march 2006
Wheeler Receives FAIHQ Distinction
Mar. 27, 2006. Wayne B. Wheeler, MD, JD, CHCQM, FAIHQ, a physician at Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), has achieved status as a Fellow of The American Institute for Healthcare Quality from the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc.
The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP) has evolved to become the nation's largest organization of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. Through its ultimate goal to improve the quality of the nation's health care, ABQAURP is dedicated to providing healthcare education and certification for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Dr. Wheeler is a graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Illinois and earned a Medicinae Doctor (MD) in 1980. In addition he holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Illinois (1974), a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), University of Illinois (1981), a Masters of Public Health in Occupational Medicine from the Medical College of Wisconsin (2003), and a Bachelors of Science Degree (BS), University of Illinois (1966) in mathematics.
Dr. Wheeler completed a mini-residency in Occupational Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, in 1996 and is currently a certified Medical Review Officer by the American Association of Medical Review Officers. He is currently Medical Director of Life Ambulance and Chairman of the Southern Ohio Medical Center Ethics Committee and Institutional Review Board. He is the Medical Director for External Governmental Relations at SOMC.
Cooking With Heart
Mar. 13, 2006. SOMC Home Health, Heart & Vascular and Nutrition Services participated in the recent Taste of Home Cooking Show. Nearly 1,000 women attended the event. The SOMC Heart booth, built to look like a kitchen, featured "show-time" cooking with the help of Jeff Gilmore, director of Nutrition Services; Vicki Gilmore, R.N., 3-North; and Mike Cremeans, nutritional manager, Nutrition Services; and heart healthy cooking tips and give-aways with the help of Cheryl Lytten, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Ginny Pinson, Cardiac Rehabilitation. The SOMC Home Health Services "living room" featured blood pressure screenings, education and give-aways by Donna See, R.N.; Su Hall, Home Health Aide; and Brenda Fucci, R.N. Activity took place in two make-shift rooms designed and built by Jeff Burchett and the SOMC Maintenance Department.
Ashley Earns ONS Congress Scholarship
Mar. 8, 2006. Heather Ashley, Cancer Care Coordinator at the SOMC Cancer Center, has won a scholarship from the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) to support her attending the 31st Annual ONS Congress in May in Boston, MA. The event will be attended by more than 5,000 registered nurses and other healthcare providers dedicated to excellence in patient care and other aspects of oncology nursing.
As the Cancer Care Coordinator, Ashley offers a free, multi-disciplinary coordination service for physicians and their cancer patients to provide seamless care via educational and emotional support through face to face contact with the patient and family after cancer diagnosis.
Ashley helps the patient’s managing physician in addressing patient questions, coordinating patient care issues and concerns to ensure awareness of services provided by SOMC and elsewhere. She also works to increase community awareness of screenings, prevention and related information.
For more information about this service, Ashley can be reached at (740) 356-8027.
Stimpert Named Director
Mar. 1, 2006. Kevin Stimpert has been selected as the Director of Rehabilitation Services at Southern Ohio Medical Center, according to Leeann L. Sammons, vice president of Health and Safety. Stimpert began working at SOMC as a Speech Pathologist in 1980. He served as a manager for the Neuro Pediatrics Program and in 1999 as Program Director for Home Health and Medical Surgical Therapy. In August 2005 he became Interim Director for Rehabilitation Services. In his new role, Stimpert has overall responsibility for the full continuum of Rehabilitation Services including Outpatient Therapy, Home Health Therapy, Skilled Therapy, The Acute Rehab Unit, Medical Surgical Therapy, Audiology, and a variety of Specialty Programs.
SOMC Promotions, Certifications Announced
Mar. 1, 2006. Angie Jordan, CST, Surgical Technician II in the Southern Ohio Medical Center Surgery Department recently obtained her certification in Surgical Technology from the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist. Jordan is a graduate of the Scioto County Joint Vocational School Surgical Technologist program. She was employed part-time at SOMC while attending school and was hired full time in January, 2006.
Beverly Stringer, Public Relations Specialist in Community Relations at SOMC, recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Communications. She received her degree from Ohio University. Stringer has been an employee of SOMC for the past 22 years.
Sharon Rawlins, RN, Cardiac Cath Lab at SOMC, recently received her certification in critical care nursing (CCRN). She received her certification from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Rawlins has been an employee at SOMC for the past 33 years.
Melody Knapp has accepted the position of Revenue Integrity/Compliance Coordinator. In addition to reviewing and assuring appropriate charge capture, she will assist with third party audits of charts and/or bills, formalize and enhance SOMC’s compliance efforts and other revenue/compliance related tasks. Knapp started out in nursing in 1991 at SOMC, has served in various management roles, and recently finished her MBA.
Kathy Moore, RN, CRN, has joined the Monitored Care Unit Management Team as an Assistant Nurse Manager on the day shift. She has been employed as an RN on the Monitored Care Unit since February 1999.
