CHECKUP. inside. Child Care Center Celebrates 20 th Anniversary. October 26, Wellness Pay...2. Accreditation...4. Stars On-Line...

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1 October 26, 2012 Volume 20 Number 21 Wellness Pay...2 Accreditation...4 CHECKUP A PUBLICATION FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES Child Care Center Celebrates 20 th Anniversary Stars On-Line...4 Dr. Murphey...4 EEPS Survey...5 EOM...5 Dr. Hamilton...6 CPR...6 Safety Summit...7 Cooking Class...7 inside ER Visit...7 Excellence Award...8 Pediatric Cardiology Clinic...8 Employee Recognition...8 Celebrating the 20th anniversary of North Mississippi Medical Center s Child Care Center are staff members who have been employed since the facility opened in November 1992 (from left) Cheryl Wheeler, Sonia Alford, Amy Bennett, Tina Dulaney, Dorothy Hill and Susan Caldwell. Ann Hodges (not pictured) is also an original employee. NMMC s Child Care Center serves NMMC employees children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old.

2 Wellness Pay Distributed More than $1.7 million in wellness pay was distributed Sept. 29 to 1,958 employees throughout North Mississippi Health Services. All active employees who have accumulated more than 520 hours of unused short term disability time are eligible. After the final pay period in September, the hours accumulated beyond 520 are bought back on an hourly rate basis at a one-for-two formula. Wellness pay recognizes those employees for their years of service. It takes five years and eight months to accrue 520 hours. It also recognizes those who are blessed with good health and have been on the job. NMMC-Tupelo Pathology wellness check recipients include (front row, from left) Tricia Murphy, Sue Hawkins, Martha Pepper, Shirley Harrison, Cleo Hoing and Barbara Crayton; (back row, from left) Jan Dillard, Eric Plunkett, Crystal Jumper, Charlotte Morris, Karen Stephens, Darlene Nicholson, Vernicia Payne, Michelle Betts, Melanie Bennett, Susan Loden and Johnny Ferrell. Women s Hospital employees (front row, from left) Bertha Merdie, Jeffrey Smith, Melissa Edwards, Sonny Marshall, Scotty Shook, Betty Bradley, (back row, from left) Leslie Hughes, Yvette Crump, Arka Brenna Marion, Terina Green, Paula Brown, Janice Davidson and Kathy Smith welcomed the delivery of wellness checks. NMMC-West Point employees (from left) Kay Lawler, Business Services; Lisa Clark, Medical Staff coordinator; Gloria Smith, Food and Nutrition; Nicki Raines, Business Services; Debbie Hargrove, Human Resources; and Nancy Hall, Business Services, were pleased with their wellness checks. Continued on next page October 26, 2012 Page 2

3 Wellness Pay continued Crystal Raper (right) distributes wellness check stubs to NMMC- Hamilton employees (from left) Jackie Murray, Teresa Wilkes, Donna Flynn, Stephen Brown, Angie Evans and Diane Karr. Baldwyn Nursing Facility wellness check recipients included (front, from left) Patty Dill, Jane Hargett, Karen Patterson, (back, from left) Louise Cristo, Kelvin Grice, Carrie Oswalt, Lorie Moore, Linda Wright and Leigh Ann Scroggins. Several NMMC-Tupelo Environmental Services employees, including (from left) Claudine Miller, Charlene Patterson, Lue McKinney, Ozella Carouthers, Ethel Davenport, Cynthia Garmon, Dorothy Gillard, Rosalyn Montgomery, Clara Richey and Kyle Miller, got wellness checks, Page 3 October 26, 2012

4 NMHS Welcomes New Director of Accreditation North Mississippi Health Services is pleased to welcome Melody Poole, the new Director of Accreditation. Poole comes to NMHS from Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, where she served as Assistant Division Head-Nursing. Poole joined North Mississippi Medical Center the first time in 1991 working as a nurse in the critical care unit, and then in Home Health administration and NMMC administration. In 2008 she transitioned into teaching full time at NEMCC. It feels like coming home, Poole says. There are a lot of the same people here, which speaks really highly of the organization. Poole received her associate s degree in nursing from NEMCC, and her bachelor s degree from Mississippi University for Women in She completed her master s degree in nursing in 1999 at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. As Director of Accreditation, she will be responsible for all accreditation and regulatory issues related to NMHS. Stars On-Line Honors Outstanding Dedication Chris Webb, M.D., of the NMMC Family Medicine Residency Center has been recognized by Stars On-Line for going above and beyond for his patients. Dr. Webb treated a patient for infected ulcers caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The patient came to the clinic wearing shoes that were falling apart and putting his feet at risk for further complications. Dr. Webb bought the man a new pair of shoes suitable for someone with diabetic neuropathy, and even delivered them to the homeless shelter. He probably helped this man more than any other service he could provide to treat his medical conditions, the nomination reads. It simply reiterates the fact that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. If you see an NMMC employee displaying extreme acts of kindness, nominate him or her for Stars On- Line. Nomination forms are also available on the Intranet or throughout the hospital. Dr. Eugene Murphey (fourth from the right) recently celebrated his 92nd birthday at IMA-Tupelo with (from left) Julie Boatner, Lisa Clark, Michelle Turba, Amy Loggins, wife Margaret Ann, Joey Hughey and Connie Lancaster. Dr. Murphey is a 1944 graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. Dr. Murphey has practiced in Tupelo for 62 years. October 26, 2012 Page 4

5 Employee Evidence- Based Planning Survey The annual Employee Evidence-based Planning Survey will be conducted Nov Your participation in the survey is essential to NMMC s planning process. We want to capture the voice of every employee! The survey link will be ed to employees from survey@nmhs.net and will be placed on an Intranet slider. Take a moment to complete this very important survey. If you have questions regarding the Employee Evidence-based Planning Survey, contact Lois Sanderson ( ) or Kertenia Brock ( ). Employee Evidence- Based Planning Survey Plunkett Selected September EOM Eric Plunkett, laboratory information system analyst in the Pathology Department, was selected North Mississippi Medical Center s Employee of the Month for September. Plunkett joined NMMC in He worked in the Pathology Department as an outreach courier, customer service representative and billing compliance coordinator before assuming his current duties. An Amory High School graduate, Plunkett attended Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville and the University of Mississippi in Oxford and Tupelo. The best part of my job is having the opportunity to be part of a team that provides the very best in health care to the people of our community, Plunkett said. Coworkers cited Plunkett s people skills and knowledge as two of many areas that he excels in. Eric is one of the nicest employees I have ever worked with, one coworker wrote. He always manages to stay calm and never seems to get rattled or upset if I have a question or a problem. Anytime I have ever needed him, he has always tried to help me and does so in a timely manner. Eric is indeed an asset to the laboratory, and represents our department, hospital and organization well. Eric is a shining example of customer service skills, another coworker wrote in his nomination. He deals September Employee of the Month Eric Plunkett is surprised by his mother, Rita Plunkett, RN, wife Shonicie and daughter Stella at his presentation. with everyone, whether coworker or patient, with the utmost respect. He has developed a wonderful working relationship with the laboratory staff and is well respected and highly regarded in all areas. He has gained expertise in the complexity of Pathology billing and works diligently to ensure that issues are resolved in a satisfactory manner, even to the point of calling patients at home to make sure that they are happy with the proposed solutions. Plunkett served in the National Guard and was deployed twice with tours in Bosnia and Iraq. He and his wife, Shonicie, have a 1-year-old daughter, Stella. The family attends Northstar Church. Page 5 October 26, 2012

6 Dr. Hamilton Retires After 34 Years General surgeon Jimmy Hamilton, M.D., recently retired his green scrubs after more than 34 years of practice at North Mississippi Medical Center. A native of Houston, Dr. Hamilton received a bachelor s degree in biology before earning his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. He completed both a general surgery residency and a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He spent four months at NMMC during his surgical residency. Dr. Hamilton joined Drs. Bob Caldwell, Bob Kirk and Benton Hilbun in practice at Surgery Clinic of Tupelo on July 1, When he retired, Dr. Hamilton s partners were Drs. Robert McAuley, Charles Pigott, Terry Pinson, Danny Sanders and J.W. Buddy Williamson. Dr. Hamilton witnessed many changes during his tenure specifically the growing number of surgical specialties at NMMC and less-invasive techniques thanks to technological advances. When I started, patients stayed in the hospital a week with most procedures, he said. Now 75 to 80 percent of what we do is outpatient. Dr. Hamilton served as chairman of the Department of Surgery , chairman-elect of the medical staff in 2005 and chairman of the medical staff in He was a member of the credentials committee , and chaired that committee in Dr. Jimmy Hamilton (center) visits with staff during a reception in his honor Oct. 12 at NMMC. After only a weekend off, Dr. Hamilton started his new part-time venture Oct. 1 as a physician advisor in NMMC s Health Information Services. In this new role, he reviews medical charts for accurate documentation and coding, and serves as liaison to the medical staff on related issues. When he s not working, Dr. Hamilton plans to golf, hunt, shoot skeet or travel with Kathy, his wife of 38 years. The Hamiltons have two sons Brian, who is a general surgeon in Hattiesburg, and Mike, who is a high school teacher and football coach in Athens, Ga. and two grandchildren in Hattiesburg. Bill and Deborah Spitler are especially grateful to Glenda Carroll (center) of Ambassador Services for performing above and beyond her job description. On Feb. 29, Carroll stepped off an elevator near Outpatient Services and was summoned to run help someone who was unresponsive. Bill Spitler, who works as PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) coordinator for MIS, wasn t breathing and had no heartbeat. Carroll immediately started CPR and worked with him until Emergency Room staff arrived. Their story was featured in a Positively Mississippi segment that aired Oct. 11 on WTVA News. Spitler also thanked the ER team, ICU team and other hospital staff who took such good care of him. He returned to work a week after his release from the hospital and said he feels great, but knows his outcome could have been much different if Carroll hadn t acted quickly and heroically. October 26, 2012 Page 6

7 Safety Summit Set for Nov. 16 North Mississippi Medical Center will sponsor its annual Safety Summit Nov. 16 at the BancorpSouth Conference Center, Hilton Garden Inn. The keynote speaker is James Reinertsen, M.D., head of The Reinertsen Group. The winner of the 2011 John L. Eisenberg Individual Achievement Award for his decades of U.S. and international leadership for clinical quality and safety, Dr. Reinertsen has an unusual combination of skills and experience. He practiced rheumatology for 20 years, earning a reputation as a superb, patient-centered consultant. For 15 years, he has served as chief executive officer of complex health care systems in challenging markets. He has functioned as an innovative thought leader in health care leadership development, clinical quality improvement, patient safety, health system integration and health care market design. Breakout sessions on various safety topics will follow the keynote address. IMPACT Awards will be presented, and the program will adjourn by noon. To register, call (662) by Nov. 12. DTC Hosts Healthy Holiday Cooking Class The Diabetes Treatment Center at North Mississippi Medical Center will host a one-night cooking class on Monday, Nov. 12. The class will start at 6 p.m. in the Diabetes Treatment Center classroom on the first floor of NMMC s East Tower. Participants will be taught how to cook healthy, traditional holiday foods, sides and desserts. Samples of each dish will be available for tasting, and recipes will be provided as well. Fee for the course is $10. To register or for more information about the class, call (662) On Sept. 11, members of Girl Scout Troop 268 (from left) Brayla Burnett, Dallas Depriest, Danielle Johnson, Aaliyah Cooper, Mya Foster, Annaston Hughes, and Kylee Brownfield delivered snacks to North Mississippi Medical Center Emergency Department staff members, including (from left) Hali Graham, Connie Kelly, Annette Kimbrell, and Brenda Hodges, to thank them for their service to our community. Lee County Girl Scout troops also delivered snacks to NMMC s Emergency Response Center, all Tupelo fire stations, Lee County Emergency Medical Services, and Verona Fire and Police departments. B.J. Johnson of Ambassador Services leads Girl Scout Troop 268. Page 7 October 26, 2012

8 NMMC Wins Excellence Award North Mississippi Medical Center recently received an Excellence in Patient Care award from outcomes firm Studer Group at the 10th annual What s Right in Health Care conference in Nashville, Tenn. This award recognizes our exemplary results on the HCAHPS patient survey, which includes core measures, said Steve Altmiller, NMMC president. Our staff s focus on every patient every time has been key to our success and improvements. HCAHPS, or Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, is a national standardized survey tool used to measure adult inpatient perception of the quality of care they receive at a given acute care hospital. The 27-question survey was created in 2002 by the combined efforts of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Scores are publicly posted four times a year at Studer Group gives its Excellence in Patient Care awards to select partners based on very high scores in each of the HCAHPS categories, which includes core measures. NMMC received this award in the Greater Than 100 Beds category for Best Overall based on their high scores in both HCAHPS composites and core measures. Representatives from top health care organizations in the industry gather at the annual conference to share best practices with an audience of their peers. In health care, providing the best possible care to our patients is our No. 1 focus, says Quint Studer, founder of Studer Group. For North Mississippi Medical Center to achieve this Best Overall recognition in both HCAHPS composites and core measures, a lot of factors have to come together: excellent clinical care, a clean, safe environment, doctors and staff members who communicate well, and more. You have to get most things right and that s something leaders, employees, patients and the entire community should feel good about. Pediatric Cardiologist Opens Clinic J. Kevin Stamps, M.D., a board-certified pediatric cardiologist who recently opened Memphis Pediatric Heart, PLLC, now sees patients by appointment at North Mississippi Medical Center, 830 S. Gloster St. Formerly with UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists, Dr. Stamps had been seeing patients through the Le Bonheur Outreach Program on NMMC s campus since His new Tupelo clinic is located on the fourth floor of NMMC s East Tower. Stamps earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and completed a pediatric cardiology fellowship at Le Bonheur Children s Hospital. He did additional training with an emphasis in cardiac MRI at Boston Children s Hospital and Harvard. He has a special interest in echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and cardiac disease in athletes. Memphis Pediatric Heart accepts all insurance plans. Appointments are available by calling (901) Employee Recognition November 5-11 is National Radiologic Technology Week November 5-11 is HIS Week November 16 is National Philanthropy Day (Health Care Foundation) November is Home Health & Hospice Month October 26, 2012 Page 8