Category Archives: NSMC News

by Robyn Marlow

You know that big boulder that rolls out of the cave chasing Indiana Jones into the jungle? This Thursday’s blood drive is a lot like that.

Of course, we would never compare something as life-and-death serious as giving blood with a 1980’s adventure movie – even though it is a pretty good movie. Stay with me for a second.

This Thursday, Mississippi Blood Services is holding a blood drive here at North Sunflower Medical Center from Noon to 6:00 p.m. Mississippi Blood Services provides lifesaving blood to over 60 hospitals across Mississippi – including North Sunflower. Just to keep up with the demand for blood they provide to cancer patients, car accident victims and hundreds of other medical procedures, they need to collect between 250 and 300 pints (or units, as they call them) every day just to keep up with demand.

That’s a big boulder to stay in front of.

And currently, Mississippi Blood Services is facing a critical blood shortage. We spoke with Emily Austin at Mississippi Blood Services. She told us that a good amount of the blood they receive is given at high schools throughout the state. “In the summer, when the students and teachers are away, many of their donors are off enjoying their summers. But the need for blood never takes a vacation. Every 2 seconds, someone in Mississippi needs a pint of blood.”

Like I said, it’s a big boulder.

This past spring, we did a video about Dana Whitfield Kirk. She had their life saved after a car accident, thanks to the blood given at a blood drive just like the one we are having on Thursday from noon to 6:00.

Click HERE to learn more about Dana’s incredible story.

Please consider taking an hour out of your day to help save a life.

What: Mississippi Blood Services Blood Drive
Where: North Sunflower Medical Center
When: Thursday, July 26, Noon to 6:00 p.m.

This week is one of our favorite events of the year. Birdies and Backhands started several years ago as a way for all of us to get together as a community and do something active together. We hoped it might raise a little bit of money for the North Sunflower Foundation, but mostly, we were just looking for a way to do something healthy together.

The deadline for four-player golf scramble and tennis tournament sign-up is today, May 29 at 5:00 pm. Registration for the ladies’ mixer and tennis tournament is Thursday, May 31, at 3:00. Warmups are at 3:30 and the first round starts at 4:00. The shotgun start for the golf scramble tees off at 1:00. Both events take place at the Cleveland Golf and Country Club.

Over the years, Birdies and Backhands has turned into a full-day festival. It raises over $10,000 to help pay for new medical equipment, training, and general hospital improvements. What makes us most proud is that – as the event has gotten bigger over the years – Birdies and Backhands is still a great time we spend together as the North Sunflower Medical Center Family.

The signup forms can be found on the North Sunflower Medical Foundation’s Facebook page or by clicking here. OR you can register by calling (662) 719-4147 for golf or (662) 719-6140 for tennis.

If you haven’t had a chance to meet out traveling massage therapist, Rosie Smith, you’re missing out.

Last year, as we were looking to expand the services of our Diagnostic Clinic, we wanted to bring in a massage therapist to help our patients recovering from surgery or injury.  We have found that all different types of patients from all kinds of backgrounds — young and old — seem to benefit from massage therapy.

“Everyone who comes to see me shows up in a good mood,” Rosie like to tell people.  “We create a tranquil setting for people to come and feel better.”

We know how important it is to have women get regular health screenings.  We knew that women need to get more regular cancer screenings.  One way to get them in the door was to offer more services that made a visit to our diagnostic clinic enjoyable.

In the meantime, our physical therapists found that their massage therapy patients were more comfortable, relaxed and able to get healthy faster. Many of them now refer patients directly to Rosie as part of their treatment.

“I love my job. I love the patients and they love me. I always wanted a job where I was helping heal people,” Rosie told us. “I’m from Midnight, Miss. And I work with patients from Belzoni to Cleveland. Most of the men in my family were truck drivers, so being on the road works out great for me. I’m in Ruleville at Sunflower Med Spa every Friday from 10:00 to 3:00. Come by and see me.”

Sunflower Med Spa includes facials, makeup consultations/applications, waxing, Botox, injectables/fillers and massage therapy. To make an appointment with Rosie or anyone at Sunflower Med Spa, please call (662) 756-4000.

Aster Awards

North Sunflower is the winner of five (5!) Aster Awards for healthcare marketing. In addition to being recognized for Photo/Illustration, TV/Video Advertising, Billboard Design, and Flyers, the October edition of our North Sunflower News Blog (this blog, the one you’re reading right now) won the Gold Prize in the blogging category.

That issue highlighted CNN’s State Magazine story of North Sunflower Medical Center’s success in ‘Beating the Odds’ of the health care crisis in rural America.

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.