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A message from our hospital leaders
Courtney Phillips: CEO of SSCH
For more than 80 years, South Sunflower County Hospital has proudly served the residents of Sunflower County and the surrounding communities. In that time, South Sunflower County Hospital has evolved into a 21stcentury medical center that has grown to become one of the leading hospitals in rural health. Still, even with millions in upgrades and generations of staff, there is one thing that has remained constant: our mission to provide financially sustainable, health care services for our community by employing dedicated and compassionate staff focused on providing excellent quality patient care and superior customer service. We believe it’s essential
that our community receives access to the finest health care options available because it’s our home and the people we serve are our family. Whether investing in cutting-edge technology, equipment, modern facilities, physicians, specialty providers, and staff to expand and enhance our services, South Sunflower County Hospital is continuously seeking ways to meet the evolving needs of our community. We’ve also discovered that it’s not enough to wait until patients come to us seeking relief for a medical problem, we need to provide outreach efforts, too. From health fairs with free screenings to volunteer hours donated by our staff members, we’ve led the way in helping members of
our communities prevent and manage a host of conditions, diseases, and illnesses. In the process, we’ve become the health care organization people turn to for assistance, education, and yes, health care. At South Sunflower County Hospital, we are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, neighbors and friends, teammates and coaches, students and teachers, community residents and leaders. But most of all, we are caring medical professionals who provide you with convenient high-quality care that exceeds your expectations each and every time you walk through our doors. We are proud of our accomplishments, growth, community involvement,
Courtney Phillips SSCH CEO proud to be associated with the community leaders, employees, physicians, volunteers, and others who contribute to the success of our hometown hospital and the betterment of Sunflower County and the surrounding areas. Thank you for choosing South Sunflower County Hospital. It is our privilege to serve you.
Billy Marlow: Executive Director NSMC The Board of Trustees and the entire staff of North Sunflower Medical Center pledges to continue to provide only the highest standards in quality health care. We have joined hands with the City of Ruleville to be active and participating partners in the economic development of our town. We pride ourselves in offering personalized care to all who enter our doors. As an early Hill Burton Hospital, we continue to pledge to offer the very best in medical treatment. We are proud of our friendly, courteous staff who constantly seek to be better educated in the latest techniques and medical training available. The future is even brighter for North Sunflower Medical Center with the addition of the North Sunflower Medical
Foundation. North Sunflower Medical Foundation is the charitable, non-profit, 501(c)(3) fundraising arm for North Sunflower Medical Center. The Foundation operates for the benefit of the Medical Center and the residents of Sunflower County and surrounding areas by assisting with the enhancement of quality healthcare, to provide grants for educational purposes to ensure the availability of healthcare professionals, and to partner with local governmental agencies in matters related to healthcare. North Sunflower Medical Center has a new Surgical Wing and The Beacon Wellness Center. We are able to offer our patients the latest in surgical procedures; the ability to better rehabilitate
patients following surgery, strokes, etc.; educational classes for controlling diabetes, cardio vascular disease, and other chronic illnesses. As we continue to partner with other facilities, such as University of Mississippi Medical Center to provide cutting-edge technology with real-time teleemergency medicine, patients at North Sunflower Medical Center now have immediate access to specialists in Jackson, MS without ever leaving home. North Sunflower Medical Center has become known throughout the Mid-South and other parts of the country as “The Little Hospital That Could”. We have worked hard for the past 58 years to earn your trust and loyalty. We pledge to continue to offer our patients the latest med-
Billy Marlow NSMC Exectuive Director ical equipment, beautifully appointed patient rooms, friendly staff, excellent care, and delicious meals. Come join our family and see why people all over the Delta are saying, “Take me to Ruleville.” Billy Marlow NSMC Executive Director
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A game-changer
SSCH part of consortium that will bring eight new family medicine residents to the Mississippi Delta Healthcare in Sunflower workforce across the state, sortium got the news the going to work in rural MisCounty is about to change especially in rural areas of program had been accred- sissippi, we think it will be a plus to have them drastically, thanks to an Mississippi,” Walker said. ited. The Mississippi Delta trained.” influx of new doctors who “We have a low population There are currently will be training in Indi- to physician ratio. Our Family Medicine Residenanola as part of a new fam- number of physicians we cy Program will accept seven full-time physicians ily medicine residency pro- have to take care of the eight new residents per at South Sunflower. “We’ve got a great group year, starting in July. That gram based out of Delta population is low.” Walker said that data means that in three years, of physicians here at South Regional Medical Center show that more than 50% the Delta will have 24 fam- Sunflower, and they will in Greenville. The Mississippi Delta of doctors end up practic- ily medicine residents provide that training to our Family Medicine Residen- ing where they do their res- training between Delta residents,” Walker said. cy Program, a new com- idencies, a statistic that was Regional Medical Center “They will help with the munity-based project important when trying to and what will become its clinics and help supervise sponsored by the Missis- place the program in an new continuity clinic and the residents there. Our sippi Medical Education & area of the state that is in South Sunflower County residents will have a large presence at South SunResearch Consortium need of full-time physi- Hospital in Indianola. flower here as (MSMERC), well.” received accrediWalker said tation at the end that plans are of January and Dr. Evelyn Walker underway and will be hosting its much of the first eight family “If there are more physicians to provide care to the funding is availmedicine resicitizens in these rural areas, we can improve health able to renovate dents this sumthe lower level of mer, according outcomes, we can improve life expectancy, which is the shuttered to Program lower in the rural areas than in the urban areas of Kings Daughter’s Director Dr. Evethe state.” Hospital in lyn Walker. Walker, a native of Drew and a veteran physician in the Jackson area, has been working to help establish a family medicine residency in the Delta for several years. “If there are more physicians to provide care to the citizens in these rural areas, we can improve health outcomes, we can improve life expectancy, which is lower in the rural areas than in the urban areas of the state,” Walker told The E-T in a recent interview. The program was born out of the Mississippi Legislature in 2012 when money was appropriated to start the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce. “The whole aim is to increase the physician
cians. Walker said Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce Director Dr. John Mitchell has been working to establish the Delta program for several years as well. The application called for a three-year residency program with eight residents per year. The consortium finally got their site visit in late October 2019 from the Accrediting Council of Graduate Medical Education. Five community doctors were interviewed as part of the site visit. “We felt really good after the site visit,” Walker said. In late January, the con-
The original plan was to include more hospitals in the consortium, Walker said, but it eventually was narrowed to DRMC and SSCH. South Sunflower was chosen because it will be able to offer OBGYN training to the residents, training Walker says many family medicine residents don’t receive. “Most family physicians in Mississippi are not trained to…deliver babies,” Walker said. “We have a really unique opportunity here at South Sunflower in that the family physicians here deliver babies. And we want our residents to be trained to deliver babies, especially if the resident is
Greenville into the beforementioned continuity clinic, as part of a multimillion dollar project. She said work on that should begin in the next few months, and it should be ready when the second class of residents enter the program next summer. “We’ll start with a temporary clinic and hopefully by first of next year have a completed first phase to accommodate the next year of residents,” she said. Walker said that having two dozen doctors in the area in three years will not only boost healthcare resources for Delta patients, but it will also be a boon for the local economies.
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SSCH registered respiratory therapist Chris Cobbs and COO Eligah Johnson stand by some of the equipment used for exercises in the hospital’s pulmonary rehabilitation room
Pulmonary rehab SSCH launches new services for patients with chronic lung disease
Chronic pulmonary diseases can have a crippling effect on patients. That’s something South Sunflower County Hospital is on a mission to prevent. In October of last year, SSCH was able to launch a new line of pulmonary
rehabilitation services through the hospital, which is already having positive effects on locals with moderate to severe lung ailments. “Whereas Chronic Lung Disease is not curable, pulmonary rehab helps teach the patient how to live with
the disease,” said SSCH COO and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Director Eligah Johnson. “We provide education, based upon their pulmonary disease status.” Johnson said some of the main issues with patients revolves around them not
properly taking their medications. Other times, it simply has to do with not exercising their muscles enough. SSCH’s pulmonary rehabilitation program addresses both of those issues and more. CONTINUED, Next Page
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Coronavirus tips
Who is at elevated risk for COVID-19? COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines across the globe. This novel coronavirus first made headlines in late 2019 after an outbreak in Wuhan, the sprawling capital city in China’s Hubei province. The virus has since spread beyond China’s borders, leading to school closures and changes in public life, such as the shutting down of professional sports leagues, that many might never have thought they would see in their lifetimes. Despite the relative infancy of COVID-19, doctors have learned much about it, including who might be most at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early information out of China revealed that some groups are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 than
others. Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions are at the greatest risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are the chronic medical conditions that appear to make people especially vulnerable to sickness from COVID-19. How people in at-risk groups can reduce their risk of getting sick It’s important that elderly people and people with chronic medical conditions take their risk for getting sick from COVID-19 seriously, as the virus had already contributed to thousands of deaths by early March 2020. The CDC notes that it is especially important that people at elevated risk take actions to reduce their risk of getting sick with the dis-
Continued From Page 6 “We work with them on taking medications properly,” Johnson said. “We do exercises to strengthen those muscles that help them with everyday activities.” Johnson said many patients come in unable to perform basic household tasks throughout the day. “We have one particular patient that when he came in, he could not even take a shower, without stopping mid-shower to rest,” Johnson said. “He could not walk outside to feed his dogs and come back without having to stop a couple of times to rest. Now he can go through the whole processes without having to stop.” Johnson said most of that success came from education on proper breathing. He said that many COPD patients
ease. The following strategies can be part of a proactive approach that may help atrisk people lower their risk of getting sick from COVID-19. • Stock up on health supplies. Contact your physician and arrange to obtain extra necessary medications so you do not have to leave your home should an outbreak occur in your area. If that’s not plausible, the CDC recommends signing up for mail-order medications. Stock up on overthe-counter medications and medical supplies, including everyday items like tissues, so you don’t have to leave the house if an outbreak occurs. • Stock up on groceries. Make sure you have enough groceries on hand so you can stay at home if restrictions on leaving home are put in place dur-
tend to breathe rapidly, without deep breaths, not getting the full benefit of the breath. “If you’re not breathing properly (by breathing rapidly), it’s tiring you out, because it’s not giving the lungs time or (breathing) deep enough to have the oxygen time to cross over from the lungs and get into the blood,” he said. Currently, the pulmonary rehabilitation services share space in the physical therapy wing of the hospital. Johnson said he hopes pulmonary rehab will one day have a wing of its own, but until then, he is spreading the word to local patients with lung disease that the services are provided in Indianola. With these services, he said, patients are enjoying a higher quality of life, with better medical outcomes,
ing an outbreak. • Embrace the basics. Basic strategies like avoiding people who are sick; washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or spending time in public; avoiding touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.; and avoiding crowds can help to reduce your risk of getting sick from COVID-19. Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China in late-December 2019, doctors have learned that certain people are especially vulnerable to getting sick from the virus. Such people can take certain steps that may reduce their risk of getting sick. More information about COVID-19 is available at www.cdc.gov.
and there’s a benefit to the hospital, as this has cut down on emergency room visits for many of his patients. “It keeps the patients out of the hospital, because now they know how to take their medicines right, now they know how to breathe, and they can do daily activities without getting short of breath,” he said. He said the most important thing, however, is the patients’ quality of life. “That patient can now live with that disease and work though it instead of the disease encapsulating them and making them homebound,” Johnson said. “Instead of them being in the house all the time, they can go for a walk. They will take their medications before they go outside to prepare their lungs for a walk.”
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North Sunflower Medical Center Community Educator Celeste Lofton and Psychiatrist Dr. Margaret Cassada.
You are not alone Caring for the mental health of older adults
By Robyn Marlow Many older people grew up in a time when mental health wasn't discussed as openly as it is today. But growing older often means adjusting to big changes in life. That can include everything from depression and anxiety brought on by the loss of a loved one, to issues like Alzheimer’s, bi-polar disorder or dementia. Our goal here at North Sunflower Medical Center is to provide the best health care services you can get anywhere. Because of that, we have worked hard to become one of the leading centers for behavioral health for the Delta’s aging population. North Sunflower's Senior Care Unit is a program that works with Medicare patients who may be having some form
of mental health issue. They treat seniors going through any diagnosis that would affect mood, behavior or their state of mind. Celeste Lofton, who is a community educator in the Behavioral Health Department, told us that when people are experiencing behaviors that they do not typically exhibit, they bring them in to the hospital for a sound medical evaluation to see if there is something that can be changed to make them feel better. “Many times, there is something that hasn’t been diagnosed that is causing the change – like a urinary tract infection, anemia, decreased social function, or just a change in medication that is causing them to be off balance. Is there an adjustment we can make that will make this person’s
quality of life better?” If the issue can’t be solved with surgery or medication, Senior Care provides a range of services to help get patients on the right path. That includes group therapy (so they talk about things that are going on) activities that are fun and good food. “We work towards getting them into a routine. When they’re older and they have something like Alzheimer’s, they do a lot better when they are in a routine. It is a neat program and it gives families a relief knowing that we are looking after them,” Celeste said. Celeste works with Susan Gilbert, also a community educator, to evaluate patients. Together they serve as our NSMC senior care ambassadors in the community. But getting
patients to seek out their services isn’t always that easy. There was such a stigma to mental health issues a long time ago. It is getting better, but it is still there. A lot of people don’t want to admit that they are having a mental health problem. Most people say they don’t think they need a psychiatrist. They don’t want that stigma,” she told us. “We find a way to work through that with them. They’re not alone in this. So many people suffer from these very same things. We see if we can get them in and get them feeling better so that they can go on with their life.” In the United States, almost half of adults (46.4 percent) will experience a mental illness during their CONTINUED, Next Page
The Enterprise-Tocsin Continued From Page 8 lifetime. Even still only 41 percent of the people who had a mental disorder in the past year received professional health care or other services. What does Celeste think makes our inpatient behavioral health department unique? “Not everyone realizes what a wonderful psychiatrist we have. There aren’t a lot of psychiatrists in our area who work exclusively with the senior community. Dr. Cassada is very knowledgeable and that’s rare.” But the admiration for fellow coworkers goes both ways. Dr. Margaret Cassada, a board-certified psychiatrist and behavioral health superhero, went out of her way to sing praises of the entire behavioral health team at North Sunflower. “People come from 200 miles away because the staff is great. The hospital has invested in that area to make it the best it can be.”
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NSMC offers a variety of services to patients related to mental health.
Don’t miss out in being in our upcoming Spring Journey magazine and the 2020 Graduation edition. Call Mary Howard at 662-887-2222 or Bryan at 662-571-6226 to reserve your ad space
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Delta Cotton Belles has been a great asset to the Delta region Delta Cotton Belles was established in 2007, after its founder, Beth McKnight, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Instead of letting the disease control her, she decided to fight it with all she had. In 2008, she and a group of close friends volunteered their time and began raising money to increase breast cancer awareness in the Mississippi Delta by working with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Through this partnership Delta Cotton Belles was formed and established its own 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in 2010 to ensure funding would stay in the Delta. Delta Cotton Belles continues programs to care and support women throughout the Mississippi
Delta. Its all-volunteer board of directors has adhered to a philosophy of flexibility and innovation to allow for new services and programs, always in response to the unmet needs of women and breast cancer patients within the target community. Currently, Delta Cotton Belles is focused on the following key goals: • To promote breast health awareness • To provide free clinical breast screenings • To provide mammograms for the working uninsured and underinsured in our region • To provide services not covered by insurance for individuals with breast cancer • To provide support programs for individuals with breast cancer.
Who Delta Cotton Belles Serves Delta Cotton Belles provides services to individuals who are working and are uninsured and underinsured in 10 counties throughout the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta regions. The service area consists of the following counties: Sunflower, Washington, Leflore, Bolivar, Sharkey, Issaquena, Humphreys, Carroll, Grenada and Chicot (Ark). Delta Cotton Belles Services The Pink Promise Program is where it all began for the Delta Cotton Belles. Delta Cotton Belles is proud to have provided more than 700 free mammograms for the working uninsured and under-
insured women in the Mississippi and Arkansas Deltas. The Pink Promise Program is still vital to DCB’s mission as early detection is vitally important in the fight against breast cancer. This program has expanded over the years to meet the needs of area women as mammograms are now offered at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Leland Medical Clinic in Leland, South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola and Greenwood-Leflore Hospital in Greenwood. DCB is incredibly grateful for the support of these health care organizations in the fight against breast cancer. The Wrapped in Pink Program is focused on supporting, assisting and CONTINUED, Page 21
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The Sunflower Rural Health Clinic in Ruleville was designated one of the top 25 rural health clinics in the country earlier this year.
A model rural health clinic
North Sunflower Medical Center’s Chief Compliance Officer Joanie Perkins knew the Sunflower Rural Health Clinic was special, but she never expected the healthcare facility to be named one of the top 25 rural health clinics in the country. That’s exactly what happened in early 2020 when Maine-based analytics firm Lilypad awarded the designation to the clinic. The award designates the clinic one of the top 5 provider based rural health clinics in the Southeast -and one of the top 50 rural health clinics in the country. The Lilypad Award analyzes data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid program to calculate the top performing rural health clinics in the nation. Data is taken from the 4,400 rural health clinics across the country that are reviewed in the December
2019 Medicare Cost Report. Sunflower Rural Health Clinic was almost an afterthought at one point in NSMC’s history. In the early 2000s, it sat as a single mobile building behind the hospital, serving about 120 patients a month. “That was one of the first things Billy (Marlow) did when he took over (as executive director of NSMC) was to move it in front of the hospital where it is more visible, with better access for our patients,” said NSMC’s Robyn Marlow. The building was moved in the mid-2000s, a couple of years before Perkins joined the staff at the hospital. Since then, it has been added onto five times, and it now serves an average of 3,500 patients a month, a larger patient pool than the population of Ruleville. Lilypad examines the
cost reports for over 4,000 rural health clinics across the country, Sunflower being one of them. Utilizing data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid program to calculate rural-relevant metrics across five domains, the Lilypad Awards provide a comprehensive and objective assessment of rural health clinic performance, Lilypad said in an earlier release. The Lilypad Awards and Lilypad’s Practice Operations National Database (POND®) programs are used nationally by rural clinics, State Offices of Rural Health, regional health care systems and rural hospitals to measure and monitor rural primary care practice performance. They serve, Lilypad said, as the foundation for several state and national rural primary care performance improvement initiatives.
Joanie Perkins NSMC
In many cases Rural Health Clinics receive enhanced reimbursement from government payers such as Medicare and Medicaid as a means of sustaining financial solvency. Rural Health Clinics must meet one or more health care shortage designations to be eligible for the program and generally are categorized as either provider-based (hospitalowned) or independent. CONTINUED, Next Page
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Continued From Page 12 The Lilypad Awards evaluate both provider types to produce a comprehensive ranking system for every Rural Health Clinic in the nation, Lilypad said. Sunflower Rural Health Clinic provides a number of services to its community’s patients, including physicians, nurse practitioners, Mississippi Sports Medicine providers and more. Perkins said it’s not just the services offered in the small Delta town, but it’s how they manage effectiveness for patients and cost. “It’s important that we keep our health care affordable,” Perkins said. “If you look at the statistics of this town, right here, a third of our population lives below the federal poverty guidelines. We’re here to serve the health professional shortage area.” Over the past few years, Perkins has taken a deep dive into all of the data she has been able to get hold of. She has been able to look hard at patient and provider behavior, and she said it has been the changing of those behaviors that has been the difference. “They have had to change their behavior, and we have had to change ours,” Perkins said. “The more efficient we are, the better it is for our patients.” One area in particular the clinic
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A look inside one of the patient rooms at Sunflower Rural Health Clinic
has been able to attack is avoidable emergency room visits. Often times, the cost of going to the emergency room is hundreds of dollars more than getting the same treatment at the rural health clinic. “If we can keep you out of there, we’re going to do it,” Perkins said. Perkins said that each patient has a personal care plan from their primary provider. The provider follows up with the patient to make sure they picked up their medicine, are taking their med-
icine and are making it to follow-up appointments. The clinic also has implemented a fall risk assessment for patients over the age of 65. Patients are able to modify their homes and behavior to help avoid falls. “We’re trying to stay one step ahead for our patients,” Perkins said. Sunflower Rural Health Clinic is open 8 a.m. until midnight seven days a week on the campus of NSMC.
The Sunflower Rural Health Clinic has been added onto five times since the mid2000s to help improve access to health care for the Ruleville community.
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Homecoming
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Hannah Farmer’s passion for medicine comes alive in Ruleville
Hannah (Schlatter) Farmer has a passion for medicine, and she also has a love for her home. One of the newest additions to the North Sunflower Medical Center staff, the 2007 Indianola Academy graduate has been combining those two loves in her new position as a nurse practitioner in Ruleville. “I wanted to live here, where I was born and raised,” Farmer told The ET in a recent interview. Farmer was always community-minded growing up. She was raised on the baseball and soccer fields of Indianola, coached for the most part by her father, Ron Schlatter, who helped found the IA soccer program and coached the program to multiple state championships. The daughter of Ron and Lynn Schlatter, she is one of five siblings. “I was always at the baseball field or at the soccer field,” she said. Farmer was part of one of the IA state championship teams during her sophomore year. When her father suffered a stroke two years ago, Farmer stepped up and helped coach the IA girl’s soccer team during the fall of 2018. She’s also worked with other community leaders to help revive and maintain the youth soccer program in Indianola. As a child, she was exposed to the medical
field, through her father, who ran the lab at South Sunflower County Hospital for three decades, she said. During her high school years, she worked summers at the hospital in medical records. After graduating, she went to Mississippi Delta Community College, where she studied to become a registered nurse. She moved on to the Mississippi University for Women where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Farmer followed those studies up by attending the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s program to become a nurse practitioner. Farmer studied family medicine at UMMC, but when she applied for and got the job as a nurse practitioner at NSMC, it did not take long for her to find her calling. She has spent the last couple of months at the Sunflower Diagnostic Center, focusing on women’s health. “It didn’t really cross my mind, going into women’s health (in school), and when I got over here, they needed somebody, and I went over there,” Farmer said. “I’ve only been there since January, but I have loved it.” Farmer said it has been rewarding coming home and serving the people of her home county, particularly women through things like mammograms,
Hannah Farmer recently joined NSMC as a nurse practitioner.
bone density scans and pap smears. “It’s definitely a big need for women’s health, making sure every woman has their mammogram, has their pap smears,” she said. “Those are things that are very easy we can do to catch cervical cancer and breast cancer.” Farmer said serving the people of Sunflower County and the Delta drives her to do the best job possible for her patients. She recommends that people get their annual checkups, as well as diagnostic screenings. Farmer said it is also important for patients to follow up with doctors after they are diagnosed with conditions or if something is suspected. “It’s a way we can get things under control and manage issues,” Farmer said.
Center offers Mammograms, Sonograms, Ultrasound, Bone Density & yearly gynecological screenings, as well as, removal of skin lesions including moles, skin tags, skin cancers and scar treatment. Sunflower Diagnostic Center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Private Pay and participates in the BCCP (Breast & Cervical Cancer Program). Have your provider call (662) 756-4000 today to schedule your appointment.
3D Mammography Sunflower Diagnostic Center provides the latest diagnostic technology available through 3D digital mammography. Sunflower Diagnostic Center is the first center in the delta to feature the 3D state-ofthe-art system, Selenia 3D digital mammography from Hologic, offering the Here are a few things to state-of-the-art Tomosynknow about the Sunthesis imaging. flower Diagnostic Center Sunflower Diagnostic CONTINUED, Next Page
The Enterprise-Tocsin Continued From Page 14 Sunflower Diagnostic Center is proud to be able to offer the newest technology for breast cancer detection. 3D Digital mammography is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed. Our radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow our radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern. North Sunflower Medical Center is a healthcare organization that is proud to offer the services of Sunflower Diagnostic Center, whose primary mission is offering high quality, acute health care and preventative medical care in a caring and compassionate manner to the Mississippi Delta. Over half of the U.S. News and World Report top 20 hospitals offer Hologic 3D Mammography technology. More than five million women to date in the United States have already been screened with this lifechanging technology, which is now available in 50 states and in over 50 countries.
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Hannah Farmer sits at her desk at the Suflower Rural Health Clinic at NSMC.
Bone Density Scans are recommended for: • Postmenopausal women • Depo Shot for birth control • Rheumatoid Arthritis • Type 1 Diabetes • Chronic Liver Disease • Using Steroids or Glucocorticoid for 3 months
• Women age 65 and older • Men age 70 and older • Height loss of ½ inch or more within one year • Total height loss of 1 ½ inches from your original height Call today to set up your appointment: (662) 756-4000
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DRMC offers the latest in 3D mammography exams Delta Regional Medical Center is one of the health care leaders in the tri-state Delta region and continues to improve access to premier medicine with the addition of 3D Mammography. This cutting-edge equipment will offer the most comprehensive breast scans to provide greater accuracy and reduce the chance of additional screenings through the advanced breast tomosynthesis technology. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime but with early detection, the five year survival rate is almost 100%. The Genius 3D mammography exam provides better, earlier breast cancer detection compared to 2D mammography alone. The mammogram process is the same as conventional mammography exams including the time it takes as well as comfort level. Scott Christensen, Chief Executive Officer, states “The goal of Delta Regional Medical Center is to be the best hospital in Mississippi in which to receive care, practice medicine and work. Our team works tirelessly to achieve success for our patients, physicians and employees. With the addition of 3D mammography, our plan to expand our state-of-the-art services continues so that we remain a service of excellence facility.” The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam finds 20-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone, an aver-
age increase of 41%. Only the Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam is FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone. The Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam reduces callbacks by up to 40% compared to 2D alone. “With the addition of the 3D mammography, Delta Regional Medical Center is continuing to meet the needs of our patients and community,” says Lisa McIntire, Director of Radiology. “Providing this level of technology increases the chances of detecting breast cancer earlier. Our goal remains caring for our patients right here at home.” Delta Regional Medical Center is located at 1400 East Union Street, Greenville Mississippi. Visit us at www.deltaregional.com or call 662378-3783. About Genius™ 3D Mammography™ Exams The breast is a threedimensional object composed of different structures located at different heights within the breast. These structures can overlap and cause confusion when viewed as a flat two-dimensional image. This confusion of overlapping of tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. Using breast tomosynthesis technology, the Hologic system creates a 3-
DRMC’s New 3D Mammography equipment
This cutting-edge 3D mammography equipment offers the most comprehensive breast scans to provide greater accuracy and reduce the chance of additional screenings through the advanced breast tomosynthesis technology.
dimensional image of the breast structure, which enables radiologists to more clearly see through overlapping tissue to detect cancers, often at an earlier stage. The Hologic system is the first FDA-approved breast tomosynthesis sys-
tem in the U.S. Hologic Genius 3D Mammography™ exams are now available in all 50 states and over 50 countries. To date, more than 8 million women have been screened with this advanced screening system.
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Living with the awareness of Colon Cancer Daily The month of March is designated nationally for the awareness of colon/colorectal cancer due to the efforts of the Prevent Cancer Foundation in 1999. Living with the awareness of colon cancer as well as an ostomy daily since 2017 has propelled me into an advocacy for better health and cancer reforms. Therefore, I will continue to educate the public on the impact of public health issues. Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and any information or health issues should be addressed with your physician. It is predicted that there will be approximately 147,950 colorectal cases this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control although colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers to detect with proper and timely screening, the risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 24 with a 1 in 3 average of screening being ignored. Colorectal cancer is classified as cancer of the colon or rectum. It is considered as preventable because the polyps found during a colonoscopy can be removed during the procedure. If caught early, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent—as opposed to less than 10 percent if caught in the latest stage. It is also believed that rectum cancer is more difficult to treat than colon cancer by some clinicians.
perceive that colon and colorectal cancer are the same. However, there is a difference between these two regarding the gastrointestinal tract itself and their location when found within the body. Approximately five feet of the gastrointestinal tract in length is considered the colon. The remaining five to six inches are known as the rectum which is connected to the anus. Anatomically, the rectum is found to be shorter and tightly confined in its location in comparison to the colon. These “close quarters” of the rectum easily facilitate the spreading of the cancer to any tissue in close proximity. This leads to the ability of the clinician to determine the severity of the cancer or stage of the cancer based on which organs and parts of the body are affected. Colonoscopy is the most widely known diagnostic procedure for early detection and screening in colon and colorectal cancer. Other screening options which are non-invasive include obtaining a stool DNA test, fecal immunochemical tests, and CT colonography. Depending on the diagnosis and progression of the disease, surgery and/or chemotherapy may be options to treat both colon and rectal cancers. Radiation is commonly used to treat rectal cancer but not colon cancer.
including colon and colorectal cancers. Funding has paved the way for them to conduct tests and trials globally to understand and end the detriment caused by cancer. Traditional methods as well as non-traditional methods of research have come to the forefront to combat this global killer. As early as 2005, researchers, Nagasawa et al investigated through research the role of the vitamin D-binding protein, Gc-globulin. Gc-globulin was shown to be a protein with structural similarities to the vitamin D3 receptor called albumin by researchers, Speeckaert et al in 2006. They revealed that the role of Gc-globulin was found to have a major role in the osteoclastic activity and regulation of the immune system. Not only was Gc-globulin found to facilitate in the transport and storage of vitamin D, it also increased the macrophagic and chemotaxis of neutrophils in extracellular G-actin. Upon modification, the study demonstrated that Gc-globulin had the capabilities to enhance the activation of the immune system to fight immunotherapy virus and sepsis. Hence, Gc-MAF (group specific component-macrophage activating factor) was believed to not only be supported by the protein for phagocytosis, superoxidation but for immunopotentiatory activity as well.
How Are Colon and Is There A Link Current Research on Colorectal Cancer Between Vitamin D3 Alternative Cancer Diagnosed? Deficiency and Cancer? Treatments Colorectal cancer is cateThere are numerous Globally, researchers gorized as cancer of the colon or rectum located in have for decades sought the cancer studies that indicate the large intestine. Many cure for all types of cancers that it is possible along
Evelyn Jackson, Ph.D. Guest Colmnist with the role of the liver. Two major forms of vitamin D that are important to humans are vitamin D2, orergocalciferol, and vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. Vitamin D2 is made naturally by plants, and vitamin D3 is typically naturally made by the body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. These two forms of vitamin D are converted to 25hydroxyvitamin D in the liver. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D then travels through the blood to the kidneys, where it is further modified to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, or calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D in the body. The most accurate method of evaluating a person’s vitamin D status is to measure the level of 25hydroxyvitamin D in the blood according to the National Cancer Institute in 2013. Conclusion We all await on the day when it’s announced that colon colorectal cancer or any form of cancer is curable. We all await the day when the cure is affordable for everyone regardless of their health insurance coverage. Faithfully, we wait.
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Medical Guide 2020
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Delta Cotton Belles is a nonprofit • Well-being and Emotional Supencouraging women as they port — Survivors enjoy monthly that is funded through the generosiprogress through the stages of their gatherings hosted specifically for ty of individual and corporate diagnosis. This includes the follow- them with a variety of programs. donors through the annual Ladies Professional counseling is also avail- Day Tennis Tournament. Also, DCB ing: could not operate at this level with• Beth’s Blessing Bag — A beauti- able upon request. out the King’s Daughters and Sons • Survivor Celebrations – Our surful and functional tote filled with valuable items customized to each vivors are honored annually at the Circle Number Two, which has “Proud to be Pink” luncheon and awarded this organization with course of treatment. grants for many years. • Support for Mastectomy Patients other survivor events. Memorials — DCB purchases and honoraripre-op camisoles, ums are a permastectomy pilDelta Cotton Belles’ Services fect way to lows, mastectomy remember a bras, breast prosfriend or loved — Delta Cotton Belles is proud to have provided theses and lymone while phedema prodmore than 700 free mammograms for the working knowing the ucts not covered uninsured and under-insured women in the Missisdonation is by insurance. sippi and Arkansas Deltas. being used • Wigs, Scarves, locally to fight Caps and Hats – breast cancer or Women who have Pink Check Up events are collabo- offer support to a survivor. undergone hair loss due to Those who are interested in chemotherapy select wigs and hair rations between Delta Cotton Belles coverings that suit their personality. and community organizations to donating can do so by mailing a • Transportation Assistance — offer free breast cancer screenings by check to: Delta Cotton Belles Gas cards are provided for clients qualified practitioners. Pink Check PO Box 1292 based on the mileage required for Up events capitalize on educating Greenville, MS 38702 women throughout the community physician visits as well as treatment For more information about Delta by offering them a screening they appointments. • Chemotherapy Support – might not take the time to do other- Cotton Belles, please visit the website at deltacottonbelles.org or visit Chemo Care Bags contain items use- wise. them on Facebook and Instagram. ful during treatment and are given to Delta Cotton Belles Funding DCB patients. Continued From Page 11
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AFTER HOURS
Delta Primary Care 110 E. Baker Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-5530 DENTAL
Family Dental Care 501 Park Avenue Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-1272 EXERCISE
The Beacon Wellness Center 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1800 FAMILY PRACTICE
Delta Health Center 2363 Hwy 1 Greenville 662-334-1253 1414 Hospital Dr. Greenville 662-335-3991 100 East Washington St. Hollandale 662-827-7400 702 Martin Luther King Road Mound Bayou 662-741-8880 Indianola Family Medical Group 122 E. Baker Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-2212
Phillips Health Center 1004 W. Delta Ave. Moorhead 662-246-0099 Sunflower Clinic 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-4024
Medical Guide 2020
HOSPICE
Hospice of North Sunflower 105 E. Floyce St, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1700 HOSPITAL
Bolivar Medical Center 901 E. Sunflower Rd Cleveland 662-846-0061 Delta Regional Medical Center 1400 E. Union Street Greenville, MS 38703 662-378-3783 NSMC Information 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-2711 South Sunflower County Hospital 121 E. Baker Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-5235 INSTITUTION
Mississippi Delta Community College Hwy 3 & Cherry Street Moorhead, MS 38761 662-246-6503 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Sunflower Medical Equipment 200 W. Floyce St, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1660
PHARMACY
Magic Mart 903 Hwy. 82 E. Blg. G 662-887-4135 Fax: 662-887-9703 Martin’s Pharmacy 124 E. Baker Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-4533 NSMC Pharmacy 860 N. Oak Ave Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-4381 REHABILITATION
Outpatient Rehabilitation 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1801 The Sunrise (Outpatient Behavioral Health) 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1630 Swingbed (Inpatient Rehabilitation) 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1647 SENIOR CARE
Senior Care (Inpatient Behavioral Health) 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-9910
Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-1609
NONPROFIT
Delta Cotton Belles P. O. Box 1292 Greenville, MS 38702 662-390-6009 or 662-390-6488
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SPA
Sunflower Med Spa 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 662-756-2100 SUBSPECIALTY CARE
Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine 7731 Old Canton Rd B, Madison, MS 39110 601-499-0935 SURGERY
Cleveland Surgical Clinic 810 E. Sunflower Rd. Suite 100 A Cleveland 662-579-0118 Delta Surgical Clinic 110 E. Baker Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-887-7339 WELLNESS
Greenspot Wellbeing Indianola, MS 38751 662-207-8595 Lemon Balm Wellness 100 Front Street Indianola, MS 38751 662-719-0384 WOUND CARE
Wound Care Services 840 N. Oak Ave, Ruleville, MS 38771 887-295-2273
Want to advertise your medical business in The ET? Call Mary Howard Gary at 662-887-2222