Newsmakers in Health Care

Creative Healthcare Systems Inc.

Creative Healthcare Systems Inc. announced three staff additions.

Emily Field has joined the company as billing software product manager. She will work with the company's clients to ensure timely and accurate patient billing. Previously, Field worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, where she served as operations manager of client services.

James Jarvis has joined Creative Healthcare Systems Inc. as a network engineer. He is responsible for design, installation and support of MedGenix hospital networks. Jarvis completed advanced network technology training at Vatterott College. He recently completed Sun Microsystems courses. He also has worked with Sun Ray Server software.

Jason Sexton joined the company as an Internet systems engineer. He is responsible for design, installation and support of MedGenix Virtual Private Networks, wireless networks, Web deployment of MedGenix software modules and other Internet-based initiatives. Sexton previously worked with broadband Internet-based projects for a commercial Internet service provider.

Freeman Health System

Registered nurse Karen Wells, oncology program director for Freeman Health System in Joplin, gave a presentation in Oslo, Norway, on the Breast Education Awareness, Detection and Screening program. BEADS is focused on raising awareness of the importance of monthly self-breast examination, clinical breast exams and mammography. A main component of the program is a key chain that is made of different-sized beads that represent lumps that may be found in breasts.

Health Underwriters

The National Association of Health Underwriters' Leading Producers Round Table announced that Andrea Croley, MS, RHU, of Croley Insurance & Financial, qualified to receive the association's Eagles Club Award based on her demonstration of professional excellence in the sale of health and disability-income insurance.

Medical Missions

Evangel University announced that 14 students recently participated in a week-long medical missions trip to Honduras with the Honduras Medical Brigade, a cooperative effort between the university and HealthCare Ministries of the Assemblies of God. The group provided medical, dental and optical treatment for 890 patients in the poorest neighborhoods of Tegucigalpa.

Participating students Ryan Bartle, James Clements, Rudy Coscia, Patricia Delgado, Elizabeth Honderick, Jonathan Lazar, Michael Mumert, Vanessa Preston, Erin Pridgeon, Leslie Ramos, Luke Shaw, Jason Stubbs, Carol Sue Tanksley and Summer Vannaman traveled to Honduras, accompanied by trip coordinator and Evangel alumnus Dr. Richard Honderick, associate professor and chair of Evangel's pre-medical advisory committee Dr. Michael Tenneson, director of Evangel's health services Susie Bryan, and a group of local health care professionals.

Missouri Hospital Association

John O. (Pat) Phelps, trustee at McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage, received a 2002 Excellence in Governance Award from the Missouri Hospital Asso-ciation. The awards are given each year to hospital trustees whose service and dedication have demonstrated a true understanding of the health care industry. Phelps has been a member of the McCune-Brooks Hospital's advisory board since 1973.

Nursing Education

The Burge School of Nursing/Cox College Alumni Association honored the recipients of its 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award, which is given to alumni who made significant contributions to the health care field.

Nettie L. Agnew, RN, MS, received the award for distinguished service in administration. Agnew is senior vice president and chief operating officer for North Kansas City Hospital.

Robin S. Vogt, RN, PhD, FNP-C, CCRN, received the award for distinguished public and community service. Vogt is the director of medical services at Royal Oaks Hospital in Windsor. She is serving her second term as president of the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Mary Belle Graham, RN, MS, was honored for distinguished service to the alumni association. She is employed by CoxHealth.