Missouri Delta Becoming Tobacco-Free Campus: Summer 2012
Smoking is a health and safety hazard both to tobacco users and nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke, carrying very serious health risks. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Missouri ranks third in adult smoking rates in the nation and nearly 10,000 Missourians die from tobacco-related illnesses ever year. Missouri’s annual health costs from tobacco use are estimated at $1.96 billion with lost productivity estimated at $2.34 billion. Hospitals in our region and across the state are working to decrease such statistics.
“Beginning August 1, 2012, Missouri Delta Medical Center will adopt a tobacco-free campus as a health and wellness initiative,” explains Jason Schrumpf, President of Missouri Delta. “This policy is designed to preserve the health of our employees, patients, visitors and volunteers along with fulfilling the hospital’s mission of promoting the general health of our community.”
In an effort to be sensitive to the addictive nature of nicotine, Missouri Delta Medical Center is providing ample time and resources to help those committed to smoking cessation. “Implementing a tobacco-free campus policy is a very ambitious goal requiring comprehensive implementation and communication strategies. However, we feel that this initiative is well worth the undertaking and are committed to working together with everyone during this transition period,” states Schrumpf.
Missouri Delta Opens New Center in Charleston
Missouri Delta Medical Center’s new Community Care Center located on East Marshall Street in Charleston opened it’s doors Monday, August 22.
Charleston City Manager Dan Gruen commented, “The negotiations that led to the newly constructed medical facility were a group effort. If there was one individual that stood out as a leader for this project, it would be Jim Cullison. It was Mr. Cullison’s goal during his tenure as chairman of the hospital board to see quality health care opportunities for his community for many years to come.”
The new center will be home to medical providers Jeffrey Griesemer, MD, Family Medicine; Lori Blankenship, APRN, FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner; and beginning Tuesday, September 6th, Gregorio Rodriguez, MD, Family Medicine.
According to Dr. Griesemer, the Missouri Delta Community Care Center in Charleston is a full service medical. “We are happy to see patients of all ages. Our goal is to become your medical home, providing primary care for your entire family.”
“We are experienced in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, emphysema, and heart disease.” Dr. Griesemer has full hospital privileges at Missouri Delta Medical Center, and rounds on Community Care Center patients when they are in the hospital. “We also see patients at Charleston Manor and other area nursing homes,” he said.
“We offer a full spectrum of pediatric services. We are happy to provide well child check, school physicals, and same-day appointments for sick visits,” he added.
The new facility and physicians are well equipped to diagnose and treat broken bones, lacerations, and other minor injuries. “We have brand new x-ray equipment and full time staff to operate it. We also have a laboratory on-site for blood tests.”
ReStart Rehabilitation Center also will be located in the new facility.
ReStart has been providing Physical Therapy services to the community for over 12 years and will now be able to open to the public for fitness use and include comprehensive wellness programs, such as weight loss and management programs, health screenings which will include glucose testing, blood pressure, lipid panels, arthritis classes and much more.
More information on how to join as a fitness member will be announced soon.
Orthopaedic Care Available Again in Sikeston
by Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
It’s been over 20 years since we’ve had orthopaedics here in Sikeston,” said Jason Schrumpf, president of Missouri Delta Medical Center. “The hospital is excited to have all the elements in place to once again provide a comprehensive orthopaedic service line. This is the first step in providing our patients with a local orthopaedics program focusing on compassionate, convenient, cost-effective and quality care.”
Missouri Delta Orthopaedics is located in the new Dr. Leo A. and Dortha M. Bruce Medical Building, 201 Plaza Drive. “It’s just north of the Sikeston Jaycee Regional Dialysis Center,” said Sharon Urhahn, director of marketing for MDMC. “The first patient will be seen Monday, July 18th.”
Area residents got their first look at the Bruce Medical Building Tuesday, July 12th during a ribbon cutting ceremony as well as an opportunity to meet one of the two orthopaedic surgeons who will provide services there.
Orthopaedics involves “any ailment to do with the muscles, bones or joints,” Dr. Larry Conley, orthopaedic surgeon, explained. “I basically operate from the neck down.” Conley said Missouri Delta Orthopaedics will offer a full range of services from setting bones to joint replacements. “The majority of community-based orthopaedic needs can be met here now,” he said. “It’s been such a long time coming.” The other orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Cary Sanders, will do general orthopaedics including spine care.
By using a video arthroscope, which enables them to look at and photograph the inside of small joints, staff at Missouri Delta Orthopaedics will be able to operate on small joints in same-day surgery, he said. Conley said there are very few places in the country where a small community like Sikeston is able to establish and support this type of facility.
“This is a very specialized service line,” Schrumpf said. “We are very fortunate to have the resources—the technology and skilled physicians—to be able to make this service line a reality.”
Construction of the Bruce Medical Building was possible due to a generous donation to the Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation from the daughters of the late Dr. and Mrs. Bruce. Dr. Bruce was a well-known ear, nose and throat doctor in the community who later went into optometry which he continued to practice almost up until his death in 2009.
“Dr. Bruce had a passion for medicine. His daughter, Brenda, told me her father seemed to never want to retire,” Schrumpf said. “Conley and Sanders will live up to the Bruce standard and the legacy of Dr. Bruce as a community physician—it appears that they have similar medical integrity and ethics as Dr. Bruce.
The surgeons will be supported by a full staff. “We are going to hire around 35 additional staff members to launch the new orthopaedic line,” Schrumpf said. “That consists of people in the inpatient and outpatient aspects of orthopaedic care.”
The Bruce Medical Building will also house the Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center which slated to open August 1, Urhahn said. Additional space at the Bruce Medical Building is also available for another service that hosptial officials have yet to decide upon.
Missouri Delta Benefit Ball Plans Begin
By Scott Welton
scottw@standard-democrat.com
New Year’s Eve may seem like a long way off, but planning for the Missouri Delta Medical Center 2011 Benefit Ball has already started. “In order to pull off a perfect evening, you have to plan in advance,” said Sarah Garner, co-chair for the event. “So we’re already working on it.” This will be the 15th Missouri Delta Medical Center Benefit Ball.
“This is the hospitals opportunity to celebrate its accomplishments, as well as raise money to benefit patients in our community,” said Sharon Urhahn, co-chair. “Proceeds from this year’s Benefit Ball will go toward the Hologic 3D Mammography software upgrade. It will greatly enhance our current digital mammography system.”
Traditionally the Hospital Ball, which is held every other year, is scheduled in October. “The first time it was held on New Year’s Eve was in 2009,” Urhahn said. “The City of Sikeston had asked us to kick off the city’s sesquicentennial year with a birthday celebration for the city.” “There was such a tremendous response to that,” Garner said. “Holding it on New Year’s Eve was so well received that we wanted to do it again.”
This year’s event will be held at the Sikeston Armory with “An evening on the Square” theme. “The biggest party on New Year’s eve is on Times square in New York City, so we’re bringing a little bit of the Big Apple to Sikeston Missouri,” Garner said. Organizers are planning decorations that include New York’s famous skyline and other icons associated with a NYC New Year’s celebration. “Of course we’re going to have a big ball,” said Garner.
“Cocktails begin at 7pm with heavy hors d’oeuvres, Urhahn said, “and then dancing until 1am. Entertainment for the evening will be an energetic band out of Atlanta, GA called Mo’ Sol. They play a variety of music, including Motown, funk, soul and hip hop.”
For those looking for an earlier start for their evening or just wanting to offer additional support for the hospital, a patron party is also being planned. “We are going to have the patron party before the ball from 6-7pm,” Garner said. “That is going to be at the home of Larry and Melanie DeWitt.”
While tickets don’t go on sale until September, organizers want to get the word out now so people don’t make other plans and miss out on the social event.
In addition to a regular ticket, there will be other levels of support available ranging from “Grand Central Station” to Times Square.”
With a limited number of tickets available, Urhahn recommended getting them as soon as they are available. “The last Ball on New Year’s Eve was sold out,” she recalled.
Invitations will be sent in September as reminders, but are not required to attend. “The ball is open to the public, so anyone interested in going to the ball should contact us,” Garner said.
Beginning in September, for more information or to purchase tickets, call Urhahn at 472-7329 or Garner at 472-7222.
The Latest in Digital Mammography at Missouri Delta
Women who undergo routine mammograms at Missouri Delta Medical Center now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them, digital mammography. Missouri Delta Medical Center is the first healthcare provider in the Sikeston area to offer the state of the art Selenia Dimensions 2D™ full field digital mammography system from Hologic.
“Missouri Delta Medical Center is very proud to be able to offer the newest technology for breast cancer detection,” states Jason Schrumpf, President of Missouri Delta Medical Center. “Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and viewed.” Our radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow our radiologist to evaluate micro-calcifications and focus on areas of concern. Digital mammography is revolutionizing the practice of mammography through its ability to yield high quality images at lower radiation doses.
Schrumpf also states, “By offering women the latest technology in mammography, the center hopes to reach a broader population of women in our communities who should be routinely screened. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women and statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent.”
“I am so excited that we have been able to purchase this state of the art digital mammography unit,” explains Debbie Nichols, Director of Radiology at Missouri Delta. “I would like to thank the generous benefactors and supporters of our Foundation who have made this purchase possible.”
The Selenia Dimensions 2D was designed from the ground up using patient, technologist and radiologist input from hundreds of screening sites and is a top rated system compared to all other digital mammography machines on the market today.*
Missouri Delta Medical Center is committed to the fight against breast cancer. By offering digital mammography, Missouri Delta provides the latest in imaging quality. If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions about this important breast health procedure, please contact our mammography department at 573-472-7330.
The primary mission of Missouri Delta Medical Center is to offer high quality, accessible health care to the residents of New Madrid, Scott, Mississippi, and Stoddard Counties. For more information about Missouri Delta Medical Center, please call 573-472-7329 or visit our website at www.missouridelta.com.
*KLAS
Preparing for lost sleep is part of Daylight Saving
By Michelle Felter
michellef@standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON — Although Daylight Saving Time doesn’t start until Sunday, it’s a good idea to prepare for the spring forward now.
“Losing that hour of sleep can be really hard for some people, especially those that already have some sleeping issues,” said Jill Ortiz, director of respiratory care and the sleep lab at Missouri Delta Medical Center. “We actually recommend people use Daylight Saving Time as a reminder to evaluate your sleep environment for a better sleep experience.”
This year, those tips are all the more relevant, as this week is National Sleep Awareness Week.
Ortiz made several suggestions to help people prepare for losing that hour of sleep as they move their clocks one hour forward on Sunday. Her suggestions are in line with those recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
“One thing people can do is gradually go to bed a little bit earlier three or four nights prior to the change,” said Ortiz. “Ramping back your bedtime 15 minutes a night before Sunday can make the transition a lot easier.
And for those who feel a bit groggy on Sunday afternoon, it’s a good idea to take a nap — as long as it’s not done within a few hours of someone’s regular bedtime, she said.
Ortiz also suggested people be mindful of what they do in the last couple of hours before they go to bed to help sleep come more quickly.
“Establish a relaxing bedtime routine that prepares your brain and body for sleep, such as reading, soaking in a hot bath and relaxing,” she said. “Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.” While regular exercise helps establish good sleep patterns, it should not be done within three hours of bedtime, said Ortiz.
The environment does a lot to help individuals sleep, too. “Use your bedroom only for sleep and intimacy,” Ortiz advised. “Avoid distractions such as work, computers and television.”
Although it won’t be a big issue at the beginning, as the season of spring progresses and the days get longer, it may still be light outside when some go to bed. “When that happens, keep your sleeping area dark and quiet,” she said, adding bedrooms should also be comfortable and cool. “Use blackout shades or something to tone out the light so you don’t notice it’s lighter outside.”
Ortiz also noted that since Daylight Saving Time is marked twice a year, that’s a good time for people to evaluate their pillows and mattresses, as both play a role in obtaining a good night’s sleep.
Ortiz recommended people come up with a routine to follow throughout the year — not just near the time change. “Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, even on the weekends,” she said.
Sometimes, however, those tips aren’t enough. Ortiz noted that someone who has tried all of these tips, plus those found at www.nationalsleepfoundation.org, and still isn’t getting a good night’s sleep should consider seeing a physician.
“Sometimes following those guidelines isn’t enough,” she said. “There may be an underlying condition.”
NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK – MARCH 6-12
Sleep is something we usually don’t think about unless we aren’t getting enough or we are experiencing sleep difficulty. However, sleep is a vital component to good physical and mental health. Daylight Savings Time begins on March 13 when you will lose another hour of sleep! This is perfect time to change your sleeping habits! The following sleep hygiene tips are recommended by the Sleep Institute at Missouri Delta and the National Sleep Foundation.
- Maintain a regular bed and awake time schedule including weekends.
- Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to soothing music.
- Create a sleep conductive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool.
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillow.
- Use your bedroom for only sleep and intimacy. Avoid distractions like work materials, computers, or televisions.
- Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before your regular bedtime.
- Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before your regular bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol prior to bedtime.
Please call 573-472-7754 or go online at www.sleepfoundation.org for more questions concerning sleep.
Missouri Delta Announces Opening of Wound and Hyperbaric Center
Missouri Delta Medical Center is proud to announce the August 2011 opening of Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center. This service will be located in the new Dr. Leo and Dortha Bruce Medical building which will be located west of the Medical Center.
The Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center will consist of state of the art technology with four treatment rooms and two hyperbaric chambers, and will serve people with difficult to heal wounds or sores, delayed effects of radiation and some skin infections.
Missouri Delta Medical Center has partnered with Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a nationwide consulting firm from Tacoma, WA, which helps hospitals develop outpatient wound and hyperbaric programs to achieve optimal patient outcomes in a cost effective manner.
Under most circumstances, a minor wound will heal in about 3 weeks. When a patient has a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure or chronic lung problems, healing can be delayed. “Often these wounds may require more aggressive and advanced would healing technologies in order to prevent additional complications, such as wound extension and devastating infections,” explains Earl Sisk, RN, MSN, Vice President of Professional Services. As many as 7.8% of Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, and the numbers continue to rise. Many of these persons are over the age of 60, and they experience associated complications including diabetic foot ulcers, poor circulation and delayed healing.
Hyperbaric medicine can be used for chronic wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, radiation tissue damage, and a host of traumatic wounds. Hyperbaric medicine involves the patient resting comfortably in a chamber that is compressed with 100% oxygen. The treatment is painless and helps improve healing by generating new cells and improve blood supply to the wound. The chambers at Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center are extra wide for comfort, and will accommodate patients up to 500 pounds.
Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center will have a physician directed team trained to aggressively treat chronic wounds, to help prevent amputations and control underlying causes.
The center will also treat patients with pressure ulcers, venous stasis disease, ulcers resulting from peripheral vascular disease, and difficult to heal bone infections.
For more information about the new Missouri Delta Wound and Hyperbaric Center, please contact Sharon Urhahn at (573) 472-7329 or email surhahn@missouridelta.com.
Missouri Delta Opens New Primary Care Clinic
We are proud to announce the opening of Missouri Delta Primary Care in the Barton-Jolly Physician Services Building located at 1017 N. Main in Sikeston. Amber Jones, Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, is accepting new patients of all ages and is available Monday – Friday from 9am-1:pm and 2pm-6pm. Amber has prior military service with the Army Nurse Corps. and had a previous practice in the Bloomfield/Puxico area. Call 573-472-6010 to schedule an appointment or walk-ins are welcome. Missouri Medicare/Missouri Medicaid and all insurances accepted, including private pay.
Grief Support Program to Begin Thursday at Missouri Delta
SIKESTON — Grieving residents in the Sikeston community have a new place to turn to for support.
“I think everybody has grief in their lives,” said Sandy Robison, director of social services for MDMC. “We all have grief we have to deal with. Some people cope well with that, and some get stuck in their grief.”
An eight-session grief support program begins Thursday at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. The sessions will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and consist of the same members over a 16-week period. The groups will be small containing at least four people but not more than 10.
Currently, the program, which is based on Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s model for grief and loss, is offered to only adults at this time. Wolfelt is an internationally noted author, educator and grief counselor. He serves as director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty at the University of Colorado Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine.
“Dr. Wolfelt says in our society, we are not comfortable with grief, and he talks about companioning someone in their grief to help them cope with their feelings of loss,” Robison said.
She continued: “It’s not about getting over grief. You’re walking with someone through their grief rather than trying to fix it.”
Robison, who attended a weeklong grief support training last month conducted by Wolfelt at his Center for Loss in Fort Collins, Colo., said the loss the MDMC group will focus on will be over the loss of a loved one.
What makes this support group unique is that it provides continuing education and includes the same people throughout the 16 weeks, Robison said.
“I think it’s a much-needed service in the community,” the social worker said.
Facilitating the program with Robison is Melissa Merideth, who has a master’s degree in social work.
Besides discussion taking place in the meetings, participants can also expect to use some reading guides that coordinate with Wolfelt’s book, “Understanding Your Grief.” Topics addressed include misconceptions about grief; exploring feelings of loss; understanding the needs of mourning; reaching out for help; and seeking reconciliation and not resolution.
Anyone who wants to participate in the group should first contact Robison.
“I would want to know what their loss was, how long ago it was, what they’re experiencing now, what their concerns are, if they have any,” Robison said.
The ideal time for attending this group is five months or longer after the significant loss. The grief is so raw initially that people need some time before participating in a group, Robison said. However, there’s really no set time frame for grieving, Robison said. She encouraged anyone who wants assistance in coping with the loss of their loved one to contact her about the group.
“It takes a lot of courage to seek help or support,” she added.
Those interested in participating in the group should contact Robison at (573) 472-7441 for reservations.
Flu Activity on the Rise in Sikeston
By Leonna Heuring
leonnah@standard-democrat.com
Sikeston seeing more cases than other cities in the region
Sikeston: Stock up on tissues, over-the-counter pain relievers and cold medicines because the flu season is here.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity is increasing in the United States but has likely not yet peaked for season. For the week ending Jan. 8 – the most recent data available – the CDC reported Missouri had regional geographic flu activity.
Registered Nurse Joy Cauthorn, who is certified in infectious disease control, said Missouri Delta Medical Center is beginning to see more cases of influenza.
“We’ve had four patient admissions – two children and two adults – within the past two weeks for the flu. Then we’ve been seeing some in the emergency room and Express Care, and there have been staff who’ve had it too, said Cauthorn who is also responsible for emergency planning at the hospital.
The Sikeston hospital saw only two flu cases during the entire fall season, Cauthorn noted. Most of the month’s confirmed cases have been influenza A, she said. “I’ve spoken to emergency management officials, and Sikeston is seeing more flu than Cape, Dexter and Fredericktown,” Cauthorn said. Of those who’ve been sick in Sikeston, they’ve reported feeling the standard flu symptoms: headache, tiredness, sore throat, cough, body aches, chills and fever.
“The No. 1 way to protect yourself against the flu is by getting the vaccine,” Cauthorn said.
The 2010-2011 flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses, including two types of A – H1N1 and H3N2 – and influenza B. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended by the CDC for everyone 6 months and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious virus.
Pharmacist Ernie Moxey of The Medicine Shoppe said it’s not too late to get the seasonal flu vaccination. “In this region, we’re just starting to see the flu crop up so it’s still not too late to get the immunization because the flu season will go on through March,” Moxey said. “It would be a good idea for those who don’t have it to go on and get it.” Cauthorn agreed noting the flu vaccine takes about 10 days to two weeks to build immunity. Many pharmacies, doctor’s offices and health departments are still offering the vaccine.
In addition to getting a flu shot, practicing respiratory hygiene is another way to decrease chances of contracting the flu. For example, Missouri Delta has respiratory hygiene stations with tissues, face masks and alcohol hand gel for patients and staff to use. “Our practice at the hospital is if someone comes in suspecting they have the flu, we conduct a nasal swab test to get a confirmation,” Cauthorn said.
Those who have the flu can take antiviral medications which don’t cure the flu but can help the symptomology, she said. “Sometimes it can shorten the duration of the illness, but you really have to take those early on to get the full effect,” Cauthorn said. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also be used to treat fever and pain. “These usually work in 30-45 minutes,” Cauthorn said, noting the pain relievers may not bring a fever down to normal but they will help.
Cauthorn also reminded parents and caregivers to not give aspirin to children because it can cause a potentially fatal disease called Reye’s Syndrome. “With children, doctors should be consulted before giving any over-the counter medicine,” Cauthorn said.
“The goal is to make yourself feel better,” Cauthorn said. To do that, those stricken with the flu need to stay home so they don’t spread the illness to others, Cauthorn said. At home, set up a “sick room” to avoid close encounters with flu-stricken family members, she suggested. “Try to have one bathroom the sick people use and one bathroom for the well people to use, if possible. The sick person should have their own drinking glass, wash cloth and towel,” Cauthorn said. Have tissues on hand, a thermometer, humidifier and face masks at the house, Cauthorn advised. Practice good hand washing, and those who are sick need to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, she said. Use some type of disinfectant spray that kills flu germs and cleans surface areas like door knobs, phones, remote controls, light switches, tables, toilets and toys, Cauthorn said. Bedding and other laundry used by those who have the flu can be washed with other clothes in the house, but hold the laundry away from the face and body. Dishes used by an ill person can be washed with everyone else’s dishes, she said. “If you’ve got sick children, and they want to be held, place your chin on your shoulder so they won’t cough in you face,” Cauthorn advised.
Those who have the flu should stay home until they’re fever-free for 24 hours without Tylenol or ibuprofen. “People need to take care of themselves and their families and try to limit the spread,” Cauthorn said. “You have to do that by staying home.”
Ancell Bids a Farewell to Missouri Delta
By Scott Welton
scottw@standard-democrat.com
After 39 years, Missouri Delta Medical Center’s President Charles Ancell officially retires
SIKESTON — Success in life is often found close to home.
A gathering for Charles Ancell’s retirement as president of Missouri Delta Medical Center held Friday at the hospital is only five blocks away from where he grew up.
Born in Sikeston, “I grew up on Sikes Street,” Ancell said. After graduating from Sikeston Senior High School in 1965, he attended Southeast Missouri State University and graduated with an accounting degree four years later after which he immediately entered the working world.
“I was hired right out of college by Price Waterhouse,” Ancell said. His work for that firm soon brought him right back home again, however. “I was auditing the hospital — I was the senior auditor for the 1971 audit,” he recalled. A few weeks after completing that audit, he was contacted by MDMC’s chief administrator.
“In January, the hospital’s chief financial officer left. Harold Jones called me and asked if I wanted to interview for the position,” Ancell said. “He asked if I wanted to come back home and almost 39 years later here I am.”
Ancell said his first job as CFO was to bring MDMC into the computer age. “When I came here, the accounting was on ledger cards,” he recalled. “I put in the first computer and we used that system for a number of years before the person that came after me changed it to the new system we’re using now. The system we have now you can add modules to, so we can keep adding and upgrading.”
When Jones retired in 1990, Ancell made the move to the president’s office and took on the responsibilities of leadership for the hospital. “Trying to keep an adequate, comprehensive medical staff is probably the biggest concern,” Ancell said. “And then you have to have a place for them to work as well as a facility that allows you to attract the quality staff that you need.”
While Ancell was CFO, he got his feet wet in improving facilities with the addition of MDMC’s surgical wing, referred to as H wing by hospital staff, from 1983-1985. “That was the first major one I was involved in,” he said.
Over the last 20 years as president, Ancell has been at the helm for a long list of additions and improvements beginning with the ReStart building behind the hospital.
Later projects during his two decades as president include adding additional floors to the H wing to house the hospital’s obstetrics unit, outpatient surgery and inpatient surgical rooms; building the dialysis center behind the hospital next to ReStart; establishing physician services in the Jolly Building across the street from the hospital; transforming an empty space on the third floor above the surgical wing into post-operation patient rooms; and the renovation of the 2F and 3F wings. “We completely and totally stripped them down to the bare walls and rebuilt them,” Ancell said.
This final project completed the conversion of MDMC into a hospital that features only private rooms for its patients. “Every patient service area in this hospital has been redone in the last 20 years,” Ancell said. “We also completely redid the kitchen — that probably disrupted us more than anything. We cooked meals at the restaurant building that is now El Bracero’s and then transported the meals here.”
Ancell has also overseen significant changes inside the hospital’s walls over the years as he worked to take advantage of rapidly advancing technologies in medical and administrative equipment. “The radiology system advancements have just been wonderful,” Ancell said. “You can transfer images anywhere in the world and they see the same images you see. We don’t even use X-ray film anymore — it’s all digital. We eliminated film three or four years ago.”
Ancell said he expects future administrations will continue to take advantage of technological advancements. “I think the hospital will eventually be a paperless hospital,” he predicted. The hospital has already taken significant steps in that direction, Ancell noted, as lab tests and radiology exams are now all immediately sent digitally to patient records upon completion.
While leading a hospital is full of challenges, Ancell said he has never even considered doing anything different with his life than working to improve MDMC. “I like the board, I like the people,” he said. And he is confident MDMC’s new president, Jason Schrumpf, will continue to build a better hospital as he leads it through the completion of the Charleston health center, the new orthopedic building and whatever other projects the future holds for MDMC.
As for Ancell’s plans for his retirement, “I have some interests that I’m going to pursue,” he said. “I like to garden, research genealogy, track my investments.”
Ancell does appear to be gracefully settling into this next phase in his life — a change that is easy to embrace as he believes the hospital is in good hands.
“One thing I’m glad of is that the people that I worked with are able to stay here and continue the work we started,” Ancell said. “I knew the people that were here would be keeping their jobs and continuing in their roles. I think that’s a very important consideration because there are wonderful people here. It made it easier to retire when I knew everything wasn’t going to be disrupted.”
MDMC Inpatient Rehab Celebrates National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
Missouri Delta Inpatient Rehab Center at Missouri Delta celebrated national Rehabilitation Awareness Week September 20-24. The week is designed to promote the value of rehabilitation; highlight the capabilities of people with disabilities; to salute the professionals who provide service to people with disabilities; and to renew our nation’s commitment to fulfill the unmet needs of people with disabilities.
Activities began September 20th with a Kick-Off Breakfast. The facility also hosted a “Rehab Reunion” on September 21st, where past rehab patients were invited to come back to visit with the nursing and therapy staff. It is at this annual event that the unit names its years “Stars of Rehab” recipient. Pastor Darion Thomas from Caruthersville was selected for 2010. After suffering a massive stroke, Pastor Thomas came to the Rehab unit. “I WILL do this” was his attitude,” Program Director Christy Hawkins said. “He gave 110 percent every single day so that he could return to his home.”
The unit also awarded its “Inpatient Employee of the Year” to Hawkins, who was promoted to the program director position in May.
After an employee luncheon September 23rd, the week was concluded on September 24th with an all hospital ice cream social.
Missouri Delta Inpatient Rehab Center is an 11-bed private room facility located within Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. In 2010, it was named in the top 10 percent of the nation for rehab units.
The facility helps with patients who have had a stroke, amputation, hip fracture, brain injury or have been involved in a car accident, for example. Inpatient Rehabilitation is often a last step before leaving the hospital. A typical inpatient rehab stay is around two weeks and involves intensive therapy with physical, occupational and speech therapists.
Patients often participate in what is called “community re-entry outings” which could include anything from going grocery shopping to fishing! Such outings prepare the patient to re-enter their community in a safe manner by utilizing the skills they learned while staying at the rehab facility.
For more information regarding inpatient rehabilitation, call Missouri Delta Inpatient Rehab Center at 800-747-1250
MDMC Officials Appeal to Legislators
by Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
scottw@standard-democrat.com
With healthcare reform fast approaching, hospital officials are appealing to legislators to take a closer look at reimbursement formulas.
Jason Schrumpf, Missouri Delta Medical Center’s Senior Vice President, and Brian Menz, Chairman of Missouri Delta Medical Centers Board of Directors, discussed the hospital’s concerns with legislators in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the Missouri Hospital Association’s federal advocacy team.
“We went in conjunction with other administrators and hospital representatives from throughout the state of Missouri,” Schrumpf said.
Hospitals receive Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments to offset the costs of providing care to uninsured and underinsured patients.
Based on an audit that isn’t even complete yet and the presumption that more people will have health insurance beginning in 2014 due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, MDMC had their DSH payment cut by $1.1 million on July 1 with less than a month’s notice.
Hospitals are expected to calculate their DSH payments for the state’s fiscal year 2011 by using figures from audits that will not be finished until halfway through that fiscal year, according to Schrumpf.
If the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency which administers Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, instead used the numbers reported to the agency in December, “this would allow CMS to develop its standards based on the actual audit findings,” Schrumpf suggested.
The DSH reimbursement formula also fails to account for patients who are treated but only have a small fraction of their bills covered by insurance. If the insurance pays a single penny “they’re considered to have coverage,” Schrumpf said.
CMS doesn’t take into account that the hospital often doesn’t receive patients’ co-insurance, deductible or other charges for services rendered after coverage limitations have been reached, he said.
“It is a matter of defining who is uninsured and making appropriate revisions to fairly credit hospitals for uncompensated care,” Schrumpf said. “CMS should revisit its definition of uninsured and make appropriate revisions.”
In addition to this and other problems the Disproportionate Share Hospital Payment formulas present for MDMC, “the healthcare reform legislation passed is providing rural hospitals with many challenges,” Schrumpf said. “As insurance coverage expands, it is essential that reimbursement will cover the cost to provide these services or access will be a problem.”
What is actually happening, however, is that CMS is attempting to reduce DSH payments now, years before the presumed expanded coverage even takes effect, he said.
In addition to discussing funding concerns with U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and her health legislative assistant, Sen. Kit Bond and his health legislative assistant and legislative assistants for Sen. McCaskill, Schrumpf presented a letter highlighting “issues that are impacting healthcare in Southeast Missouri and in particular Missouri Delta Medical Center,” Schrumpf said.
The cost wage index, timelines for implementing electronic medical records, Medicaid coverage for physical therapy and allowing MDMC to guarantee loan forgiveness through the National Health Services Corp to attract physicians are some of the other talking points brought to officials in Washington.
Orthopedic Surgery Will Return To Sikeston
by Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
scottw@standard-democrat.com
Missouri Delta Medical Center is laying the foundation for bringing orthopedic surgery back to Sikeston. It has been 20 years since orthopedic surgery was available here. Jason Schrumpf, senior vice president for MDMC, said hospital officials are excited to have all the elements in place to once again provide a comprehensive orthopedic service line.
“Our goal is to become an orthopedic center of excellence that will deliver personalized care with optimal outcomes,” Schrumpf said. Concrete footing and foundation forms for the facility, the Dr. Leo A. and Dortha M. Bruce Medical Building, are already in place just north of the Sikeston Jaycee Regional Dialysis Center. The Bruce building will be a 17,700 square foot single-story facility with over 8,700 square feet dedicated to the orthopedic clinic. The target date for its completion is July 1 with services slated to begin within a few weeks of that date.
The foundation for physicians to provide those services goes back nine years when Dr. Cary Sanders began his studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. “He stood up in front of his class during orientation and said he wanted to start an orthopedic practice in Sikeston,” Schrumpf said. While Sanders is originally from southern Illinois, Sanders’ wife is from this area, Schrumpf explained. Sanders is now finishing up his residency at Tulane University in New Orleans and will begin practicing at MDMC in July. Joining him at the Bruce building in August will be a friend he made during a residency rotation, Dr. Larry Conley, who is finishing his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Mich.
The timing for Sander’s dream to be realized in Sikeston couldn’t be better. Schrumpf said the demand nationwide for orthopedic surgery is projected to grow by 24 percent over the next decade. “People are living longer and enjoying more active lifestyles,” Schrumpf said. Being able to provide orthopedic care at MDMC is a matter of “taking care of the needs of our area; providing a better quality of life,” Schrumpf explained. “The technology has advanced in recent years: artificial joints last longer so they’re putting them in at an earlier age,” he said. “They used to replace joints at around age 65-70. Now they are doing it in the early 50’s.”
These advances also mean there are fewer complications associated with joint replacements, according to Schrumpf. “People don’t want to be in chronic pain, so they are more willing to have these procedures at a younger age so they can return to a more-active lifestyle,” he said. Schrumpf said advances in orthopedics have reduced the inpatient stay for total-joint procedures almost by half from a week down to about four days from admission to discharge.
While replacing knees and hips are likely to be the most common orthopedic procedures, MDMC will be able to provide the full range of surgical and non-surgical services for musculo-skeletal system disorders from arising from trauma, such as car accidents or falls; sports injuries; degenerative diseases; infections and tumors; and even congenital disorders, such as club feet. Sharon Urhahn, director of marketing for MDMC, said having orthopedic surgery available here will make things even easier on both the patient and family members during the inpatient and outpatient portions of recovery.
Upon opening, the orthopedic facility will have 10 examination rooms, an X-ray machine, a cast room and a room for doing minor surgical procedures. There will also be space to bring in a third orthopedic surgeon in the future. “MDMC is committed to providing our patients an orthopedic program with an earned reputation for excellence, compassion, quality and cost-effective care,” Schrumpf said.
Missouri Delta Medical Center Announces Construction of New Medical Building
Missouri Delta Medical Center is pleased to announce the plans for a new $3 million dollar medical building to be erected on the land just north of the Sikeston Jaycee Regional Dialysis Center. This building will house an orthopedic clinic with two orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Cary Sanders and Dr. Larry Conley, who will join Missouri Delta Physician Services in July 2011. The new building will also have space for other services to be announced at a later date. A ground breaking was held this past Friday, August 13th with hospital personnel, orthopedic surgeons, donors, and board members of both Missouri Delta and the Foundation. Sides Construction of Jackson has been awarded the bid to construct the facility.
The Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation received a generous gift from Brenda Bruce-Fountain in memory of her late parents Dr. Leo A. and Dortha M. Bruce. This gift will help fund the construction of the new building and will be named after them, the Dr. Leo A. and Dortha M. Bruce Medical Building. Dr. Bruce dedicated his entire adult life to the practice of medicine in the Sikeston community. Mike Conway, President of the Missouri Delta Foundation explains “We truly appreciate this kind act by their daughter.”
Jason Schrumpf, Senior Vice President, states “Missouri Delta Medical Center is excited to launch a comprehensive, full line orthopedic program that will meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
For more information regarding the Dr. Leo A. and Dortha M. Bruce Medical Building, please call Sharon Urhahn, Director of Marketing, (573) 472-7329.
MDMC Gets High Ranking
By Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
scottw@standard-democrat.com
Survey says: Missouri Delta Medical Center is doing an outstanding job.
MDMC recently celebrated a 97 percentile overall score on its most recent quarterly report from patient satisfaction surveys.
” That was the highest overall score we’ve ever received,” said Sharon Urhahn, MDMC’s director of marketing. Urhahn explained scores are given as a percentile which reflects the MDMC’s ranking in its class. A score of 97 means MDMC is doing better than 97 percent of the 1,400 hospitals in its comparison group, she said.
The surveys were mandated about three years ago to remain eligible for Medicare Hospital Care Assurance Program payments, according to Charles Ancell, president of MDMC, “but we started a year earlier than that.”
The questionnaires are distributed by Press Ganey, a company which specializes in patient satisfaction surveys.
Press Ganey provides survey services for over 10,000 health care facilities, according to Ancell. “They do most of the hospitals in the United States,” he said.
The hospital sends a list of discharged patients to Press Ganey “and they take it from there,” Ancell said. “They do the whole process – every inpatient that comes to our hospital gets a patient satisfaction survey. We survey 100 percent of our inpatient stays.”
Monthly, quarterly and yearly statistics are presented to the hospital for review. Statistics show how MDMC stacks ups statistically against hospitals of about the same size and other health care providers in the region, as well as score breakdowns for specifics such as the doctor who treated the patient and the medical unit the patient was treated in, among others.
Urhahn said after a complete survey is processed by Press Ganey, the company sends a copy to the hospital.
This is important, Urhahn said, as Missoui Delta officials are able to not only recognize trends using the statistical reports, but can also consider and directly address customer comments.
As copies of completed surveys are received by the hospital on a daily basis, MDMC’s patient satisfaction committee reviews incoming surveys weekly to spot any issues as early as possible, Urhahn said.
Ancell said Missouri Delta is getting an exceptional amount of feedback from its customers, as nearly half of the surveys sent out are filled out and sent in.
“We have an unusually high return,” Urhahn agreed, noting the typical rate of return for surveys is around 15 percent.
She sad this high return is no accident, though: “We encourage our patients to return them.”
The survey form has a place for the patient to sign their name, but the survey can be submitted anonymously. Patients who are willing to sign their name on their survey, however, are entered into a quarterly drawing for a $100 gift card. “I really do think that’s why we get such a good response,” Urhahn said.
The survey is made up of over 50 easy-to-answer, standardized questions which ask the patient to rate on a scale of 1-5 a wide range of subjects from promptness and courtesy of the staff to the skill of the physician.
“Everybody gets the same questions,” Ancell said.
While the surveys are a requirement for the hosptial, MDMC officials have enthusiastically embraced them as a great opportunity to help improve patient care and satisfaction.
“We’re striving to get 5s,” Ancell said, “and we have steadily increased our scores.”
Ancell said while they are always looking to improve, MDMC actually started with some pretty good scores. The obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics unit, for example, initially scored high and have pretty much remained in the 99 percentile for the last two years, he said.
“a 99 percentile score is the highest possible score,” Ancell said. “You can’t get 100.”
On the questions regarding the room, MDMC had started with scores below the 50 percentile – which was one of the reasons officials decided to renovate patient rooms and make them all private rooms.
As expected, the score in this area “improved drastically,” Ancell said. “It’s gone to the top.” MDMC is now scoring in the 99 percentile in this category, he said.
Seeing scores improve is “gratifying,” Ancell said, as “patient satisfaction should always be our major focus. This has been our major emphasis in the last three years – and it’s shown: we’re getting results for our efforts.”
MDMC officials have been so pleased with the information received from the inpatient surveys, they are now considering expanding to include surveys for outpatient services beginning with outpatient surgery and home health.
Missouri Delta Medical Center Recognized as One of the Top 10 Percent of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities in the United States
Missouri Delta Medical Center is pleased to announce that it ranked in the top 10 percent of 805 inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) that qualified to be ranked in the IRF database of Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSmr) in 2009.
“Award winning rehab doesn’t just happen, it requires a lot of work.” Dr. Stephen Welton, Medical Director of Inpatient Rehab unit, commented. “I am proud to see the unit get the recognition it deserves.”
The rankings were determined by using UDSmr’s program evaluation model (PEM), a case mix-adjusted and severity-adjusted tool that provides facilities with a composite performance score and percentile ranking drawn from nearly three-quarters of all IRFs in the country. UDSmr’s PEM Report Card uses the indicators of efficiency and effectiveness contained in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ reporting tool for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System (IRF PPS). The goal of the PEM Report Card is to recognize high-performing facilities for their delivery of quality patient care that is effective, efficient, timely, and patient-centered.
“Our goal is to see our patients return to their homes and getting back to their everyday lives.” Dr. Welton said. “This recognition proves our dedication to the improvement of our patients.”
“We are pleased to present this award to Missouri Delta Medical Center in recognition of the excellent care it provides to its patients,” said Dr. Sam Markello, Associate Director of UDSmr. “As the creator and caretaker of the nation’s largest database of rehabilitation outcomes, and with 20 years of experience and data, we have long worked with the industry to establish best practices. We developed the PEM Report Card as a tool to identify and recognize facilities that perform at a high level, to work with them to learn how they achieve high performance, and to share what we learn with others to elevate the performance of all. We look forward to working with Missouri Delta Medical Center and the other top performing facilities across the country that rank in the top 10 percent to improve care in all inpatient rehabilitation facilities.”
This is the fourth year that UDSmr has issued these awards. The PEM Report Card was developed as part of a proactive solution to the Institute of Medicine’s 2006 recommendation to Congress that every Medicare provider be reimbursed on a pay-for-performance basis. The data used for this report was based on 12 months of 2009 data, drawn from both Medicare and non-Medicare patients. The results were weighted and combined into a single composite score, and each facility was assigned a percentile rank from 0 to 100 relative to the other qualifying IRF subscribers in UDSmr’s database. The resultant distribution of the facility PEM scores for UDSmr’s IRF subscribers exhibited a normal distribution.
Missouri Delta Inpatient Rehabilitation includes private patient rooms that are located on the second floor of Missouri Delta Medical Center. Patients participate in a minimum of three hours of therapy per day, which includes a combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
About UDSmr: Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSmr) is a division of UB Foundation Activities Inc., a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Founded in 1988, UDSmr administers the world’s largest medical rehabilitation database, and its instruments provide the field with a common language and measurement tools for outcomes and functional assessment. CMS has adopted UDSmr’s FIM™ instrument as the basis for the IRF PPS, and UDSmr provides exclusive training and support to the agency.
Lymphedema Needs to be Kept Under Wraps
By Scott Welton
scottw@standard-democrat.com
While bringing attention to women’s health issues is the focus this week, there is one condition that needs to be kept under wraps: lymphedema.
National Women’s Health Week, which is coordinated by the U.S. Department of health and Human Services, kicked off on Mother’s Day and runs through Saturday.
Lymphedema is a condition in which the fluid known as lymphatic tissue builds up in an area of the body causing it to swell, according to Tricia McClarty, an Occupational Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist at Missouri Delta Medical Center’s ReStart.
“It’s primarily in the arms and in the legs,” McClarty said.
There are a couple different types and causes of lymphedema. “Primary lymphedema is usually discovered at birth or shortly after,” McClarty said. “Secondary lymphedema is the most common type. The reason we usually see it in the United States is due to breast cancer.”
The condition develops as a result of lymph nodes being removed in a mastectomy. How many are removed varies depending on the type of cancer, the physician and how far the cancer had advanced, according to McClarty. “You can be at risk if you have as little as two removed,” she said.
McClary said people don’t usually think about lymphedema until they begin to see the symptoms – but they should. “The earlier you catch it, the better,” she said.
In the earlier stages, the limb or affected area is normal or almost normal in size upon waking in the morning, but if allowed to progress to later stages, lymphedema can result in irreversible swelling and hardened tissues.
McClarty offers a treatment for the condition called Complete Decongestive Therapy through physician referrals.
“It’s proven with research to be the most effective treatment for lymphedema,” she said. “I get referrals from all over. There’s only four of us in the area (trained in CDT) – two in Cape, one in Dexter.”
Phase 1 of CDT, which is the treatment phase, requires daily manual lymphatic drainage sessions which use compression bandages to force the fluid from the affected body part.
For example, if the patient has swelling in the arm, “you wrap from the fingers all the way to the shoulder,” McClarty explains. “Or if it’s in the legs, from the toes up to the swelling.” Bandages remain in place for 24 hours during this phase.
The treatments also include exercise and massage to move the fluid.
Patients are also taught to apply the wrapping themselves in preparation for Phase 2, the maintenance phase.
Depending on how far the lymphedema advanced, the first phase can be as short as a couple of weeks to as long as four weeks to get the swelling down, McClarty said.
Once in Phase 2, the patient will wear a compression garment on the affected body part during that day and wrap it with compression bandages at night. Exercise, along with some self-massage, also helps to control the condition.
“We do a lot of education with the patient and the family,” McClarty said. “The goal of the treatment is to reduce swelling, improve mobility and range of motion, prevent infections and improve their overall quality of life.”
As catching the condition and beginning treatment in early stages can make a significant difference, McClarty regularly offers education for cancer survivors at places such as American Cancer Society “Look Good Feel Good” classes.
“Some people begin noticing their clothes are tighter,” McClarty said. Another indicator of lymphedema is “if you have some swelling or some pain,” she added.
Simply ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away is not an option, however.
“There’s no cure for lymphedema,” McClarty said. “Once you have it, you have it.”
Updated wing enhances stay for Missouri Delta patients
Michelle Felter, Standard Democrat
standard-democrat.com
Sunday, April 18, 2010
SIKESTON – The first telemetry patients will take advantage of the brand-new 3F wing this week at Missouri Delta Medical Center.
“We are expecting to move patients there on Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Karen Lawless, telemetry manager. The floor deals with patients who need to be connected to machines to measure heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate, as well as blood-oxygen level and heart-rhythm monitoring information.
The 3F wing includes 18 rooms, all private, handicap-accessible, and with their own bathrooms.
There are several features in the individual rooms and on the floor that help make it a state-of-the-art facility, noted Emily Featherston, vice president of nursing at the hospital.
For instance, some of the rooms have ceiling lifts, enabled with slings. “They can pick up patients weighing up to 500 pounds and bring them to a chair to sit,” she explained.
The rooms with ceiling lifts also have portable IV’s on them, which travel to all areas of the room, other than the bathroom.
“We’re trying to cut down on the amount of equipment on the floor of the rooms,” she said.
All of the rooms include a “nurse server” – cabinets where nurses stock supplies, such as pillows, which can be opened from inside the room or in the hallway.
“This way, the nurses can stock those cabinets without disrupting the patients,” said Featherston.
Also in the hallways, a locked box is assigned to each room, she pointed out. Those boxes are used to store charts, as well as medications, for each patient.
Featherston continued that all rooms are equipped with a computer to enable computer charting. The nurses have adapted very well to the new electronic process, said Featherston.
Outside of the rooms, there is a nurses’ and doctors’ station, along with an isolation room that can provide positive and negative air, said Featherston.
Telemetry patients at the hospital currently use the 2E area of the hospital. “Once patients are moved, that area will be used as overflow,” said Lawless.
She said this is an “exciting time” for the hospital with all the new additions.
“It will improve the area for telemetry and cardiac monitoring,” she said. As telemetry patients stay in the hospital an average of five days, the new wing will enhance the patients stay, she said.
Dicky Chance, medical/surgical nursing director added, “We have a tremendous staff and look forward to servicing the surrounding communities with an exceptional high standard of care for the patients and their families.”
Missouri Delta Medical Center Focuses on the Future of Healthcare; New clinic will also house fitness and wellness center
CHARLESTON, MO – Missouri Delta Medical Center is proud to announce that our new medical clinic in Charleston will house outpatient physical therapy along with a fitness and wellness center for the residents of Mississippi County.
The fitness and wellness center will be open to the public for fitness use and will include comprehensive wellness programs such as weight loss and management programs, health screenings to include items such as glucose testing, blood pressures, lipid panels, arthritis classes, and much more.
Missouri Delta Medical Center is dedicated to providing quality, accessible health care to the residents in our service area. For more information, please contact Mike Greene, Director of Rehabilitation Services at 472-7375.
MDMC, Blue Cross Reach Agreement
by Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
www.standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON – Missouri Delta Medical Center will remain an in-network provider for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance customers.
“Blue Cross and Missouri Delta have resolved their differences and have come to an agreement,” Charles Ancell, president of Missouri Delta Medical Center, confirmed Monday. “We do have a contract with Blue Cross now and it will allow us to offer neurosurgery and orthopedics in Sikeston and not lose money on it.”
Ancell said MDMC officials anticipate being able to offer neurosurgery for Blue Cross customers beginning April 1.
The agreement was reached “well in advance” of the may 28 contract termination date after which in-network coverage would have not been in effect, Ancell noted. “There will be no interruption of service to Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers.”
Subscribers are expected to receive notification letters from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield soon.
Missouri Delta Medical Center Contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
SIKESTON, MO – For many months, Missouri Delta Medical Center has been seeking to address shortcomings in our existing Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield contract including coverage for orthopedic and neurosurgical spine services. Without an increase in our payments we will not be able to offer these services in Sikeston. Despite significant effort no meaningful progress was made and in December of 2009, Missouri Delta Medical Center notified Anthem Blue Cross that it would no longer be a provider for them as of May 28, 2010. Since then significant progress has been made and we anticipate we will be able to sign a contract before our May 28th deadline.
“The Hospital and Anthem Blue Cross are focused on resolving this matter because we know there are a number of people in the community who rely on Missouri Delta Medical Center and Anthem insurance coverage,” said Charles Ancell, Missouri Delta Medical Center President.
“We are confident that the contract will be resolved and there will be no disruption in services to our community members that have coverage through Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” said Ancell. “In the meantime, Missouri Delta Medical Center will continue providing the quality healthcare services that are important to our community and that have positioned Missouri Delta as a provider of choice for Scott, Mississippi, and New Madrid Counties.
New Building Project for Healthcare Services
CHARLESTON, MO – Missouri Delta Medical Center is dedicated to providing quality, accessible health care to the residents of Mississippi County. To demonstrate our commitment, Missouri Delta Medical Center announces plans to build a new medical clinic in Charleston.
The new facility will house our Rural Health Clinic and ReStart Rehabilitation Center. The building will be located on East Marshall, just west of Flag Stop and will have approximately 6,383 square feet (line drawing of facility attached). The estimated cost for this project is $1.4 million. The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and the Charleston Regional Economic Development (CRED) have both donated $50,000 each, making $100,000 toward the purchase of the land.
“We would like to thank the City of Charleston, along with the IDA and CRED board for their cooperation and generosity in making this project a reality,” says Missouri Delta Medical Center’s CEO, Mr. Charles Ancell. “Missouri Delta Medical Center is committed to providing excellent care to our patients and we are focused on the future of healthcare.”
“This will guarantee continuous healthcare to the residents of Mississippi County for years to come,” says Chairman of the Board for Missouri Delta Medical Center, Jim Cullison. “As a resident of Mississippi County,
For more information on the Missouri Delta Community Care Center building project, call Sharon Urhahn, Marketing Director, at 573-472-7329.
Sleep Institute Marks First Decade
By Scott Welton, Standard Democrat
www.standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON - The Sleep Institute at Missouri Delta Medical Center is celebrating a decade of helping people wake up feeling rested. Polysomnography, or a sleep study, is used to figure out if a patient is suffering from sleep disorders and, if so, diagnose them.
Around 2,500 different patients have come in for sleep studies at The Sleep Institute since it officially opened in January 2000, according to Jill Ortiz, Director of The Sleep Institute.
“We watch people sleep and test for 63 different sleep disorders,” said Dr. Stephen Welton, Medical Director for The Sleep Institute.
The two physicians trained in sleep medicine, Welton and Dr. S. Afraz Salahuddin, a neurologist, along with a staff of board-registered polysomnographic technologists, help patients with a wide variety of disorders.
“We’ve seen a little bit of everything in 10 years,” Welton said. Before working in The Sleep Institute, “I had no idea how bad a night’s sleep some people have.”
The two most common sleep disorders diagnosed are sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, according to Sarah Gordon, a registered technician for The Sleep Institute. It is estimated about 4% of the population suffer from sleep apnea, which ranges from shallow breathing during sleep to actual pauses in breathing.
“There are people who stop breathing several times a minute, Welton said. He explained this can result in dangerously low oxygen levels.
For some suffering from restless leg syndrome, it’s like “running a marathon during the night,” he said. “Some are moving their legs 100 times an hour or more. And these aren’t just twitches, but significant leg movements.”
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, and acid reflux are also “very, very common,” Gordon said.
On the other hand, sleep disorders such as parasomnia, which is sleepwalking and night terrors, “are not as frequent as you would think,” Welton said.
They are, however, real he said. In an extreeme sleep disorder called REM behavior disorder, the person suffering may even execute complex tasks such as driving a vehicle while completely asleep.
The brain is supposed to be disconnected from the body during sleep but sometimes id doesn’t work,” Welton said.
Welton said the idea for establishing a sleep lab came up during a conversation he and the late Dr. Edward Felker had. Felker, who was an ear, nose and throat specialist, thought having access to this type of facility would be useful in diagnosing many of his patients while Welton received some training in sleep disorders during the residency phase of medical school.
“We said, ‘We really need to have a sleep lab here,” Welton recalled. The physicians pitched the idea to the hospital’s administration and got the green light, although Felker died before it opened.
Welton said they were nearing completion on the sleep lab facility when they decided additional training was needed so he and the staff made up of respiratory therapists went to Birmingham, AL, for specialized training.
That training has proved to be worthwhile. Welton said it is very common for those suffering from a sleep disorder to have several disorders that have no discernible common cause. For example, before moving to the area, Vickie Johnson of Dexter was already diagnosed with sleep apnea at a hospital in Illinois and was treating the condition with what Welton describes as “the gold standard” therapy for sleep apnea: continuous positive airway pressure.
“Then I started having some symptoms I had never had before,” Johnson said. “I was awake and knew what was happening but couldn’t speak or move or do anything.”
So in the fall of 2009, she came to The Sleep Institute “and they did a study with me using the CPAP,” she recalled. It was then determined the machine needed to be recalibrated to a higher setting.
Johnson said while this helped, she found she was still suffering from “extreme fatigue all the time.” After another sleep study at MDMC in January, they discovered Johnson was also suffering from hypersomnolence, a condition similar to narcolepsy in which the person is frequently sleepy.
“A person could be in the middle of a conversation and just fall asleep,” she said. “They referred me back to my neurologist, Dr. (Riyadh) Tellow,” Johnson said. “This is now being rectified and that’s wonderful.”
Having had experience with more than one sleep lab, Johnson described the Sleep Institute’s staff as “more personal. They talk to you more, explain things to you more. The experience here was 100 percent better.
“Our unofficial motto is, We’re not the biggest-we’re the best,” Welton said. Our patient satisfaction is probably 99 percent,” Ortiz said.
“We do get compliments on how thorough we are and how fast we get the patients treated and taken care of,” said Crystal Calhoun, day technician for The Sleep Institute. “Patinets are usually set up iwth their treatment within 24 hours. We also follow up with our patients.”
“I am so grateful that Crystal got the ball rolling for me,” Johnson said.
Welton said diagnosing and treating sleep disorders is important to a patient’s overall health. “Sleep apnea increases the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart attack,” he noted.
Vicki Pritchett, registered technician for The Sleep Institute, said most patients come to them because their husband or wife insists on it, however. Ortiz said the bed partner questionnaire is one of the best tools for giving staff an idea of what to expect as the patient is almost always unconscious when the disoerders are affecting them.
National Sleep Awareness Week is March 7-13 this year, Ortiz noted, and MDMC will hold a sleep awareness workshop from 10:00am until 6:00pm on March 19 in the hosptial’s classroom area.
“We’re going to offer free information on all the sleep disorders,” she said. Vendors will be at the workshop as well with samples and demonstrations of the latest sleep disorder treatment products. Welton will be presenting on Restless Leg Syndrome at 11:00am and Sleep Apnea at 5:00pm that day. For more information about the workshop, call The Sleep Institute at 472-7754.
CEO Announces Retirement
Charles Ancell, President of Missouri Delta Medical Center, has announced that he will retire at the end of 2010. Ancell has been employed by Missouri Delta Medical Center for thirty-eight years and has served as President for twenty years.
Jason Schrumpf has been promoted to Senior Vice President. Schrumpf has been employed by Missouri Delta Medical Center since May of 2006. He was hired as the Director of Rehabilitation Services and served in that position until when he was promoted in June 2009 to Vice President of Professional Services. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in December 2009. Schrumpf has a BS degree in Physical Therapy and a Masters degree in Business Administration. Schrumpf resides in Sikeston with his wife Catherine and his 2 children.
Missouri Delta Medical Center Focuses on the Future of Healthcare
SIKESTON, MO – Missouri Delta Medical Center will soon offer the latest in spine surgery with the addition of the PARE Minimally Invasive Neurospine Institute, led by Joel W. Ray, MD, FACS, a neurosurgeon with Cape Neurosurgical Associates, PC, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Providing the latest in surgical innovations, Dr. Ray and the medical center’s team of qualified healthcare professionals can help reduce pain associated with back and spinal conditions through minimally invasive techniques.
Chronic back pain is a serious health concern for adults in the U.S. Each year, nearly 75 million physician office visits and more than 125 million hospital visits occur due to musculoskeletal and spine conditions. In fact, four out of every five U.S. adults report having had back pain at some point in their adult life, and approximately 4.6 million Americans will need back surgery.
“Back pain is a frustrating ailment and is the leading cause of missed work days for adults under the age of 45,”says Missouri Delta Medical Center’s CEO, Mr. Charles Ancell. “At Missouri Delta Medical Center, we remain focused on the healthcare needs of our patients, and work to ensure the medical services most needed are available today and for the future.”
“I am pleased to be joining the team at Missouri Delta Medical Center,” says Joel W. Ray, MD, FACS. “The hospital is committed to assuring the best clinical outcomes for patients in a compassionate, caring environment. Coupled with the advancements in minimally invasive surgery, Missouri Delta Medical Center offers an excellent resource for those suffering from back pain.”
There are many non-surgical, or conservative, and surgical treatment options for conditions of the back and spine. The PARE Minimally Invasive Neurospine Institute will implement the most appropriate course of treatment for the patient and their condition, utilizing a multi-disciplinary team approach to medicine. “The concept of PARE is visualized in a team of professionals all working in unison to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient,” explains Dr. Ray. “If physical therapy is a viable option that could positively impact the patient’s condition, it will be prescribed. If the patient needs surgery, we will work diligently to get the pain resolved, and the patient will be educated and consulted about their options each step of the way.”
The focus of the PARE Minimally Invasive Neurospine Institute is on the patient and their positive outcomes. “The small incisions used during surgery, the expansive education of the patient prior to and following surgery, the quality rehabilitation programming, and the hospital’s dedicated staff all equate to positive outcomes for the patient,” adds Dr. Ray.
Jim Henson, Vice President of Human Resources, says, “With the first case scheduled for early October, our team is working diligently to prepare the state-of-the-art operating room and clinic area.”
Following the minimally invasive surgery, patients will recover in one of the newly designed rooms on our patient care floors. “If you haven’t visited one of these renovated patient floors lately, you will find the focus on the future of healthcare is evident throughout Missouri Delta Medical Center,” says Henson.
Each of the patient care rooms on floors 2F and 3H are private with flat panel TVs and new furniture. The décor provides a calming atmosphere, and the central nurses stations add to the enhanced efficiencies on each unit. In addition, the newly renovated surgical services floor offers private rooms for both inpatient and outpatient guests.
“At Missouri Delta Medical Center, we are committed to providing excellent care for our patients, and the addition of the spine program is a true testament to that commitment,” adds Ancell. “We welcome Dr. Ray to our medical team at Missouri Delta and are confident in the spine care alternative that area residents now have at our facility.”
For more information on the Missouri Delta PARE Minimally Invasive Neurospine Institute, call Sharon Urhahn, Marketing Director, at 573-472-7329.