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Kim Harrell, MHA, BSN, CNOR, R.N., has assumed the role of Merit Health market chief quality officer. Harrell most recently served as the Chief Quality Officer at Merit Health Central, a position she held nearly four years. Utilizing over 18 years of leadership experience, she will provide oversight to the quality departments in the six Merit Health hospitals in Jackson and Vicksburg. A Jackson, MS, native, Harrell completed her master’s in healthcare administration at Belhaven University. Merit Health’... ... Read More

Top employee and managers of the year at Merit Health Madison were recently announced by hospital leadership. Sheree Givens, a computed tomography technician in radiology, was named Employee of the Year. Kelly Spell, director of health information management, was named Non-Clinical Manager of the Year. Darrell Emerson, director of respiratory, was named Clinical Manager of the Year. Merit Health Madison chief executive officer Brit Phelps said the awards are the highest annual honor bestowed on outstand... ... Read More

JACKSON, Miss. – A business venture with Merit Health Madison is opening the door for University of Mississippi Medical Center physicians to perform surgeries and provide inpatient post-operative care at Merit Health’s hospital in Canton, effectively expanding UMMC’s adult hospital capacity and operating room availability. The business venture has been realized through a UMMC-affiliated not-for-profit company, Healthier Mississippi Collaborative, made possible by an act of the Mississippi Legislature in... ... Read More

Posted with permission from Well-Being magazine, as featured in their May/June issue Late last year, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released new cholesterol guidelines that include recommendations for more personalized risk assessments and new cholesterol-lowering drug options for people at the highest risk for cardiovascular disease. According to AHA President Ivor Benjamin, M.D., the updated guidelines reinforce the importance of healthy living, lifestyle modific... ... Read More

The Mississippi Braves and Merit Health have announced a partnership that will give citizens access to “Walk the Park” at Trustmark Park throughout the calendar year. Beginning Monday, April 22 with a ceremonial walk at 10 a.m. prior to the M-Braves 10:35 a.m. game vs. the Montgomery Biscuits, the Trustmark Park 360 degree concourse will be available to walk any time, year round, during team business hours. Participants will also be allowed to bring in food items and have use of the stadium picnic table... ... Read More

Smart planning and healthy eating strategies this holiday season can help reduce symptoms of common gastrointestinal conditions. A gastrointestinal (GI) disorder can make holiday buffets and dinners seem like an arsenal of potential stomach problems. Avoiding these food triggers can help you eat, drink and be merry. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) To help keep the burning sensation of GERD from spoiling your celebration, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)... ... Read More

November is “National Family Caregivers Month.” For caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, the disease can take a toll. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are some tips to help support those who have relatives coping with Alzheimer’s Disease: Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about its effects and how to respond. Stay in touch. A card, call or visit can show you care. Be patient. Adjusting to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is an ongoing process and each person reacts diff... ... Read More

Dreading the next episode of severe facial pain that comes and goes without warning is no way to spend your time. A one-time, incisionless procedure may relieve discomfort so you can focus on the joys life has to offer. The pain starts out of nowhere—sharp, searing, almost breathtaking. It stops after several seconds, and after a few minutes, begins again. This pattern may continue for nearly an hour before stopping and can begin again without warning. This is what life can be like for persons with the ... ... Read More

You may be familiar with type A personalities, but how much do you know about type D? In this case, the “D” stands for “distressed.” Type D personalities have a combination of traits that lead to high levels of stress, such as experiencing a lot of negative emotions, an inability to express those emotions well, and a tendency to avoid social interactions, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition, Harvard Health states, unlike “type A” people, who are more likely to be perfe... ... Read More

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., with more than 150,000 people losing their lives to the disease each year – it’s more than breast, prostate, colon and ovarian cancer deaths combined. In 2015, the latest year for which incidence data is available, there were 2,567 new cases of Lung and Bronchus cancer reported in Mississippi. For every 100,000 people, 72 Lung and Bronchus cancer cases were reported. The same year, lung cancer was the leading cause of death from cance... ... Read More