St. John’s Hospital – Lebanon Community Network Breakfast will take place at 8:30a.m. March 4, 2009 in the hospital’s main conference rooms. The topic is “Update and Opinion on the Economic Downturn and Its Affects on FLW and Surrounding Communities.” The breakfast will feature three guest speakers. Benjamin Y. Jones, president/CEO of America’s Heartland Economic Partnership, Debbie Wikowsky executive director Lebanon area Chamber of Commerce and Colonel John J. Megnia, director of strategic sustainment and support for the Army Materiel Command. Guests will be able to discuss questions and concerns they have regarding the economy. Prior to his career with AHEP, Jones spent nine years practicing economic development in his hometown of Montgomery City, Missouri. He also has seven years experience in manufacturing. He was chosen by the Missouri Economic Development Council in 2000 as Professional of the Year and in June of 2008 assumed the role of president where he has helped to direct economic development for the state of Missouri. Wikowsky initially joined the Chamber in July 2002 as an administrative assistant and in 2005 became the executive director. She serves on the board of the Lebanon Kiwanis Club and Laclede Industries and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church. Colonel Megnia enlisted in the army in 1977 and began his military career as a section leader and crew chief for OH-58 Scout Helicopters. He has served as Secretary of Defense and was the Deputy Chief of the Joint Military Commission during the division’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. He is a specialist in the area of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and has attended the Naval Senior Service College in Newport, RI. ### FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ST.JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS Sandy Trumbo at 417-533-6098 or Angela Garrison, 417-820-2171.

Low-cost health risk assessments are available to the public from 6 to 10a.m., Wednesday, March 4 at St. John’s Wellness Services building, 874 S. Jefferson. For only $25, participants receive a complete assessment including a total cholesterol panel to check triglycerides, LDL and HDL; blood glucose, blood pressure, weight and body composition. Men may receive a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer for an additional $25. Additional health and wellness information is available. Fasting is required.

The Wellness Fair will also focus on other aspects of total wellness and health care. In addition to the screenings, St. John’s Fitness Center will have information available about the seniors exercise program, Silver Sneakers. Additionally, St. John’s Social Services Director, Danielle Boggs will be available to discuss and give out information regarding “Look Good, Feel Better,” a program designed to assist women who have recently been diagnosed with or are survivors of cancer. Boggs will also be available to do depression screenings and provide counseling information.

St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon Community Wellness Nurse, Rochelle Spieler reminds people who want the blood work portion of the screenings to fast (except water or black coffee or tea) for 10-12 hours prior to testing and to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages three days prior. “Test results will be more accurate if people will follow those guidelines,” Spieler says. “If they have questions about the screenings or want more information about the fair, please call.”

For more information, call 533-6098.

Fulfilling a commitment to local health care and local students, the St. John’s – Lebanon Heritage Foundation has announced that it will once again award scholarships this year to area students pursuing a career in health care through the Heritage in Health Scholarship fund.

“When the foundation was formed we committed to doing our part to support area students desiring a career in the medical profession,” Heritage Foundation Board Chairman Ken Howe said in a news release. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen some incredibly talented students. We are so proud to put our words into action with another round of awards in 2009 to our local students. Donors have been more than gracious to support the Foundation and because of their generosity, local students will not only receive an outstanding education in a field of study that is greatly needed; but they’ll be able to return home and work in their chosen profession. This is a great opportunity for the Heritage Foundation to give back to the community and the student to give back as well.”

The scholarship fund’s goal is dual-purpose, said Howe, to help those interested in medical careers that may need financial assistance, and to attract and retain qualified health-care professionals in the Lebanon-Laclede County area.

“The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students pursuing a medical career and ensure the medical needs are met in Laclede County,” Howe said. “Students who receive scholarships will return to work in Laclede County to the areas with the greatest need for a period of time that is based upon the funding provided.”

Scholarships may be used for courses to further education in medical fields such as physician, nursing, therapy, respiratory therapy and other fields as approved by the scholarship committee based on anticipated needs of the future. Scholarship amounts may include partial or full payment of academic programming, including tuition, student fees, books and other relevant costs at the discretion of the selection committee.

Potential recipients must be residents of Laclede, Dallas, Webster, Texas or Pulaski counties, and currently enrolled in a duly licensed or credentialed education facility. Scholarships will be awarded upon the basis of academic background, probability of graduation, maturity, financial status, the availability of resources and the needs of St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon.

The amount of the scholarships will vary with each recipient, based on the number of applicants, the amount of funding available and the applicant’s chosen medical field. A majority vote from the Heritage Foundation Board members, after recommendations from a scholarship committee, will determine the recipients.

Applications are available on line at www.stjohnslebanon.com or at the foundation’s office, located in St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon, 100 Hospital Drive. Applications, along with two letters of recommendations, will be accepted each spring.
For more information about the scholarship fund, contact the foundation office at 533-6009.

For more information, visit www.stjohnslebanon.com.

St. John’s – Lebanon Heritage Foundation will present a series of informative luncheons for the general public at St. John’s Hospital – Lebanon, 100 Hospital Drive. Cost is $5 and includes a healthy lunch. Seating is limited, so call 417-533-6009 or e-mail lori.walters@mercy.net to make reservations. All programs begin at noon and take place in the first floor conference rooms.

Wednesday, Feb.18, 2009
Get a behind-the-scenes look at St. John’s Hospital – Lebanon, the Sisters of Mercy, and St. John’s Health System. Panelists include: Sister Cabrini Koelsch, Dr. Danelle Richards, ER Medical Director; and Judy O’Connor-Snyder, hospital vice president.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Learn more about St. John’s Lebanon – Curry Cancer Center. Panelists include: DD Irish, Nursing Director; Danielle Boggs, Director of Social Services; and Dr. Gary Hoos, oncologist.

Monday, April 6, 2009
Learn how to eat healthy, cook healthy, fitness for health and watch a cooking demonstration by St. John’s Women’s Heart Center. Panelists include: Shannon Smith, St. John’s Women’s Heart Center dietitian; Dr. Weldon James, family medicine physician; Holly Goforth, Fitness Center Director; Patricia Vaughn-Staiger, Fitness Center Assistant; and Tim Cole, Lead Fitness Instructor.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
St. John’s Hospital – Lebanon offers a wide variety of specialty services so area residents do not have to travel to receive their care. Panelists include: Lynda Luria and Judy O’Connor-Snyder, hospital vice presidents.

Monday, June 1, 2009
What’s Up Doc? Hear the latest from top St. John’s physicians and ask the questions you’ve always been afraid to ask. Panelists include: Dr. Sean Larimore, hospitalist; Dr. Sam Assafeen, internal medicine physician; Dr. John Hopkins, pediatrician; Dr. Dennis Hite, family medicine physician; Dr. Danelle Richards, ER Medical Director and Dr. Jim Jordan, occupational medicine.

Additional panelists will be added. Please call the Foundation office for additional information.

For more information, visit www.stjohnslebanon.com.

###
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION, CONTACT ST. JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS AT 417-820-2426 OR CORA.SCOTT@MERCY.NET.

ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL– LEBANON HOSTS LADIES NIGHT OUT
ANNUAL EVENT OFFERS FOOD, FUN AND MORE

St. John’s Hospital – Lebanon and will host the second annual Ladies Night Out health and wellness event 4-7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Kenneth E. Cowan Civic Center, Lebanon. The free event is open the public will feature more than 50 displays and demonstrations from the hospital, local organizations and area businesses. Women may also participate in reduced-price screenings, free cardio dance lessons and cooking demonstrations. There will be more than 50 door prizes and a grand prize drawing at the end of the evening. Last year, more than 900 women attended the event.

Schedule of activities include the following presentations in Conference Room B:

4 pm − Heart Disease in Women
Lakshmi Parvatheneni, MD – St. John’s Women’s Heart Center

Dr. Parvathaneni is the region’s first and only female cardiologist. Join her to learn the latest in preventing and treatment heart disease in women. Dr. Parvathaneni is also spearheading local efforts in a nation-wide research study on the topic.

4:15 pm − Total Hearing Health
Shari Norval, Au.D., CCC-A − St. John’s Audiologist

5 pm − The One Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Health
Jenny Powell, MD – St. John’s Clinic – Lebanon Family Medicine

6 pm − Surgical Weight Loss~Options for Life
Robert Cavagnol, MD − St. John’s Clinic – Lebanon Specialty Surgeon

Other activities:

4- 7 p.m. – Free cooking demonstrations and taste-testing
St. John’s Women’s Heart Center dietitian Adrian Hartley in Conference Rooms.

5 p.m.- Silver Sneakers seniors fitness program
St. John’s Lebanon Fitness Center in Conference Rooms.

6 p.m. – Cardio Latin dance lessons
St. John’s Lebanon Fitness Center in Conference Rooms.

Free blood pressure checks
St. John’s-Lebanon Cardiac Rehabilitation Department

Reduce-price ($11) flu shots
St. John’s-Lebanon Infection Control Department

Free blood glucose testing and diabetes education
St. Johns-Lebanon Diabetic/Foot Clinic.

Free bra-fittings and breast-feeding education
St. John’s-Lebanon Women’s Services in conference rooms.

Online banking, saving for college and personal finance information throughout the evening
Provided by Heritage Bank of the Ozarks, Lebanon

Investment tips for today’s market
Provided by Wachovia Securities, Lebanon

Voter registration
Provided by Laclede County Clerk Glenda Mott

Free Starbucks coffee and tea samples

No reservations are needed to attend, but women are encouraged to go online to learn more about this fun-filled evening at www.stjohnslebanon.com.

For more information about the event, call 417-533-6098.

###

FOR MEDIA INFORMATION, CONTACT ST. JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS AT 417-533-6098, SANDY.TRUMBO@MERCY.NET OR 417-820-2426, CORA.SCOTT@MERCY.NET.

St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon Emergency Department recently ranked 75% percentile in patient satisfaction. “This means that our Emergency Department provides overall patient satisfaction better than 75% of facilities within our ranking database, there are 1532 healthcare facilities in that database,” says Teresa Esparza, Patient Advocate for St. John’s Lebanon. “We’ve come such a long way in improving our satisfaction scores. When we began to focus on patient satisfaction within the Emergency Department back in 2004, we were at 8% satisfaction and now we’re at 75%.” Esparza continued, “we wanted to do something special for our Emergency Department and all of the supporting departments who interact with them. “ Says Esparza. “The dietary department of St. John’s Lebanon created a special “doughnut cake” which was chocolate glazed doughnuts with rich butter cream and sprinkles and brightly colored streamers, not only in celebration of 75 years of healthcare in Lebanon but also for achieving the 75th percentile in patient satisfaction,” says Karen Simpson, VP, St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon. The St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon administrative team presented a certificate of recognition for their incredible achievement.

What is Press Ganey?

Press Ganey uses patient discharge information to select a sample of recipients who receive mailed satisfaction surveys. Press Ganey’s core surveys were first designed by focus groups of industry experts who developed lists of topics important to various aspects of healthcare, which were then tested and refined in test surveys. Press Ganey currently offers 35 surveys designed for various health care contexts, including general inpatient, pediatrics, emergency department, outpatient medical practice, ambulatory care, long term care and home health care. The majority of surveys use a five-point scale of responses ranging from “very poor” being a 1 to “very good” being a 5.

For more information on Press Ganey, visit www.pressganey.com

Cutline:
Pictured from left to right: All Emergency Department co-workers at SJH-L:
Mari Dinwiddle, Emergency Room Tech, SJH-L
Lora Little, RN, Emergency Department, SJH-L
Brian Schnitzer, RN, Emergency Department, SJH-L
Carole, Kessler, RN, Emergency Department, SJH-L
Dr. Lange, Emergency Room Physician, SJH-L
Mickey Stout, Emergency Room Director, SJH-L

The St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary gives something special to all new bundles of joy born at St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon. “Our volunteers hand made baby bonnets to give to newborns and what is unique about them is they are a bonnet today and with a gentle snip and tug of a string, they become a hankie. That way whether it’s a boy or girl, when they grow up, they can use the hankie later, maybe as a wedding token for the bride who needs “something old” or as a kerchief for her future husband to present to her.” Says Auxiliary Coordinator, Shantelle Posten. “The smile this little token gives new parents, is heartwarming. We’re so glad we can do this for our patients.” Concludes Posten.

Along with each bonnet a special letter is given:

The Magic Hanky

I am just a little hankie, as square as
Can be; but with a stitch or two,
They’ve made a bonnet out of me.
I’ll be worn home from the hospital,
And on special days and then I’ll be
Carefully pressed and neatly packed
Away.

Then on the wedding, I have been
Told, every well-dressed Bride must
Have something old.
So what would be more fitting than to
Find little ol’ me, a few stitches
Snipped and a Wedding handkerchief
I Will Be!
And if per chance, it is a boy, someday
He still will wed. So to his Bride he
Can present the “Magic Handkerchief”
Once worn upon his head

Mother: Shaleeta Nichols, Volunteers (left to right) donating the bonnet: Kathie Wehner, Bob Wehner and Kathy Moore

“Exercise is important regardless of age, but for survivors of cardiac events, it’s essential for recovery and returning to normal activities,” says Debbie Hilton, RN for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon. “There are other benefits of exercise for cardiac patients; from overall health empowerment to weight maintenance to strengthening of heart function. We encourage any senior over the age of 60 to come learn about the benefits of exercise on January 13 at 10:30a.m. at the Hughes Senior Center.” says Hilton.

For more information, please call Lorie Jones at 588-3271.

Curtis Mather, DO, was recently selected to serve as Chief of Staff of the St. John’s Hospital-Lebanon Medical Operating Committee for the 2009-10 term. Mather replaces Ellen “Summer” Walthall, MD who had served in that position since 2007.

Other physicians selected to serve on the committee include Vice Chief of Staff, Sam Al-Assafeen, MD and At-Large-Member, Dale Korn, MD.

The committee represents the St. John’s-Lebanon active medical staff of more than 30 doctors.