What's New at Singing River Hospital System?

North Bay Diagnostics Opens

To better serve patients in the North Bay area of Jackson and Harrison Counties, Singing River Hospital System opened North Bay Diagnostics at the Cedar Lake Medical Center, Suite 110 Park Dr., on Oct. 1, 2008. The outpatient imaging center has ultrasound and general x-ray capabilities with a friendly staff ready to serve. For scheduling, call 228-392-1224.

Hospice of Light Memorializes Former Patients

Friends and family members of former Hospice of Light patients gathered at Ocean Springs Hospital on November 25 to honor their loved ones by planting a live oak tree.

November is recognized as National Hospice Month, and as tradition, Hospice of Light planted a tree remembering patients who died during the last year.

“We not only celebrate Hospice,but we also pay tribute to the memory of those patients and families we have served during the past 12 months,” said Laurie Grady, Hospice of Light Director.

Since Hospice of Light began in 1994, a tree has been planted each year in memory of former patients. The program began with just one location, nine employees and serving only three counties. Now, the program provides support for patients and their families in the final stages of terminal illness from two locations with 22 employees and serves patients in Jackson, Harrison, George, Stone, Perry and Greene Counties.

Hospice care involves a core interdisciplinary team of professionals psychological and spiritual support to the terminally ill, as well as support for the patient’s family. “Our community is fortunate to have a caring and dedicated team to provide end of life care,” Laurie said. “It is not only our job but our calling to serve our patients, families and our community.”

Employees Learn Spanish to Improve Care of All

Singing River Hospital System recently completed a five-week series, “Medical Spanish for Physicians,” as a part of the Continuing Medical Education program. The series was offered to improve physician and health care professional communication with Spanish-speaking patients to enable these professionals to take a basic medical history and perform a physical exam.

The series was presented by Melissa DeAngelo and Dolores Keenum, Spanish teachers at Ocean Springs Middle School and Resurrection Catholic School respectively. CME Director Gloria King said the Spanish CME is important because there has been a 60 percent growth in the Spanish-speaking population in the United States in the last decade and an increasing number of Hispanic people in the Gulf Coast area. “As a community hospital, Singing River Hospital System has a responsibility to meet the health care needs of all segments of the population,” she said.

Gloria said only about half of the 45.5 million Hispanics living in the U.S. speak English, and this hinders establishing rapport and the effectiveness of care. “The physicians, nurses and other health care professionals within SRHS determined that overcoming the Spanish language barrier was an important step toward providing the best medical care to the local Hispanic population,” she said. Already this year, SRH has seen 3,109 Hispanic patients and OSH has seen 1,118.

This is the seventh Spanish series offered since 2006, and 145 physicians and 227 non-physician medical professionals have completed the course prior to this series. The goal is to have enough people complete the course so there is always a clinician available to provide a level of language comfort to Hispanic patients, Gloria said. “Providing medical-Spanish classes is just another step that Singing River Hospital System is taking to eliminate any barriers that could negatively impact providing the highest level of care to all cultural groups in our community.”

SRHS Celebrates Nurse Graduates

More than 50 people gathered in the Turner Center Dec. 12 to celebrate the graduation of 28 nurses from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and to observe what has become a heralded tradition - the Auxiliary’s presentation of surgical scissors to the new nurses.

Nurse Manager Debora Joiner remembers receiving her first pair of surgical scissors during her graduation luncheon in 1983. “Every time I come to this luncheon, I think back to my graduation luncheon,” she said.

“To me it was significant that we completed the program and the volunteers gave us the scissors,” she said. “And I proudly used them.” Keynote speaker Melissa Davis, BSN, RN, Ground North East, assured the recent graduates that even though graduation can be scary, they all have received the education to make a successful transition from student to professional nurse.

“As a nurse, I continue to learn every day,” she said. “Know that your education continues. Know that you have the opportunity to grow further. Graduate Valarie Martin thanked her MGCCC instructors and the SRHS nurses who contributed to her education.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us,” Valarie said, gazing about the room. “You all have made our learning experience so much more than just a learning experience. Without this Hospital System, there’s no way we’d feel ready to go out and work.”

Valarie said she appreciates the gift of scissors from the Auxiliary, as well as the knowledge and example shared by the professional nurses who started their careers in exactly the same way.

“Graduation is another step toward going off into our chosen professions,” she said. “You start out here, but you have places to go. You can do so much with this profession we’ve chosen. The possibilities are real.”

Physician Joins Medical Staffs

The Board of Trustees of Singing River Hospital System has announced the addition of a new physician to the Medical Staff of Ocean Springs Hospital.

Dr. Dianna A. Ragula, radiologist, is a Tucson, Arizona native. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. She performed a residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Dr. Ragula is board certified in radiology and will practice at the new Ocean Springs Imaging Center.