Dexter, Missouri - Lisa Thrower, Executive Director of the Regional Healthcare Foundation, will retire at the end of June 2017. A reception for the public is planned for Tuesday, June 20th at the Foundation office located at 215 West Grant Street from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. to honor Thrower on her retirement.
Thrower has been Executive Director since July 2012, but began her tenure at the Regional Healthcare Foundation in 2008 when she volunteered with the Drug Assistance Program. Later she became a part-time patient advocate. Through her efforts the Foundation has increased awareness with such programs as the Prescription Drug Assistance Program, Mother-to-Mother, and the Stoddard County Health Coalition. A medical field related Scholarship was established and the ever popular annual Fitness Challenge was created.
She will be succeeded by Dexter retired teacher, Melinda Sweeney, at the end of June.
Dexter Community Regional Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit corporation, previously known as the Dexter Memorial Hospital, which opened in August of 1968 and maintained an active medical staff until April of 1999 when the operation of the facility was leased to a for profit corporation known today as the Missouri Southern Healthcare Hospital facility. As of January 2014, Southeast Health of Stoddard County leased the hospital.
Regional Healthcare Foundation continues to promote health and wellness, to the communities of Southeast Missouri, through its diverse community programs.
SoutheastHEALTH Ambassadors, an arm of the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation, will begin awarding local non-profits and places in need with AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and CPR kits early this fall.
In 2016, in collaboration with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, and recognizing the community need for heart health awareness, the Ambassadors chose to raise money exclusively for the HeartStrong Fund of the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation. With money raised from their fundraising efforts the Ambassadors will purchase AEDs to distribute. The devices will be awarded on an application basis. Priority will be given to projects that focus on community health improvement and address the following:
Focus on disproportionate unmet needs by delivering care to the uninsured and underinsured;
Focus on healthy environments and behaviors;
Engage in collaborative partnerships to help ensure healthy communities; and
Provide measurable outcomes on healthcare in our community.
The program initially will distribute 10 AEDs and CPR kits along with training to recipients. Applications are available on the Foundation website at https://www.sehealth.org/foundation/aed-request. Contact the Foundation with any questions by email, wquick@sehealth.org or call 573-519-4923.
Next up in fundraising efforts for the devices will be a “Coins for Cardiac” event from 5 until 8 p.m. on Friday, September 15 at the Coin-Op Cantina on North Main in Cape. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include beverages and food.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. More than 350,000 people will suffer from sudden cardiac arrest this year. In most cases, the event does not happen in a healthcare setting where emergency help is readily available. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm and, with training, is easy to operate for someone without a medical background.
As with all medical emergencies, time is of the essence. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced by approximately 10 percent.
Donations to the HeartStrong Fund can be made online by visiting https://www.sehealth.org/foundation/online-donation-form.
About the SoutheastHEALTH Ambassadors
The SoutheastHEALTH Ambassadors are a volunteer board that focuses on supporting the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation. They specifically support the HeartStrong Fund which is a resource to provide funding for programs to address cardiovascular disorders and prevention and community outreach to educate people about preventing heart disease.
Dexter, Missouri - As a courtesy to patients and visitors during construction of the new Emergency Services Department and Behavioral Health Unit at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County, a free valet parking service has been established.
Valet parking is offered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m on Thursday. Parking attendants are stationed at the main entrance of the hospital at 1200 North One Mile Road.
“This is an exciting time for Southeast Health of Stoddard County as our construction progresses,” said CEO Sue Ann Williams. “During this time we are committed to making our patient and visitor experience as smooth as possible. With our valet service, patients and visitors may safely and quickly reach their destination within the hospital or medical office plaza.”
The project, a total of 30,982 square feet, will substantially increase the size of Emergency Services and is designed with the patient experience in mind. The Emergency Services 10-room expansion will be located adjacent to the new Southeast Medical Plaza. Features include a new waiting/triage area, trauma room, cardiac room, obstetrics room, three exam rooms for behavior health patients and four rooms for non-emergent healthcare needs. There also will be two additional ambulance bays and an update to the main hospital lobby. '
The Adult Voluntary Behavioral Health Unit located on the second floor of the new addition will include 15 private patient rooms with full bathrooms along with areas for activities, group therapy, dining and visiting. Both projects are expected to be completed in late 2017.
