North Mississippi Medical

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1 A Publication for Employees Volume 15, Number 18 September 7, 2007 W hat s Inside Benefits Open Enrollment...p. 2 Donation...p. 2 Cafe Express...p. 3 Dr. Draper...p. 3 Service Pins...p. 4 Retirement...p. 5 Retirement...p. 6 Retirement Seminar...p. 6 EOQ...p. 7 Leather Sale...p. 7 Central Sterile...p. 7 Live Well...p. 8 Pharmacy Staffers Win MSHP Honors North Mississippi Medical Center pharmacists and a technician received awards this year at the annual Mississippi Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (MSHP) meeting and banquet. Robert Ellis, Pharm.D., was named the Health-System Pharmacist of the Year. This award is given to an individual of the highest integrity who exemplifies the profession of healthsystem pharmacy. According to MSHP Policy and Procedure, the recipient demonstrates outstanding cooperation with the entire health care team, outstanding service and contributions to the profession and outstanding community service. The nomination statement said that Ellis is the go-to person for pharmacists and residents, has a wonderful reputation with nurses and physicians, and is dedicated to patient-centered pharmacy services. He is known for his quality of care and research initiatives, is a preceptor and mentor for staff, students and residents, and has trained pharmacists to provide anticoagulation services locally, statewide and nationally. Ellis is a recognized expert in cardiology and pharmacotherapy, and has spoken about anticoagulation at the MSHP annual meeting. He participates in fundraising for charities and volunteers at the Good Samaritan Free Clinic. Ellis is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and completed a residency and worked at Regional Medical Center in Memphis. He joined the staff in 1993 and currently serves as president of the Tupelo High School Booster Club. Phyllis Sullivan, certified pharmacy technician, received the pharmacy technician award. Her nomination stated that Sullivan provides quality service to s Clinical Support Pharmacy Team. She also provides assistance for direct patient care by delivering Coumadin packets to patients and ministering to their needs while there. She participates in charitable events quietly and anonymously and has a professional work ethic that serves as an example to all of her colleagues. Sullivan shares her computer expertise and assists with new employee training and student orientation. She exemplifies all attributes of this award. The Intensive Insulin Management Team won the Innovative Health-Systems Pharmacy Practice Award. Team Leader Wes Pitts, Pharm.D., accepted the award. The award recognized a team of professionals involved with developing and implementing an intensive insulin protocol. The team leader collaborated with physicians to consolidate several sliding scales to one and co-authored a handbook on stress hyperglycemia. MSHP is a professional society of pharmacists and technicians practicing in organized health care settings.

2 Page 2 Checkup September 7, 2007 Group Raises $1,000 For Home Health Patient Assistance September Is Benefits Open Enrollment Month Employee benefits are an important part of the working environment, and now is the time for North Mississippi Health Services employees to take a look at their personal benefit plans. Benefit open enrollment began Sept.1 and continues until Sept. 30. New benefits become effective Oct. 1 for eligible employees who enroll. Eligible employees who fail to enroll during September will not be able to enroll until the next open enrollment period in March Gloria Fields, NMHS retirement/life benefit representative, can help employees with enrollment/changes to retirement plans. She can be reached at Employees medical needs are supported by the health, dental and vision plan. For assistance with enrollment/changes to these plans, contact Martha Causey, NMHS insurance representative, at Clinic employees should visit their nearest affiliate hospital for medical forms. For retirement forms, contact Human Resources manager Lynn Nelson at or the clinic s office manager. Plan representatives for retirement and life insurance will be available Sept at various locations throughout the organization at scheduled times. Employees are encouraged to check on their current benefits as well as sign up for any available benefits. Information about benefits is available on the Intranet at iwww.nmhs.net/eservices/benefits. Jim Thompson (far left) and Lee Jones (third from left) from A&A Home Health Equipment present a $1,000 check for the North Mississippi Medical Center s Home Health Patient Assistance Fund. Accepting the donation are Linda Stokes (second from left) of the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi and Gina Smith, Home Health Agency s regional manager for social work. A&A Home Health Equipment raised the funds by hosting a golf tournament on June 9 at Natchez Trace Golf Club.

3 September 7, 2007 Checkup Page 3 Cafe Express Offers Computer Access To Off-Site Employees Tran Nguyen, a student and part-time employee in North Mississippi Medical Center s Pathology Department, uses the computer in Cafe Express in s East Tower. The terminal was set up for use by off-site employees who are at the Main Unit for meetings or other business. Dr. Draper Retires Dr. Kenneth Draper (center) admires the watch presented to him by North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka in recognition of his 40 years of service to the community. Iuka Medical Clinic hosted a reception Aug. 26 honoring the retirement of Dr. Draper and welcoming Dr. Brian Bagwell and Dr. Tripp Gillespie. The reception drew members of the community and hospital staff who toured the new facility, congratulated Dr. Draper on his retirement and welcomed the two new family medicine physicians to the community.

4 Page 4 Checkup September 7, 2007 The employees listed below recently received service pins in recognition of service milestones. Five Years Behavioral Health Center Shaherah Foster, Regina Rowan, Rhonda Smart -West Point Dawn Colbert, Lisa Doss Clinics Joy Baxter, Melissa Rhodes, Miki Sims, Leigh Williams, Jo Wynn -Iuka Brandon Grissom -Hamilton Lisa Wanner Kristin Boes NMHS Joyce Armstrong, Kimberly Ginn, David Haas, Lajolynn Hodges, Dana Horton, Melissa Johnson, Tammy Loague, Barker Poe, Judy Richardson, Carol Rutland, Micaela Sanders, Ewell Welford, Deborah Wright -Pontotoc Angie Daniel -Eupora Sanessa Greenlee, Gerald McGinnis Women s Hospital Arkabrenna Marion, Elesha Tidwell Ten Years Baldwyn Nursing Facility Peggy Guy -West Point Deanna Simmons, Angela Turnage Clinics Melissa Fason, Cheryl Gaskin Home Health Stephanie Magee, Joyce Watkins Service Pins Awarded NMHS Carol Alderman, Tonia Cole, Tammy Hamblin, Francis Montgomery, Suzette Young Teresa Brown, Leigh Coker, Christy Edwards, Sandra Hadaway, Amy Harrington, Monica McCarley, Melissa McCoy Women s Hospital Wendy Turner Fifteen Years -West Point Eunice Harlow, Donna Melcher, Regina Towery Clinics Sharon Calmes Belinda Gates, Michael Hannon, Karla Parham, Jackie Pugh Twenty Years Janie Clayton, Bertha Nichols -Pontotoc James Ramsey Women s Hospital Mary Johnson, Ginger Smith, Angie West Twenty-Five Years -Eupora Lisa Orr Women s Hospital Kathy Funderburk, Pamela Phillips Thirty Years Debra Oaks, Terrie Shackelford -Eupora Sherrie Johnson Forty Years Ozella Carouthers

5 September 7, 2007 Checkup Page 5 Retirement Brings Travel, Grandchildren Time After working for North Mississippi Medical Center for 30 years as a unit secretary for surgical recovery rooms, Ann Stanford is retiring. Stanford graduated from high school in 1960 and then worked as a bank teller for a few years. She soon started her career at and says she can t believe how much things have changed since she started. This career has been so enjoyable for me, she said. I like everything about it. We ve gone from the way things used to be to computers and more. I ve been learning with everyone the whole way, which has made my job even better. If you get to grow along with a place like this, it makes it so much fun. After she retires, Stanford said she is looking forward to traveling with Gerald, her husband of 40 years. We ve visited the Caymans before, and I d love to go back there, she said. We enjoy going to the coast and to the mountains, so we ll get to get more of that in. I m looking forward to seeing more places. Much of her free time will also be spent with her grandchildren. I have five grandbabies, she said. It s great because I have two that are little babies, and some every age up to college. One thing she especially looked forward to was seeing her granddaughter, Corie Stanford, participate in the Miss Mississippi pageant. Corie won Miss Tupelo in January, and competed in the statewide pageant in Vicksburg in mid- July. Beth Taylor (right), congratulates Ann Stanford on her retirement with a gift certificate from her coworkers for a Wellness Center membership and a trip to the Day Spa.

6 Page 6 Checkup September 7, 2007 From High School To Three Decade Career During her 31 years of service to North Mississippi Medical Center, Kay Aycock visited other hospitals, and each time she came back more impressed with. Aycock, who recently retired from her position as a transcriptionist, said she had never seen a more caring environment. President Chuck Stokes (right) congratulates Kay Aycock (left) on her retirement after 31 years of service as a transcriptionist. I ve been in this hospital as an employee and as a patient, and I appreciate the environment so much, she said. When I was here as a patient, they made me feel like the only patient they had. As an employee, I really enjoyed the people I worked with. It felt like home after being there for so long. As a transcriptionist, Aycock typed medical reports for the hospital. She said the thing she will miss most about the job is the interaction with the other employees, who she now considers her good friends. Now that Aycock is retired, she said she is looking forward to having more unstructured time, as well as spending as much time as she can with her two new grandchildren. I m also really looking forward to spending more time with my husband, Robert, and traveling with him when he goes on business trips, she said. I m a pianist for Lakeview Baptist Church, and I m glad I ll get to devote more time to that, because I enjoy it so much. Aycock graduated from Tupelo High School and came right to work at. I ve seen so much growth at this hospital since I started here, she added. Retirement Education Seminar Employment Services will host a retirement education seminar, open to all employees, on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and Thursday, Sept. 20, at North Mississippi Medical Center. It s The Little Things, presented by Lincoln Financial Group, will cover such topics as: How can I save more? How can I make my retirement dollars grow? How much will I need in retirement? How will saving 2 percent satisfy my retirement needs? Each session lasts an hour and is targeted to those interested in learning more about retirement. Spouses of those considering retiring soon are welcome. To register Charlotte Pratt, benefit services coordinator, at cpratt@nmhs.net or call

7 September 7, 2007 Checkup Page 7 -Iuka Selects Myra Barnes As EOQ Myra Barnes, RN, has been selected as the most recent Employee of the Quarter at North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka. Barnes joined -Iuka in May A graduate of Iuka High School, she received her nursing degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville. Barnes has two children, Courtney and Corey, who are both married. She has two granddaughters, Callie and Annsleigh. She attends Harmony United Methodist Church in Iuka. When commenting on the honor, Barnes said, The best part of my job is the fulfillment I get when I feel like I ve done something to help another human being, especially if they are having a bad day. I also enjoy the staff and doctors with whom I work. My coworkers are great and they make even the bad nights better. Coworkers nominating Barnes stated that she is hardworking, compassionate, a very good caregiver for patients and a true asset to -Iuka. Auxiliary To Host Leather Sale September 27 The North Mississippi Medical Center Auxiliary Gift and Floral Shop is hosting a leather sale from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. Featured will be quality leather coats, handbags, briefcases and small leather goods by Sean John, Ecko, Baby Phat, Dereon, Kenneth Cole, Roca Wear, Nine West, Apple Bottoms and others. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi for community health needs. Payment may be made by cash, check or credit card. Payroll deduction is available for employees with proper identification. For more information on the leather sale, call the Auxiliary Gift and Floral Shop at (662) or Central Sterile Staff Earns Honors For Reducing Infections Donna Epps of Metrex recently presented the Central Sterile Processing staff with the Certificate of Achievement in Protecting People for their efforts to reduce infections. Attending were (front row, from left) Kim Davis, Sandra Stockard, Epps, Tammy McVay, Hazel Harris, (back row, from left) James Carruth, Doris Fears, Jessie Gillespie, Daphne Dunlap, Nancy Crayton, Charlene Dillard and Kathleen Goree. Metrex, a supplier of infection prevention products, recognized for standardizing infection prevention practices and educating staff.

8 Page 8 Checkup September 7, 2007 Live Well Benefits Fair Scheduled September 19, 20 North Mississippi Medical Center employees are encouraged to take charge of their own health and possibly earn a gift card by participating in the annual Live Well employee incentive program. A Live Well benefits fair will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 20 at -Tupelo, ending the enrollment period. The event will provide employees with information to help them better care for themselves. Representatives will be on site from the following areas: Wellness Center Behavioral Health Center/EAP Community Health Lincoln Financial Cigna Life MPACT College Savings Pharmacy Health Link Breast Care Center Upon enrollment, each employee will be given a Live Well punch card, an attendance and exercise log and a T- shirt. Next summer, if the employee has met five of the eight items, he will receive a $25 gift card. If seven of the eight items are met, the employee receives a $100 gift card. Program criteria include: Behavior Modification Employee declaration to remain tobacco-and drug-free Employee declaration to use seatbelt Employee attends at least three Live Well health seminars Employee exercises regularly either at an NMHS facility or maintains a personal exercise log Health Outcomes Employee has blood pressure, cholesterol and weight checked at no charge during the Live Well employee health fair Results Employee has three calendar quarters without an unscheduled absence, excluding situations covered under the Family Medical Leave Act Employee has no lost work time caused by work-related injuries Employee uses less than $250 in Acclaim health insurance claims, excluding preventive care, prescriptions, eye and dental care Affiliate hospitals will also be enrolled during September. Clinic employees enrollment period started in August and will be completed in early September. For more information, contact the local Employee Health office, visit iwww.nmhs.net/livewell or contact benefit services coordinator Charlotte Pratt at cpratt@nmhs.net or (662)