2022 ANNUAL REPORT
OUR
MISSION Do what is best for the patient.
WE CARE
VALUES .
Together We… C – COMMUNICATE with COURTESY and COMPASSION A – ACKNOWLEDGE and take ACTION R – RESPECT and REASSURE E – EMPATHIZE and EXPLAIN
OUR
FACILITIES Asbury Hospice House Forrest General Hospital Highland Community Hospital Jefferson Davis Community Hospital Jefferson Davis Extended Care Facility Marion General Hospital Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home Perry County General Hospital Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services The Orthopedic Institute Walthall General Hospital
For a complete list of Forrest Health facilities and clinics, visit forresthealth.org
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
A Letter from the President & CEO.............................................2 Forrest County Board of Supervisors.........................................3 2022 Board of Trustees.............................................................4 2022 Medical Executive Committee..........................................5 2022 Milestones........................................................................6 2022 Awards and Recognitions.................................................8 2022 Employee Awards.............................................................9 Q & A with Employee of the Year...............................................13 Q & A with Nurse of the Year......................................................14 Forrest General Hospital Service Lines......................................15 Forrest General Hospital Additional Services............................24 Forrest General Hospital Programs...........................................28 Forrest Health Hospitals’ Statistics............................................31
FROM THE
PRESIDENT & CEO
Y
You have probably heard the phrase, “We are in the people business” many times. This most definitely applies to healthcare. We are here to care for people and make a difference in the lives of those we touch. Our mission is “to do what is right for our patients,” even in difficult times. As we celebrated 70 years of service to Forrest County and the Greater Pine Belt area, 2022 proved to be another post-COVID-19 endurance test for healthcare. As our world tried to move back to “normalcy” following the height of the pandemic, hospitals and healthcare organizations continued to battle rising supply costs, staffing challenges, and the availability of resources. Navigating a new environment made all of us look for new ways to tackle the issues at hand. Despite the setbacks, our employees continued to move ahead. During 2022, we implemented the first diagnostic medical sonography program in the area at Pearl River Community College and expanded the college’s surgical technology program. These programs give invaluable opportunities to students and provide a future workforce. We partnered with the Hattiesburg Public School District for a Career Fair which provided more than 800 middle school students an opportunity to gain valuable insight regarding career opportunities in healthcare. Our physicians continued to accomplish outstanding procedure numbers as our electrophysiologists and cardiologists hit the mark of more than 300 Watchman procedures and Dr. Joseph Salloum, an oncologist, completed his 2,500th brachytherapy procedure for prostate cancer. We are
truly blessed with the level of expertise displayed by our medical staff, and we are grateful for our physician partners. We would never be able to note any accomplishments or jump any hurdles without our staff. Our Cancer Center employees raised thousands of dollars to help with cancer patient transportation needs with the first Fuel to Fight Cancer 5K. The Cancer Center also became the first site in the world to enroll a patient in a new multiple myeloma study. Our ICU staff achieved one year without a CAUTI or catheterassociated urinary tract infection because of their determination to do what is best for our patients and their unwillingness to accept even one infection. And our continued focus on quality led to an increase in our Leapfrog score, thanks to our staff hospital wide. These are only a few of the achievements you will see highlighted in this publication. Today’s world has changed from what we once knew, but we remain optimistic that the healthcare world will endure and become stronger. I recently read a quote noting that “endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” I often say that among the chaos is opportunity. We will continue to seek solutions and partnerships to do what is best for our patients. As you scroll through this report, please take note of all the special people and departments that make Forrest Health an incredible organization. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to serving you for many years to come.
“
R. Andy Woodard, Forrest General Hospital President & CEO
We are here to care for people and make a difference in the lives of those we touch. Our mission is “to do what is right for our patients,” even in diff icult times.
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2022 FORREST COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Forrest General Hospital (FGH) is a Level II Trauma Center and a 547-bed short-term, general acute care, public hospital which is not-for-profit and tax-exempt. Located in Hattiesburg, the hospital is owned by Forrest County and was established in July 1952. The hospital is governed by a Board of Trustees. All citizens of Forrest County are eligible to serve on the Hospital Board of Trustees which are appointed by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors. David Hogan | Sharon Thompson | Burkett Ross | Roderick Woullard | Chris Bowen President
Ward 2
Ward 3
Vice President
District 5
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2022
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Forrest Health Board of Trustees is made up of five members, currently overseen by Richard L. Preusch, chairperson. The board is appointed by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors and is charged with the oversight of Forrest Health, a completely selfsufficient system. Overseeing all aspects of the health system, its flagship facility, Forrest General, and its six regional facilities, the Board of Trustees makes decisions important to ensuring that patients are a top priority and receive the best possible care.
Lynn Cartlidge | Eric K. Steele | Richard W. Preusch | John M. Keene, CPA | Marcus Hogan, MD Secretary
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
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2022 MEDICAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Seated: Lisa Leek, MD, Emergency Medicine | Sriharsha Athota, MD, Medicine Back row from left: Charles “Chaz” Richardson, II, MD, Psychiatry | Luis Irizairry, MD, Anesthesia
Brian Rifkin, MD, past president | Scott Keeler, MD, president | Brittney Brown, DO, OBY/GYN James A. York, MD, Radiology | Brent Bowling, MD, Pediatrics. Not pictured: Neal T. Holm, MD, Surgery | Leigh Anne Strong, MD, Pathology
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2022
MILESTONES In 2022, Forrest General Hospital celebrated its platinum anniversary – 70 years – serving the Pine Belt. Through dedicated service, the hospital has provided a foundation of comfort, compassion, and care for those using the many services Forrest General has to offer. The Ambulatory Cardiovascular Center of Mississippi, or ACC of MS, the state’s first outpatient surgery center for heart patients, opened its doors in 2022. The ACC of MS is also the only Cardiac Ambulatory Surgery Center within the Certificate of Need states and is a joint partnership of Forrest General Hospital and Hattiesburg Clinic, PA. During National Heart Month, three generous sponsors provided 30 lifesaving infant CPR kits to Forrest General Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These kits are given to the parents of NICU babies to take home and learn lifesaving CPR skills.
Forrest General Hospital orthopaedic trauma surgeon, Jonathan Copp, MD, was one of only eight physicians from across North America chosen to attend the 2022 AO Trauma North America Davos Fellows Experience – Tips from the Masters in Switzerland. Copp was the only community-based surgeon to be accepted for this honor. All other physicians were from academic medical centers. Forrest General’s Intensive Care Unit implemented a 24-hour open visitation policy.
Five Forrest General Hospital Family Medicine Residency Clinic (FMRC) physicians authored a paper, “Tianeptine Withdrawal: A Cause for Public Health Concern in Mississippi,” which was published in the Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association. The physicians also alerted the FDA to their findings.
The Orthopedic Institute, which opened its doors in 2012, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022. A reception commemorated the event and recognized 19 staff members who have been with the healthcare facility since it opened its doors. Forrest General Cancer Center radiation oncologist, N. Joseph Salloum, MD, completed his 2,500th brachytherapy procedure for prostate cancer. These procedures have been performed during a 20-year period. Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy in which radioactive metallic seeds are permanently placed exactly where the cancer is located, thus protecting other tissue and organs. Forrest Health partnered with Pearl River Community College to expand its Surgical Technology Program in an effort to solve the shortage of healthcare professionals in the area. The expansion allows for 30 students each semester instead of 20 a year.
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2022
MILESTONES With the help of Forrest General Hospital’s Radiology department, students in Pearl River Community College’s first diagnostic medical sonography program are gaining valuable experience. Upon completion, students will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree as well as qualify to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography test.
Forrest General Hospital helped Health Science II students from the Lamar County, Petal, and Hattiesburg Public school districts gain at least 100 clinical hours during twiceweekly visits to the hospital where they worked eight rotations. During their time at the hospital, students had the opportunity to hone their knowledge about potential healthcare careers in Central Sterile, Central Transport, Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Rehabilitation, 2T, 3T, and 5T.
Employees at the Forrest General Cancer Center raised more than $22,400 during the inaugural Fuel to Fight Cancer 5K. Hattiesburg Cycles also donated $12,800 to the gas fund. The Hub City business donated $50 from each unit they sold during October to the Cancer Center Funds raised are being used to assist patients who need financial assistance to purchase gas in order to get to their appointments for treatment. Forrest General Hospital’s sixth group of doctoral students completed their three-year residency with Forrest General Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Clinic and have accepted full-time medical positions. As these graduates completed their studies, the healthcare network welcomed its seventh class of six residents. The Forrest General Cancer Center became the first site in the world to enroll a patient in a new multiple myeloma study.
Using best clinical practices, Forrest General Hospital’s ICU staff achieved a remarkable milestone – one year without a CAUTI or catheter-associated urinary tract infection. This is a priority for ICUs as these infections can cause long-term harm and in some cases, life-threatening conditions such as sepsis. Forrest General Hospital and the Hattiesburg Public School District partnered for a Career Fair where more than 800 sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students from N.R. Burger Middle School toured 24 stations which highlighted 40 jobs in the healthcare field – both clinical and non-clinical. S.M. (Mark) Borganelli, MD, FACC Cardiology/ Cardiac Electrophysiology, Diego F. Alcivar, MD, FACC, Cardiology/Cardiac Electrophysiology, and Craig A. Thieling, MD, FACC, Interventional Cardiology, have performed more than 300 Watchman™ procedures since the procedure was first introduced at Forrest General Hospital in 2017.
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2022 AWARDS &
RECOGNITIONS The American Cancer Society awarded a Patient Transportation Grant to the Forrest General Cancer Center. These funds will be used to address access-to-care needs of cancer patients in the Pine Belt and ultimately help save lives.
Forrest General Hospital and Bryan Buckley, the hospital’s administrative director of Critical CarePatient Care Services, were named award recipients during the 9th annual Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency Spero awards. Forrest General Hospital was the recipient of the Hospital Excellence Award, which is presented to hospitals that have met or exceeded one or more of the national goals for organ donation as set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Buckley was the recipient of the Hospital Leadership of the Year Award. The hospital was one of only three hospitals statewide to achieve two or more of the national goals. In annual Parents and Kids Magazine Family Favorites voting, Forrest General was voted Best Hospital Overall and Best Labor & Delivery Department.
Forrest General Hospital’s Rehabilitation Center received a 3-year certificate for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The accreditation applies to both the Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs for Adults and Forrest General’s Stroke Specialty Program.
Forrest General Hospital was recognized with the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI (myocardial infarction) Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2022. Forrest General is one of only 240 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. Forrest General Hospital received the Mission: Lifetime – NSTEMI – Gold, and the Mission: Lifetime – STEMI Receiving Center – Gold Plus from the American Heart Association. These awards are presented for the hospital’s commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke. Forrest General Hospital’s Marketing and Communications Department was recognized with seven Maggie Awards by the Mississippi Hospital Association. Pine Grove Behavioral and Addiction Services also received a Maggie Award.
Best of the Pine Belt Awards
• Best Hospital, Forrest General Hospital • Best Home Care, Forrest General Home Care • Best Hospice, Forrest General Asbury Hospice • Best Physical Therapy Clinic Forrest General Physical Therapy (at YMCA Location) • Best Massage Therapist, Daphne Fisher 8 | FORREST HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2022
AWARDS & EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR WE CARE
Candi Lee, LPTA HOME CARE
Eric Mathis IT
Dorothy Stone, RD CANCER CENTER
Scott McDonald
Kristi Nesler, Pharm.D. Leader of the Year 2022
IT
Employee of Year
Lauren Roberts, NP
Heather Keys, RN
Eric Jordan, MD
Supportive Care
Annual DAISY Award Winner
We CARE Doctor of Year
PALLIATIVE
ICU, CCU
ED MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Finn
Therapy Dog of the Year
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NURSES OF THE YEAR
Hali Beasley, RN
Candice Boler, RN PCC
Leader of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Kendra Swann, RN
Melissa Parimon
Angela Shoemake, RN
Tech of the Year
Clinical Nurse of the Year
5T
PACU
Preceptor of the Year
Megan Speight, RN 5T
HOSPICE
SAME DAY SURGERY
3T
5T Nursing Unit, Team Innovator of the Year
Rookie of the Year 10 | FORREST HEALTH ANNUAL REPORT 2022
PHILIP W. ROGERS
AWARD WINNERS
Charles Griffith, MD
Clay King, MD
Steven Cunningham, MD
Rick Boyte, MD
Humanitarian
Leadership
Innovator
Mentor
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DOCTORS C.A.R.E. AWARD WINNER CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST QUARTER 2022
Physician Communication Champion
HYSICIAN COMMUNICATION CHAMPION!
Frank Hux, DODO FRANK HUX, QUARTER 1 NEUROSURGERY
James York, MD QUARTER 2
Randy Henderson, MD QUARTER 3
N. Joseph Salloum, MD QUARTER 4
Physician Efficiency Champion
Justin Westervelt, MD QUARTER 1
Eric Jordan, MD QUARTER 2
Jeff Hudson, MD QUARTER 3
Neal Holm, MD QUARTER 4
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EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Scott McDonald
Telecom/Security Services Manager-Information Services What’s your background in Telecom?
I began working in security and cabling in 1996.
What prompted you to seek at job at Forrest General? I wanted a career, not just a job!
What exactly does your job entail?
I support all of Forrest Health Infostructure.
How many telephone lines (numbers) are there for Forrest General, Forrest Health? Approximately 6,500
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced dealing with hospital’s phone services? Recently, our biggest issue is being able to get parts.
What do you think is special about working at Forrest General Hospital?
Even though I am not hands-on, saving lives as a nurse, tech, or medical professional, I still help save lives and make a difference in lives. In my job, I’m able to make sure communication is available for doctors trying to contact other facilities to make sure that patient is cared for or to make sure the phone line is ready when a patient needs to call and check on a loved one. I get to help make a difference.
Do you enjoy talking on the phone?
NO!!! Email me – but customer service is always my priority, if you need me, feel free to call me!
Because you are such a phone guy, do you have the latest upgrades, newest cell phone offered?
How has the implementation of the cell phone hurt or helped society? It has helped make it quicker and easier to respond to customers because you always have your phone in your pocket. It has hurt us because people no longer talk face to face; they keep their heads in their phone. However, the use of cell phones has made job tasks and communication in the healthcare field much easier.
What has been your most memorable experience working at Forrest General?
Other than receiving Employee of the Year – staying overnight at FGH after Katrina for 13 days and never leaving, so I could make sure everything here would be top priority!
Nope, I am always two to three years behind the latest and greatest.
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NURSE OF THE YEAR Angela Shoemake 3T, RN What’s your background in the medical field?
I started out on Forrest General’s 7T (Med/Surg, mostly general surgery patients) as a staff nurse on the night shift. I moved to day shift after a year and soon accepted a Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) position, where I remained for 22 years. Several years ago, we moved our patient population from 7T to 3T and combined with the Orthopedic patients. I continued in the Patient Care Coordinator position until July of 2022, when I accepted the position of Patient Care Manager.
What prompted you to seek a job in the healthcare field?
When I was 28, I lost my husband to a heart attack. I made the decision several years after his death to become a nurse. I wanted to help people, to know more about what to look for in people’s health, and to teach people the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I wanted to make a difference and possibly keep others from having to go through what my family and I had gone through.
What do you think is special about working at Forrest General Hospital?
The hospital’s mission statement and expectation to “do what is best for the patient” makes me proud to be a part of Forrest Health. Our physicians are the best! So many of them love to take new staff under their wings and help them grow.
What encouragement or advice would you have for someone who might be considering a job in healthcare or particularly the nursing field?
If you love people and want to make a difference, do it! It is challenging, but so rewarding. You truly do make an impact on your patients’ lives and the lives of their family.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the healthcare field? Going from paper charting to electronic medical records was one of the biggest changes in healthcare. Now, we are seeing Telemedicine become part of the healthcare system. The length of stay in the hospital has decreased as new ways of caring for patients have proven to be effective.
What was working during a pandemic like?
Working during the worldwide pandemic was scary and stressful. The “unknown” had everyone on pins and needles. However, I saw everyone pull together and do what was best for the patients. We did the best we could with the limited resources we had. We knew we were in a crisis, and we did what nurses do – we persevered.
How has the nursing shortage that is being seen and felt nationwide affected Forrest General?
This nursing shortage is something I never dreamed I would see in my career. We had to increase patient loads to provide care to our patients. It has put a lot of stress on leadership, as well, to find solutions to retain staff as well as to attract new staff. It has been a huge financial hardship on Forrest General. But even through all of this, Forrest General staff members have persevered, making patients a priority.
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SERVICE LINES
Behavioral Health.............................................................. 16 Emergency & Trauma......................................................... 17 Cancer Services (Oncology)............................................... 18 Medicine Services............................................................. 19 Heart & Vascular................................................................ 20 Surgical Services............................................................... 21 Orthopedics....................................................................... 22 Women & Children’s.......................................................... 23
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Caroline Smith, LPC, CSAT-S, MA, CMA, director of Intensives Workshops-PG Administration, talks to participants during a therapeutic lecture.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH One Place. Many Solutions. Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services understands lasting recovery and healing begins at the roots of who we are. Transformation is deeply woven into the core of each individual through broad-reaching treatment options. As a result, Pine Grove has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s most comprehensive treatment campuses. Inpatient Services include an Adult Psychiatric Unit, along with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, and Outpatient Services. Established in 1984, Pine Grove has provided nationally and internationally recognized health care for 39 years.
Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services is one of the nation’s most comprehensive treatment campuses. Pine Grove’s world-renowned programs treat gender-specific substance abuse including specialized tracks for co-occurring eating disorders and trauma. Pine Grove offers an Intensive Outpatient substance abuse healing program for adults and a separate treatment track specifically for those who are age 55 plus. Pine Grove specialty programs include a dedicated professional’s treatment curriculum and a comprehensive evaluation center.
Pine Grove delivered inpatient psychiatric care to 2,304 patients,
which includes the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. Pine Grove’s outpatient department provided 9,438 patient visits, including the organization’s intensive outpatient substance use disorder treatment program and its partial hospitalization mental health treatment program. In fiscal year, 2022 Pine Grove also treated nearly 400 patients for substance use disorders, trauma, co-occurring eating disorders, and sexual addiction.
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Surgical tech, Sandra Wade, assists Duncan Donald, MD, medical director for Trauma and Surgical Services, during a procedure.
EMERGENCY & TRAUMA You can’t always be ready or prepared when the need for Trauma Care arises, but Forrest General Hospital’s Trauma Center is always ready. Our Level II Trauma Center provides an immediate, organized response by a highly-specialized team, 24/7, 365 days a year. Forrest General Hospital’s Trauma Center serves patients from across South Mississippi, including Forrest Health’s 19-county service area. Forrest General Hospital’s Level II Trauma Center provides the following Trauma Services: General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Anesthesia, Obstetrics/Gynecologic Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Thoracic Surgery, ENT, and Oral Surgery.
The top five Trauma injuries in the Pine Belt include: Motor Vehicle Collision, 623; Falls, 474; Penetrating Trauma, 196; ATV, 83; Burns, 63. The Ortho-Trauma Program at Forrest General Hospital performed more than 500 surgeries in FY22. The hospital is home to two orthopaedic trauma surgeons, four neurosurgeons, and five specialized physician assistants. Neurosurgeons diagnose and treat conditions that affect a patient’s nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They provide both surgical and nonsurgical treatments.
Forrest General has the following in-house personnel on duty 24/7 – ER physician, Trauma surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Anesthesia, Critical Care physician, Radiologist, Surgical teams, PACU nurses, OB-GYN, and Hospitalist.
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Radiation Oncologist, Sophy Mangana, MD, and Radiation Therapist, Lauren Cole, RT(T), look over linear accelerator scans for a patient.
CANCER SERVICES (ONCOLOGY) Forrest General’s Cancer Center, which ranks among the largest and most sophisticated regional cancer centers in South Mississippi, offers a place where patients can receive technologically-advanced care in an environment of beauty, caring, and compassion. The Oncology Service Line provides a continuum of compassionate, high quality, state-of-the-art services for the detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer through a well-trained multidisciplinary team that maintains a personalized focus on the needs of the individual. There were 1,611 new cases entered into the cancer registry. The top sites were Lung 262; Prostate 259; Breast 260; Colorectal 102; Lymphatic\Hematopietic 112; Head and neck 23.
During November 2022, Forrest General Hospital’s Cancer Center became the first site in the world to enroll a patient in a new multiple myeloma study. The Center has 16 active clinical trials running with five more studies in contract negotiations.
Forrest General’s Oncology Services strives to improve the quality and length of life for the cancer patient and to further research on the cause, prevention, treatment, and cure of cancer. We value compassion, respect, integrity, creativity, teamwork, commitment, and excellence in all that we do.
Lung, prostate, and breast cancer make up the majority of patients at Forrest General Hospital’s Cancer Center.
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Steven Stogner, MD, medical director of Critical Care, discusses a patient’s care with Chayann Lambert, RN, and Ariel Pittman, RN, in the ICU.
MEDICINE SERVICES Forrest Health’s medicine services include several specialties, the largest being the Hospital Care and Intensive Care programs. These services, and the highly-qualified staff and physicians who provide this care, are dedicated to helping primary care physicians and their patients during stays in our hospitals and are committed to improving critical care services to Forrest Health’s patients. The Intensive Care Unit is a multipurpose unit designed for the intensive treatment of critical needs patients. Intensivists are board-certified specialists who are additionally trained and board certified in the subspecialty of Critical Care Medicine. This training makes them more familiar with complications associated with critically-ill patients, providing more accurate and thorough care for each patient, and ultimately resulting in better patient outcomes.
Medical specialties include: Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pulmonology, Trauma Surgery, Urology, & Vascular Surgery, Hospital Care Services features the expertise of internal medicine physicians – known as hospitalists – who care for most non-specialist inpatients, as well as the majority of “short-stay observation” patients. The Forrest General ICU implemented a 24-hour open visitation policy, with the exception of quiet-time hours, which are 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. With the new visitation policy, two guests are allowed to visit an ICU patient at the same time, and one person is allowed to stay overnight.
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Cath Center staff prepare one of the cath labs for a heart catheterization.
HEART & VASCULAR Heart and Vascular care and treatment through Forrest Health is available at Forrest General Hospital, The Heart Care Center in Laurel, and five cardiology outreach clinic locations throughout the Pine Belt. The medical professionals in these facilities combine the latest technology with the experience and compassion of the heart and vascular specialists to give your heart the care it needs.
Heart & Vascular introduced two new procedures – Coronary Shockwave for calcified lesions and Pulmonary Embolism Treatment via mechanical aspiration device.
Forrest General offers an assessment to see if you could be at risk for heart disease or a heart attack.
Forrest General provides interventional and surgical treatment options for a variety of structural and valvular heart disease including: • TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)
For more than 60 years, Forrest Health has cared for hearts and blood vessels across Hattiesburg, the Pine Belt, and South Mississippi. From diagnosis to treatment, and through rehabilitation, our Heart & Vascular services team is committed to helping you return to your lifestyle.
• LAAO or Watchman™ Procedure (Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion)
Forrest General offers a Shockwave treatment option for patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease which can reduce blood flow in the heart.
• Mitraclip/TMVR (Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair)
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Forrest General nurses assist Daniel Smith, MD, and Neal Holm, MD, during a surgery.
SURGICAL SERVICES Forrest General’s team of experienced surgeons offers a wide variety of options for minor or complex surgeries. At Forrest General, you’ll receive comprehensive care close to home in South Mississippi. Forrest General Hospital strives to offer the highest quality care to the patients in the Pine Belt area as our Ortho-Trauma Program is in full force in FY 22. Our full-time trauma surgeons, orthopedic trauma surgeons, and neurosurgeons are available around the clock because of serious accidents. Forrest General’s Ortho trauma team is
At Forrest General Hospital, patients who experience a
led by a fellowship-trained Orthopaedic
trauma are assigned a surgeon, and a specialized team to
Traumatologist specializing in the
undergo reconstructive surgery to repair their injuries in
emergent surgical treatment of post-traumatic fractures ranging
an effort to return them to their preinjury state. The team’s
from simple wrist fractures to highly
goal is to do everything possible to restore and aid
complex polytraumas. Orthopaedic
patients in returning to their everyday activities. After all, it is our vision at FGH to place the patient first in all we do.
trauma surgeons bring state-of-theart surgical techniques to FGH to preserve a patient’s mobility.
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Physical therapist, Brian Wallace, and nurse, Juanita Bolton, RN, help an Orthopedic Institute patient following surgery.
ORTHOPEDICS As the premier orthopedic and sports medicine provider in the region, we strive to exceed all expectations and redefine the orthopedic care experience. Most orthopedic care is provided at The Orthopedic Institute — the region’s only stand-alone orthopedic hospital. However, trauma procedures and some inpatient procedures may be performed at Forrest General Hospital. The Orthopedic Institute combines the latest technology with expert, caring physicians and staff to offer services that match the highest levels of orthopedic care delivered across the country.
Unique features include spacious rooms with wider doorways, beds and chairs designed for orthopedic patients, more space for family and belongings, convenient parking, windows for natural light, and elegant decorative touches that make it feel more like home. When you’re a patient at The Orthopedic Institute, you’ll experience the convenience of having everything in one place. The facility features dedicated orthopedic operating rooms, pre-operative, and recovery rooms, as well as support services such as laboratory and diagnostic imaging services.
The Orthopedic Institute performed 2,869 surgeries with 566 MAKO robotic joint replacements. Since opening in 2012, physicians have performed 27,905 procedures.
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Tyler and Angie Nance are in love with their daughter, Vivi, who spent some time in the NICU.
WOMEN & CHILDREN’S Since 1952, Forrest General’s Women & Children’s Services has been delivering superior care in an extensive range of services with personal attention and highly-skilled physicians and nurses. This is why South Mississippi families have trusted their health and future to Forrest Health for more than half a century. No matter your age, no matter your needs, we offer services designed especially for you. The Forrest General Neonatal Transport Team has the great responsibility of traveling to outlying facilities in the hospital’s 19-county area to bring at-risk infants back to Forrest General, which has one of the Pine Belt’s only family-centered NICUs. To meet the special needs of our tiniest patients, Forrest General has a specially designed NICU transport ambulance.
Forrest General became the first and only hospital in Mississippi in 2016 to achieve Baby-Friendly designation, which recognizes hospitals that offer the highest level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding. In 2021, Forrest General achieved the highly prestigious international BabyFriendly designation once again following a rigorous review. In 2022, Forrest General Family Birthplace staff delivered 2,686 babies. There were 331 NICU admits.
Each NICU bed is equipped with a webcam so parents can stay connected with their newborns. The secure service is free to NICU families.
In July 1952 when Forrest General opened its doors, the first patient delivered the hospital’s first baby. Dr. Ramsay O’Neal was the obstetrician.
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ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
Home Care & Hospice........................................................ 25 Hospice............................................................................. 25 Stroke Care....................................................................... 26 Radiology/Imaging............................................................ 26 Rehabilitation Services...................................................... 27 Wound Healing Center....................................................... 27
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HOME CARE For almost 40 years, Forrest General Home Care has been providing valuable home care services to 19 counties in the Pine Belt and beyond. Services include Nursing for Chronic Disease Management, Wound Care Nursing Services, Infusion Nursing Services, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medical Social Services, Telehealth, and Personal Care Services. In addition to the main Home Care office in Hattiesburg, there are also branch offices in Lumberton, Prentiss, Tylertown, Columbia, Picayune, Laurel, and Richton. During 2022, Home Care admitted 5,084 patients and completed 88,459 visits. Heather Loup, RN, heads out to take care of patients.
HOSPICE Hospice is a special way of caring for the terminally ill and their caregivers. Focusing on the whole person and not the disease, Hospice strives to take care of the patient’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of the family. Hospice takes a team approach with each member of the team, offering a specific set of skills. We are so lucky to also offer the Asbury Hospice House to our patients and community members, a home away from home. Celebrating 6 years, the Asbury Hospice House has provided care for more than 2,800 patients and families during their time of need. The memories shared by patients’ families are what make the Asbury Hospice House a home. Cissy Strickland, RN, PCP, serves the famous Asbury Hospice House cookies to a patient.
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STROKE CARE Forrest General is home to several neuro hospitalists who work with patients and are available in-house to attend stroke codes and consult on neurology patients. Care and treatment ranges from decompression of nerves to spine and brain surgery. Forrest General’s Neurology services includes a designated stroke unit, which has been certified by the DNV accreditation agency as an Advanced Primary Stroke Care Center. Keith Jones, MD, a neurohospitalist and medical director of Stroke, looks over a patient’s scan.
RADIOLOGY/IMAGING Offering a full spectrum of radiological services, both diagnostic and treatment procedures, Forrest General uses some of the most advanced technology available. Our licensed technologists and radiologists are committed to exceptional patient care while working to provide efficient, convenient, and accurate diagnoses. The radiology team is essential for patient care here at Forrest General. Radiology Interventional-Special Procedures Supervisor, Herbert Durr, and diagnostic Radiology tech, Caroline Stuart, look over a patient’s X-rays.
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REHABILITATION SERVICES Specialized Rehabilitation teams offer a wide variety of personalized therapy and care. Rehabilitation Service teams consist of Physical and Occupational Therapists as well as Speech Language Pathologists who work in Acute Care, Skilled Nursing Unit, Inpatient Rehabilitation Center (F.G.R.C.), Home Care, and Outpatient (Adult and Pediatric Clinics). Specialized services offered include Certified Stroke therapies, Certified Outpatient Pediatric therapy, Balance and Vestibular therapy, and Rehab Barium Swallow studies for both adults and children. The Inpatient Rehabilitation Center is one of a few rehab facilities equipped with the ZeroG© Gait and Balance System which protects patients from fall while providing dynamic body weight support as patients practice walking, balancing, sit-to-stand maneuvers, and even stairs. Speech Language Pathologist, Paige Bankston, SLP, works with a patient in Rehabilitation Services.
WOUND HEALING CENTER Forrest General’s Wound Healing Center specializes in the treatment of patients with serious injuries and conditions that could lead to amputation if not treated and properly managed. Some of these wounds include diabetic foot or leg ulcers, leg ulcers due to poor circulation, soft tissue infections, preservation of skin grafts, pressure-related injuries, and crash injuries. For certain medical conditions, The Wound Center also utilizes Hyperbaric oxygen therapy which is a special treatment that allows the patient to breathe 100% oxygen while under pressure in a hyperbaric chamber. A patient watches television during her stay in a hyperbaric chamber in the hospital’s Wound Care Center.
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PROGRAMS
Ambassadors.................................................................... 29 Spirit of Women................................................................. 30 Spirit Girls......................................................................... 30
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AMBASSADORS It’s not just on St. Patrick’s Day that you’ll find the wearing of the green at Forrest General Hospital, but every day. Guests at hospital entrances are greeted on a regular basis by college-age students wearing green blazers who might be considered the hospital’s pot of gold – the Forrest General Ambassadors. Ambassadors, who are 18 years of age or older, have the opportunity to earn community service hours in their various roles at the hospital – whether helping visitors find a patient’s room, delivering flowers and mail, answering questions, or most importantly, being a friendly face to greet those who enter the doors at Forrest General. During holidays, visitors may find the Ambassadors making their way to the different departments and units around the hospital or in the hallways handing out goodies or sharing a kind word in an attempt to put a smile on the faces of visitors and employees alike. Ambassador Services has become an essential part of Forrest General Hospital and is comprised of several areas, including Leadership, Patient Care Rounding, ER Care Partners, Information Desks, Customer Care Experience, and Departmental Support. Students in Forrest General’s program are selected through application, resume, references, and an interview process. Students who are interested in participating in an Ambassador position go through an interview process and must meet certain requirements. TOP: Ambassadors, Camryn Harris and Sarah Mitchell, are both interested in professions in the medical field. BOTTOM: Yeseul Bae and Seger Moore deliver happies from the hospitality cart to patients and family members throughout the hospital.
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SPIRIT OF WOMEN With nearly 8,000 members, Forrest General is the exclusive Spirit of Women hospital for South Mississippi. Since 2004, Forrest General’s Spirit of Women program has been a valued resource for women of all ages in the community. Membership benefits include special discounts at Spirit of Women programs and more than 100 local retail businesses and a monthly calendar of events. A small fee of $20 provides you with a lifetime membership. Each year programs are customized to meet the needs of today’s women and their families, providing health education events and health screenings in a fun and entertaining way - it’s what we call “health-u-tainment.” Great speakers provide the entertainment on topics ranging from gardening to home decorating, while experts from Forrest General relay important health information covering all stages of a woman’s life. Attendees visit during the Spirit of Women-sponsored “Spring Refresh,” held in partnership with Anderson Design Center. A designer and a doctor offered tips to help refresh homes and health.
SPIRIT GIRLS The Spirit Girls program is made up of young women, grades 7-12, residing in Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Wayne, or Walthall County. Spirit Girls participate in community events, attend educational programs, earn community service hours and are privileged to participate in various community service projects for organizations such as Visit Hattiesburg, American Heart Association, ARC, the Hattiesburg Zoo, and many more! We want young ladies to develop healthy lifestyles so that they can grow into strong, successful women. We believe this program is a great way for girls to not only learn about health issues they may face but also to help develop confidence, poise, and a passion for giving back to the community. In the process, we hope to create an environment that allows girls to uplift one another, inspire each other, and build lasting friendships. One of the highlights of the year for Spirit Girls is the annual Prom-A-Palooza. Spirit Girls Coordinator, Macy Knight, is pictured with some of the Spirit Girls who worked last year’s event.
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2022
FINANCIALS
FORREST GENERAL HOSPITAL INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
CANCER RADIATION THERAPIES
BIRTHS
EMPLOYEES
25,098
$65,659,000 Total Community Service Mission
2,686
3,495
ER VISITS
INPATIENT SURGERIES
OPEN HEART SURGERIES
OUTPATIENT SURGERIES
62,776
$276,370,000
Total Economic Benefit
19,890
4,978
358
6,928
MARION GENERAL HOSPITAL
$1,134,000 HIGHLAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
$3,970,000 $24,246,000 Total Community Service Mission INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
1,582
BIRTHS
262
ER VISITS
22,300
Total Economic Benefit EMPLOYEES
312
INPATIENT SURGERIES
199
OUTPATIENT SURGERIES
855
Total Community Service Mission
$7,994,000
Total Economic Benefit
INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
616
ER VISITS
13,855
EMPLOYEES
128
WALTHALL GENERAL HOSPITAL
$1,257,000
Total Community Service Mission
$5,428,000
Total Economic Benefit
INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
233
ER VISITS
7,273
EMPLOYEES
81
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2022
FINANCIALS
JEFFERSON DAVIS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
$993,000
Total Community Service Mission
$6,556,000
Total Economic Benefit INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
134
ER VISITS
5,086
EMPLOYEES
8%
FORREST HEALTH COMBINED STATISTICS
24%
$75,405,000
52%
16%
Total Community Service Mission
MEDICARE COMMERCIAL
$337,006,000
MEDICAID OTHER
Total Economic Benefit INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
CANCER RADIATION THERAPIES
BIRTHS
EMPLOYEES
PEARL RIVER COUNTY HOSPITAL & NURSING HOME
ER VISITS
INPATIENT SURGERIES
$1,577,000
358
155
27,876
19,890
2,948
4,542
119,099
5,177
OPEN HEART SURGERIES
OUTPATIENT SURGERIES
7,783
Total Community Service Mission
$11,204,000
Total Economic Benefit INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
172
ER VISITS
5,345
EMPLOYEES
PERRY COUNTY HOSPITAL
$815,000
INPATIENT ADMISSIONS
41
Total Community Service Mission
$5,028,000
ER VISITS
2,464
Total Economic Benefit
EMPLOYEES
50
321
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