North Mississippi Health Services

Value-based care puts the focus on patient outcomes and total cost of care. https://bit.ly/3KSwusN

North Mississippi Ground Ambulance recently recognized paramedic Rob Goss as Star of the Month for his exceptional compassion during an unusual emergency. Rob began his journey with the Ground Ambulance team as an EMT in January 2015 and later became a licensed paramedic in 2017. Currently, he is working to achieve his flight medic and critical care certifications. Rob was nominated for going above and beyond to help a family in need of some unconventional help. On April 10th, a family with a young child pulled into the Ground Ambulance parking lot with a vehicle that was overheating. Due to a language barrier, Stacy Ralph, a supervisor with Ground Ambulance, used Google Translate to talk with the family while Rob worked on their vehicle. Stacy learned their child was ill and they were seeking help at a local clinic before their car overheated. The opportunity to put our C.A.R.E.S Values into action sometimes presents differently than we expect. In this case, Rob rose to the occasion and led with compassion by getting the family’s car back in running order. “Taking care of patients and helping to the best of my ability is what I’m here do,” Rob says of his role with Ground Ambulance. On this day, Rob’s desire to help in any way possible crossed language barriers for a family in need. “Rob is incredibly caring and a wonderful public servant,” writes his nomination. He is known among his peers as being a positive representation of our mission to improve the lives of our communities. Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, Rob, and thank you for going above and beyond to care for the people of our community!

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the top preventable cause of strokes and heart attacks in the U.S., according to Dr. Barry Bertolet, an interventional cardiologist at the North Mississippi Medical Center.

North Mississippi Health Service’s Family Clinic of Starkville is looking for a passionate and dedicated LPN to join our team on a full-time basis. The ideal candidate will enjoy caring for patients from adolescence to geriatrics. If you're passionate about providing excellent care, we want to hear from you! With NMHS, you'll find competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a balanced work environment. Interested in learning more? Check out the full job description below! https://ow.ly/2iil50Sqrma

Congratulations to Marie Barnes, director of Human Resources for North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc, on her recent retirement after 37 incredible years of dedication to our patients and team members. Marie graduated from South Pontotoc High School before obtaining her associate's degree at Itawamba Junior College. She went on to complete a bachelor of business administration from Tougaloo College and a master of business administration and economics from Jackson State University. Marie says she’s enjoyed serving on multiple committees, and that winning the Baldridge Award was one of her career highlights. The Baldridge Award is a national recognition given to healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in quality management and performance. When she reflects on his time with NMMC-Pontotoc, Marie says she’s enjoyed working on a variety of projects over the years and will miss her teammates. “Always treat others the way you want to be treated; be kind, honest, and respectful,” she shares. “These traits will carry you a long way in life.” Her biggest hope for retirement is to stay healthy and follow God’s plan. “Don’t forget that it’s the smaller things we do for others that matter the most and oftentimes make the biggest difference,” she says. Marie lives in Pontotoc with her husband James. The Barnes have two children, Kelsey Jermaine and Kaleb, and daughter-in-law Kaitlyn as well as two grandchildren, Kali and Ryker. “I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, especially my precious grandbabies,” says Marie. Congratulations on your retirement, Marie! We wish you the best retirement including lots of time with your family and grandchildren. Thank you for your dedication to our patients, you will be missed!

Starkville Pulmonary Clinic is pleased to announce the addition of Haley Murphy, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, to its team as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Murphy joined the clinic this spring, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a commitment to providing high-quality patient care. Read more about Haley and Starkville Pulmonary Clinic at: https://bit.ly/3RA0Ioe

North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton recently honored Angie Lewis as Star of the Year. Angie joined the NMHS team in 2011 as a surgical nurse at NMMC-Tupelo where she served patients for five years before moving to the Emergency Department. In 2022, Angie transitioned into her current role as an infection prevention specialist for NMMC-Hamilton, Marion Regional Nursing Facility and NMMC-Iuka. “Angie is a blessing to all that come into contact with her,” a peer wrote in her nomination. “Angie took the challenge of educating current and new employees on hand hygiene observations.” Her teammate noted that Angie goes above and beyond to keep everyone engaged in infection prevention practices, including crafting a bespoke gift basket for the winner of her monthly drawings. “I’m so thankful to come to a place every day that I truly love,” she shares of her role at NMMC-Hamilton. “It is such an honor to call this home.” Angie earned her bachelor’s in nursing from Bevil State and resides in Marion County with her husband, Tom Lewis. Congratulations, Angie!

Are you looking for a way to increase your paycheck while improving your skills? Our nursing staff can reward their continued education through our Clinical Ladder Program, specially designed to provide clear guidelines and support from leadership on your pathway to nursing excellence. Join our inpatient nursing team to level up your paycheck today! To learn more, reach out to a member of our Talent Acquisition Team: www.nmhs.net/careers

Mississippi is the epicenter of cardiovascular disease due to factors ranging from genetics to unhealthy eating habits, but there are ways to improve and maintain heart health at home.

Congratulations to Rhonda Lewis, a speech pathologist with North Mississippi Medical Center Home Health, on her retirement after an incredible 29 years of dedication to our mission. Rhonda joined the Home Health team in May 1991 and spent a decade there before transferring to Outpatient Rehabilitation in 2001 to work with pediatric patients. In 2007, after a short hiatus, she returned to Home Health. Rhonda graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in communication disorders and earned a master's degree in speech/language pathology in 1982. She holds an impressive range of additional qualifications, including the nationally recognized Certificate of Clinical Competence, a prestigious credential granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Achieving this certificate requires speech pathologists to pass a rigorous curriculum that goes beyond the minimum state requirements. “I will miss seeing the progress my patients have made in therapy,” Rhonda says, "and, of course, all the people I have met and friendships I’ve formed over the years!” Rhonda’s light-hearted nature and servant’s heart can be witnessed in the way she cares for her patients. She shares that the best part of her job has been making a difference in her patients’ lives. “It truly brightens my day when a patient or a family member inform me that they see progress in whatever area we are focusing on in therapy,” she says. A 2014 All Stars Award recipient, Rhonda plans to spend her retirement staying active with her Praying Friends group, as well as traveling and hunting in the early mornings with her husband, Jerry. They hope to visit Alaska next year to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Rhonda plans to invest more energy into volunteer work and join a book club, but she is exceptionally excited to spend more time with her grandchildren, Haselynn, Micha and Kennedy. “I'm looking forward to being able to pick them up after school and take them to activities,” she shares with a smile. Thank you for your years of service and dedication to our teammates, patients, families and communities, Rhonda. You will be missed!