MRMC Foundation Announces Annual Gala Event

The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Foundation is pleased to announce the theme for the 2014 fundraising gala.  In honor of MRMC’s seventy-five year commitment to Magnolia, the Foundation proudly presents 75 Strong.   The evening will include a seated dinner, musical entertainment by The Groove Agents and a spirited auction.   Festivities will begin at 6:00 pm at the Story Hog Haven on January 4, 2014. Proceeds from the night will be used to purchase necessary equipment for the Labor and Delivery Department of the hospital.  The equipment will allow physicians and clinical experts to securely view the fetal monitor strip of their patient in real time.  It will also decrease time required by the nurses to manually transfer data and keep our information current at all times.  Seating is limited.

The MRMC Foundation continues to work for the overall health of our community by fundraising efforts to support the projects of MRMC.   The Foundation was instrumental in the construction of a wellness park earlier this year.  The park provides resources to promote a culture of health, wellness and the prevention of disease.  As a qualified 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, all gifts to the foundation are 100% tax deductible.

The Foundation office is located on the ground floor of the medical center and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-3:30pm.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact:

Julia Whitehead, Executive Director. 

PO Box 2161

Magnolia AR  71754

870-235-3213

jwhitehead@magnoliarmc.org

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For more information:

Tonya Watson                                                      

870-234-7883

tonya.watson@rocketmail.com

MRMC Home Health Earns HomeCare Elite

Magnolia Regional Medical Center Home Health has been notified of inclusion in the Top 500 List of HomeCare Elite nationwide.

“ The 2013 HomeCare Elite™ is the compilation of the most successful home care providers in the United States. Now in its seventh year, this market-leading review names the top 25% of agencies based on performance measures. This year those measures include quality of care, quality improvement, patient experience, process measure implementation, and financial management. The 2013 HomeCare Elite™ also recognizes the Top 100 and Top 500 of providers nationwide. The data for this study is based on publicly available information.”

“OCS HomeCare by National Research Corporation uses publicly available data from Home Health Compare and the CMS Cost Reports to create the HomeCare Elite List of agencies. Five domains of performance were cumulatively analyzed—quality of care, quality improvement and consistency, patient experience (HHCAHPS), process measure implementation, and financial performance.

The quality of care, process measure implementation, and patient experience domains measure agency performance in each of the publicly-reported Home Health Compare measures. The quality improvement index is based on changes in the 8 outcomes between data released in July 2012 and July 2013. The quality consistency score represents performance relative to the state norm in the quality measures over the past five years. The financial performance measure represents agency indexed Medicare profit margin from the 2012 CMS Cost Reports (or from previous years, adjusted, when 2012 data was not available).

Agency performance in each of the domains was compared against the performance of other organizations in their state and nationwide (including U.S. territories). The domains were combined into one overall score, using a weighting methodology that gives the greatest importance to quality of care. The top 25% of agencies in each region, both facility-based and free-standing, were identified and added to the national list. Plus, the top 100 and 500 agencies in the nation were recognized based on overall score.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Roberson Named Employee of the Month

LaTonda Roberson has been named Employee of the Month for November at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.

LaTonda has been at MRMC for four years and works as the charge nurse on the Medical-Surgical unit.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Observing National Medical Staff Services Week

Magnolia Regional Medical Center is observing National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week November 3-9, 2013.

In 1992, President George Bush issued a proclamation designating the first week of November as “National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week,” to acknowledge and thank medical services professionals (MSPs) for playing “an important role in our nation’s healthcare system.”

The American Medical Association-Organized Medical Staff Section also recognizes the medical services profession in a resolution that formally acknowledges “the importance and value of medical services professionals to the healthcare organization and its physician members, and recognizes their contribution and dedication in preserving quality patient care.”

When you visit a hospital, you see the doctors, the nurses, and other medical personnel. What you don’t see are the people behind the scenes who make certain the credentials of all practitioners who are caring for you are correct and have been verified.

MSPs are experts in provider credentialing and privileging, medical staff organization, accreditation and regulatory compliance, and provider relations in the diverse healthcare industry. They credential and monitor ongoing competence of the physicians and other practitioners who provide patient care services in hospitals, managed care organizations, and other healthcare settings.

MSPs are a vital part of the community’s healthcare team. They are dedicated to making certain that all patients receive care from practitioners who are properly educated, licensed, and trained in their specialty.

For more information about MSPs and the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS), visit www.namss.org.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Recognizes Medical-Surgical Nurses Week

Medical-surgical nurses focus every day on caring compassionately for patients and families. The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) has designated a special week to shift that focus to the nurses themselves. Magnolia Regional Medical Center will participate in recognizing their medical-surgical nurses during Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, November 1-7, 2013.

Medical-surgical nurses possess specialized skills and knowledge of the entire spectrum of nursing care. They make a difference by building the profession of nursing and the medical-surgical nursing specialty, mentoring and nurturing each other, advocating for patients and families, serving their communities through care and education, and improving patient care.

More information about the work of medical-surgical nurses, Medical-Surgical Nurses Week and products promoting the event are available on AMSN’s Web site.

The special week is also meant to raise awareness of the medical-surgical nursing specialty among other nurses. One of the most diverse nursing specialties practiced today, medical-surgical nurses care for adult patients in a broad range of settings, applying their expert knowledge to all body systems and disease processes.

To learn more about medical-surgical nursing and AMSN, visit www.amsn.org.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Home Health Celebrates National Home Care Month

Magnolia Regional Medical Center Home Health Agency will celebrate National Home Care Month during the month of November, as well as Home Care Aide Week on November 10 to 16. These critical workers play a central role in their patients’ lives, and the National Association of Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) recognizes their efforts with this year’s theme: “Home is the Center of Health Care.”

In coming years, home care and hospice are poised to play a central role in the delivery of healthcare throughout the country. A wide range of forces is joining to push care away from nursing homes and drive it toward home and community-based care. Based on demography and dollars, experts agree that the destiny of health care lies in the home.

There is growing demand for home care, yet the Medicare home health benefit has been cut by $77 billion over 10 years. The cumulative effect of these disproportionate cuts has been to weaken what was once a $17 billion industry by pushing thousands of providers to the point of bankruptcy. The cuts have an even more serious impact on patients by limiting their access to the care they need at home. 

There will be even more patients who need home care as the 78 million baby boomers continue to age. The first of the boomers turned 65 last year and the rest will reach their golden years over the next two decades. As they do, health care dollars will grow even scarcer, especially if Medicare provides the boomers with costly institutional care.

But there is a better way. Home care is not just the preferred choice for most patients; it’s also the best bang for our health care dollars. It costs Medicare nearly $2,000 per day for a typical hospital stay and $559 per day for a typical nursing home stay. Meanwhile, home care costs just $44 a day on average. And home care, combined with technology, helps the many U.S. seniors who live at home to stay independent, enrich their lives, and keep in touch with those they love.

Home care aides also play a central role by joining in patients’ lives, whether this involves running errands, going with them to the doctor, or assisting them with medical conditions. Aides are there to provide seniors with company and conversation, and many aides are more than caregivers for their patients. They are often friends who give warmth and comfort to the aged and ill.

NAHC looks to the future in its theme, “Home is the Center of Health Care,” the product of a brainstorming session at the NAHC Strategic Planning Congress in February 2013. The session brought together members of NAHC’s board of directors and the heads of its Forum of State Associations, along with key leaders from the home care and hospice industry. They exchanged their thoughts under the leadership of Dr. Lance Secretan, management expert, author, editor and former corporate CEO. Their joint expression of home care’s goals gained approval from NAHC’s board of directors in June.

For more information on the National Association for Home Care & Hospice - National Home Care & Hospice Month and Home Care Aide Week (November 10-16, 2013), visit www.nahc.org.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Partners With Baptist Health For eICU care Services

LITTLE ROCK - Magnolia Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has recently partnered with Baptist Health eICU care to give their patients an additional team of critical care specialists who will watch over them 24/7.

With a simple press of a button by the physicians or nurses at MRMC, the staff will be instantly joined at their patient's bedside by Baptist Health's experienced critical care team in Little Rock. The eICU care team includes physicians and nurses specialized in critical care and trained to execute predefined plans or intervene in emergencies when a patient's attending physician cannot be immediately present.

Each critical-care room with eICU technology is equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker that enable staff in the control center to communicate with caregivers and the patient in real time. The two-way video and "cockpit-like sensors" of this advanced telemedicine technology enables the eICU care staff to detect even the slightest change in the patient's condition and communicate more effectively with the bedside team to reduce the time between problem identification and intervention.

Staffed round-the-clock, every day of the year, the Baptist Health eICU care command center and its staff help rural hospitals like MRMC provide state-of-the-art intensive care to its sickest patients.

Typically, eICU technology is used in emergency departments, surgical ICUs, trauma ICU's, cardiac surgery, medical ICUs, coronary care units, surgical step-downs, extended care hospitals and progressive care units. Hospitals across the country using eICU technology with critical care specialists have seen reductions in complications, reductions in mortality, and better outcomes for patients.

Baptist Health was the first in the state to use eICU technology back in 2005, the first in the region to implement its use in patient care, and among the first 20 healthcare systems in the country to have a command center.


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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Earns "Century Club" Membership

LITTLE ROCK - Magnolia Regional Medical Center is one of 34 Arkansas hospitals to earn "Century Club" membership through its achievements to improve care and reduce preventable readmissions. Its work with the Arkansas Hospital Association's (AHA) Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) program is part of the largest HEN in the nation, led by the American Hospital Association's Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) with 31 states and more than 1500 hospitals participating. To earn membership in the Century Club, a facility must report outcome data in all 10 of the HEN's areas of focus or all that apply to their hospital - quite a feat!

The HEN's goal is to help hospitals improve quality of care in the following areas: adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated blood stream infections, injuries from falls and immobility, obstetrical adverse events, pressure ulcers, surgical site infections, venous thromboembolism, ventilator-associated pneumonia and preventable readmissions.

Through the HEN, the AHA makes available training, one-on-one technical assistance and peer-to-peer learning collaboratives to participating hospitals, as well as access to national resources, toolkits and cutting edge information.

The HEN project contract was awarded to HRET and 25 other organizations nationally by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support their Partnership for Patients campaign. The project assists hospitals in adopting new practices that have the potential to reduce inpatient harm by 40 percent and preventable readmissions by 20 percent. There are 46 hospitals participating in the AHA HEN; several of the state's other hospitals participate through other HEN contractors.

"Arkansas hospitals have a solid commitment to delivering the best quality care possible," said Pam Brown, RN, BSN, CPHQ, vice president for quality and patient safety at the AHA. "But the dedication of the Century Club hospitals goes above and beyond. These facilities have taken on the challenge of achieving improvement in all 10 areas of focus and serve as an example to their peers."


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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Hospital Association Recognizes MRMC for Work in Statewide Collaborative

LITTLE ROCK - Magnolia Regional Medical Center is one of 46 hospitals participating in the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) led by the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) in partnership with the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET).

The HEN project contract was awarded to HRET and other organizations nationally by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support their Partnership for Patients campaign. The project assists hospitals in adopting new practices with the goal of reducing inpatient harm by 40 percent and preventable readmissions by 20 percent. A number of the state's other hospitals participate in HENs through other contractors.

Through the HRET HEN, the AHA offers specialized training, one-on-one technical assistance and peer-to-peer learning experiences to its participating hospitals. In addition, the AHA makes available access to national experts, toolkits, webinars and other resources to help hospitals stay on the cutting edge of quality improvement.

The project is broken into specific ares of work to improve quality of care in the following areas: adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated blood stream infections, injuries from falls and immobility, obstetrical adverse events, pressure ulcers, surgical site infections, venous thromboembolism, ventilator-assisted pneumonia and preventable readmissions.

"Arkansas hospitals have a solid commitment to delivering the best quality care possible," says Pam Brown, RN, BSN, CPHQ, vice president for quality and patient safety at the AHA. "It is a privilege to work with the 46 hospitals in our HEN as they improve quality of care and to see the dedication from all levels of staff, from the administrators, physicians and front-line staff to those in housekeeping and nutritional care as they implement the latest and most effective evidence-based programs."

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Wave of Light Ceremony Planned

Each year on October 15, at 7pm in each time zone, families gather to remember the babies we have lost. Whether through pregnancy loss, infant loss, or the loss of a child, the memories of our babies forever have a place in our hearts.

Participants are invited to join us in this simple ceremony to light a candle in memory of our angels.  Parents, grandparents, and loved ones will be allowed the opportunity to mention those they light a candle for, or may participate silently.

Families may feel free to bring their own remembrance candle, but MRMC will provide candles for those that need them.  We will take approximately an hour to join those in our community as we remember our angels.

The MRMC Wave of Light Ceremony will take place in the MRMC Wellness park on the corner of Columbia and Jackson.


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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Employee of the Month: October

Gina Smith has been named the October Employee of the Month at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.

Gina works in the Materials Management department and has been at MRMC for one year.  When she is not working, she enjoys life as a wife and mom to three boys.


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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Strange Named Director Plant Operations

Gary Strange has been named Director of Plant Operations at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.  Strange succeeds Darrell Chatelain who retired in August.

Strange has been with MRMC for the past four years as a member of the Maintenance Department.

"We are very excited to see Gary step into the role of Director for the Plant Operations Department," said Margaret West, CEO of MRMC.  "Gary has worked hard the past four years and really knows the workings of the plant operations side of our facility. He will be an asset to our team."

Strange and his wife, Teresa, live in Stamps.  Gary has one daughter and one granddaughter, as well as a stepson.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Chatelain Retires From MRMC

Magnolia Regional Medical Center announces the retirement of Darrell Chatelain, Director of Plant Operations.  Chatelain has been with MRMC for 11 years.

"Darrell has been a huge asset to our facility over these past 11 years," said Margaret West, CEO of MRMC.  "He is very detailed orientated and we can always count on him to offer his assistance with any project we have going on."

Chatelain was instrumental in the planning and execution of the new facility.  He worked directly with the architecture firm during planning, and then with the construction team over the course of building the new building.

Darrell and his wife, Debbie, have six adult children between them, and nine grandchildren.  He says he is looking forward to hunting, fishing, traveling, working in the garden, and "whatever Debbie tells me to do!"


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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

MRMC Weight Loss Challenge Winners

Magnolia Regional Medical Center employees recently completed a 21-week weight loss challenge.  The program was created as a part of the facility's employee wellness program.

The program kicked off on March 5 with over 80 employees signing up to participate.  Employees checked in on a bi-weekly basis for a weigh in and body fat calculation.

The program ended with approximately 65 employees and a total weight loss of over 400 lbs.

Winners were named in two categories for their success in the program.  For percentage of weight lost, the top prizes went to Judy McGee, Cori Willis and Alesha Miller.  For percentage of body fat lost, the winners were Diana Owens, Adriane Delaney and Sharon Meeler.

Winners included, (l to r) Diana Owens, Judy McGee, Alesha Miller and Cori Willis.  Not pictured are Adriane Delaney and Sharon Meeler

MRMC is utilizing the wellness program to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle among its employees through competitions and incentives.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Ainsworth Selected for NCLEX Board

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), headquartered in Chicago, is responsible for developing and administering the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) for RN and LPN/LVN nation-wide.

Kim Ainsworth, BSN, RN, Med-Surg Director at Magnolia Regional Medical Center was approved by the Arkansas Board of Nursing and selected by NCSBN to participate on the NCLEX item development panel of subject matter experts that was held in Chicago, IL, on June 10-13, 2013.

Ainsworth was one of seven nurses from across the nation to be selected for this assignment.  She was nominated on the basis of clinical specialty and nursing expertise.

All nurses in the United States and its four U.S. territories must take the NCLEX.  The licensing exam identifies those candidates who demonstrate minimal competence to practice nursing at the entry level.  Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the requirements necessary for attaining a nursing license.




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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Marlar Named Employee of the Month

Molly Marlar has been named Employee of the Month for the month of June.

Molly came to Magnolia Hospital in 2002 as a Radiology Tech.  In 2004 she became a Mammography Tech.

Molly and her husband have one daughter, and they live in the Magnolia area.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Crank Retires from MRMC

Magnolia Regional Medical Center announces the retirement of Becky Crank after 25 years of continuous service at our facility.

Becky first came to work at Magnolia Hospital in the late 60's and served in various Business Office roles on and off for about five years.

In May of 1988, Becky joined the collections department where she has remained for the past 25 years.  In 2001 she became Manager of the department.

"Becky is an asset to Magnolia Regional Medical Center," noted Margaret West, CEO. "She will be missed, but we wish her the best in her retirement."

Becky plans to enjoy retirement with her husband, Larry.  They have one daughter, Robin Watkins, and a four year old granddaughter, Kensleigh.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Employee of the Month: May

Devan Walker has been named Employee of the Month for the month of May at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.

Devan is a Registered Nurse and has worked at MRMC for two years.  She works on the Medical/Surgical unit.  Devan and her husband have two children, and they live in Magnolia.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

April Employee of the Month

Caleb Palculicut has been named the April Employee of the Month at Magnolia Regional Medial Center.

Caleb is an LPN on the Med/Surg unit and has worked at MRMC since December 2010.

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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Goodson Named Employee of the Month

Melissa Goodson has been named the March Employee of the Month at Magnolia Regional Medical Center.

Melissa is a Registered Nurse and has worked at MRMC for 18 years.  She currently works in the Continuum of Care Department.

Melissa and her husband, Mark, have two children, Sarah and Jarred.
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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

Employees Begin Weight Loss Challenge

More than 80 MRMC Employees have begin a 21-week long weight loss challenge.  The event, which kicked off March 5, is designed to encourage employees to move toward a more active and healthy lifestyle.

Employees gather to hear about the challenge and get their information packets

Employees have created six-member teams to compete in weight loss challenges, activity challenges, and more.  The event began with employees attending an orientation and participating in the initial weigh-in.

Employees line up for initial weigh-in

Employees will weigh in on a bi-weekly basis, with the final weigh-in scheduled for July 31.

Team prizes will be awarded throughout the challenge, and individual prizes will be awarded when the challenge concludes.
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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org

New Year's Baby 2013

Magnolia Regional Medical Center welcomed the first baby of the new year on Tuesday with the birth of Sloane Elizabeth Waller.

Sloane was born January 1, 2013, at 10:43am to Jamie and Caroline Waller of Magnolia.

 

Grandparents are Sammie & Kay Waller, David & Mary Cole, and Bill Talbot.  Great grandparents include Doris & the late Travis Waller, and the late Weldon & Evelyn Furr.

Dr. Chester Wynn was the attending physician.
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For more information:
Karen Weido
870-235-3212
kweido@magnoliarmc.org