This class program is taught by a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and is aimed toward preparing those who are planning natural childbirth, or those who would just like a more in-depth preparation for their childbirth. 

Instruction will emphasize the Six Healthy Birth Practices of Lamaze.

The program consists of four weekly sessions and is held on Tuesday evenings beginning Tuesday, July 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for four weeks.

This class is offered free to those delivering at Southeast Hospital. 

All others will be charged a $150 fee per couple that will be collected on the first night of class.

Dexter, Missouri- 3D Mammography Now Available at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County With cancer, early detection is key to successful treatment.

Women who put their trust in Imaging services at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County may now be screened using Hologic 3D Mammography technology, proven superior clinically to analog and 2D mammography especially for women with dense breasts. 

*Exceptionally sharp images that detect 20-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone 

*Ergonomic design and a seamless transition between imaging modes provides for a more comfortable experience 

*Proven to reduce callbacks for additional imaging by up to 40%

*Radiation exposure to patients is lower than with 2D and analog

Larry Thompson of Dexter is no stranger to emergency preparedness. What Larry wasn’t prepared for was a diagnosis in late 2013 of prostate cancer.

LarryThompsonPatientStory2

But once diagnosed, Larry immediately knew he wanted to be prepared for what lay ahead. As a former Missouri Highway Patrol officer and retired criminal justice instructor at Three Rivers Community College, Larry would be the first to say knowing the facts and learning as much as you can is important, particularly when it comes to your healthcare.

When the prospect of possible prostate cancer arose, Larry says his PSA level was a still acceptable 5.2. “The worrisome thing was that with careful monitoring, the level fluctuated.”

In February 2014, Gregg Hallman, MD, who is with Urology Associates in Cape Girardeau, performed prostate surgery on Larry at Southeast Hospital, followed with adjunct therapy.

Dr. Hallman referred Larry to Joseph Miller, MD, director of Radiation Oncology at the Southeast Cancer Center, where Larry successfully underwent 39 radiation therapy treatments.

“Radiation therapy for patients with prostate cancer, like Larry, involves intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT),” Dr. Miller explains. “This radiation treatment allows us to deliver a highly conformal dose of radiation to the cancer while sparing the dose to surrounding tissue. This helps reduce side effects from treatments.”

LarryThompson_MARS

With those treatments completed, Larry is back doing what he most enjoys – working with MARS, spending time with his wife, children and active grandkids and playing with his dog “Celt,” who he says “just showed up one day.” He looks forward to stocking a small pond on his property with crappie and bluegill.

On Fridays during the course of his treatment at the Cancer Center, Larry brought doughnuts to the staff, who pronounced them the “best ever.” He also brightened their day by occasionally showing up in fun attire such as Groucho glasses and a visor with wild hair poking out under it.

He turns serious when talking about the care he received. “The Southeast Cancer Center is unbelievable. I’m their biggest fan. Before you ever walk in, you can see that the special culture that exists there starts at the front door with the valets. What you feel there is genuine. I was there more than 40 times. If the staff 's actions and attitudes were not genuine, I would have picked up on it.”

Larry says he is the self-proclaimed “president of Dr. Miller’s fan club. He is outstanding. You can talk to him. You can tell he’s concerned and that he cares. I’ve been to some doctors where you can sense they’re thinking, ‘I need to get down the hall.’ It wasn’t that way with Dr. Miller. He gave me all the time I needed.”

LarryThompson_doughnuts

Traveling from Dexter to Cape on a daily basis for radiation was an easy trip for the most part, Larry adds. “You couldn’t get any better treatment in Memphis or St. Louis. I just don’t understand why people think they need to go far away when we have everything right here, close to home.”

Larry’s wife Marty notes that “the Cancer Center staff was so positive. They helped us stay on the road of getting through this together. It’s so obvious that they care.”

When diagnosed, Larry says he and Marty were very comfortable with the treatment prescribed. “She is also an upbeat person. We just decided when we found out that we would deal with it. Our attitude was let’s go!

Larry treasures a card he was given by his caretakers on his last day of radiation therapy. “It said, ‘We’re so proud of you for doing so great. It’s been great getting to know you. We are going to miss you, but we’re so happy that you have this step behind you.’”

If you ask Larry about his impression of the Southeast Cancer Center and staff, he has a ready and heart-felt reply: “In this place you find care, compassion, healing and love.”

Dexter, Missouri -  SoutheastHEALTH announced today the transition of services to the new inpatient behavioral health unit to Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, effective June 12. The new Adult Voluntary Behavioral Health Unit offers patients a safe, supportive environment staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health experts.

The unit, located on the second floor of the new Harty Pavilion in Dexter, also houses a new Emergency Services Department, which includes 15 private patient rooms with full bathrooms along with designated areas for activities, group therapy, dining and visiting, along with an outdoor room. The décor features a soft palate of colors and an abundance of light providing patients a soothing, healing environment.

The unit replaces the current behavioral health unit at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. The Dexter unit, said SoutheastHEALTH President and CEO Ken Bateman, will allow a more centralized location for services. “With its dedicated holding area for behavioral health patients within Emergency Services, there is the benefit of a safer environment for patients and staff,” he added.  Should patients present at these locations and, if voluntary adult inpatient behavioral health care is necessary, patients will have the services of our new inpatient facility in Dexter available for their ongoing evaluation and treatment.    

Bateman noted that “as we continue to evolve our behavioral health program in Stoddard County, an outpatient clinic will be added to ensure ongoing follow-up care.” A new outpatient clinic in Cape Girardeau led by John T. Lake, MD is expected to open Monday, June 25.

“I’ve had the privilege of treating patients at Southeast Hospital from all over southeast Missouri for 18 years. Transitioning to an outpatient setting allows me to establish more lasting therapeutic relationships and provide long term stability for my patients,” said Lake. The new outpatient clinic will be located at 60 Doctors’ Park, Lower Level, Suite 102, in Cape Girardeau.

Approximately 750 adult behavioral health patients are treated by SoutheastHEALTH annually. The multi-disciplinary treatment team includes five psychiatrists led by Pavan Palapu, MD, clinical social workers, registered nurses, recreational therapists and unit technicians. “The team meets daily to discuss the care and treatment of each patient on the unit,” said Nurse Manager Tonya Wooden, BSN, RN-C. “The team works together to build a treatment plan that’s appropriate for each patient.”

About SoutheastHEALTH

At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 13 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.