August 31, 2012 Volume 20 Number 18 Most Wired...2 Second Time Around...3 CHECKUP A PUBLICATION FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES Ozella Carouthers Honored For 45 Years Of Service EOQ...4 Pharmacist of Year...4 NICU Reunion...5 Items Needed...5 Promotion...6 EOM...6 ServSafe...6 inside Anniversary...7 Baby Fair...7 Alzheimer s Walk...7 Ozella Carouthers, (front, second from left), surrounded by members of the Environmental Services staff, became the first NMMC-Tupelo employee to achieve 45 years of service. Carouthers received her 45-year pin at a service awards ceremony on Aug. 23. On that same day, coworkers helped Carouthers celebrate with a potluck lunch, and she was also recognized at a reception in her honor following the service awards ceremony. Carouthers was interviewed by WCBI, WTVA and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. f It!Take Advantage of It! Free Enrollment & First Month Free Join during September & pay nothing up front! Full-time and regular part-time NMMC employees and family members may join the NMMC Wellness Centers with no registration/assessment fee and their first month s membership free. Call your local Wellness Center for more information. Tupelo 377-4141 Pontotoc 489-1335 Baldwyn 365-7873 West Point 495-9355 Iuka 423-1980 Hamilton (205) 921-2997
NMMC Named Most Wired By AHA The six North Mississippi Health Services hospitals were recently named one of Health Care s Most Wired by the American Hospital Association. NMHS is the only health care organization in Mississippi to be recognized in the Top 100 Most Wired. The nation s Most Wired hospitals are leveraging the adoption and use of health information technology (IT) to improve performance in a number of areas, according to Health Care s Most Wired 2012 Survey. As a field, hospitals are focused on expanding and adopting IT that protects patient data, and optimizes patient flow and communications. Information technology is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of health care, said Tommy Bozeman, North Mississippi Health Services chief information officer. Most Wired hospitals and health care systems help illustrate IT in action by improving efficiency, quality and safety of care while helping to control costs. Our organization has always focused on using technology to improve patient care and safety, and this recognition is a result of that effort. NMHS hospitals include the flagship 650-bed hospital in Tupelo, as well as a community hospital system with locations in Eupora, Iuka, Pontotoc and West Point, Miss., and Hamilton, Ala. Among the key survey findings this year: Ninety-three percent of Most Wired hospitals employ intrusion detection systems to protect patient privacy and security of patient data, in comparison to 77 percent of the total responders. Seventy-four percent of Most Wired hospitals and 57 percent of all surveyed hospitals use automated patient flow systems. Ninety percent of Most Wired hospitals and 73 percent of all surveyed use performance improvement scorecards to help reduce inefficiencies. One hundred percent of Most Wired hospitals check drug interactions and drug allergies when medications are ordered as a major step in reducing medication errors. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker recently presented awards to North Mississippi Medical Center and North Mississippi Medical Clinics on behalf of the federal government and the Mississippi Regional Extension Center (REC) as members of the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV). Accepting the awards on behalf of those areas are David Barber (left), North Mississippi Medical Clinics president, and Tommy Bozeman, North Mississippi Health Services vice president and chief information officer. MUV is an exclusive group of health care leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to transforming health care through the use of health information technology. The award presentation was held Aug. 16 at Pulmonary Consultants on the NMMC campus. As shown by these survey results, hospitals continue to demonstrate how IT not only can be used to improve patient care and safety but it is also a means to improve efficiency, said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. Equipping caregivers with the information needed to drive quality, safety and efficiency will continue to be an imperative as the challenges facing health systems grow increasingly complex, said Pat Blake, president, McKesson Technology Solutions. The effective use of health IT, including actionable analytics and connectivity, can be a strategic lever as hospitals and health systems work to drive better outcomes while managing capacity, reducing costs, and coordinating care across multiple settings and caregivers. Continued on page 3 August 31, 2012 Page 2
Most Wired Continued from page 2 Of note, nearly one-half of Most Wired hospitals utilize social media for community outreach and crisis communication compared to one-third of total respondents. Health Care s Most Wired Survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, asked hospitals and health systems nationwide to answer questions regarding their IT initiatives. Respondents completed 662 surveys, representing 1,570 hospitals, or roughly 27 percent of all U.S. hospitals. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com. About the AHA The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Close to 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 42,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org. About the Most Wired Survey The 2012 Most Wired Survey is conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corporation, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), and the American Hospital Association. About the Sponsors McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. They partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers and other senior healthcare IT leaders. With more than 1,400 CIO members and more than 70 healthcare IT vendors and professional services firms, CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve. Second Time Around Program Aids Patients In honor of the National Rehabilitation Awareness Celebration in September, hospitals affiliated with North Mississippi Medical Center are seeking new and used durable medical equipment for its Second Time Around Program. The program makes new and used medical equipment available to patients who may not have the funds to purchase needed items. Items may be dropped off at the Rehabilitation Services department of NMMC hospitals in Tupelo, Eupora, Iuka, Pontotoc and West Point, Miss., and Hamilton, Ala. We often see patients recovering from a stroke or other debilitating illness or injury who do not have insurance and cannot afford the medical equipment they need at home, said Angie Everett, director of NMMC s Rehabilitation Institute in Tupelo. Some items, especially bath equipment, are not paid for by many insurance policies, so even patients with insurance coverage often cannot afford them. This program is ideal for families who have to purchase medical equipment or do not have the means to replace broken or worn items. All items are welcome, but the most often requested are wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, bedside commodes, canes and crutches. In addition, the NMMC Rehabilitation Institute is collecting new and gently used T-shirts and elasticwaist pants for rehabilitation patients. The National Rehabilitation Awareness Celebration, Rehab: Miracles in Motion, is Sept. 16-22, but items are collected and distributed year-round. For more information, call Rehabilitation Services at an NMMC hospital near you, or Nancy Scruggs at (662) 377-4058 or 1-800-843-3375. Page 3 August 31, 2012
Andrews Selected As NMMC-Pontotoc EOQ David Andrews, a systems technician with Facility Operations, has been named the most recent Employee of the Quarter for North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc. Andrews is a native of Greenwood and graduated from St. Joseph s High School in Greenville. He has earned certification in HVAC. Anytime we are involved in a large project, David wants to be involved in order to continue to learn new things, a coworker Amanda Pitts Summers, Pharm.D, was recently selected as the 2012 Pharmacist of the Year by the Mississippi Society of Health System Pharmacists. Summers is a clinical pharmacy specialist at North Mississippi Medical Center Outpatient Infusion. She graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and completed her graduate work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She also serves as a clinical assistant professor for the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. wrote in his nomination. He has taken time with new employees, orienting them to Facility Operations. David takes ownership of issues and offers input in areas for the improvement of the situation, it also noted in his nomination. Andrews said what he enjoys most about his job are his coworkers. He and his wife Angie Andrews have two children 14-year-old Branden Lopez and 4-year-old Mariann Andrews. In his spare time, Andrews enjoys hunting, video games, watching NASCAR races and camping with his family. Summers Earns State Pharmacist Of Year Honor NMMC Pharmacy staff congratulates Amanda Summers (holding plaque) on her achievement. She is a life member of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association. She is actively involved in her community, volunteering at the Good Samaritan Free Clinic in Tupelo, serving as a charter member of the Tupelo Symphony Chorus, and participating in Tupelo Community Theatre musical productions. She is past president of the Pilot Club of Mantachie. She is a life member of the Itawamba Community College Alumni Association, and is currently serving as president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She was also named Pharmacist of the Year in 2000, and her brother, Wes Pitts, Pharm.D., pharmacist at NMMC, received the award in 2011. Summers and her husband, Mark, have two sons 6-yearold Lincoln and 4-year-old Evan. The family resides in Mantachie and owns and operates Lakefront Gardens in Tupelo. The Mississippi Society of Health-System Pharmacists represents pharmacists throughout the state practicing pharmacy in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, and home care agencies. August 31, 2012 Page 4
NICU Patients, Parents Attend Annual Reunion McKinzie Mackey (center), 20, of Blue Springs, enjoys visiting with staff members (from left) Brenda Brassfield, Susan McAnally, Cami Barritt, Missy Rorie, Renee Pierce and Sherry Fuqua during the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion at North Mississippi Medical Center Women s Hospital on Aug. 18. Around 400 NICU graduates, their families, Women s Hospital staff members, physicians and volunteers attended the biennial event, which had a tailgating theme. McKinzie is currently a sophomore at Itawamba Community College in Tupelo but spent three months in the NICU after being born 12 weeks prematurely. She weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces at birth. Kelly Johnson (right) of Shannon and her 5-month-old daughter, Henley, enjoy visiting with registered nurse Renee Pierce during the NICU Reunion. Weighing only 15 ounces at birth, Henley is the smallest baby to ever graduate from the NICU. She spent 90 days in the NICU after being born 14 weeks early. Wee Care Room Items Needed Individuals and groups looking to help others are encouraged to donate items for parents with newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the North Mississippi Medical Center Women s Hospital. Christy Whitley, social worker at Women s Hospital, says the community has helped stock the Wee Care Room since it opened, but the high volume of patients and their parents with extended stays has depleted supplies in recent weeks. Requested items include snack crackers, chips, soft drinks, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals and microwave entrees, as well as travel-size hygiene items such as soap and shampoo. For more information, call Whitley at (662) 377-4924. Page 5 August 31, 2012
Karen George Earns Nursing Promotion Karen George, RN, MSN, recently became Director of Nursing Practice at North Mississippi Medical Center. George began her nursing career in 1986 at NMMC as a staff nurse, and later a charge nurse, on the neurology/neurosurgery unit. From 1999-2001, she served as interim nurse manager for the 5 South surgical unit and the 4 East step-down unit. She worked as clinical Lab Technician Selected As Clinics EOM Joy Moore of Hamilton was recently named July Employee of the Month for North Mississippi Medical Clinics. Moore has served as a medical laboratory technician at Hamilton Medical Clinic since 1997. She is a graduate of Sulligent High School, and she received her medical laboratory technician associate s degree at Bevill State Community College. She is also certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Joy is truly a blessing to all who know her, said a coworker who nominated Moore. She is a great team player both on the job and anywhere else she is. All our patients know her by name and always ask about her. Ten staff members of North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point s Food and Nutrition Services have recently attained ServSafe certification. The benefit of this is that all ServSafe certificates are displayed in the kitchen, showing the public we know the guidelines and rules, said Megan McClure, a registered dietitian with NMMC-West Point. It reassures people about food safety. Individuals who receive a ServSafe Food Handler certificate have successfully completed a Food Handler course and have gained basic knowledge of the topics covered. The program covers five key areas: basic food safety, personal hygiene, crosscontamination and allergens, time and temperature, and cleaning and sanitation. Certificates are valid for five years. outcomes manager from 2002-2006, and then assumed her most recent role of nurse manager of the 3 West oncology unit. George received her associate s degree in nursing from Itawamba Community College in Fulton. She received her bachelor s degree in nursing from the University of North Alabama, and her master s degree in nursing from Delta State University. She is a life-long resident of Fulton and is involved in numerous church and community events. She and her husband, Neal, have three daughters Kayla, Candace and Bethany. Moore said her favorite part of her job is being able to help people in her community. She and her husband, Mark, have been married for 17 years and have two children 8-yearold Ben and 4-year-old Sam. The family attends Hamilton Church of Christ. The Employee of the Month honor recognizes employees with exemplary job performance and customer service skills, as well as community involvement. Certification Awarded To 10 West Point Food & Nutrition Staffers NMMC-West Point employees recently earning their ServSafe certification include (front row, from left) Janice Carter, Earnestine Donald, Megan McClure, (back row, from left) Calamity McClinton, Dorothy Cannon, Lawanda Merchant, Gloria Smith, Ann Eacholes and Ouida Morton. April Morgan, registered dietitian and director of NMMC-West Point Food and Nutrition Services, is also ServSafe certified. August 31, 2012 Page 6
Bariatric Center To Host Fifth Anniversary Celebration In 2007, North Mississippi Medical Center opened its Bariatric Center. Five years later, hundreds of area residents have lost a total of 32,000 pounds and gained a second chance at life. To celebrate their patients success, the NMMC Bariatric Center staff is hosting a fifth anniversary celebration from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the atrium near the Bariatric Clinic, 408 Council Circle, Suite C. Participants will enjoy refreshments, photos, mini-makeovers and chair massages. One lucky patient will win a Take Me Away package from NMMC Wellness Center s Therapeutic Day Spa. NMMC employees and covered dependents have contributed greatly to the program s success accounting for more than 17,815 pounds of the weight lost. The vast majority of the nearly 300 employees and dependents who have undergone bariatric surgery had a body mass index greater than 40 (normal BMI is 18.5-24.9). Today, more than half of these individuals have a BMI of less than 35, with many reaching the normal range and many others well on their way. For more information about the celebration or about weight loss surgery options, call (662) 377-SLIM (7546) or 1-866-908-9465. Women s Hospital To Sponsor Baby Fair Sept. 22 North Mississippi Medical Center Women s Hospital will host a Baby Fair from 9 a.m.- noon Saturday, Sept. 22, for new and expectant parents. The free event will be held at the NMMC Women s Hospital, 4566 S. Eason Blvd. Participants can browse the selection of baby clothing, photos, gifts, toys and keepsakes from local merchants. Drawings will be held for several prizes from Woodland Furniture a Sorelle commuter crib, an Angel Line traditional Jenny Lind crib, Colgate Classica mattress, bedding sets and other items. In addition, participants are eligible to win a pampering package from the NMMC Wellness Center Therapeutic Day Spa, and a newborn goodie basket from NMMC Women s Hospital Gift Shop. NMMC s Baby Fair will provide information about Wonderful Beginnings early pregnancy, prepared childbirth, Lamaze, Cesarean birth, breastfeeding, sibling and grandparenting classes. Lactation consultants and breastfeeding educators will also be on hand. Infant/toddler CPR and first aid sessions will be offered every hour. Expectant parents can get preadmitted during the Baby Fair, and tour the labor and delivery area. Caring for Your Newborn classes will be offered every hour. For more information, call (662) 377-4099 or 1-800-843-3375. North Mississippi Medical Center is co-sponsoring a Walk to End Alzheimer s on Sept. 29 at Veterans Memorial Park in Tupelo. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m. For more information, visit alz.org/walk or call 1-800-272-3900. Page 7 August 31, 2012