Newsroom

NATCHEZ, Miss. – February 26, 2021—– If you’ve put off seeing your doctor for fear of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Barbara Smith and Charla Knapp, FNP-BC, providers at Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care, want you to know it’s safe and important to come in. Precautions for your safety include social distancing in our waiting areas, masking of all patients and providers, screening of all clinic patients and visitors, and enhanced cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. “This has certa... ... Read More

Top employee and managers of the year at Merit Health Madison were recently announced by the hospital. Michelle Goss, LPN, and unit secretary for Surgical Services, was named Employee of the Year. Marty Jenkins, director of Facilities, was named Non-Clinical Manager of the Year. Carmen Alexander, manager of the Medical/Surgical units, was named Clinical Manager of the Year. Merit Health Madison Chief Executive Officer Brit Phelps said the annual awards are the highest honor bestowed on employees and man... ... Read More

Laura Ramsey Liberto has been promoted to assistant administrator at Merit Health Central according to the hospital’s acting CEO Greg Oden, M.D. Liberto has served on the hospital’s senior leadership team as administrative specialist since June 2019, and previously worked at Merit Health Central as an administrative intern. In her new role she will have some new areas of responsibility, including oversight of Environmental Services, Food & Nutrition Services and Plant Operations. After earning her b... ... Read More

Merit Health Central has named its 2020 Employee and Managers of the Year. All three were nominated by Merit Health Central employees and selected by a committee of supervisors and peers. Sandra Weber, RN, Telemetry, was named Employee of the Year. Latoya Satcher, regional practice administrator, Merit Health Medical Group, was named Non-Clinical Manager of the Year and Khalid Mokhtar, PharmD, Pharmacy clinical manager, was named Clinical Manager of the Year. These awards are the highest honor bestowed ... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley is celebrating Heart Month with the unveiling of an enhanced cardiac catheterization lab with high-end technology. "This cath lab is built with modern technology that will allow us to offer our patients many types of procedures that we were not previously able to perform,” says interventional cardiologist Alan Covin, M.D., FACC. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death for men and women. A cardiac cath provid... ... Read More

The American College of Cardiology has recognized Merit Health River Oaks for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. The Flowood hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in December, 2020 after excelling in a rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary ar... ... Read More

Promising treatment for high-risk patients early in COVID-19 diagnosis NATCHEZ, Miss. –January 26, 2021—Merit Health Natchez recently began providing an antibody infusion therapy for COVID-19, known as monoclonal antibodies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for the drugs, Regeneron and Bamlanivimab in late 2020. They are approved for high-risk adult and pediatric COVID-19 positive patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made ... ... Read More

One-time treatment can eliminate up to six weeks of radiotherapy while reducing exposure to COVID-19 [FLOWOOD, MS – JANUARY, 22, 2021] – Merit Health Woman’s Hospital is the first hospital in Mississippi to offer single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy for qualifying early-stage breast cancer patients. This advanced treatment can completely replace the three- to six-week course of traditional external beam radiation by administering a targeted dose of radiation during the patient’s tumor removal surgery... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley has named Infection Control Coordinator Patty Cabana, RN, 2020’s Employee of the Year. This award is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital employee each year. Cabana was chosen from among more than 1,000 employees for the honor. “Patty has been an invaluable resource to us as we have faced the multi-faceted challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Vice President of Quality and Clinical Transformation, Debbie Johnson. “She has answered every request to lend a helpin... ... Read More

Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy Boosts Mood Improves Sleep Keeps heart, body and mind healthy Reduces Pregnancy aches and pains Helps prevent gestational diabetes and preeclampsia Eases discomfort during pregnancy Makes it easier to get back in shape after childbirth Restricts maternal weight gain without compromising fetal growth Helps with pregnancy-related constipation Can contribute to a healthier baby (healthier birth weight, baby is able to weather labor and delivery better, and recovers fro... ... Read More