February 21, 2005
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MHA NewsWeekly Electronic Edition
February 21, 2005
Quote of the Week
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
In this week's edition...
1. MHA Hosting Grants Series Workshops
2. Hospital Compare Satellite Broadcast
3. Medicare Contractor Satisfaction Survey
4. AHA Issues Survey to Help Tell Our Story
5. Mississippi Hospitals magazine is now online
6. Health executive latest in lecture series
7. Pharmacy Tech program open
8. Hospital Groups Say Physician-Owned Limited-Service Hospitals Force Cuts In Broader Health Services
9. Deadline for nurse loan repayment applications extended
10. HRET toolkit helps hospitals collect patient race, ethnicity data
11. Doctors have prescription for peace of mind
12. Coalition Seeks Common Ground in Medical Malpractice Debate
13. Positions Available
14. People in the News
15. News Around the State
16. MHA Education Calendar
17. Calendar of Events
1. MHA Hosting Grants Series Workshops
The Mississippi Hospital Association is hosting a series of workshops focusing on grants. The grant workshop programs will take place on March 10, April 28, August 18 and December 8 at the MHA Conference Center. Dr. Bettye Ward Fletcher is the speaker for all of the workshops.
Dr. Fletcher has over 25 years of experience in grantsmanship, fund development and evaluation. She has served as a grant writer, funder and reviewer and has secured over $17 million in funding and given oversight to over $50 million in awards. She has also chaired and served on numerous grant reviews at the federal level.
Effective Grant Writing will be held on March 10. This full-day workshop will focus on the grant writing process, with tips on strengthening proposals. An overview of evaluation as an important and often overlooked part of the proposal will be covered. The session will end with a presentation on building a budget and a discussion of potential funding sources.
On April 28, MHA will host Program and Fiscal Management. This full-day workshop will focus on managing a grant programmatically and fiscally. Standard regulations and practices for adhering to the funded proposal as well as the terms and conditions of a grant award will be reviewed. The second half of the workshop will focus on sound fiscal management practices.
Outcome Evaluation Using a Logic Model will be held on August 18. This full-day workshop will help grantees provide definitive evaluative documentation of the results of funded programs. This workshop will focus on using a Logic Model as a planning, monitoring and evaluation tool to document program changes and outcomes.
On December 8, MHA will host the last program in the grants workshop series, Finding Resources and Getting Started with Foundations. This full-day workshop will focus specifically on foundations, with emphasis on identifying funding priorities, responding to the solicitation and building long-term relationships with foundations which are mutually beneficial.
The cost of each of these programs is $110 for MHA members and $175 for non-members. MHA continuing education hours will be offered. A room rate of $69.99/$75.99 has been secured at the Drury Inn & Suites at 610 E. County Line Rd. in Ridgeland. To make reservations, call (601) 956-6100 and ask for the MHA rate.
For more information about these offerings or to be added to the MHA Grants/Foundations Special Interest Group, please contact Stacy Bishop at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3221 or sbishop@mhanet.org. (There is no charge to be a member of the group. This will just ensure that your name is on a mailing list for workshops and specialized information, as needed.)
To receive daily updates on grants, join the Grants/Foundations Community at MyMHA.
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2. Hospital Compare Satellite Broadcast
On Thursday, March 10, 2005, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host the Hospital Compare Satellite Broadcast via satellite and webcast. During the broadcast, CMS, along with other Hospital Quality Alliance members, will provide information on the upcoming national launch and rollout of the Hospital Compare consumer-oriented Web site and describe the strong collaborations and partnerships that have made this initiative successful.
The broadcast will feature a preview of the Hospital Compare Web site, information on the marketing strategy for the national rollout and a live question and answer session. The primary audiences for this broadcast are hospitals and Quality Improvement Organizations. Topics covered will include the Hospital Quality Alliance, quality measures, the Hospital Compare Web site, the next steps in preparation for the national rollout, a live question and answer session and the role of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) in the rollout (including how they can assist hospitals in their quality projects).
To register for individual and site registration and to read viewing instructions, visit http://cms.internetstreaming.com. Go to Live and Upcoming Broadcasts, find the Hospital Compare program in the list and click Register. You will then select between Webcast or satellite, and choose a downlink site (if satellite). This program will have a live Webcast and will be available for viewing up to six months following March 10 at http://cms.internetstreaming.com.
This broadcast will be available on C and Ku Digicipher bands. The C-Band Satellite Coordinates are: Satellite: IA 5, Orbit Location: 97 west, Transponder: 13, Frequency: 3960 MHz, Polarity: VD and Audio: 6.20/6.80. Handouts for this broadcast will be available at www.cms.hhs.gov/quality/hospital/ and http://cms.internetstreaming.com. Videotaped copies of this program can be obtained from the National Technical Information Services (NTIS) two weeks following the transmission of this broadcast at www.ntis.gov.
As we get closer to the launch, slated for the last week of March, MHA will be distributing talking points and other materials to member hospitals to assist with questions that may arise in your communities.
To receive daily updates on quality information, join the Patient Safety & Quality Community at MyMHA.
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3. Medicare Contractor Satisfaction Survey
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is encouraging health care providers to complete and submit their responses to the Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) as soon as possible. The survey was sent to a random sample of about 8,200 Medicare fee-for-service providers in January, giving them an opportunity to rate their Medicare contractor on seven administrative functions. Providers who received the survey notification packet can access the survey on a secure Web site, or request a paper copy and submit their responses via mail or fax. Data collection will continue through March 31. For questions regarding the MCPSS, please contact the MCPSS information line at 1-888-863-3561 or MCPSS@westat.com. For further information and updates, click here.
To receive daily updates on Medicare issues, join the Medicare/Medicaid Community at MyMHA.
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4. AHA Issues Survey to Help Tell Our Story
The AHA on Feb. 16 sent a survey to all hospital CEOs seeking data on the pressures they face. The data will help the association tell the hospital story to Capitol Hill and the administration, AHA said. “The key to our ability to advocate effectively for you on Capitol Hill and in the administration...lies in the strength of the stories that we bring from you – the stories about the good work you do in the community...and the challenges you face daily to provide the wide range of health care services essential to healthy communities,” AHA President Dick Davidson wrote in a letter accompanying the survey. The letter asks hospitals to respond to the survey by March 2. For more information, contact AHA Member Relations at (800) 424-4301.
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5. Mississippi Hospitals magazine is now online
Mississippi Hospitals, the quarterly publication of the Mississippi Hospital Association, is now available online also at www.mshospitals.com. In addition to the magazine, the daily online newsletter, Mississippi Hospitals Today, can be found on the site (click on the Blog link). The deadline for the next edition of the print magazine is March 28th. Hospitals should submit feature-type stories with photos to Shawn Lea, Mississippi Hospital Association, P.O. Box 16444, Jackson, MS 39236-6444 or slea@mhanet.org. Articles for the online newsletter can also be submitted to Shawn. If you have questions or need more information, call Shawn at (800) 289-8884 or (601) 368-3237.
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6. Health executive latest in lecture series
David Fine, CEO of St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, will be the third guest speaker in a lecture series sponsored by The Sun Herald and the University of Southern Mississippi. The session will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Advanced Education Center on the Southern Miss Gulf Coast campus in Long Beach. Admission is free.
Fine has been an executive in the health industry for 31 years and will speak on "Critical Issues in Health Care: Problems and Solutions." Fine's health care experience includes 22 years as CEO of university hospitals, multi-hospital systems, medical groups and managed care organizations, including Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans. He also has held academic teaching appointments and published articles and books throughout his career. And he has been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 most powerful people in health care.
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7. Pharmacy Tech program open
The Jones County Junior College's Pharmacy Technology Program is accepting applications for the fall 2005 semester. The application deadline is April 1. The program is designed to train a technician to work in each type of pharmacy setting and combines classroom instruction, laboratory work and clinical experience. For more information, call (601) 477-4230.
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8. Hospital Groups Say Physician-Owned Limited-Service Hospitals Force Cuts In Broader Health Services
Communities with physician-owned limited-service hospitals saw cuts in hospital services and increases in services that are highly reimbursed, such as spine surgery, cardiac procedures, and general surgery, according to a new report released by the American Hospital Association in conjunction with the Colorado Health and Hospital Association, Kansas Hospital Association, Nebraska Hospital Association, and South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations. The report, "The Impact of Physician-Owned Limited-Service Hospitals: A Summary of Four Case Studies," found that the financial health of full service hospitals declined leading to cuts in lower margin services. The study reported that in two of the four case studies, emergency services and trauma services were put at risk. The study also found that physician-owners were easily able to redirect selected patients to the hospitals in which they held an ownership interest.
To read the study, click here.
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9. Deadline for nurse loan repayment applications extended
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration has extended the fiscal year 2005 application deadline for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program to March 18. The program helps registered nurses repay educational loans in exchange for working in facilities with a critical shortage of nurses. More information and applications are available online here.
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10. HRET toolkit helps hospitals collect patient race, ethnicity data
The Health Research & Educational Trust on Feb. 16 released a toolkit to help hospitals and other health care providers collect accurate information from patients on race, ethnicity and primary language. Developed with support from the Commonwealth Fund, the toolkit seeks to help hospitals meet regulatory requirements in states that mandate the collection of race and ethnicity data, and target appropriate evidence-based interventions to improve care for different patient populations. It includes recommendations for standardizing when and how patient data is collected and the racial and ethnic categories used, staff training materials, and tips on using data collected, among other tools. “If we are to adequately address disparities in the delivery, quality and outcomes of care provided to different segments of our population, we must have clear, concise data on patient race, ethnicity and preferred language,” said HRET President Mary Pittman. HRET is an AHA affiliate. For more information, click here.
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11. Doctors have prescription for peace of mind
Some of the nation's leading doctors are fighting back against what they say is rampant misinformation on the Internet. Nearly 4,000 doctors in six Florida counties - Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee and Collier - are joining in a national pilot project called "Information Rx" to send people to more reputable Web sites. For the full story, click here.
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12. Coalition Seeks Common Ground in Medical Malpractice Debate
Having health professionals who make medical mistakes explain what happened, apologize to patients, and offer to negotiate compensation can improve the quality of health care, the quality of the doctor-patient relationship, and decrease the number of malpractice lawsuits, according to a new grassroots coalition seeking alternative ways to address the medical malpractice crisis. For the full story, click here.
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13. Positions Available
St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital is seeking a vice president of business development for a newly created position. Position reports directly to the President of St. Dominic Hospital and serves as a key member of the Hospital’s administrative team within a Christian business environment. Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible strategic planning and business development experience highly desirable, preferably in health care. Experience working with executives and physicians required. Relocation allowance provided if required. Send current resume to: Lamar Nesbit, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Support Services, St. Dominic Hospital, 969 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216. Resume may be emailed to Lnesbit@stdom.com or faxed to 601-200-0777.
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Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital is currently accepting applications for full-time respiratory therapist RRT or CRT for night shift and PRN positions. For more information or to apply, call (601) 894-4541 or e-mail mjamcrt@aol.com.
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North Mississippi State Hospital is currently accepting applications for registered nurses for the Tupelo campus and the Crisis Intervention Centers in Corinth and Batesville. Must be licensed in the state of MS. For an application or information, call (662) 690-4200.
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Mississippi State Hospital is seeking a qualified professional to lead the Public Relations Department. Must have experience in PR, fund-raising and event planning. A master’s degree and six years of experience or a bachelor’s degree and seven years of experience are required. E-mail or fax resumes to Kay Harrell, Personnel Dept., at harresk@msh.state.ms.us or (601) 351-8222.
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Forrest General Hospital is seeking candidates for the following positions: respiratory therapist, physical therapist, reimbursement supervisor, pharmacist, OR Tech, registered dietitian, radiologic technologist, MRI tech, ultrasound tech, CT tech and medical transcriber. Interested candidates can print an application from www.forrestgeneral.com and mail to address on application or fax to (601) 288-1201. Candidates may also apply in person at the Human Resources Office. For more information, contact Erecka Magee at (601) 288-1205 or emagee@forrestgeneral.com.
For a listing of additional hospital jobs available in Mississippi and to post your confidential resume for health care recruiters to view, visit www.mshealthjobs.com.
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CORRECTION: Tony Smith, CPA, has been named treasurer/chief financial officer at St. Dominic Health Services in Jackson. Since July of 2000, he served as corporate controller. He will also serve on the Governing Board of Directors of St. Dominic Health Services and will continue serving as plan administrator for the retirement plan and investment officer for the improvement and pension funds for St. Dominic Health Services and its subsidiaries. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day financial operations of the Corporate Office. He holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Southern Mississippi.
14. People in the News
Corey Buford, a teacher aide at the Hopkins Adult Education Program at North Mississippi Regional Center in Oxford, was recently elected Employee of the Year in a facility-wide vote by staff. As the winner, he received an engraved plaque and a cash award. He came to NMRC in 1999 as a B-shift direct-care employee in Dogwood Cottage. He has also served as a transporter (and he was selected Employee of the Month in November of 2003 for his great work in that job).
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Sandra Holman, community health manager for Baptist Health Systems in Jackson, will serve as president of the American Lung Association of Mississippi for the 2005-2006 year. The organization holds Asthma Walks, programs and summer camps to benefit patients in Mississippi and educate the public about different types of lung disease.
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Dr. Eric Pittman, pharmacy director for North Mississippi State Hospital in Tupelo, was recently elected the 2004 Employee of the Year.
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Rita Sykes, a psychologist, was named Employee of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2004 at North Mississippi State Hospital.
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Mary Johnson was promoted to nutrition services director at North Mississippi State Hospital. She has been with NMSH since 1999.
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Helen Vance, RN, was promoted from Nurse IV/ Utilization Review to performance improvement director. He has been with NMSH since 1999.
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Michael Jordan, director of staff education and training at Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield, was recently honored as one of Mississippi’s Top 40 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal. Jordan is a graduate of Belhaven College and received his MBA from William Carey College. In addition to his duties at MSH, he is an adjunct professor at Belhaven College, teaching classes in Contemporary Business, Fundamentals of Management and Business Policy/Strategic Management. He is recognized as a Certified Nursing Home Administrator Preceptor, a Certified CPR Basic Instructor and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
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Carol Tatum, RN, has been appointed home health services director at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg. She will be responsible for Wesley’s home health operations in 11 counties. Tatum began her nursing career at Wesley in 1986 on the Medical Surgical Nursing Unit. She transferred to home health care in 1991, where she most recently served as clinical coordinator. She is a graduate of Pearl River County Community College with an associate’s degree in nursing and is attending William Carey College BSN nursing program.
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Roosevelt Jordan, in the Environmental Services Department at River Oaks Hospital, was the winner of the "In the Spotlight, Teamwork-Pass It On" award recipients for December. He received a $50 savings bond, balloons and the official Teamwork-Pass It On trophy to keep for one month, a designated parking space for one month and the privilege of selecting the next winner.
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Rebecca Blalock of Tupelo was named North Mississippi Medical Center's Employee of the Month for December. An NMMC employee for nine years, Blalock serves as a telephone receptionist at the Tupelo branch office of the NMMC Home Health Agency.
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Dr. John Zelem, a general surgeon, has joined the active medical staff of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville. He received his MD from Boston University School of Medicine and has been practicing in Booneville since December. Previously, he practiced in Connecticut for 24 years.
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Jimmy Graves, administrator of Walthall General Hospital in Tylertown, is the recipient of this year's Paul Pittman Award for Community Service. Graves has worked in health administration for 28 years and serves on several health care organizations including the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Hospital Association, chairman of the MHA Worker's Compensation Insurance Board, diplomate for the American College of Healthcare Executives, advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and a board member for the Mississippi Rural Health Association, Delta Rural Network, Healthcare Providers Insurance Co. and Walthall County 911 Committee. He is past president of the Walthall County Chamber of Commerce and Tylertown Rotary Club (where he is also a recipient of the the Paul Harris Fellow Award), a past board member of the Walthall Economic Development Board and a member of the Walthall Arts Council.
For more information on people in the news, click here.
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15. News Around the State
Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville recently announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire The King’s Daughters Hospital in Greenville. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of March. Delta Regional’s immediate plans are to continue to utilize both hospitals and has indicated its intent to hire KDH employees and honor their contractual obligations. “We are creating one complete, well coordinated and efficient regional system,” said L. Ray Humphreys, FACHE, CEO of Delta Regional.
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The American Lung Association of Mississippi, in association with Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, recently began a free educational program, Coaches Care, to help coaches understand how asthma affects student athletes. Programs have been held in various communities such as Tupelo, Tunica, Hattiesburg and McComb. To host a Coaches Care in your area, call (800) 586-4872.
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Camp Wheez-Away, a week of adventure, laughter and excitement for children suffering from asthma, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The camp is sponsored by Baptist Health Systems, The American Lung Association of Mississippi, the Mississippi Asthma Collaborative and the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. It is held each summer at Camp Wesley Pines in Gallman. (This year it will be held July 11-15.) A large voluntary medical team of nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians and counselors staff Camp Wheez-Away. To sponsor a camper, make a donation or serve as a volunteer this summer, call (800) 586-4872.
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North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo will once again host Camp Breathe Ezzzze, a summer camp for children suffering from asthma. Ellie McKinney, education coordinator for Respiratory Care with NMMC is the founder and director of the camp conducted at Tishomingo State Park. The camp will take place May 31-June 3. To sponsor a camper, make a donation or serve as a volunteer, call (800) 586-4872.
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The University of Mississippi Medical Center will complete the replacement of the University Hospital's original beds when its new state-of-the-art adult hospital opens in fall 2005. The new $52-million, seven-story structure will complete UMC's four-hospital construction project to replace the original teaching hospital, which opened in 1955. The new hospital will carry the flagship name University Hospital at completion. The 256-bed hospital will house only patient rooms with no special critical care units. It will adjoin the Conerly Hospital for Critical Care for easy access to the five intensive care units in that facility. The first floor of the new hospital will include an outpatient surgery center and an interfaith chapel. Other expansion projects in the works include major additions to the Guyton Building to form the Arthur C. Guyton Laboratory Research Complex; a new classroom wing; and phase two and three of the Cancer Institute, located at the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center. The classroom wing will open in spring 2005. The four-story, $4.1-million addition is adjacent to the Guyton Building.
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Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville has entered into a partnership with Northeast Mississippi Community College titled "Tiger Trek - Taming the Tiger" Health Program. Thirteen teams of five are taking part in a program to help faculty and staff achieve their health and fitness goals. At the end of this eight-week program, the teams who win the most weight are eligible for cash prizes.
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Oktibbeha County Hospital, along with other community partners, launched Weigh Down by May on Feb. 17. The 12-week education program will focus on exercise, portion control and eating healthy. Citizens could enter individually or enlist friends and family to form teams. Final weigh-in is on May 3.
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North Mississippi Medical Center and Spirit of Women is honoring ordinary women who do extraordinary things. The hospital is seeking nominees in three categories: Youth Recipient (age 14-21), Community Recipient (22 and over) and Healthcare Provider. The nomination deadline is Feb. 28. Regional winners go on to become national nominees. For an official nomination form or more information, call Shannon Fryery, RN, NMMC Spirit of Women coordinator, at (662) 377-4099.
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Natchez Community Hospital recently installed in its operating rooms a monitor that provides valuable information to improve the quality of patient care during and after surgery. The BIS monitor enables anesthesiologists to make sure their patients continually receive a tailored dose of anesthesia throughout surgery. The BIS monitor works with a noninvasive sensor that is placed on the patient's forehead to continuously monitor brain waves.
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Leake Memorial Hospital in Carthage recently achieved designation as a Level IV Trauma Center and Primary Pediatric Trauma Center. With the designation, personnel at Leake Memorial's emergency room would perform initial assessments, forward that information and expect quick clearance to send more seriously injured patients to a Level I or II facility. Charlotte Thompson serves as director of emergency services at the hospital.
For more information on people in the news, click here.
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16. MHA Education Calendar
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17. Calendar of Events
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