NSMC News

If you promise someone your heart, maybe make sure it's in good shape before giving it away. That's why North Sunflower Medical Center (NSMC) reminds patients to prioritize their heart health this Valentine's Day. 
 
Valentine's Day, a holiday traditionally associated with love and romance, also falls smack dab in the middle of Heart Month. This time serves as a reminder to prioritize heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 655,000 Americans die yearly from heart disease.
 
The time after a heart attack, heart surgery, or other cardiac events can be challenging. Even though you are well enough to return home after your hospitalization, your doctor will prescribe outpatient cardiac rehabilitation as an essential part of your recovery.

NSMC Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

The NSMC cardiac rehabilitation program is a comprehensive program designed to help patients recover from heart disease and improve their heart health. NSMC's Cardiac Rehab is certified through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. It's a partnership between NSMC cardiologists and the Beacon Wellness Center. 
 
Cardiac rehabilitation is a monitored exercise and education program that helps you regain your strength, reduce cardiac disease risk factors, help decrease anxiety/depression associated with the cardiac event, and prevent future cardiac events. If you've just experienced a cardiac event, there's no better way to start your journey to recovery and wellness than The Cardiac Rehab at North Sunflower Medical Center.
 
We talked with Brad Cooper, Director of the Beacon Wellness Center. "We have two exercise physiologists that run our sessions and a respiratory therapist that assists. They monitor the patients as they exercise," Brad told us. "We have three classes per day and have people come two or three days a week – depending on the patients."
 
Patients are referred to the program by their primary physician or cardiologist. They then work with a team of healthcare professionals to develop a personalized treatment plan based on their individual needs and goals. The program also includes nutritional counseling, stress management, and other resources to help patients make healthy lifestyle choices.

Heart Health

"Any cardiac event can be life-changing. If something happens to your heart, you don't want it to happen again," Brad told us. "Patients develop comradery and have less fear since our people monitor them to ensure nothing goes wrong. And if it does, they are at the hospital, and we can take care of them. They come out way better than before their event with less anxiety and a better hold on life."
 
By providing comprehensive support and resources, the program is helping patients recover from heart disease and improve their overall health and well-being.
 
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to remind that special someone in your life to prioritize their heart health and improve their overall health and well-being. By participating in the Cardiac Rehab Program, patients receive the support and resources they need to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. That can reduce their risk of developing heart disease so they can be around for many more Valentine's days.

A Night for Beauty and Botox

Sunflower Med Spa and Balance Fitness in Cleveland, owned by Lauren Caston and Georgia Tindall, are coming together for a night of Beauty and Botox. This spring event is Thursday, March 23, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm and will be held at Balance Fitness. "

We are excited to host this event. Come see our beautiful studio and meet Dr. Erica Bass. We want everyone to enjoy a night of Beauty and Botox," said Caston.

More information on the event will soon be provided on North Sunflower Medical Center's website and through text messaging. North Sunflower Medical Center and Balance Fitness will also use their social media platforms to begin promoting this event on and around March 1. 

Alice Pyles, Director of Sunflower Diagnostic Center, said, "We are so excited to collaborate with our first ever Beauty and Botox with the Balance Fitness Studio. We are looking forward to everyone meeting Dr. Erica Bass. And we hope to have several other events in the future!!"

The Beacon Wellness center has hosted the Biggest Loser Challenge for the past few years. If you've seen the TV show, this is just like that, except it is for Beacon Wellness Center members and employees of  North Sunflower Medical Center.
 
Simply put, the goal is to see who can lose the most weight and get healthy in the new year.
 
We talked with Brent Langston, Assistant Manager of the Beacon Wellness Center and Lead Cardiac Therapist, who oversees the contest. "We generally have it at the beginning of the year. It seems like everybody's New Year's resolution is to get healthy, lose weight, and just have a healthier lifestyle," Brent told us. "We are trying to rewrite the long-term habits people have created over the course of their life."

Avoiding "Quitters Day"

According to a CBSNews poll, twenty-six percent of Americans make their New Year's resolution about losing weight or improving their fitness. Unfortunately, January 19th has been called “Quitters Day,” as statistics show most people abandon their healthy resolutions.
 
That is where the Biggest Loser Challenge comes in.  “Some folks are super competitive, and that gives them the incentives they need to stick with a program,” Brent said. Exercise increases endorphins, and endorphins make people happy.
 
It all starts with the first weigh-in at the end of January.  Potential Winning Losers come to the Beacon Wellness Center to get weighed, take their waist-to-hip measurements, and measure their Body Mass Index and fat percentage.  Over the next four months, there are monthly weigh-ins.  Then there are four weigh-ins over the next four months. Brent added, “We have prizes for each weigh-in just to keep people motivated to stick with the program.”

Beacon Wellness Center

Almost everyone in and around Ruleville knows Beacon Wellness Center is one of the many jewels of North Sunflower Medical Center. Opened in 2011, the 33,000-square-foot facility houses the surgical wing, administration, sleep center, and state-of-the-art workout facility. The wellness center also has personal trainers who are on hand to help the Losers chive their goals.
 
The program can be life-changing for some. But even those who stay with it for a little while still see healthy benefits. “We have people who have turned their life around and are regular gym members. I see people who are faithful and come every day for the whole year.  Some will do the contest, and they won’t darken the door until next year.  But we're happy to have everyone.” After all, Brent told us, “Exercise increases endorphins, and endorphins make happy people.”
 
If you think you have what it takes to become the winning biggest loser, call Brent at the Beacon Wellness Center for details at (662) 746-1800.

Twenty-one years ago, Ora Nellum stopped by North Sunflower Medical Center to apply for a job.

“They called me right back and hired me the same day. When I met everyone, they were all nice, like a family. I knew it was the place for me,” Ora tells us.

Since then, Ora has become a respected and longstanding hospital fixture. The mother of four was named Non-Clinical Employee of the Year for 2022.

“I was shocked. I never expected it. They wanted to keep it a secret from me. I was so happy,” says Ora, the Ward Clerk for Acute Care.

Lindsey Flowers had a similar experience about ten years ago when she considered leaving her home health job. She planned to drop off her resume at North Sunflower. Instead, she spent two hours meeting the hospital team—and left with a job.

“They made me feel right at home from that very first day. I’ve had other opportunities, but I enjoy who I work with. I’ve made lifelong friends at North Sunflower Medical Center. I absolutely love it here,” Lindsey says.

Lindsey, the 2022 Clinical Employee of the Year, was also shocked by the announcement.

“I was very, very surprised. I had to pick my mouth up off the table,” says Lindsey, the RN discharge coordinator.

NSMC Employee of the Year Awards for 2022

Both Ora and Lindsey stress that while they appreciate the honors, they consider themselves part of a team united in caring for the community.

The award may have been a surprise to them, but to most everyone here at North Sunflower, honoring the two was a privilege for us. Ora and Lindsey’s dedication is inspiring.

Ora has two sets of twins and a new grandchild born just this month. As a ward clerk, Ora ensures everyone has the supplies they need, and she is a friendly voice for people calling the hospital.

“I like the fast pace here. I get to know the patients. I work with a lot of young people,” Ora says. “I tell everybody this is a good place to work. Everyone here is easy to get along with. This is just a nice place.”

Lindsey remembers the day she decided to become a registered nurse.

“My grandmother got sick and was rushed to the hospital. Seeing the hospital nursing atmosphere, that’s the day I knew where I wanted to be,” Lindsey tells us. “When I look back now, there was no other career for me.”

As discharge director, Lindsey hears feedback from our patients. She says she gets compliments daily about all the staff at the hospital, including the floor employees, doctors, nurses, and dieticians.

“Patients say, ‘it’s just top-notch here.’ I thank them for that because we truly love what we do. It’s a family here and team-oriented,” Lindsey says.

Lindsey tells us that her children, ages 8 and 3, were excited about the goodie bag that came with her award.

Ora says the plaque will have a special place in her home.

“I’m not going to take a chance of ever losing it,” Ora says.

The past couple of years has transformed the North Sunflower tradition of Christmas parties.  In the past, we had huge Christmas parties that brought the entire family together for one big celebration. 

COVID halted that as we opted for gift cards for every member of the NSMC family. This year, by a vote of the vast majority, employees are hosting their own smaller, more intimate Christmas parties for each department.

One thing that hasn't changed is the spirit of giving that Ruleville is known for this time of year.

The North Sunflower Medical Foundation gives gift cards to every employee who donates to the Foundation. The focus of the North Sunflower Medical Foundation is to provide resources for North Sunflower Medical Center for equipment, educational grants, programs, and services that otherwise would not be possible. Cards can be redeemed at local, Ruleville businesses like Simply Sunflower and other locally owned businesses.

These gift cards also make nice stocking stuffers for friends and co-workers and are an easy way to make giving to the Foundation a gift for the entire Ruleville community.

Another tradition that is not going away, North Sunflower Medical Foundation will also provide gifts to patients in the hospital during the Christmas holidays. We started this tradition many years ago. No one wants to be in the hospital during the holiday season, but this small gesture helps put a smile on our patients' faces.

And if you think you get busier over the Holidays, imagine what a crazy time of year this is for Santa Claus. 

That is why we feel so special that Jolly Ole St Nick made time to come through town to take a ride on the Firetruck for the Ruleville Chamber of Commerce Ride Around last Saturday. Kris Kringle was in town doing final checks on who had been naughty and nice before heading back to the North Pole to get ready for his trip around the world on Christmas Eve.

And coming up next month …

The very popular Heart Healthy Program is expanding to all year long for 2023 starting in January.  Because heart problems can occur at any age - from infancy to adulthood – North Sunflower Medical Center is committed to helping you take care of your heart with a heart-healthy screening. 

The Heart Healthy Screening can detect your risk for heart disease or stroke. Also, we will perform a high blood pressure evaluation and a calcium score test.  

An order from your primary care physician is required for the Heart Healthy screening, so tell everyone you know to call and ask for a referral today! We also have physicians from Jackson Heart at NSMC each week should you need to see a Cardiologist.

We don't miss a beat at North Sunflower Medical Center - your heart is in good hands! So, when you need a check-up, follow your heart to North Sunflower Medical Center. We would love to take care of you!

The end of the year means it's time to vote for who becomes the Healthcare Hero of the Year. 

Everyone who comes in contact with our happy hospital here in Ruleville becomes part of the North Sunflower family in one way or another.  And, like in every family, each person plays a vital role in making us who we are. 

Once a month, we select two people who exemplify this spirit and name them Healthcare Hero of the month – one who works in a clinical role and one who works in a non-clinical position.

Kind of like picking your favorite child; it is a difficult choice every month. This year, another 22 exceptional people were selected from over 500 truly remarkable family members (11 clinical and 11 non-clinical).

In 2021, our clinical Healthcare Hero of the year was Sharon Davis. We talked with both Sharon last week now that their reign as Healthcare Hero is coming to an end.

Sharon said she was proud to be honored, but she was ready for the honor to go to someone else. "Being Healthcare Hero of the Year Made me feel very appreciated.  It made me feel like my work was noticed.  But I want everybody to have a chance to feel like that."

Sharon told us the secret to being Healthcare Hero of the year is in two words: Patience and Patients.

"You have to have a lot of patience to do this job, or this is not the place for you.  We are here to take care of our patients, whatever their needs.  This is their home, and we are here to care for them.

Ballots will be emailed to all employees with email addresses. You can get a paper ballot through your department if you don't have an email address.  All ballots must be turned in by the 16th of December.

Earlier this month, Sunflower Diagnostic Center teamed up with the Delta Cotton Belles and Delta State University to do a free breast screening as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sunflower Rural Clinic’s Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Hanna Farmer, teamed up with the Belles to host a breast screening at Delta State University.
 
According to Terri Burrell, they screened 18 women during the event, “It was a big day. They kept Hannah busy.” The event was part of the Delta Cotton Belles Pink Checkup program – which provides clinical breast exams at no cost to the patient.
 
“Breast cancer is among the leading causes of death among women,” Terri told us. “Especially in the Delta. It is mind-blowing if you look at the statistics.”  In 2007 Beth McKnight was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, and it was during the time following her diagnosis that she was made aware of the high incidence of later-staged breast cancer in the Delta and the complete lack of resources available.

Beth recognized the need and immediately reacted with a vision that would come to fruition as Delta Cotton Belles. She initially secured a grant from Delta Health Alliance and, with the help of a small group of friends, began providing education, breast health awareness, and mammograms under the umbrella of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Two years later, Delta Cotton Belles was recognized as an independent non-profit organization so that all of the funding could remain in the Delta to serve those whose needs were the greatest.
 
In addition to the Pink Checkups, The Belles also have a “Wrapped in Pink” program that provides services to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer; those services include emotional support, a Beth’s Blessing Bag for newly diagnosed women, transportation assistance, mastectomy supplies, wigs, and professional counseling. “The bag, which is named in honor of our founder, contains many comfort items suggested by our “Thrivers”…who know the needs based on their own experiences. In addition to love and prayers, each bag includes a pink pashmina, an insulated DCB tumbler, a daily devotional book, a hot & cold neck wrap, soothing lotion, and even note cards handmade by a DCB “Thriver.”
 
The Pink Promise program provides free mammograms for working women who are uninsured or underinsured. “Many insurance companies will not cover a mammogram for women under 40. We fill the gap,” Terri told us.

The Belles also host a monthly “Thrivers” group.
 
The word ‘thriver’ is also kind of important to the Belles. “They don‘t like to be called ‘survivors,’” Terri told us. “We want them to come through the experience stronger than ever. So, they are not just surviving their bout with breast cancer. They are thriving.”
 
If you need breast cancer resources or know someone who is, please email Terri at Deltacottonbelles@gmail.com.
 
The Belles have a database of over 600 women diagnosed with breast cancer that they have assisted – and are continuing to help. Terri tells us, “Once you are a Delta Cotton Belle, you are always a Belle. It is a never-ending need.”

North Sunflower Medical Center Pink Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness

Later this month, on October 27th, North Sunflower Medical Center is hosting a Pink Walk in Ruleville with a Pink Balloon Release for breast cancer awareness. If you would like more information, contact Alice Pyles at Alice.Pyles@northsunflower.com.
 
And if you need a mammogram or know someone who does, contact the Sunflower Diagnostic Center by calling (662)756-2100.

Dr. Erica Bass went through four years of college, four years of medical school, five years of surgical training, and three years of specialized training in surgery before she began her six years in practice as one of the best cosmetic surgeons in Mississippi.
 
But that is just part of her lifelong training growing up in a medical family that makes Dr. Bass one of the most qualified surgeons currently working in the Delta across any field. "Growing up, my dad was a cardiologist, so I knew I wanted to be a physician. I liked fixing things with my hands, and that made me want to be a surgeon," Dr. Bass told us.
 
Dr. Bass is the daughter of cardiologist Dr. Gene Hutcheson. "Dr. Hutch", as most people around North Sunflower Medical Center call him, was part of an innovative program to bring highly qualified specialists to Ruleville a few days a month to provide top-quality specialized care closer to home. He was featured as part of CNN's online magazine's profile of our hospital back in 2017.

The program was so successful that Dr. Bass decided to follow in her father's footsteps a little further. "Through him, I came up to North Sunflower, met the people, and loved them."
 
Dr. Bass works monthly at the Sunflower Med Spa in Ruleville, providing a wide range of cosmetic surgical services, including Botox, Juvederm, hydrafacials, and others.
 
"More than anything, it's having her expertise available to us right here in Ruleville," said Alice Pyles, director of Sunflower Med Spa here at NSMC. "In the Delta, we don't have a plastic surgeon. So having her come once a month is a huge plus. She has done complex excision with reconstruction on cancerous lesions here at NSMC, which saves a trip to Jackson. This is a big help for our patients."

"Plastic surgery appeals to the problem-solving part of my brain," Dr. Bass said. "Using those principles and knowledge of anatomy allows me to find a solution."
 
"She's very sweet and very nice, "Alice told us. "She is a very caring surgeon. She listens to her patients very well and provides them with some options. She is very good at finding out from her patients what they are looking for and providing with the best options."
 
"People want to feel good about themselves as they age," Dr. Bass said. "When you feel like you are the best version of yourself, it gives you more opportunities because you feel good in your own skin."
 
If you want to meet with Dr. Bass, contact the Sunflower Med Spa at (662) 756-4000 to make an appointment.