Meet our latest Daisy winners

Kristen Williams, Labor & Delivery

Nurse Kristen Williams was recognized for going beyond the call of duty to care for a patient with special medication needs. The patient presented to the OB triage withdrawing from a narcotic withdrawal drug. Due to the pregnancy, it was not in the best interest of the patient or the baby for the patient to suffer withdrawal, however, there was no success in reaching her provider or one of the two hospital physicians licensed to prescribe the drug.

Kristen then stepped in. She realized the patient was considering leaving against medical advice. She used critical thinking skills and made multiple calls until she found a physician able to solve the problem over a holiday weekend. She also coordinated pharmacy and social worker assistance to obtain and administer the medication. Dr. Lynn Cargill-Hickman, who nominated Kristen, says, “Not only was a baby’s life saved, but the patient was able to stay on her recovery program because of Kristen’s hard work and determination. She showed enthusiasm and energy in solving a patient care dilemma.” 

Melanie Lavoi, OB Women’s Services Cox Branson

Melanie Lavoi played a crucial role in helping a new mother learn how to nurse and best provide for her baby. The new mom praised her for her support and skill in helping a patient feel calm.

Her nomination read, “Melanie is an outstanding teacher and offers great wisdom to her patients. She is intentional with her patients, going out of her way to call after we went home simply to check on us and see how we were doing. She goes out of her way to make sure her patients feel cared for.”

Susan Kempf, Medical Unit, Cox Branson

Susan Kempf was recognized after a patient’s family member wrote that she did her best to comfort and encourage them during the hard process of losing a loved one.

The family member wrote that her husband was in and out of the hospital for three years. While all the staff members did a great job, Susan sticks out in her mind for the care she provided.

“At night, she always looked into the room to see if he was asleep. If he wasn’t, she would talk to him. Susan calmed any fears that my husband had in his last days and he went extremely peacefully,” the patient’s wife wrote. “Susan was there with a room full of family when he took his last breath. She told us all to keep talking to him because he could still hear us. I would not have known that and as a result, he heard a multitude of ‘I love you’s’ as he made his way back home.”

“Susan has given me many gifts: comfort, encouragement, inspiration, respect, joy, happiness,. Even though he is gone, Susan let me know he had told her he didn’t want family to worry about him. He would be fine. That is the greatest gift anyone could have given me.”

Tracy Taylor, Transitional Care Unit

Tracy Taylor was nominated by co-worker Brenda Wetta for the compassion she showed to a patient and the patient’s family. “I have to nominate Tracy Taylor for being the most incredible nurse I know,” said Brenda. As she came to work one day, she found Tracy holding the patient’s hand and consoling her until she fell asleep. Tracy had advocated for the patient with the transplant coordinator at another hospital and she had helped the family understand why they should not take the patient home against medical advice.

Brenda says, “My admiration continued as Tracy heard the family wanted to take their wife/mother to look at Christmas lights one last time and Tracy made that happen for the family despite initial answers of ‘no.’ She gave this family one of the most beautiful gifts: a special time and memory with their loved one.”

Allyson LaBee, 300 West

Allyson LaBee was nominated for a Daisy award after a physician noted the extraordinary care she provided for the husband of a patient.

The patient’s husband was having a difficult time emotionally and Allyson stepped in to offer comfort.

“Allyson, who was not the primary nurse, stayed in the room with the husband for more than 30 minutes until the chaplain could arrive. She went above and beyond to give compassionate nursing care,” the physician wrote. The doctor also noted, “This was definitely not a first for Allyson, as she is always going the extra mile for our patients.”

CoxHealth Recognized by the Hospital Engagement Network for implementing a hard-stop policy on early elective deliveries

The American Hospital Association/Health Research & Educational Trust, Hospital Engagement Network (AHA/HRET HEN) celebrates the three CoxHealth facilities, with labor and delivery units, for their implementation of hard stop policies to not allow scheduled deliveries prior to 39 weeks without a medical reason. See their video at this link.

Cox Medical Center South is the only Springfield medical center recognized by the Hospital Engagement Network for stopping early elective deliveries (EED). Cox Medical Center Branson and Cox Monett are also included on the list of Missouri hospitals and medical centers that have committed to patient and newborn safety by not allowing early elective deliveries.

In recent years, CoxHealth has been a strong advocate against early elective deliveries (EED). An EED includes C-sections and induced labor with medication prior to a full-term pregnancy of 40-weeks. Data shows early elective deliveries can result in increased length of stays, higher rates of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions, breathing and feeding problems and health risks to mothers and babies.

Nearly four years ago, CoxHealth implemented a policy for all elective inductions prior to 39 weeks. The success of this patient safety initiative resulted in CoxHealth being invited to present its findings to the Missouri Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association in Chicago.

“Before any elective pre-term delivery can be scheduled, approval is required from the OB Department Chairman or the Perinatologist if the elective delivery does not meet medical necessity criteria,” says Beth Rutherford, Administrative Director of Nursing, CoxHealth. “We have had excellent results from this initiative.”

In 2010 19% of births at CoxHealth were early elective delivery. Today, that number has dropped to nearly 0%. “An early elective delivery prior to 39 weeks would only be allowed in certain medical situations for the safety of the mother and baby,” says Rhonda Donnelly, RN, Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery, CoxHealth. “That would include diabetes or gestational diabetes, high blood pressure or preeclampsia.”

Patient safety drives policy change. “We are doing what’s right for baby and mother,” says Donnelly. “For newborns, the increased risks of elective early delivery include breathing problems and conditions such as cerebral palsy, which all increase a baby’s chance to be admitted to the NICU. As a result of this policy, CoxHealth has not admitted a single early elective deliver to the NICU for two years.”

CoxHealth has 1,350 deliveries each year at its facilities in Springfield, Branson and Monett.

Jeff Galloway brings his successful marathon training program back to Springfield

More than 200,000 people have trained for distance running using the Jeff Galloway Run-Walk-Run method, and now Galloway is bringing his program back to Springfield thanks to CoxHealth Fitness Centers. 

Galloway will kick-off a 6-month training program 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, at CoxHealth Fitness Centers at The Meyer Center, 3545 S. National, in Springfield. Participants will complete the program in time to run in the Bass Pro Outdoor Fitness Festival Marathon and Half Marathon this fall. 

The Galloway method minimizes time spent in training, reduces injury and fatigue, and has a greater than 98 percent marathon completion rate. The program can be used by beginning runners and experienced runners who want to run faster. 

After the kick-off, training sessions will be held 7:30 a.m., Saturdays, April 26 – Oct. 25, at Sequiota Park, 3500 S. Lone Pine, in Springfield. (Sessions will start earlier in the day when temperatures increase.) Program participants will receive a Jeff Galloway running shirt and book, once-a-week on-site coaching, discounts at local stores catering to runners and more. For participants who register June 1 or before, the fee is $99; after June 1 the fee is $120. Returning participants receive a discounted rate of $75. For more information or to register call CoxHealth Fitness Centers at 269-3282.

2014 recognition: Meet our Prestigious Partners

For the employees at CoxHealth, health care is more than a career, it is a calling – to help people when they need it most; to serve our community.

On Thursday, April 17, CoxHealth will host the annual Employee Recognition Banquet, which gathers staff members celebrating key anniversaries for an evening of recognition and fellowship. But the banquet doesn’t simply honor years of service – it celebrates the work we all do every day. The banquet honors our Prestigious Partners and Daisy Award winners as examples of the outstanding things done by the more than 1,000 employees we are recognizing this year.

Whether team members have been here five years or more than 50, they’ve touched the lives of our patients and their families.

This year’s CoxHealth Employee Recognition Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield. The evening will include dinner, employee recognition and the presentation of service awards. 

Each year at the Employee Recognition Banquet, CoxHealth honors the employees who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating Partners behaviors. The best of the year’s Partners Spirit Award winners are recognized as Prestigious Partners. Check out the 2014 winners below:


Russ Weller, Corporate Communications

Russ Weller was recognized for stopping on a hot day last summer to help a woman with a stalled car at the intersection of National and Primrose. The woman had run out of gasoline; Russ went to a gas station and returned to fill up the car so it could be moved.

After helping the woman, Russ noticed a police officer who had parked his motorcycle and was leaning against a tree near the intersection. Worried something was wrong, he asked if the officer was OK. After a brief conversation and realizing the officer might need some help, Weller brought fluids to the officer and stayed with him to make sure he was OK in the heat.

Ryan Sigle, Cath Lab, Cox Branson

Ryan Sigle received the Prestigious Partners recognition for his efforts to make sure a deceased patient’s wife received her husband’s personal belongings. The patient had a massive heart attack and arrived as a post-code, in very unstable condition to the Branson ER. During an emergency procedure in the Cardiac Cath Lab, the patient coded a second time. Staff members worked to resuscitate him, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

As the physician and chaplain informed the patient’s wife about the loss of her husband, she requested his personal belongings, including his watch, wedding ring and wallet. At first, the items could not be found. During the rapid preparations for the Cath Lab procedure, the patient’s clothing had been cut off and discarded due to being soiled. By the time this was discovered, the clothing and a bag containing the items had already made it to the large trash container outside the hospital. Determined to find the items, Ryan searched the trash until he had the mementos in hand. His efforts ensured that the patient’s wife had her husband’s belongings in her possession when she left the hospital.

Kevin Lasater and David Lunsford, Pre-Hospital

Kevin and David were returning from a call when they noticed a car on the side of the interstate with its flashers on. Concerned, they turned around. When they got to the vehicle, they found a woman sitting beside the road crying. They asked if they could help and if she was alone. They quickly learned she was deaf and speech-impaired. She was from Oklahoma City and had no means of calling for help. One tire on the car had blown out, so Kevin and David put on the spare tire and made sure she was able to travel on to her destination.

Dr. Timothy Jones named chairman of CoxHealth Joint Operations Committee

CoxHealth is proud to announce the appointment of Timothy Jones, D.O, FAAFP, as the hospital’s Joint Operations Committee (JOC) Chairman. Dr. Jones has been practicing family medicine at CoxHealth for 16 years. He graduated as Valedictorian and with honors from the University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Mo., in 1998. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and certified in Hospital and Palliative Medicine.

“Dr. Jones is a respected talent in the CoxHealth family,” explains Steve Edwards, President and CEO, CoxHealth. “He unequivocally stands out as the ideal candidate for the role of Joint Operations Committee Chairman. He has long been an engaged member and subcommittee chairman of the JOC, all while serving as the medical director for CoxHealth Network and dedicated family physician to his patients. As an esteemed leader, Dr. Jones will continue a long tradition of positive physician relations within CoxHealth.”

The JOC is a joint physician administrative committee that assures physician voice in the day to day operations of CoxHealth. The JOC is comprised of CoxHealth senior physicians and administrative leaders. Subcommittees of the JOC include Commercial Contracting, Clinic Operations, Electronic Records, Technology Assessment, Electronic Health Records, and Evidence Based Practice.

Branson pancake breakfast benefits Cardiac Patient Scholarships

For immediate release
April 8, 2014

The sixth annual pancake breakfast benefiting the CoxHealth Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation patient scholarship fund is Saturday, April 12, 7 – 10 a.m. at Applebee’s on Hwy 76 in Branson. Last year more than $1,200 was raised for the patient scholarship fund.

Tickets are $6 and are on sale at CoxHealth Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab, 1150 State Hwy 248, Branson or from any Branson Mended Hearts Support Group member.

After a cardiac or pulmonary event, such as a heart attack or surgery, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation is often prescribed to help a patient get back to a pre-incident quality of life. “It’s an important part of recovery,” says Jan Harper, Director of CoxHealth Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab. “So it can be a real problem for a patient who can’t afford to participate in rehab because they are uninsured or underinsured.”

The Mended Hearts Support Group organizes this annual fundraiser. The support group offers help and encouragement to heart patients and their families. Find out more about this support group by calling CoxHealth Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, 417/335-7229 or online at www.coxhealth.com/branson.