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.

As you may have noticed, we like our holidays here at North Sunflower Medical Center. Coming fast on the heels of June’s Certified Nursing Assistant Month, we went all out celebrating America’s birthday on the Fourth of July. And now this week – the second week of July – is National Therapeutic Recreation Week. At North Sunflower Medical Center, our resident Recreational Therapist is Bridget Rickels. She has been part of the North Sunflower family for 13 years. “North Sunflower just feels like home.” Bridget also likes to say, “Recreational Therapy provides play with a purpose to enhance an individual’s life.” According to the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, therapeutic recreation is treatment services and recreation activities to treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients by seeking to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence, and socialize effectively. This includes a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings.

Certified Nursing Assistant Month

June is Certified Nursing Assistant Month. While that may not rank up there with other family holidays like The Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, in our North Sunflower family, it’s pretty special. North Sunflower Medical Center – like most other hospitals – couldn’t function without the hard work of a remarkable team of CNA’s who help our patients with daily life functions and assist doctors and nurses with every level of healthcare treatment.

Vernita Glen

And like the Fourth of July has Uncle Sam, and Thanksgiving has the Pilgrims, North Sunflower has our own CNA Superstar. Vernita Glen was named the Mississippi Hospital Association’s Certified Nursing Assistant two years in a row (2009 and 2010). “It was an honor. I had to hold back tears when they called me to tell me I had won.” Vernita joined the North Sunflower family 17 years ago. She moved to the Delta from Chicago and took a job at the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility. “I had always wanted to go into Nursing. My oldest son is deaf, and that experience taught me a lot about love and a lot about patience,” Vernita said. “They told me when I started as a CNA back in Chicago, ‘you can’t get too close to the patients.’ But you can’t help it,” Vernita told us. “Working so close with them – especially the married couples – you learn a lot about their history, and what they went thru in life. You become part of their family.” Part of what makes Vernita such a fantastic CNA is how much she loves the work. “They make me laugh. They cheer me up. They appreciate the care they get here, and that makes me appreciate caring for them.” Nationwide, there are about 1.4 million certified nursing assistants. We might be biased. But we think the CAN’s that work throughout our North Sunflower Medical Center family is the best.

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