NSMC News

CNN's Digital Magazine, State, recently featured an extensive profile of North Sunflower Medical Center as part of an in-depth series on the impacts of health policy in rural America. We were happy to host the CNN crew in September and show them around Ruleville. With rural hospitals closing all over the country, we were proud to have them feature North Sunflower Medical Center as a hospital that is "beating the odds." [caption id="attachment_3217" align="aligncenter" width="909"] The article includes a heart-warming video of NSMC Cardiologist, Dr. Gene Hutchinson, and his patient, Mr. Wiley King.[/caption] The CNN crew was in town for two days, interviewed dozens of people, and took photo and video of most every place they went. Everyone on our staff did a tremendous job, working to make sure patients continued to get exceptional care, even while the cameras were rolling. The article highlights the challenges many rural hospitals face today. At North Sunflower, we feel fortunate to survive by having a community that has rallied around us, a team of exceptional health care professionals, and patients that make coming to work every day feel like spending time with family. [caption id="attachment_3220" align="aligncenter" width="938"] Today, the hospital is thriving even as many rural hospitals struggle to stay open and serve their communities. Its staff has more than tripled, as has the size of its health clinic. Patients come from miles away to get basic care or see a growing number of specialists.[/caption] You can read the article and watch the video by clicking HERE.

Last month the Bolivar Bullet ran a front-page profile of North Sunflower Medical Center’s own Dr. Rohith Reddy.  Dr. Reddy is a relatively new addition to our North Sunflower family, having joined NSMC in June of 2023, but all the media attention he’s getting is making him a local celebrity.

Dr. Reddy went to Medical School in India before doing his rotations at LSU Shreveport.  That led him to residency training in Greenville which led him to Ruleville.  According to the article, Dr. Reddy could have gone anywhere, but he and his wife decided to stay close to their newly adopted home. 

“I came from a very small town in India,” Dr. Reddy told the Bullet. “When I came and did my residency training in Greenville, it’s almost like everybody was calling me like their son, their brother, when I worked at the hospital. That made me feel so nice. I was like, ‘OK, I think, I feel really good to stay here.’” 

As a family medicine physician, Dr. Reddy provides patients with comprehensive primary care and preventive medicine. Whether it is managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, or providing routine care, vaccinations, and screenings. Dr. Reddy takes a well-rounded approach to patient care. 

At North Sunflower Medical Center, we are known for our patient-centered approach and unwavering dedication to our patients' well-being. Dr. Reddy’s holistic approach to patient outcomes made him fit right in as a part of the NSMC family. 

Dr. Reddy takes the time to listen to their concerns, thoroughly explain diagnoses and treatment options, and involve them in decision-making regarding their healthcare. Dr. Reddy's compassionate bedside manner and genuine concern for his patients' health have earned him the trust and respect of the community.

“People are super, everyone was super nice when I came here,” Dr. Reddy told the Bullet. “It’s almost like you can just sit and have a conversation with anybody for probably one hour on the first time you meet. I’m super happy to be here, and I love being a part of the Delta.”

To make an appointment with Dr Reddy or any of our fantastic healthcare heroes, call our clinic at (662) 756-4024.

We have big news at North Sunflower Medical Center. Popular plastic surgeon Erica Bass is now booking appointments for outpatient cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in Ruleville.
 
Dr. Bass has gotten to know the community while offering services like Botox and fillers. She realized there were more needs here.
 
"I have been practicing in the Delta for seven years, and my team here has become like family," she tells us. "I truly enjoy the patient relationships I've developed here over that time, and I'm excited to be able to expand NSMC's plastic surgery offerings."

This addition is part of our emphasis on covering all the community's healthcare needs right here at NSMC.
 
Patients can have breast surgery such as augmentation, lift, and reduction, as well as body contouring, including abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, and thigh lift.
 
Dr. Bass, who has extensive training in surgery at University Medical Center in Jackson, says other options are facial rejuvenation procedures, including browlift, blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), facelift, and neck lift.
 
"We also will be performing a variety of reconstructive procedures, including panniculectomy and skin lesion removal and closure," she says.

Erica Bass, MD - Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

We last talked to Dr. Bass in 2021, when she told us about the age-fighting procedures available with her team at the Sunflower Med Spa. She said then that her passion is protecting patients and helping them feel healthier and better about themselves.

As she's built more relationships, she recognized the need for surgical options. "We just realized there is a significant demand for these types of procedures here in the Delta, and it is a natural extension of my practice here," she says.

"Patients can have access to a board-certified plastic surgeon without having to travel far from home, which is a great advantage with respect to care after surgery both immediately and at follow-up. We have established a great local team to care for all our patients' surgical needs before, during, and after surgery," she tells us.

The most popular procedures, she says, generally in plastic surgery are breast lift and abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck.

"Anyone interested in scheduling a consultation should call central scheduling to get an appointment. Right now, I only come once a month, so appointments fill up quickly," Dr. Bass says.

We're thankful to Dr. Erica Bass for bringing fantastic care and more choices to Ruleville. For appointments, call 662-756-4000.

Department:	Cardiac
Hours:	8a – 5p, Monday-Friday

The Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility has recently garnered attention in the Senior Living edition of the Delta Business Journal. This recognition in the February edition of the Delta's leading business publication highlights the facility's commitment to providing exceptional care and services to its residents.

Located in the heart of the Delta region, the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility has been a pillar of support for the elderly population in the community. With a strong focus on compassionate care and innovative programs, the facility has earned a reputation for excellence in senior living.

One of the key highlights of the facility is its dedicated staff, who go above and beyond to ensure the comfort and well-being of residents. Our own Kiki Jackson, administrator of Walter B. Crook, was interviewed for the article, and she stressed the "Home Away From Home" atmosphere of the outstanding senior care facility.

"You can have all of the credentials in the world," she told the DBJ, "but you have to have a passion to do this job. You have to have a heart for people. If the people taking care of you make you feel like true family, then you are home. And that can be vital to your overall health and well-being."

Walter B. Crook Activities and Programs

The facility's emphasis on quality of life is evident in its holistic approach to care. Residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities and programs designed to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

Kiki told the Journal that getting more community volunteers is something they want to do and would be so beneficial to the residents. "We want them to volunteer and come in and share their skills or maybe host an activity for our residents," she says. "A painting class or craft class of some kind. Something like that. This helps to instill the confidence that just because they're in a nursing facility, that doesn't mean the community has forgotten about them."

Win, lose, or draw the "Bet on us at WBC Casino Trip" was amazingly fun!

We talked with Kiki about the many outside-the-facility activities for Walter B. Crook residents. "We do regular shopping trips to stores, and they visit Harlow's Casino in Greenville regularly," she told us. "The shopping trips allow them to shop for things they would like for themselves or gifts for family members. The casino trips include slot machine action, blackjack, poker, roulette, and the list goes on. Also, next month, they will begin making cards to send to hospitalized children as a service project."

In addition to its focus on resident care, the facility is committed to supporting families and caregivers. The staff at Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility understands the challenges faced by families caring for elderly loved ones and strives to provide support and guidance every step of the way.

For more information about the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility and its services, click here.

Position:	CNA, Full Time
Department:	Senior Care Unit
Hours:	7p-7a, 3/2 Split

It's OK.  You're not too late.  If you were thinking you waited too long to get that special someone a Valentine's Day happy, Simply Sunflower and the Sunflower Med Spa are happy to step in and save your Valentine's Day.

Nothing says 'I love you just the way you are' quite like a Hydrajelly Mask & Dermaplane at the North Sunflower Med Spa.

No matter what it takes to make your someone special feel like a special someone, the Sunflower Med Spa has a special for you.

For more details, Call Simply Sunflower at (662) 756-4438 or the Sunflower Med Spa at (662) 756-2100.

Position:	LPN or RN
Hours:	Full Time, 3/2 Split - 7pm to 7am

We are excited to share news of awards for two dedicated professionals at North Sunflower Medical Center: Angela Lang is Clinical Hero of The Year, and Sylvia Clark is Non-Clinical Hero of The Year. We recently talked to both about their careers.

Angela Lang, 2023 Clinical Hero of The Year

Over the past 11 years, Angela has built a reputation for her compassion as a pharmacist at North Sunflower Medical Center Pharmacy.
 
"I love everything about my job. I love my customers and everybody I work with. We have the best staff: techs, cashiers, other pharmacists. They are wonderful," she tells us. "We stay super busy, but we still get to know our customers so well. We take care of them like family."
 
Angela's path to the profession started with time spent in her small-town pharmacy as a girl. She says pharmacists are easily accessible.
 
When Angela found out about the honor, she was speechless.
 
"I was totally shocked. I was so honored that people think that much of me. When they told me, I said, `Are you sure you counted these ballots right? You must have counted wrong,'" she said. "It makes you feel appreciated by everyone you work with - within the whole hospital."

Sylvia Clark, 2023 Non-Clinical Hero of The Year

Sylvia's path to the North Sunflower Medical Center Dietary Department started with lessons she learned from her mom, a wonderful cook.
 
"My mother always made sure we started our day with a good breakfast and then a healthy lunch. Even though we didn't have a lot, she made sure we had a small dessert, like rice pudding," Sylvia recalls.
 
Sylvia's mom turns 84 in March, and now Sylvia cooks for her and other family, including her husband and two children. She also makes sure things run smoothly at NSMC as a Dietary Supervisor. "I've found that food brings people together," says Sylvia.
 
"North Sunflower Medical Center is a great place to work. I have a wonderful team, and I get to meet a lot of different people," Sylvia says.
 
NSMC has been fortunate to have Sylvia on staff for 16 years, the entire time in dietary services. Her reaction to her honor was also one of surprise.
 
"I was so surprised. It was an amazing blessing to know so many people took time to vote for me," she said.
 
Sylvia and Angela say they're fortunate to have jobs that make a difference in the community.
 
"We go by the Sunflower Way. Everybody here is exemplary of that," said Angela. "I love that the people at our hospital and clinic care so much about the patients we serve."

North Sunflower Medical Foundation has taken a big step toward making dreams come true. Last month, North Sunflower Medical Center became a proud sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation's 2023 Delta Evening of Wishes dinner in Greenville.

The hospital's partnership with Make-A-Wish reflects its commitment to providing exceptional health care and making a positive impact on the community by contributing to the well-being of children facing critical illnesses.

Ashley Williams, an infection control nurse here at NSMC, has been a champion of Make-A-Wish since her son Nolan had his wish granted in 2017.

Nolan had five open heart surgeries before he was three. Before his last surgery, his nurse referred him to Make-A-Wish," Ashley told us. "We went to Disney World. It was so much fun. He was only four at the time, and I was worried he wouldn't remember it. He is ten now, and it's still a special memory for our family."

Make-A-Wish is a renowned non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Established in 1980, the foundation has fulfilled many children's dreams, creating lasting memories for them and their families.

According to a 2022 study, many Make-A-Wish alumni, parents, and medical providers overwhelmingly agree that the wish experience contributes substantially to physical, mental, and emotional health. Parents of Make-a-Wish families report that their experience with the foundation increased hope, strength, joy, confidence, self-esteem, quality of life, and well-being. Make-A-Wish serves as a coping mechanism that helps relieve the traumatic stress of the family. Further, parents report that Make-A-Wish gave their children a stronger sense of empowerment and was a turning point in a patient's treatment.

That was certainly the case with Ashley when Nolan was fighting heart disease. "Getting away from it all and coming back makes everything feel easier. You get a dose of something wonderful, and that makes things easier," Ashley said. "In the times before our wish is granted, you are living from appointment to appointment and dreading what you are going to learn at your next visit. It gives you something to look forward to, and that can also be very impactful."

After Nolan had his wish granted, Ashley got involved in helping the organization locally.

I spoke on behalf of Make-A-Wish and worked to help them raise money here in the Delta," Ashley told us. "At the first event, we had over 20 North Sunflower people there to support the event. And it has continued every year since my son's wish was granted. North Sunflower Medical Foundation is always very supportive of hospital employees and what they are going through. And they really go all out to help support the community."