Author Archives: Robyn Marlow

Carmen Cooper-Oguz: UMMC Alumnus of the Year

You’ve probably heard us say this a lot- the people in our North Sunflower family are amazing. They truly care about our Ruleville community and work every day to provide the best care possible.

Carmen Cooper-Oguz is a remarkable example of that commitment. She serves as our Vice President of Service Line Development and Director of Rehabilitation here at North Sunflower Medical Center. Since joining us in 2004, Carmen has always been a bright spot for so many patients who come to NSMC for physical therapy. They have come to see her as not just a service provider but a caring friend and trusted listener.

Last week, the University of Mississippi School of Health Related Professions named Carmen “Alumnus of the Year”. “Thousands of graduates have walked across the UMMC stage. And, they have gone on to do incredible things in healthcare. But, the Alumni Board of my peers selected me for this award, and I am profoundly honored,” Carmen said.

A Tireless Advocate

In addition to her day job running our patient rehabilitation center, Carmen has been a tireless advocate for rural health care policies in Jackson and Washington thru her work with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Mississippi Physical Therapy Association (MPTA), lobbying decision-makers to prioritize and protect rural healthcare providers.

“Advocacy for access to healthcare services, particularly for those in rural areas, is my passion. I love what I do. It is an honor to be recognized so prominently by my alma mater for this work”.

This is not the first time Carmen has had her talents recognized far beyond Ruleville. She also was named the 2018 Lucy Blair Service Award from the APTA, 2017 Outstanding Physical Therapy Award from the MPTA, and the 2016 Lynn Phillippi Advocacy for Older Adults Award from the Geriatrics Section of the APTA, among others.

Carmen is just one of many stars we are lucky to have as part of our tight-knit North Sunflower family. We are grateful for the work she does every day to make your patients feel welcomed and valued. We are proud of everyone who has made the choice to be part of our amazing team who make our patients feel like family. Carmen is just one of over 500 NSMC team members who make people throughout the Delta say, “Take me to Ruleville.”

Calling all nurses! Literally, all different kinds of nurses. RN’s, LPN’s, CNA’s and all kinds of other jobs with the word ‘Nurse’ in the title.

We’re hiring!

If you want to be part of the North Sunflower Medical Center Family here in Ruleville, now’s a great time to check out our Careers Page. We have a slew of job openings for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Nursing Assistants. Acute Care, Emergency Center, Swing Bed, the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility, and more.

Our hospital in the heart of the Delta is a great place to work, no matter your profession. But it is a PARTICULARLY great place to work for nurses. Last year NSMC won the Nightingale Award from the Mississippi Nurses’ Association and the Mississippi Nurses’ Foundation as the Hospital of the Year.

We take pride in working with all of our healthcare professionals to help build their career, grow in their jobs and promote from within. You can read more about all our current job openings at our Careers Page, and we look forward to welcoming you to the family.

Blood Drive: Save a Life Today
by Robyn Marlow

Sometimes you say something so many times, it’s meaning loses impact. We have all heard that giving blood is “giving the gift of life to another person”. But we have heard that so many times we rarely stop to put a name or a face behind the people whose lives have been saved.

The mothers who needed a blood transfusion during a complicated childbirth, whose children would otherwise grow up without a mother. The children with severe anemia who might never reach adulthood. Or the survivors of car accidents or natural disasters whose lives would have ended tragically if not for the generosity of blood donors right here in the Delta.

Blood Drive This Friday, March 30

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

This Friday, March 30, Mississippi Blood Services will come to Ruleville to hold a blood drive at North Sunflower Medical Center. To help put a name and a face to this incredibly important effort, we asked Dana Whitfield Kirk to tell her story of how her life was saved after a car accident when she was 19 years old.

Mississippi Blood Services’ mobile blood drive van will be outside North Sunflower Medical Center Friday, March 30 from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, over five feet tall, weighs more than 110 lbs, and is healthy and feeling well can donate blood. Drinks and snacks are provided. You can find more information on our NSMC Facebook page.

There are two ways you can help make this blood drive successful:

1. Take an hour and 15 minutes out of your day to donate blood.
2. Forward this blog post to anyone who you think would be able to do the same.

Thank you for all you do to help North Sunflower Medical Center continue to provide the best healthcare possible. And thank you for doing all you can to help give the gift of life by donating blood.

By Vikki Peay, LCSW

Have you ever noticed how hard it can be to find someone to just listen objectively? And wouldn’t it be great if that person knew how to find resources to help? Or could teach you how to manage anxiety or depression? With social workers, you have a place to turn that is safe, confidential and affordable.

One of the things I love about my job at North Sunflower Medical Center is that I get the chance to assist people in the Mississippi Delta. While I cannot fix all the problems, I guide my patients in developing tools they need to navigate tough situations. Helping individuals overcome challenges so that they can live to their full potential is a daily goal.

Everyone has had struggles, ranging from the loss of a relationship or loved one, to difficulties with anxiety or parenting challenges. But a lot of people do not realize that social workers are well trained to deal with those issues and more.

I came to the field through a summer job at North Sunflower Medical Center when I was a teenager. I knew that I wanted a service career. It was only after seeing the life-changing impact in the social work program at NSMC that I saw my path.

Now I get the chance to use my training to study problems and pursue effective solutions for people in Ruleville and the surrounding area.

There is a misunderstanding that social workers deal mainly with government benefits or food stamps, but our field is much broader. When you are talking to a social worker, you are talking to someone who is highly prepared. Social workers are available in many settings including schools, military, agencies and faith based organizations. Child, family and school social workers stand up by protecting children who have been abused or neglected, helping children find new families through adoption, and support young people in reaching their full academic and personal potential.

Social workers generally share some traits: they are compassionate, resourceful, responsible and creative in problem solving.

Who can benefit from the service of a social worker? All ages. I work a lot with young people and find it rewarding because children are so bright and resilient. Today’s youth face many challenges, including things like bullying, depression and self-image problems, in our society. Issues affecting all ages include health care access, the national opioid addiction crisis and the need for social justice – present in the Delta and across the nation. Social workers are needed more now than ever before.

In my two years on the team at North Sunflower Medical Center, I have been fortunate to be a part of many successes and look forward to many more. I would also like to see more people join this field and become leaders, advocates and champions for our community and vulnerable populations.

Vikki is a Licensed Certified Social Worker, or LCSW, who is licensed to work in Mississippi and Louisiana.

LSW – Licensed Social Worker; Bachelor of Social Work + Exam
LMSW – Licensed Master of Social Worker; MSW, DSW or PH.D. + Exam
LCSW – Licensed Certified Social Worker ; MSW + Supervised Experience + Exam

By Alice Pyles
Director of Radiology

We love February. Not just because this week was Valentine’s Day, but February is National Heart Month. To celebrate we are doing full heart screenings for $125.

Mississippians have the highest mortality from heart disease in the nation. Like everywhere else in the country, heart disease is among the leading causes of death among adults in the Delta. With heart disease claiming the lives of 1 in 4 Americans, chances are, we all know someone who had their lives shortened by a heart attack, stroke or some other cardiovascular disease.

With February being National Heart Month, we wanted to do something.

They say you can’t put a price on good health, but $125 to know your heart is healthy – that’s the next best thing.
This full Heart Healthy Screening includes a CT scan of your heart to get a complete calcium scoring. It also includes ultrasounds of your carotid arteries in your neck and of your abdominal aorta that goes through the back of your heart, through your abdomen and down your legs. Lastly, our test includes a complete ABI (ankle-brachial index) to check your blood pressure throughout your extremities.

Reducing the ever-increasing cost of healthcare is something every hospital in the country struggles with. In rural areas like the Delta – with hospitals closing every day – that problem is even more difficult. But our first priority is to provide the highest quality care you can get anywhere, and help the people we serve live longer healthier lives.

This full battery of tests usually costs a little over $2,300, but we do them all throughout February for only $125. We can only do this one month a year because, well, this costs North Sunflower Medical Center a lot of money. But if we save just one life, it was worth it.

To set up an appointment for your sweetheart, call 662-756-4000.

By Olivia Ellis

For a lot of us, January and February are the months we promise ourselves we are going to do things to improve ourselves — “new year, new you!” For each of us, that’s different.  Sometimes we try to eat a little more healthy or get more organized.  Sometimes we want to focus more on our job, while for others, we want to spend more time with family.

Here at North Sunflower Medical Center, our “New Year, New You” promise includes expanding our Women’s Health Center services to become a one-stop shop for all your needs. Currently, we provide a variety of services including mammograms, and Botox and other services primarily for women. By the end of 2018, we hope to be offering even more spa services to help you be the best looking and feeling you possible.

Hydrafacials take less than an hour. The non-invasive skin care treatment is designed to extract, infuse, and protect your skin to keep it healthy. These facials are safe for all skin types and each session can be customized to cater to your specific needs. Customizations include: age refine, skin firming, acne, and skin brightening as well as add-ons for lip and eyes. The process is designed to be the ultimate in self-care and will leave you feeling relaxed and replenished.

2018 is the year to give back to yourself and a Hydrafacial is a great way to carve out a little bit of time just for you. All Hydrafacial services are performed at Sunflower Diagnostic Center (101 East Floyce). For more information about Hydrafacials and to schedule your appointment call 662-756-2100 or email dwalyn.thomas@northsunflower.com

Whatever your goals for the new year I hope you can make time to take care of yourself and rely on North Sunflower Medical Center for all your medical needs.

It’s that time of year, again. 2017 is coming to a close.

The last time we turned the calendar to a new year was filled with nervous energy. After being named the first ever Mississippi Hospital Association’s Rural Hospital of the Year, we knew 2016 was going to be hard to top.

Fifty-two weeks later, we’re wondering how the next year can possibly top the wild ride 2017 had in store for the whole North Sunflower Medical Center Family.

Hospital of the Year

In March, the Mississippi Nurses Association named North Sunflower Medical Center their Hospital of The Year. It was an enormous honor for our hardworking nurses. We are still so very proud of every one of them.

Great Ruleville Roast

The Great Ruleville Roast seems to get bigger and better every year. We are always in awe of the remarkable support our entire community puts behind this truly unique event. It has always been a fun event that benefits the entire community.

Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine

Throughout the year our staff continued to grow and new partnerships are allowing us to provide medical services that seemed impossible just months ago. The partnership we started with the Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in 2016, has been a huge benefit to the community. Building on that success, we established a partnership with the Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine to become the first hospital in the Delta to provide pediatric specialists to our patients.

North Sunflower on CNN

This fall, the North Sunflower family was featured in an extensive profile by CNN’s online magazine, CNN State. The video they produced told the story of one of our favorite patients, Mr. Wiley King and showed how our small-town hospital was providing health care to rural communities where most are failing.

Patient Satisfaction Award

And just last month, the Mississippi Rural Hospital Association recognized North Sunflower Medical Center with the Patient Satisfaction Award for the Critical Access Hospital Division. Awards are nice, be we are genuinely proud of the team of employees who believed a happy patient is a healthy patient – and developed a plan to make sure our patient satisfaction was as good as it possibly could be.

Of course, none of this happens without the amazing, vibrant and growing community of Ruleville. Our patients, their families, our team of dedicated healthcare professionals, and the businesses that support us together have made North Sunflower Medical Center the healthcare hub of the Delta.

For each day of 2017, it has been our honor to serve you. We can’t wait for 2018.

One of the interesting things about Ruleville this time of year is our weather. We like to tell people we really only get two seasons — summer and bad sinuses season. Around the holidays, instead of colorful fall foliage that you might get other places, we see a lot more red, itchy eyes and colorful runny noses.

Sinusitis is among the most common diagnoses for those who visit North Sunflower Medical Center complaining of coughing, sinus pressure, congestion, postnasal drainage and headaches. One in eight adults suffers from sinusitis today.

Often, patients misdiagnose themselves as simply suffering from seasonal allergies or a persistent cold. While medications such as nasal sprays, antibiotics and antihistamines can provide temporary relief, many times they do not solve the problem.

Dr. Pearson Windham – our NSMC Ear, Nose and Throat specialist – has started working with the PROPEL Sinus Stent for those chronic sinus patients who have tried and failed to find relief from medications alone for those pounding headaches and sneezing fits that spread through the Delta this time of year.

The innovative treatment is a medicated, lightweight dissolvable stent that is placed after sinus surgery. It helps keep the sinus cavities open and steadily delivers local anti-inflammatory medication to the healing sinus tissue. The stent remains there for a few weeks, utilizing a spring-like mechanism to open up the nasal passageway. At the same time, it provides anti-inflammatory therapy to enhance healing. The stent slowly dissolves on its own, and no removal is necessary.

If you’re interested in enjoying Christmas season WITHOUT congested sinuses or a persistent cough, call Dr. Windham. He’d love to talk with you.

Watch a video about the PROPEL Sinus Stent here:

Look who Just Picked Up the Mississippi Rural Hospital Association Patient Satisfaction Award

By Hannah Barrett

As you might have heard us say, patient satisfaction is a job we take seriously. Very seriously. A happy patient is a healthy patient.

Over the past two years, we put a plan in place to measure and track how satisfied our patients were whenever they left our facilities. Over time, we’ve seen movement, made some necessary adjustments, and this month, all that hard work won. Big Time.

Last week, the Mississippi Rural Hospital Association recognized North Sunflower Medical Center with the Patient Satisfaction Award for the “Critical Access Hospital Division”.

Here’s how that happened:

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) is a patient satisfaction survey required by CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) for all hospitals in the United States. These numbers are very important. It’s an important survey that the public has access to and actually proves how we are doing on a day to day basis with meeting the needs of our patients.

We have worked extremely hard over the course of the last couple of years to improve our HCAHPS scores. It’s pretty simple to receive a complaint and be able to address the employee and go on about your business; however, HCAHPS is different. If there’s one patient that gives a bad review it can dramatically decrease your scores.

We have taken a dramatically different approach, by keeping everyone in the NSMC family (our staff members, doctors, nurses, and administrators) up to date on how we are doing each time the numbers are released. We have changed several different processes to ensure the patients are better cared for, which in return has increased our percentages.

We make sure a social worker, discharge coordinator, pharmacist, member of the administration, and case manager see each patient prior to discharge. This has helped to make sure the patients have a better understanding of their medications and it helps to identify any needs they have for their upcoming discharge.

Here at North Sunflower Medical Center, we believe in customer service. We try to explain to all of our newly hired employees that we are a family here at North Sunflower. If we treat our patients as family, as well as our co-workers, our scores will continue to improve. Receiving this award has been a great accomplishment. It is a piece of encouragement for all of our staff members to know that hard work pays off.

By Scott Burns

No matter where you come from, how much money you have, or how beautiful your grandchildren are, one thing is certain: we all get older. As a Social Services Director at a long-term care facility, I get a lot of questions from friends or family that are looking for long-term care options for a parent – or for themselves.

You are hiring a team of people to do an important job: provide care for what should be the most relaxing time of life. Every senior care professional says, ‘they treat your family like it’s their family’ – and they should. Where I work, Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility at North Sunflower Medical Center, we take enormous pride in creating a caring environment with a wonderful staff that treats everyone the way we want our parents to be treated. But in many ways, caring about the people you care for should be a basic requirement, not a selling feature.

Fear of making the wrong choice can create stress and anxiety, leaving your heart tied in knots. Here are a few things I tell people to look for in a long-term care facility to help them know quickly and easily which is going to be the right place for them:

1. Cleanliness.  Sounds simple, but believe me, it matters. I am a clean freak, and so are the people I work with. Our environmental services “Clean-Team” is always dusting the tops of picture frames and wiping the undersides of tables. From the moment you walk in, check the corners, notice the smells, and look under the furniture. A spotless facility shows me they sweat the details – because how are you going to keep the bedding fresh if you can’t keep the entryway clean?
2. Private Rooms.  Would you share a hotel room with a person you barely know? Even for just one night? Absolutely not. Then why would you consider sleeping in the same room with a relative stranger for months – or even years? Our facility has 60 rooms and 60 beds. We never have more than 60 residents. Keeping it simple eliminates more headaches than you can imagine. We never have to worry about pairing a light sleeper with a heavy snorer; a talker with a thinker; or a loud TV watcher with a quiet book reader. Beyond that, we also know our therapy spaces will never be overcrowded, and all the games and activities designed to keep you mentally and physically fit will always be open to everyone.
3. Outdoor Space.  It’s no secret, people operate better with a little fresh air and some sunshine. But taking a walk in the park, or going out in the backyard will not always be as easy as it seems. When I tour a nursing home, I want to see an easily accessible courtyard and big windows to let the natural light fill a room, even when it’s too hot – or too cold – to go outside. At Walter B Crook Nursing Facility, we keep the North Sunflower Medical Center landscapers busy, continuously trimming, planting and re-potting greenery to give our courtyard a fresh, inviting place for our residents to sit in the fresh air and relax with a bit of sunshine.

Of course, there are dozens of factors to consider, including staff to patient ratios, access to a nearby hospital, specialty therapists, individualized care options and others. My experience, however, is that if you keep an eye on the three things you can see, there is a very good chance the professionals running that facility are also closely watching the multitude of vitally important standards of care that you cannot.

If you’d like to see a good example of what I’m talking about, you’re always welcome to stop by the Walter B. Crook Nursing Home in Ruleville. We’d love to show you around.

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.”

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.

You can read the article and watch the video by clicking HERE.

October is $75 Mammogram Month

Each October as the weather cools off, we like to take a moment to get ready for the onslaught of holidays ahead. For some, that means Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving planning, and starting to think about Christmas gifts for the family. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At North Sunflower Medical Center, every year we think of October as the month of $75 mammograms.

With the crazy part of the year just ahead, we try to make it easy to take care of yourself.  Because we know your time is valuable we can schedule bone density scanning, pelvis ultrasounds and pap smear all on the same day as your mammogram. We know that a day of testing isn’t like a night of trick-or-treating, or a day of Thanksgiving turkey and football with the family.  But you would be surprised how taking time out to get yourself checked, can give you peace of mind throughout the holidays.

Our hospital wants to make sure that no one is prevented from having a mammogram. Every woman over the age of 40 should get a mammogram every year. If you are over the age of 55, you should get a mammogram every two years. In some situations such as late pregnancy, no pregnancy, a family history of breast cancer, or other risk factors, your insurance company may pay for annual mammograms over the age of 35.

Click here to get more information or call (662) 756-4000 to make an appointment.

Before the crush holidays ahead, take advantage of our $75 mammograms (normally $99).  North Sunflower Medical Center works hard to make preventative healthcare easy and affordable to everyone in our Ruleville community. It is because of this work we are passionate about ensuring as many women in your family — and every woman throughout the North Sunflower family — have a happy and healthy Holiday season ahead.