Newsmakers in Health Care

Fitch also serves on the advisory board of the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging and the American Telemedicine Association.

Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar received a $467,111 federal grant to update the hospital’s electronic medical records system.

The two-year grant, given by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also will help create a national model program to track and measure quality health standards.

Dr. W. Wayne Wolf III, a general surgeon with Citizens Memorial Healthcare, passed his board certification exams. Wolf received his doctor of osteopathy degree from the University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, and he completed his general surgery residency at the Medical Center of Independence. Wolf has worked with CMH for one year.

Bernie Dana, assistant professor of business at Evangel University, will speak at two national health care events this fall.

He is slated to deliver a presentation Oct. 8 at the American Healthcare Association’s national convention in Boston, and Dr. Doug Olson of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will present a seminar titled “The Leadership Edge” based on a published paper that the two co-authored for the American College of Health Care Administrators. Dana also will be the keynote speaker for the Oregon Health Care Association’s quality summit Nov. 2 in Clackamus, Ore. Dana will present a three-hour seminar on effective leadership.

Dana spent 28 years as an executive and consultant in long-term care before joining Evangel in 2001. He has conducted research and written several articles and a book on issues in long-term care.

Six southwest Missouri organizations have received a share of $980,107 in grants awarded by Missouri Foundation for Health in order to provide improved health care opportunities. The funding comes through two MFH programs: Smiles Across Greater Missouri and Basic Support. Bolivar-based entities Barceda Families and First Serve Opportunities, along with Springfield-based The Child Advocacy Center Inc. each received $100,000 grants for general operational funding. Joplin-based Community Support Services of Missouri received $200,000, and Springfield-based Insight Ministries-Outreach in the Ozarks received $5,832. Smiles Across Greater Missouri awarded $374,275 to Advocates for a Healthy Community Inc. to provide a school-linked dental sealant program and oral health education for students and parents.

CoxHealth’s information technology department received a 2007 GE Innovator Award for the use of specialized Web-based software in the development of its online Patient Express service portal. CoxHealth was one of four national recipients of the award and the only health care system in this year’s class of honorees. Patient Express is a secure Web site that allows patients to schedule clinical appointments online.

Michelle Jenkins, a licensed practical nurse at Citizens Memorial Healthcare’s long-term care facility, won first place in the annual Missouri Healthcare Association essay contest. Jenkins’ essay, “Why I Choose to Work in a Long-term Care Facility,” was read aloud at the 59th Annual Missouri Healthcare Association Convention in St. Charles. She has worked at CMH’s long-term care facility for nearly eight years.

St. John’s added three physicians. Dr. Rana O. Mauldin joined St. John’s Clinic-Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Maudlin received her medical education from Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tenn. She completed a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency with the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals in Milwaukee. Maudlin is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Dr. Troy Caron joined St. John’s Clinic-Orthopedic Specialists. Caron received his medical education from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine. He completed an orthopedic surgery residency with the St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Following his residency, Caron completed a trauma fellowship with the Florida Orthopedic Institute and a spine fellowship with the University of Washington/ Harborview Medical Center.

Dr. Marcus A. Henderson joined St. John’s General and Specialty Surgery. Henderson received his medical education from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and the University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a residency with Ochsner Clinic Medical Foundation.

Dr. Joseph Carmichael joined the general surgery group at Ferrell-Duncan Clinic. He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri and completed a residency at the University of California-Irvine. He also completed a fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Carmichael is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of colon and rectal surgery.