December Grand Rounds

Evans Joins Garden Park Medical Staff

Garden Park Medical Center announces that R. David Evans, MD, general and peripheral vascular surgery, has recently opened his practice in Gulfport and joined the hospital's medical staff.

Dr. Evans came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Lakeland, Florida where he has practiced for over 16 years. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and has been involved in a number of professional activities as well as co-author of numerous published articles, posters, and exhibits.

Dr. Evans received his medical degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He completed his internship and residency in surgery at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. His fellowship in vascular surgery was completed at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Evans also holds a master's degree in public health as well as an MBA. His areas of interest include carotid, gallbladder, colorectal, breast, advanced laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery as well as wound care.

Jackson VA Medical Center Recognized Nationally for Patient Safety

Two employees at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center were recognized nationally with a Bronze Cornerstone Award for their efforts to enhance patient safety.

The National Center for Patient Safety recognized Tammi Culberson, Patient Safety Manager, and Mary Hudson, Patient Safety Specialist, for their commitment to and use of Root Cause Analysis's (RCAs) and Aggregated Reviews as an important aspect of each facility's patient safety. RCA's are non-punitive investigations conducted on major patient safety events to eliminate or decrease the chance of the event occurring again.

Hattiesburg Clinic Imaging Announces Full Accreditation

Hattiesburg Clinic's Department of Imaging announces full accreditation of all imaging modalities.

The Clinic recently received accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Magnetic Resonance Laboratories (ICAMRL) for Hattiesburg Clinic's dedicated breast MRI. Hattiesburg Clinic is the only facility in the state and one of three in the United States to hold this distinction. Hattiesburg Clinic acquired the dedicated breast MRI to provide patients with the only FDA-approved, fully integrated MRI system designed specifically for breast imaging. The Imaging department also received the ICAMRL accreditation for all of their diagnostic MRIs.

Additionally, Hattiesburg Clinic Department of Imaging is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for their PET (Positron Emission Tomography), breast ultrasound, nuclear medicine, CT, diagnostic ultrasound, and digital mammography. Hattiesburg Clinic is the only facility in the state with an ACR accredited PET scanner system and houses one of two accredited breast ultrasound machines.

Dr. Phillip Ley Performs Gene-Based Testing for Breast Cancer at Woman's Hospital

FLOWOOD — Dr. Phillip Ley, breast surgical oncologist on staff at Woman's Hospital, has brought Molecular Medicine to the OR in Mississippi. Woman's Hospital is the first site in Mississippi and one of the first sites in the United States to use this new technology. Dr. Ley performs 4-5 procedures a week and has performed over 100 procedures to-date. The manufacturer of GeneSearch™ Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay, Veridex – the Advanced Oncology Diagnostic Division of Johnson & Johnson, approached Dr. Ley because of his breast focus. The company thought that Dr. Ley would be a good outlet for dispersing GeneSearch information into the community.

"The Genesearch™ BLN Assay for sentinel nodes represents a quantum leap forward for surgeons practicing contemporary breast surgery who desire to do everything possible to spare their patients a return to the operating room for lymph node dissection for breast cancer," said Dr. Ley. "Using real-time rt-PCR analysis of sentinel nodes biopsied during breast cancer operations, we provide the most sensitive test available to determine if breast cancer has spread to a patient's lymph nodes, and can proceed with lymph node dissection at the time of the original operation, avoiding a second anesthetic and return to the operating room."

The GeneSearch™ BLN Assay can detect the spread of cancer into the lymph nodes more accurately than existing rapid methodologies and, as a result, has the potential to reduce the need for stressful and costly second surgeries for breast cancer patients. The process relies heavily on the Woman's Hospital laboratory. Kay Martin, Assistant Director of the Lab, has been specially trained through the FDA process. Only those that are directly trained can determine test results.

In a clinical trial, the GeneSearch™ BLN Assay showed strong agreement with results from extensive microscopic examination of the lymph nodes of 416 patients. The test accurately predicted that breast cancer had spread nearly 88 percent of the time in women with metastasis. Patients without metastasis were identified accurately 94 percent of the time.

UMMC Welcomes New Faculty

Dr. David G. McIntosh, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, has joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a gynecologic oncologist. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas and the M.D. at Southwestern Medical School. He was in private practice before joining the Medical Center. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists.

Dr. Thomas Joins Medical Staff at Central Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, MS – Eric L. Thomas, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon, has joined the active medical staff at Central Mississippi Medical Center.

Dr. Thomas obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburg, PA. He completed an internship in General Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburg, PA; an Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; received Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at Shriner's Hospital for Children, Erie, PA; completed an Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA; received Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL; and, completed a fellowship in Orthopaedic Traumatology at Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.

Dr. Trest Joins Staff at Central Mississippi Medical Center

Central Mississippi Medical Center is pleased to welcome Elizabeth A. Trest, D.O., OB/GYN, to its medical staff.

Dr. Trest received a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. She completed a residency and internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tulsa Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

SRHS Board Officers Set For 2008-2009

The Singing River Hospital System Board of Trustees has announced its officers as elected for fiscal year 2008-2009. They are Michael Heidelberg of Pascagoula, President; Michael Tolleson of Pascagoula, Vice-President; and Allen Cronier of Moss Point, Secretary/Treasurer.

Heidelberg, owner and president of Heidelberg and Associates, Inc., a real estate appraising firm, has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 1998. This is his eighth year serving as President.

Tolleson, who owns a CPA firm, has been a member of the Board since 2001. Cronier, owner of Cronier Tax Service and Cronier Farms, has been a member of the Board since 2002.

Other members of the Board of Trustees for 2008-2009 include Marva Fairley-Tanner, Moss Point; Lawrence Cosper, Ocean Springs; Morris Strickland, Ocean Springs; D'Auby Schiel, Ocean Springs; Dr. Randy Roth, Chief of Staff, Singing River Hospital; and Dr. William Descher, Chief of Staff, Ocean Springs Hospital.

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors appoints members of the SRHS Board of Trustees. The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis once a month, as well as numerous times throughout the year for special-called meetings, and serves as the governing body of the Hospital System.

Southern Heart Center Participates in National Study

Hattiesburg Clinic's Southern Heart Center recently participated in a study sponsored by GE Healthcare that evaluated the accuracy of the 64-slice Cardiac CT scan in detecting coronary artery disease. The study, titled "Diagnostic Performance of 64-Mulitdetectory Row Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography for Evaluation of Coronary Artery Stenosis in Individuals Without Known Coronary Disease" was recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Southern Heart Center was one of sixteen facilities in the United States chosen to participate in the study. The investigation evaluated 230 patients from across the country who were suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD). Diagnosis of CAD is usually made once a patient undergoes an invasive coronary angiography (ICA) – otherwise known as heart catheterization. Advances in technology have made Cardiac CT equipment a viable non-invasive alternative for detecting the presence of CAD.

"This is the first 'prospective' study of Cardiac CT imaging that has been published," said Arthur Martin, MD, physician with Southern Heart Center. "Patients were enrolled in the study before any knowledge of coronary artery disease." Subjects chosen for the study participated in both a Cardiac CT scan and heart catheterization. The results of both tests underwent a blind evaluation by three outside cardiologists and were then compared. The findings showed that Cardiac CT testing is as effective as heart catheterization in diagnosing CAD.

Magnolia Regional Health Center Foundation, Inc. Announces Paver Campaign For The Cancer Center At Magnolia

Magnolia Regional Health Center Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of the Paver Campaign.

The Paver Campaign offers a way for individuals to create a permanent impression on the Corinth community with the purchase of an engraved brick to be displayed at The Cancer Center at Magnolia. These commemorative brick pavers are a way for donors to cement their place in the Corinth community today and pave the way for cancer patients for many years to come.

The pavers will be placed in a Tribute Garden, which will be located between the Cancer and Surgery Centers. The pavers are scheduled to be in place at the time of the opening of The Cancer Center. A formal dedication ceremony of the Tribute Garden will take place in the spring of 2009

A brick order form may be obtained from Foundation Director, Evie Boyd. Each brick will hold up to 18 characters on three lines of text and can be engraved with a memoriam, a family name or even a compassionate or encouraging phrase. In order to ensure that a paver is placed in time for the opening of The Cancer Center at Magnolia, all forms and accompanying contributions must be received by December 15, 2008. It is the goal of the Foundation to have 1,000 engraved pavers placed in the Tribute Garden in accordance with the opening date. Forms and contributions may be sent to MRHC Foundation, Inc., 611 Alcorn Drive, Corinth, MS 38834.

The newest addition to our community, The Cancer Center at Magnolia will be a 17,000 square-foot signature facility in which physicians, hospital staff and supportive care professionals will collaborate and focus on patient care and satisfaction. Opening in early 2009, The Cancer Center at Magnolia will offer our community the latest advances and information in prevention, screenings and education and will allow Magnolia Regional Health Center to promote health and recovery and deliver quality care that is in line with the finest cancer centers in America.

CMMC Welcomes Neurosurgeon Lon F. Alexander, M.D. to Medical Staff

Central Mississippi Medical Center welcomes Lon F. Alexander, M.D., to its medical staff. Dr. Alexander is a board certified fellowship trained neurosurgeon who is returning to CMMC from his private practice in Columbus, MS.

Dr. Alexander received medical degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. He completed an internship and residency in neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery in Jackson, MS. He completed a fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Surgery at the Kiev Neurological Institute, Kiev, USSR and a fellowship in Cerebrovascular Surgery at the Nagoya University School of Medicine in Nagoya, Japan.

Central Mississippi Medical Center Welcomes Dr. Bhatt to Medical Staff

Central Mississippi Medical Center is pleased to welcome Nayan K. Bhatt, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist to its Medical Staff.

Dr. Bhatt received a medical degree from the University of Sheffield, England. After his residency in General and Vascular Surgery in England, he completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital/ Brockton VAMC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Thereafter completed a residency in Internal Medicine and followed by a Primary and Interventional Cardiovascular fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University and Lankenau Hospitals in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Bhatt is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians and Society for Angiography and Interventions. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Dr. Bhatt will be affiliated with CMMC and Crossgates River Oaks Hospital.

Dr. Karim Honored

Parvez Karim, M.D. was honored on October 20, 2008 at the Delta Regional Medical Center Medical Staff meeting for his outstanding service to the medical center and its physicians. Dr. Karim has served as DRMC's Chief of Staff for the last two years. Dr. Karim practices Internal Medicine at Premier Medical Clinic, 1504 Hospital Street in Greenville. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in private practice in Greenville since 1999. He also serves as Medical Director of DRMC's Wound Healing Center. "Delta Regional owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Karim for his many unflagging hours of service to our facility and to our community," stated L. Ray Humphreys, FACHE, CEO of DRMC, "His dedication to his patients and to our medical staff is to be commended and this plaque is but a small symbol of the great thankfulness we wish to express to him."

St. Dominic's Offers New Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure Patients

St. Dominic's is offering a new alternative to traditional therapy for removing the accumulation of excess fluids in the body, a condition commonly caused by Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

St. Dominic's patients suffering from fluid overload now have access to a simple, safe and precise ultrafiltration therapy using the Aquadex FlexFlow system designed to remove excess salt and water from the body. This gentle therapy, much like giving blood, removes excess salt and water and helps to restore a patient's fluid balance fast and effectively, up to four liters of excess fluid in up to an eight-hour period.

Physicians can specify and adjust the exact amount and rate of fluid to be removed from each patient, resulting in a gradual reduction that has no significant clinical impact on blood pressure, heart rate or the balance of electrolytes (chemical substances, such as sodium, potassium and chloride) in the body. The total hospital stay with Aquapheresis therapy is three to four days.

MHCA Long Term Care Awards

Eighteen long term care certified nursing assistants with more than 280 years' combined experience earned "CNA Of The Year" awards at Mississippi Health Care Association's first CNA conference. One also received the Statewide CNA Of The Year distinction: Valaria Johnson, Quitman County Nursing Home, Marks.

Honorees were among more than 200 participants in "Understanding Dementia: Building Hands-On Skills That Make A Difference!" Mississippi Health Care Association (MHCA) Executive Director Vanessa Henderson and Past President C. W. "Tripp" Francis presented the awards as Gwen Causey, RN, BSN, CLNC, revealed winners. Causey is MHCA director of long term care (LTC) quality and regulatory services.

Teepa Snow, a registered, licensed occupational therapist and fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association, came from North Carolina to teach the one-day session. With more than 26 years of experience in geriatrics, she is a counseling associate for Duke University School of Nursing.