Halloween Health and Safety Tips

Going Trick-or-Treating?

• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.
• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always walk and don't run from house to house.
• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Enter homes only if you are with a trusted adult.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Expecting Trick-or-Treaters?

• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Keep candle-lit jack-o'lanters and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

Content Source: CDC Office of Women's Health
http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

Leadership Attends RHPI Conference

Margaret West, CEO, and Shawnee Hicks, Human Resources Director, recently attended the Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement (RHPI) Conference in Tunica, Mississippi.

MRMC received a RHPI grant last year to aid in the reorganization of annual employee evaluations.  Margaret and Shawnee were asked to present an overview of the project and the outcome of the results at the annual conference.

In addition, Margaret served as a panel member for a breakout session discussing the electronic medical record.  MRMC is leaps and bounds ahead of other rural hospitals in this area and the session received wonderful feedback.



Margaret West (second from right) is pictured with the panel members for the breakout session



Healthcare Environmental Services Week

This week is National Healthcare Environmental Services and Housekeeping Week.  At MRMC, we salute the Environmental Services staff that works so hard to keep our facility safe and clean.

The Environmental Services staff are not just housekeepers, but rather germ-fighters.  They are educated in infection control and safe cleaning practices, and work tirelessly to to ensure that MRMC is a safe and healthy environment for our patients and visitors.

Thank you to our outstanding staff!

Board of Commissioners, 8.22.11

The MRMC Board of Commissioners held a brief monthly meeting on Monday, August 22, 2011.

Chris Comer, Chief Financial Officer, gave an overview of July finances: July closed with a monthly EBIDA loss of $171,816, and a year to date EBIDA gain of $108,520. There were 136 inpatient admissions during the month.

In Medical Staff news, the Board reappointment Dr. John Alexander Jr to another two year term on the Medical Staff with Family Medicine privileges.

The Board adjourned into a Strategic Planning session. The finalized three-year plan will be brought to the September meeting for final Board approval.

Board of Commissioners - August 8, 2011

The MRMC Board of Commissioners met at noon on August 8th to hear reports for the July reporting period:

Dr. Mark Mingle, UAMS/AHEC Director, presented the Board with an overview of the current process of evaluating potential communities for the Rural Training Track Residency program. Dr. Mingle stressed that a decision has not been made yet and data is still being reviewed in the decision making process.

Julia Whitehead, Executive Director of the MRMC Foundation, reported to the Board that plans are being made for a walking track/wellness area in the old city park area. Funding will come from grants, private donations, and hospital contribution. The area will include a walking track, equipment for fitness stations, as well as limited playground equipment.

Karen Weido, Marketing Director, presented an overview from the Community Advisory Board's July meeting. The meeting included an overview of Home Health Services, Campus Growth Idea, Medical Assistance Program, and the MRMC Collections policy.

Darrell Chatelain, Chief Support Officer, reported that a usage survey shows that the new facility uses more gas and electricity than the former facility. Steps are being taken to reduce usage and make the facility run more efficiently.

Margaret West, Chief Executive Officer, presented recommendations for a new Obstetrical Clinic staff by two employed physicians. The Board approved the creation of the new clinic.

Darrell Chatelain reported that a contract is being evaluated to upgrade our current 40-slice CT machine with a new 128-slice machine.

Molly Burns, MRMC Foundation Chairman, reported that the "Stars of Arkansas" final total raised was $57,026

Ammons Named Child Passenger Safety Technician

Mitzi Ammons has recently completed the requirements necessary to be certified as a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician. In completing the program, Ammons studied a curriculum developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and guided by the National Child Passenger Safety Board.

During the training program, Ammons received extensive training in crash dynamics, injury prevention strategies, child restraint selection and installation, and vehicle occupant protection. CPS Technicians conduct education and hands-on assistance to parents and caregivers regarding the proper use of child restraint systems and seat belts.

Ammons is a Registered Nurse who has worked at MRMC for 25 years. She is currently the Labor & Delivery Department Director. She gladly accepts appointments to provide a personal child safety seat assessment. To make an appointment, contact Mitzi at 235-3532.

Employee of the Month–July

Congratulations to Sandra Gantt, July Employee of the Month

Sandra has worked at MRMC over 30 years.  She works in the Environmental Services department.

Board of Commissioners - June 27, 2011

The MRMC Board of Commissioners met June 27, 2011 at noon in the MRMC Board Room.

Financial Report
May showed an EBIDA loss of $145,349, and a year to date EBIDA gain of $351,459.  There were 136 admissions during the month of May.

Old Business
Margaret West presented two options for expanding the campus to house the Magnolia Medical Clinic and Magnolia Surgical Clinic.  Option A includes the purchase and remodel of a clinic located on Columbia Street, plus the remodel of the current Magnolia Medical Clinic.  Option B is to build a free standing building on the hospital property to house both clinics.  The discussion was tabled with Dr. Jason Franks requested that an Option C be investigated.  Option C would be to add on to the existing Emergency Department to create a clinic.

Margaret West presented two options to begin implementation of a Hospitalists program.  Option A, an agreement with HCC, was determined to be too expensive.  Option B, a hybrid program with a day time hospitalist also serving as the Rural Health director, was adopted by the Board.

Margaret West updated the Board on recent meetings regarding the South Arkansas AHEC program.  She will keep the Board updated as developments unfold.

New Business
Margaret West informed the Board of a wellness program that MRMC is adopting for the employees.

Foundation Report
Molly Burns, Foundation Chair, thanked everyone involved in making the Stars of Arkansas fundraiser a success.  The event raised $55,000 for the Foundation.

Medical Staff Report
The following practitioners were granted reappointment to the Medical Staff: Moises Menendez MD, Jack Royal MD, Jo Ann Clark APN, and Neeta Vargo MD. The following practitioners were granted initial appointments to the Medical Staff: Michael Diamond MD, Clifford Ball MD, and Karl Wagenhauser MD.

The July Board meeting will be held August 8, 2011 at noon.

MRMC Employees Receive Awards

The Magnolia Regional Medical Center held it's annual Service Awards Banquet on Friday, February 18, 2011.  Awards were given to those that completed years of service in 2010, and the 2010 Employee of the Year was announced.

Debbie Wilson was named Employee of the Year

10 Years of Service:
Dee Rogers & Linda Elledge
not pictured are Rene Folse, Shawnee Hicks, and Alee Murphy

15 Years of Service:
Bubba Pearce, Becky Ainsworth, Shari Dees & Paula Manness
not pictured is Doris Sharp

20 Years of Service:
Susan Wright
not pictured are Lois Franklin, Robin Hennessy, and Rita Phillips

25 Years of Service:
Anita Morden & Mitzi Ammons
not picture is Brenda Gates

30 Years of Service:
Joycelyn Watkins, Sandra Gantt, Betty Cole & Linda Jackson

40 Years of Service:
Dorothia Brown

Board of Commissioners, January 24, 2011

The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Board of Commissioners met Monday, January 24, 2011 at noon and heard reports from the MRMC Leadership Team.

Financial
For December, the EBIDA showed a net gain of $17,657, and a year to date gain of $68,678.  There were 158 inpatient admissions for the month.

Old Business
Information has been submitted for a feasibility study for a full time Hospitalists program.
The hospital has selected Edward Jones for the new employee retirement plan.  The plan should go into effect on March 1st.
An overview was given on the newly formed Community Advisory Board.  Applications are still being accepted for membership and the first meeting will be in April.

New Business
A new committee structure was presented.  This new structure will streamline the reporting process for the various departments in the hospital.
The Board passed a resolution to support MRMC's participation in the Statewide Trauma System.
Performance Improvement data was presented and shows that the hospital ranks high in all reporting measures.
The 2011 Environment of Care plan was approved.

Jason Franks was elected as the new secretary for the Board.

A special thanks to Harriett Franks. She raised $40,000 for artwork for the new facility.

Community Advisory Board

Magnolia Regional Medical Center is excited to announce the creation of a Community Advisory Board (CAB).  The purpose of the CAB will be for representatives from the hospital’s service area to provide feedback to MRMC leadership regarding the hospital’s position in the community.  The board will also serve as an opportunity for community leaders to learn more about the hospital and the effort it makes to provide top-level health care to the citizens of Columbia County.

MRMC is currently accepting applications for membership on the Community Advisory Board.  The application can also be found online at http://mrmc.biz/CABapp

Members will be selected by the CAB selection committee, and will serve three year terms.  The CAB will meet quarterly, with the first meeting to be held in April 2011.  Meetings will take place in the evening hours with a light meal served.

We look forward to working with our community to enhance the level of healthcare available to us right here at home.  If you have any questions about the CAB, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

For more information, contact Karen Weido at 870-235-3212, or by email at kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Waller Named Employee of the Month

Jennifer Waller, RN has been named the January 2010 Employee of the Month.  Jennifer is an Emergency Department nurse and has played a vital role in getting MRMC eligible for the state wide trauma system.

Margaret West, CEO; Jennifer Waller, Employee of the Month; Joycelyn Watkins, CNO

Joycelyn Watkins, Chief Nursing Officer, pins Jennifer Waller as Employee of the Month

Foundation Giving Tree

The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Foundation, under the supervision of Ann Downs, recently completed the creation of the Giving Tree in the Labor and Delivery Department.  The Giving Tree features hearts containing the name and birth date of those they are purchased for.  It replaces the hand print campaign which began in 2005 in the Magnolia Hospital.  The hearts that were featured at Magnolia Hospital have been transferred to the Giving Tree which is located in the waiting area on the 2nd floor of the medical center.

Gifts to the Magnolia Regional Medical Center Foundation are tax deductible and support projects of the medical center.  Anyone wishing to purchase a heart with the name and birth date of a loved one may do so by contacting the Foundation office at 870-235-3213.

Auxiliary Completes Donation



front row: Paula Boaz, Norma Hayes, Carolyn Terry, Lucy Ray
back row: Chuck Williams, Molly Burns, Jessie Wren, George Quik, Lauris Squires



The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Auxiliary recently completed their $400,000 capital campaign pledge to the MRMC Foundation.

The Magnolia Hospital Auxiliary was organized in April 1958 as a project of the Columbia County Medical Auxiliary in which Mildred Ruff was a vital part in founding this organization.  Other charter members were June Houston, Mary Jane Wilson, Pauline Burt, Ann Weber, Nancy Crow, Elizabeth Rushton and Margaret Sizemore.

The Auxiliary members have given many hours of volunteer service to the hospital.  The money raised by the Auxiliary through the years have been through the rental of television sets, snack bar sales, vending machine sales, gift shop sales, uniform sales, jewelry sales, bake sales and book sales. 

Currently the Auxiliary has 43 members and volunteered 8,602 hours in 2010.

New Year Baby

The first baby of 2011 has arrived at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.  Shayan Perez was born on January 2, 2011, at 1:50pm.  He weighed 6lb, 5oz and measured 21in long.  Proud parents are Reema and Michael Perez.

HEALTH Coalition Support ShapeDown Program

The Magnolia Regional Medical Center ShapeDown program has received $1,850 in scholarship funds from the Columbia County HEALTH Coalition.  The ShapeDown program provides healthy eating education for children and their parents.  The money was obtained as part of the Growing Healthy Communities grant from the Arkansas Coalition on Obesity Prevention.

Nancy Bailey, HEALTH Coalition President; Kim Keith, HEALTH Coalition Treasurer; Susan Jennings, MRMC Dietitian; Margaret West, MRMC CEO