving Fund grant during the 2012-2013 school year. The grant was awarded to HSC Medical Center for its “Diabetes Prevention through Youth Education” proposal which was submitted for consideration in November 2011. The focus of the project is the prevention of the chronic disease of diabetes by educating the 8th grade students on the disease and the healthy lifestyle choices that will decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes. The county of Hot Spring has a higher prevalence of diabetes than the state and the nation, according to the most recent Hot Spring County Adult Health Survey. The ultimate goal is to decrease the prevalence of diabetes in Hot Spring County. Rural Health grants have very specific rules for eligibility. Malvern Middle School was selected for the project because it met the requirements for the funding. After consulting with Velda Keeney, principal of Malvern Middle School, the 8th grade class was targeted for the program. Keeney says, “We are very excited to be a part of the grant. The curriculum that the students will be exposed to goes hand-in-hand with our school wellness plan that targets healthy eating habits and the importance of exercise. Having professionals from our community come into our school and make presentations and teach lessons not only exposes students to the curriculum elements of the grant, but also exposes them to career pathways.” A steering committee within HSC Medical Center wrote the grant application and is now planning and coordinating the curriculum. Included in that committee are Ann Gasper, Marketing Director; Dee Schall, RN, Chief Nursing Officer; Cindy Harp, RN, Employee and Community Health; Erika Hixon, RD, LD, HSCMC Clinical Dietitian; and Dennis Morris, PT, Director of Physical Therapy. The Hot Spring County Health Department and the Healthy Hot Spring County Coalition are collaborating on the program. Suellen Simpson, RN, Administrator of the HSC Health Department, and Bonnie Carr, Rural Health Specialist with Arkansas Department of Health, have been working closely with the steering committee. Dr. Shawn Purifoy, a Malvern family practice physician, has also committed his support of the project and will participate in portions of the education. Educational programs will be presented to the 8th grade students at least once a month during their Enrichment class period. Dr. Purifoy was the keynote speaker at the first of the Enrichment classes on September 14. Some segments may also be included in the student’s health class periods to allow for smaller group teaching. The programs will include speakers, activities, information, videos, and other educational materials. The grant awarded $9000 as a match for the $3000 provided by HSCMC to cover the costs of the teaching supplies and other materials. Curriculum for the enrichment periods will include teaching on nutrition and exercise. According to the 2010-2011 Assessment of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Study for Malvern Middle School, the 8th grade students at that time tested as 14.8% overweight and 37.4% obese. Clinical dietitian Erika Hixon says, “Everyday food and beverage choices can make a huge impact on whether an individual develops or prevents Type 2 diabetes. My goal is to help the students be able to make healthier food choices, understand portion size and calorie content, and to help them realize that their health is in their hands.” Physical activity will also be a focus of the teaching during the program. The Adult Health Survey reports that 29% of the county’s adult population does not exercise on a regular basis. Dennis Morris, physical therapist at HSCMC, notes that “everyone knows that proper exercise is important. With the help of our grant, we hope to show several ways to incorporate exercise into our daily lives. To be successful, exercise needs to be regular and moderately intense, and most of all, it needs to be fun. We look forward to helping the students set healthy attainable lifetime goals.” Teaching about the disease of diabetes will be supported by Dr. Purifoy and clinical staff with HSCMC and the Health Department. Dee Schall, RN, CNO at HSC Medical Center, says, “With the higher than average incidence of diabetes in Hot Spring County, it is important to start educating our youth on the disease, its risks, and how to make healthy lifestyle choice to avoid developing the disease. Our hope is to make a difference with these 8th graders.”
Dr. Terrell P. Bishop
Dr. Terrell P. Bishop, Jr., has been named medical director of psychiatric services at HSC Medical Center. The psychiatric services area has been newly renovated and reopened in May. A graduate of Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. Bishop has completed residencies in both psychiatry and neurology. He has worked in both fields since 1982 including private practice and in association with psychiatric programs. Most recently Dr. Bishop was on staff with the Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center. HSC Medical Center provides inpatient psychiatric care for patients age 18 and older who need a secure, therapeutic environment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, contact Kelly Green, RN, at 501-332-1027
HSC Medical Center employees were recognized with Service Awards on Tuesday, May 8th, during National Hospital Week. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, and thirty-five year awards were presented by Sheila Williams, CEO, during the afternoon event. After a Welcome by Williams and an Invocation by Patsy Nalley, Dr. Absalom Tilley, Chief of Staff, was introduced as the guest speaker. Appetizers, dessert, and punch were served in the HSCMC Home Health Conference Room, which was specially decorated for the event. Those employees honored included: Dennis Morris, thirty-five years; Janet Boyles, thirty years; Donnie Floyd, Angela Melton, and Luther Shadle, twenty-five years; Shirley Hamilton, Mary Hickman, July Hill, and Karen Wright, twenty years; Camille Harper, fifteen years; Kenith Boles, Jennifer Bowlin, Barbara Chandler, April Culp, Maye Lilly, Jeff McJunkins, Lowell Mobley, Karla Montgomery, Vickie Shuff, and Archie Thomas, ten years; Mark Ayers, Isabel Barber, Judith Bonds, Debbi Byrd, Donald Coon, Kelly Crites, Janell Crofford, Ruby Crow, Joan Denham, Gilda Dilenardi, Anthony Fiorino, Alan Haefele, Mark Hemeyer, Dessie Henson, Melinda Holter, Ruth McGarity, Jan Merriott, Randy Rice, and Bill Taylor, five years. Employee Service Awards are presented annually to those who have served HSCMC for at least five years.
Hospital Week
The celebration of National Hospital Week began in 1921 when a magazine editor suggested that more information about hospitals might alleviate public fears about them. Since that time, National Hospital Week has grown into a large health care event. This year, hospitals will be recognized May 6-12, under the theme “Making Miracles Happen”. HSC Medical Center in Malvern will observe the week with a variety of activities to thank its employees for their service. As part of the celebration, hospital staff will enjoy special festivities each day including an employee picnic, ice cream treats, and a cotton candy & popcorn party. For the first time this year, the annual Employee Service Awards Program will be held during Hospital Week. Employees will also be offered free cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose screening during the week. Also included in the Hospital Week activities is the annual HSC Medical Center Health Fair for the community. This event has been scheduled during Hospital Week for many years and provides an opportunity for HSCMC and area healthcare providers to offer free services and information to the public. Sheila Williams, CEO of HSC Medical Center comments that “this is a week that has been set aside to provide people with the opportunity to reflect on the significant contribution that our healthcare employees provide to the community. It also provides the hospital an opportunity to help educate the residents in our community about the services and care that is available to them. I want to thank all our employees for the hard work and contributions that they make each and every day to provide quality healthcare for Hot Spring County.” According to Dr. Absalom Tilley, Chief of Staff at HSCMC, “It’s always a great feeling when I talk to my patients who have stayed at other area hospitals and consistently tell me they have never received better treatment than they received here at HSCMC. From administration through nursing, dietary, and all aspects of care at our facility, it is evident that everyone is concerned first for the patient’s well-being, which is why people are so complimentary of the care they receive here.” Chairman of the HSC Medical Center Board of Directors, Kimball Davis, thinks that “our county hospital is one of the best around! I am proud of my association with our hospital and all of the people that work here. I think our community knows how great our staff and administration are, and how hard they all work to keep our community as healthy and happy as possible. I am glad this week is dedicated to showing our hospital employees that we appreciate them and their hard work. They all deserve a pat on the back!”
Nurses Week
“Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring” is the theme of this year’s National Nurses Week, which begins the week of May 6th. As is the tradition, the celebration ends on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. At HSC Medical Center, National Nurses Week will be celebrated on May 8th from 6-8 p.m.. The Nursing Leadership Team will prepare and host a crawfish boil for the nursing staff. “We have some of the most dedicated nurses I have ever had the privilege of working with,” says Dee Schall, Chief Nursing Officer. “In honor of National Nurses Week, I would like to thank each and every nurse for the compassion and wonderful care you give to our patients. I really appreciate our caring staff.” Schall adds, “Our nurses are here because they want to be at a facility that gives them the opportunity to give the bedside care they want to provide. Competition for nursing staff is tough since we are located within driving distance of several large facilities but many of our nurses like the community hospital atmosphere as opposed to some of the larger hospitals. The staffing ratio is good and the nurses get to know our patients”. Over 175 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, mental health technicians and certified nurse assistants are employed at the hospital. For most HSCMC nurses, this is their primary job but many of them have positions at other facilities such as Arkansas Heart Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, National Park Medical Center and others. Sheila Williams, CEO of HSC Medical Center, comments that “the purpose of this week is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and of the role nurses play in meeting the healthcare needs of our community. Nurses work tirelessly to promote and maintain health within Hot Spring County—not only at HSCMC but also in our clinics, nursing homes, home health, schools and other facilities throughout our community.” Chief of Staff Dr. Absalom Tilley says, “When patients are at the hospital, the people they see the most are the nurses that give them care. The nurses that work at our facility are good enough to work anywhere they want but choose to stay here because they are dedicated to making our local hospital a great place to be cared for. The quality of our nursing staff is excellent and it shows in the very high satisfaction rate that our facility consistently receives.” As Kimball Davis, Chairman of the Board, states “Our hospital is incredibly blessed to have such an experienced and talented nursing staff supporting our hospital and caring for our patients. Their compassion and care is unparalleled and they are the backbone of Hot Spring County Medical Center.”Patient Room Dedicated to Rick Dial Last May, the HSC Medical Foundation sponsored a fundraiser for HSC Medical Center—The Toast and Roast of Rick Dial. At that time, it was the most successful fundraiser by the Foundation in recent years. Sadly, Rick Dial suddenly passed away shortly after the event. In memory of Dial, the Foundation Advisory Committee decided to use part of the proceeds from the fundraiser to renovate a patient suite. That suite has been completed and was unveiled to Phyllis Dial, Rick’s wife, and other family members this week. After seeing the room, Phyllis Dial said, “Rick would have loved the room and he would have been honored to have a room dedicated in his memory. He had great respect for the hospital and recognized the importance of a hospital to our community.” The room door has a plate designating the room “in memory of Rick Dial” and a framed photo of Dial hangs on the wall adjacent to the doorway. The suite consists of a spacious room and an adjacent kitchenette. Dee Schall, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, led the in-house team through the extensive renovations. Schall selected color schemes, artwork, furniture, and accessories, while the Plant Operations department did the manual labor required. Red, black, and chrome are predominant in the room, which is both dramatic and warm. A custom made sofa/bed in black and red was created by a staff member. New flooring and lighting enhance the room which includes a flat screen television. The kitchenette features a microwave, small refrigerator, bistro set, and framed artwork of Rick Dial in some of his movie roles. According to Schall, “The patient suite is not intended as a VIP room and will be assigned to admitted patients as needed. The suite will be especially appropriate for hospice patients who are admitted for acute needs. This project was a labor of love and I was proud to be a part of it.” Teresa Howell, Chairperson of the HSC Medical Foundation Advisory Committee, said “Each room renovated at HSCMC in honor of, or in memory of a loved one, has special meaning to the family and our hospital staff. We are so pleased to now have a unique room that captures the essence of Rick Dial. We believe the patients and their family members will find the room gives them a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere during their stay. We are honored Rick agreed to be the subject of our inaugural fundraising Toast and Roast and by his gracious giving, many patients at HSCMC will benefit from his generosity.”
DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY NOW OFFERED AT HSCMC
HSC Medical Center has enlisted a new ally in the fight against breast cancer. Digital mammography is a new technology that is now be available at HSCMC. Mammograms play a key role in the early detection of breast cancer. Now, digital mammography offers benefits over traditional film-based mammograms. Digital mammograms produce images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds. There is no waiting for film to develop, which can mean a shorter time at the hospital for the patient. With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast, using special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness, change contrast, and zoom in for close ups of specific areas of interest. The sharper, clearer images allow more accurate readings and may even reduce the number of repeat exams. And since digital mammography delivers a 30-40% lower dose of radiation, it is a safer procedure for the patient. Because they are electronic, digital mammography images can be transmitted quickly across a network. The digital images can also be easily stored, copied without any loss of information, and transmitted and received in a more streamlined manner. According to Dr. Shawn Marvin, radiologist at HSC Medical Center, “Digital mammography offers more advanced technology for the women of this community. It will present clearer breast imaging which can produce earlier detection of breast cancer and a better survival rate.” Sheila Williams, HSCMC CEO, says, “We are proud to offer digital mammography to the women of our community. It is our goal to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients and adding this state-of-the-art technology allows us to do just that.” For more information about digital mammography or to schedule an appointment, call 501-332-7373.
HSC Home Care HSC Home Care, the home health agency at HSC Medical Center, provides home health services to people with medical problems or injuries in the comfort and security of their own home. HSC Home Care serves a 35 mile radius outside of Malvern that includes areas in Hot Spring, Dallas, Clark, Grant, Garland, and Saline counties. Home Health services cover nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and home health aide visits. To qualify for home health, you must be under a physician’s care and be homebound. Home Health is normally covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Home health is usually necessary when a person has recently been hospitalized or has new medications, has a new diagnosis, and requires teaching, or has had surgery, injury, or a life changing event happen. We assist patients in remaining at home with intermittent assistance to be safe, have increased knowledge, and recover from injuries or surgeries that have taken place. Registered nurses provide skilled nursing care in the home, functioning under the direction of the patient’s physician. The RN develops the plan of care, takes vital signs, assesses patients, teaches, and provides injections, IV medications, Foley catheter care, wound care, and lab work if ordered by the physician. The physical, occupational, and speech therapists assist patients with recovering or increasing their activities of daily living that may have been impacted by a disease, surgery, or injury. Home health aides assist patients with personal hygiene needs and are supervised by the RN’s or therapists. The patient must have a qualifying skill and an RN or therapist to qualify for home heath aide assistance. A home health visit by any of these services would be 30 minutes to an hour in length. HSC Home Care is fully staffed at this time with RN’s, therapists, and home health aides. For more information about HSC Home Care, please call 501-337-4471.
Stress Testing
Cardiac stress testing is non-invasive and provides an easy screening test to determine if a patient needs more invasive cardiac testing or if the physician needs to look for another cause of any symptoms. Patients who may need cardiac stress testing include those who have a history of cardiac issues, shortness of breath, fatigue, hypertension, abnormal holter or EKG results, or chest pain. Stress testing may also be used to monitor cardiac maintenance issues after a cardiac procedure. New and upgraded stress testing equipment was recently purchased through a donation from the HSCMC Auxiliary. The testing is done in a small lab housed in the Outpatient Center. Lydell Hays is the technician who handles the stress testing. HSCMC protocol requires that two ACLS staff and/or referring physician are present during the testing. The stress test itself takes less than 15 minutes. During the exam, the patient walks on a treadmill with a goal of increasing their heart rate by 85%. Once that target has been reached, the pace on the treadmill gradually slows down. The entire time, EKG, blood pressure, and heart rate are being monitored. The results of the test are printed and delivered to the referring physician for his analysis. Cardiac stress testing may be scheduled at HSC Medical Center Monday through Wednesday from 7 am to 3:30 pm. Cardiac stress testing must be physician ordered. Local family practice and internal medicine physicians, as well as referring cardiologists, may order the exam. For more information about stress testing at HSCMC, contact Carver at 501-332-7375.
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
