SoutheastHEALTH has announced the appointment of Lori Merritt, RN, MSN,CFRN, as Emergency Services Director at Southeast Hospital. She is a registered nurse with more than 17 years of experience in the Emergency Department setting, including six years of leadership experience and nine years of pre-hospital flight nurse experience.

Merritt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Science degree in Nursing Administration from Chamberlain University.

She worked as an Emergency Department nurse at Southeast prior to joining the Air Evac life team as a flight nurse and program director. Merritt most recently served as Emergency Services Manager at Southeast, overseeing its 25-bed Emergency Department with an average annual volume of over 37,000 patients.  She served on a multi-disciplinary team that earned Missouri Time Critical Diagnosis System (TCD) designation for Southeast Hospital. This system brings together the 911 response system, ambulance services and hospitals in a new, integrated approach to help a greater number of Missourians survive and recover from stroke or heart attack. 

In her new role, Merritt says she will continue to work with our staff to maintain our exceptional quality of care that area residents expect and deserve. Her key focus will be continued recruitment efforts of new and highly qualified clinical members to our Emergency services team. “I am excited about this opportunity and passionate about leading this team and continuing our efforts to exceed care and services expectations for patients and families in southeast Missouri.”

“Lori Merritt is the right choice to lead the Emergency Services team. Her collaborative leadership approach, experience and training in emergency care will position her for ongoing success,” said Matt Shoemaker, DO, Chief Medical Officer at SoutheastHEALTH.

Merritt’s professional affiliations include the Emergency Nurses Association. She is immediate past secretary of the Missouri State Council and current president-elect of the SEMO Chapter.

Drew Satterfield, DO, Family Medicine, has joined medical specialists at Southeast Primary Care in Cape Girardeau and Southeast Family Medicine in Dexter.

Dr. Satterfield completed his medical training at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed his residency at the University of Missouri Department of Family and Community Medicine in Columbia.

Dr. Satterfield sees patients at Southeast Primary Care in Cape Girardeau on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and also sees patients at Southeast Family Medicine in Dexter on Wednesday and Thursday.

A Dexter native, Dr. Satterfield says he is “excited to return home. Growing up around rural primary physicians and seeing the breadth of medicine they practice is what inspired me to do the same. I made the decision to come back to southeast Missouri to practice so that I could care for the community and people that helped shape me. “

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.

The SoutheastHEALTH Foundation will host its Third Annual Journey Gala on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the Drury Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. Guests will be treated to an elegantly festive “Carnival Rio de Janeiro,” along with a gourmet dinner, charity auctions, a celebrity guest speaker and dancing to live music by Vote 4 Pedro. The cocktail attire, black tie optional event begins at 6 p.m.

The gala benefits the SoutheastHEALTH Cancer Care Fund, which makes the cancer journey less stressful for those in need of urgent assistance during the course of their treatment. “Funds raised from the annual gala provide essential programs to local cancer patients,” Ranzini said.  “Last year funds helped provide free mammograms, nutritional supplements, medications, transportation service and so much more that would not be available without this support. We are grateful to everyone who participates.” She noted last year’s gala raised more than $200,000 to provide compassionate support to patients and families.

Jennifer Icaza-Gast and Anita Drury are once again serving as co-chairs for the gala. “Cancer has touched most of us, in one way or another, whether it’s a family member, a co-worker or friend,” Icaza-Gast said. “We recognize and understand the fear and stress that a cancer diagnosis brings and we are committed to doing whatever we can to help patients and families at a time of great need.”

Guest speaker will be Scott Hamilton, Olympic gold medalist, network TV skating commentator, best- selling author, philanthropist, cancer and brain tumor survivor. Hamilton, the most recognized male figure skating star in the world, has won 70 titles, awards and honors including induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

After losing his mother to cancer, then becoming a survivor himself, Hamilton turned activist, launching the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship). Hamilton, his wife Tracie and four children reside outside Nashville, TN.

Gala tickets are $175 each and may be purchased by calling the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation at 573-519-4920 or online at SEhealth.org/Gala. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Event sponsors will also have the opportunity to attend a VIP meet and greet with Scott Hamilton. For more information about becoming an event sponsor, call the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation.

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 s

With the unwelcome arrival of Tropical Storm Gordon, the weather for our golf tournament this Friday won't be up to par!

The event has been rescheduled for Monday, October 8th. Tee times will remain the same. 

When making the decision, several factors were considered, including storm tracking, out of town travel and course conditions. We understand this may be an inconvenience. However the safety and fun for all participants is our top priority.  

Please contact us if you are unable to attend on October 8th or have changes to your players at djirkovsky@sehealth.org or 573-519-4922.