Monticello Live

Leslie Searcy, a long-time employee of Drew Memorial Hospital, was recently named the Health Hero for month of February. Searcy was selected after hospital administration learned how she, on her own initiative, and using her personal time and funds, assisted a patient in need.

“When following up with a patient who had been recently discharged from the hospital, Leslie discovered that the patient had very little food and had no one to buy groceries for him,” stated Keith Van Dee, Human Resources Director. “She also learned that he did not have enough money for the medication that he needed. Leslie purchased the medicine and delivered groceries to his home.”

Searcy was presented a plaque and a check for $100 in recognition of her service to the hospital at the February board meeting.

Drew Memorial Hospital participated in a regional exercise titled “Operation Twist and Shout” on February 25, 2010. The drill was designed to test the area’s ability to respond to a large-scale natural disaster.

The exercise involved emergency preparedness planners from hospitals, as well as state and local agencies, who were given an opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities for responding to a natural disaster. The drill focused on key local responder coordination, critical decision making, and integration of the state and federal assets necessary to save lives and protect the public following a natural disaster, such as a tornado.

According to Drew Memorial Hospital CFO Shannon Clark, preparedness has been a priority for quite some time. “We want to be ready for whatever comes,” stated Clark. “We take the exercises very seriously. Every time we are given an opportunity to participate, we come away feeling more prepared than we were before.”

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At Drew Memorial, a gentleman and his wife typically have their labwork done at the same time each month, but the husband came by himself earlier this week. Irma Brunson, one of our phlebotomists, asked the gentleman why his wife was not with him. He told Irma that his wife was sick and could not make it in to have the lab done. Irma asked the husband where they lived and he replied “ in Wilmar”.

Irma had asked earlier if she could take off for a couple of hours at lunchtime to attend a meeting in Warren.  After her meeting was over, Irma stopped in Wilmar at the patients house tu draw her blood so she could have her labwork done on time and did not have to get out while she was ill.

Irma cared enough about the patient to notice that his wife was not with him, and stopped and drew the patients blood on her own time without being prompted to do so.

 That is why Irma Brunson has been named as the DMH Health Hero for January 2010

Lashonda Taylor has been named the DMH health hero for December 2009.

A DMH patient was scheduled for an induction on recently. Dr. Shrum had provided the patient with a motel room, so she wouldn’t have to leave Pine Bluff at 4:30 am. Still, she didn’t have a ride to the hospital for a 5:45 am admission. Lashonda set her alarm for 5:20 am and went to the motel and picked the patient up and brought her to the hospital. This was literally done in the middle of the night…something that no one, including the patient expected her to do.

This shows the caring and dedication Lashonda has for our patients. DMH CEO Mike Laydifield complimentedTaylor by saying, “I am very proud of her for giving up her sleep to do this.”

Andrea Thomas was named 2009 DMH Health Hero of the Year. Andrea Thomas was honored at the Drew Memorial Hospital Annual Christmas party in front of approximately 80 people. Andrea received a $600 cash award ($200 coming from our four (4) local banks), a dozen red roses, a beautifully engraved clear glass trophy and a standing ovation! Read the rest of this entry »

The Drew Memorial Hospital Health Hero of the month was Monisa Allen for her unselfish act of giving away a free mammogram certificate that she had won at a DMH health fair, to a patient who had no way of paying for a mammogram that had been ordered by physician. The procedure led to the discovery of an issue that needs medical attention, which makes Monisa’s gift even more important.

Monisa is shown here, being congratulated by DMH human resources manager, Keith Van Dee.

Fifteen organizations received Governor’s Quality Awards Monday evening in Little Rock, and Drew Memorial Hospital received the second highest award possible.

The top award went to White River Medical Center, receiving the Governors Award for Performance Excellence. Drew Memorial Hospital received the next highest award from the Governor, the Governors Achievement Award.  Several organizations received the third place award, the Governors Commitment award and several more received the forth place award, the Governors Challenge Award. Read the rest of this entry »

Drew Memorial Hospital if asking for visitor’s cooperation during this FLU season by complying with these requests;

1. Please do not bring children under the age of 12 to visit patients in our hospital or Emergency Room. This request is to protect the patient and child from cross contamination.
2. We ask that you limit the number of visitors to 2 at a time in the room and the other family/friends remain in the waiting room until it is their turn to visit.
3. We also ask that you use the hand sanitizers in the room to clean your hands when entering the room and leaving.
4. If you or a family member are showing signs and symptoms of sickness, we ask that you not visit the patients.

We thank you for your cooperation in the matter during this busy season.

Bruises are one of the most common, and fortunately, least serious injuries that many of us experience. A bruise, which in medical jargon is known as a contusion, occurs when a blunt impact damages the tiny blood vessels beneath the skin. Various substances in blood are responsible for the color changes that bruises typically undergo. Read the rest of this entry »

The Drew Memorial Hospital has selected Sheilla Lampkin as our Auxilian of the Year.

Mrs. Lampkin serves the hospital auxiliary in countless ways that include: initiating and maintaining the DMH Auxiliary’s first monthly newsletter; serving as our legislative delegate during the recent legislative session and keeping our membership updated as to what hospital/health issues were pending, who should be contacted and examples of the messages to be sent; writing articles publicizing our Auxiliary for the local media. Read the rest of this entry »

Skin Cancer: Reduce Your Risk With ‘Safe Sun’ Guidelines

What are the safe-sun guidelines?Safe-sun guidelines are the following 4 ways to protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer: Read the rest of this entry »

This mornin, Drew Memorial Hospital will participate in a statewide exercise designed to test the state’s ability to respond to a large-scale public health crisis. The drill involves emergency preparedness planners from hospitals and state and local agencies statewide who plan to rehearse what they would do in the hours and days following an actual public health emergency, such as the release of a bioterrorism agent or the spread of a deadly communicable disease. Read the rest of this entry »