Health care news in brief

ADA recognition

CoxHealth Diabetes Center was awarded a three-year extension of its American Diabetes Association Education Recognition certificate.

Programs that apply for recognition voluntarily submit to a rigorous review process by experts in the diabetes field who evaluate each program on its ability to provide patients with a comprehensive, individualized education program.

According to a CoxHealth news release, programs that achieve recognition status have knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management.

Statistics from the American Diabetes Association indicate that 17 million people in the United States have diabetes, and approximately 5.9 million people are not aware that they have the disease. Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States and there is not yet a cure.

CoxHealth Diabetes center offers a continuous glucose monitoring system to patients, a new technology that helps physicians evaluate issues including high or low blood sugar and changes in medication or insulin.

CMH board member retires after 17 years

Lillian Hutcheson retired in late 2003 from the Citizens Memorial Healthcare Foundation and as the CMH director of volunteers due to health concerns. She served on the foundation's board of directors since its inception in 1986. She also was responsible for organizing the CMH Auxiliary prior to the hospital's opening in 1982.

"Lillian has contributed so much to this organization, including her work on the foundation board of directors and with the auxiliary. We'll miss her and all of the enthusiasm, dedication and hard work that she's given to this organization," said Donald J. Babb, Citizens Memorial Healthcare CEO and executive director, in a news release.

Missouri Eye Institute adds staff member

Margaret Surgener joined Missouri Eye Institute as a certified ophthalmic assistant. She is responsible for the diagnostic pre-testing of patients. She has eight years of experience. Prior to joining Missouri Eye Institute, Surgener spent four years assisting in surgery in a Florida center.

Medical Consulting Group adds principals

James A. Brocato and Robert E. McCarville, MPA, were named principals with Medical Consulting Group. Medical Consulting Group is a national medical consulting firm, both at the surgical practice and corporate levels. Brocato is a 21-year veteran in the ophthalmic industry, with experience in practice operations, business development and managed care. He has been with MCG since 2001.

McCarville has an extensive portfolio in health care facility management, administration and strategy. He has been a pivotal figure in the planning and development of several ambulatory surgical centers and in establishing strategic business initiatives and operational improvement plans. He has been a consultant with MCG for two years.

MHA honors legislators

Sen. Norma Champion and Rep. Roy Holand, both of Springfield, were among legislators honored in late 2003 by the Missouri Hospital Association with Health Policy Leadership Awards in recognition of their roles in shaping health policy in the Missouri General Assembly. Champion was recognized for creating state legislation that increased federal funding for Missouri's trauma centers. Champion sponsored an amendment in the Senate Appropriations Committee to expand the Medicaid budget to provide an additional $30 million in federal funds for the state's trauma centers. The measure was signed into law by Gov. Bob Holden.

Holand, who is a medical doctor and an orthopedic surgeon for CoxHealth, was appointed chair of the House Health Care Policy Committee in 2003. Marc D. Smith, Missouri Hospital Association president, said that Holand "used his medical and legislative expertise to craft sound health policy."

CARE Mobile expands service area to Lebanon

The CoxHealth Children Are Really Excellent or CARE Mobile, sponsored by Children's Miracle Network, is now visiting the Laclede County Health Department 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Lebanon. The CARE Mobile is a children's clinic on wheels. It offers basic health services for children from birth to age 18.

More than 15,000 children in the Springfield, Branson and Monett areas receive treatment each year, including immunizations, checkups, sports physicals, treatment of common childhood illnesses and other primary care services.

There is no charge for visiting the CARE Mobile because of community support, which makes the services available.

Skaggs staff changes

Dr. Shadi Badrieh joined the medical staff of Skaggs Community Health Center, specializing in internal medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Damascus in Syria and completed a six-month internal medicine and surgical internship at Hisham Sinan Medical Center in Damascus. Badrieh also completed an externship in cardiology at Northeastern Ohio University's College of Medicine, at Northside Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.

He completed his internal medicine specialty at Northeastern Ohio University's College of Medicine at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Badrieh specializes in treating patients with chronic health conditions including hypertension. He practices at Skaggs Family Health Clinic.

Dr. Hasson Alissa, a rheumatologist, relocated his practice to Skaggs' Tri Lakes Internal Medicine from Bee Creek Medical Center. Alissa specializes in the treatment of diseases that are characterized by inflammation and pain in the joints and muscles, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

He completed numerous years of research, study and training at Damascus University School of Medicine in Syria, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, University of Chicago Hospitals, Loyola University Medical Centers in Chicago and Hines Hospital, department of veteran affairs in Maywood, Ill. He is certified by the American boards of internal medicine and rheumatology.

Dr. John Huffman established a new practice, Skaggs Orthopedic Services, on the campus of Skaggs Community Health Center.

He previously practiced with White River Orthopedics. Huffman earned his medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his post-graduate training at Humana Hospital of South Broward in Hollywood, Fla., and Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to relocating to Branson five years ago, Huffman retired from the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He is board certified in orthopedics.

Nurse earns ANCC certification

Pam Drake, RN, BC-ADM, MEd, CDE, earned board certification as an advanced diabetes management clinical specialist from the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Certification, in conjunction with the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The certification is valid for five years. Drake has been with CoxHealth for 28 years, and she has been a certified diabetes educator since 1995.

Her new certification focuses on advanced management of clinical diabetes problems rather than diabetes education, and it distinguishes between the skills of the diabetes clinical manager and the diabetes educator.

The certification exam focuses on diabetes clinical management for patients of ages and addresses individuals, families, support systems, groups and communities.

Surgeons group elects officers for 2004

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the American College of Surgeons installed its 2004 officers at a recent meeting at Twin Hills Country Club in Joplin. The new officers are:

Dr. Alan Buchele, president; Dr. John Bumberry, president-elect; Dr. J. Randolph Mullins, secretary-treasurer; Dr. J. Charles Mace, junior councilor; Drs. Dan Cardwell, Kenneth Neu and Kenneth Larson, councilors; Dr. Michael S. Clarke, governor; and Dr. Thomas Pearson, immediate past president.