Women’s Center welcomes Dr. Carrisann Woods

Dr. Carrisann Woods

Cox Medical Center Branson is pleased to announce that Carrisann Woods, DO, has joined the Women’s Center team. She specializes in obstetrics and gynecology care.

Dr. Woods is a Springfield native and attended Drury University. She received her medical education at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Woods join our Women’s Center team,” said Tracey Williams, MSN, FNP, director of OB Women’s Services. “Dr. Woods trained at one of the top medical centers in the nation and at a facility recognized for its innovative patient care models. She comes with a passion for women’s health and as a mother herself, she has a unique understanding of the type of care women want and need.”

Dr. Woods has always been drawn to the medical field and knew early on she wanted to care specifically for women.

“I have always felt that if you take care of the mom, and the mother makes her health a priority, it trickles down to the rest of the family,” Dr. Woods said. “I really care about educating patients so that we can partner together in their care. That is really what the patient/physician relationship is about – partnering together for the patient’s best possible health.”

The Women’s Center at Cox Medical Center Branson expanded earlier this year, now offering complete care for women in one convenient location. Services include well-woman preventative and gynecologic care, mammography, ultrasound and bone density testing as well as lactation support and education.

“There are a lot of wonderful things happening at the Women’s Center and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Dr. Woods said.

Dr. Woods is joined in Branson by her husband, Richard, and their three children: Mary, 5; James, 4; and Clara, 22 months. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and taking her kids to soccer and karate lessons.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Woods, call 348-8313.

CoxHealth remembers Claudine B. Cox

We are remembering the Cox family today after the death of Claudine B. Cox over the weekend. Claudine Cox was 90.

Claudine Cox was the daughter-in-law of CoxHealth’s namesake, Lester E. Cox, wife of Lester L. Cox, mother of Barry Cox, a member of the CoxHealth Emeritus Board of Directors, and grandmother of current Cox College board member Amanda Barrett Cox.

Claudine Cox was a tireless supporter of CoxHealth, giving an enormous amount of her time to the organization through volunteering. Claudine served as a board member of Cox College from 1994-2006. The Claudine B. Cox Child Care Center is named in her honor.

We value her contributions and are thinking of the Cox family at this difficult time.

Visitation will be held at Klinger-Cope Family Funeral Home, 1635 N. Benton Ave., Springfield, on Friday, Sept. 5, from 4-6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Kingsway United Methodist Church, 2401 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow at the church. Interment at Hazelwood Cemetery will follow the reception. Online condolences may be left at www.klingner-midtown.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Cox College via the CoxHealth Foundation, 3525 S. National, Suite 204, Springfield, Mo 65807 in memory of Claudine.

Friday night lights = Friday Night Clinics

CoxHealth and Ferrell-Duncan Clinic are again offering Friday Night Clinics to all area high school athletes with sports-related injuries, beginning Friday, Aug. 19 at 9 p.m. The clinics offer an alternative to crowded emergency rooms when care is needed for a non-emergent injury sustained during play.

The clinics will be held in The Bone and Joint Center, 3555 S. National, Suite 200, in Springfield. Each Friday Night Clinic team is led by an orthopedic surgeon and includes a nurse, certified athletic trainer, radiology tech and clerical staff. Minor radiology exams are also available on-site to assist the physician with patient evaluation.

Insurance claims will be filed. Coaches and athletic trainers can refer an athlete to the clinic by calling 417/269-7778. The final sports injury clinic of the season will be Thursday, Oct. 27. For more information about Friday Night Clinics, click here.

CoxHealth and Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute join forces

CoxHealth and Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute, LLC (SNSI) have agreed to an exclusive partnership promising to expand access and services for patients throughout the region. This agreement will become effective Jan. 1, 2011.

SNSI is the largest private practice neurosurgery group in Missouri and has gained regional and national prominence for excellence in clinical care and outcomes research. The 12 subspecialty physicians at SNSI specialize in the treatment of brain, spinal and peripheral nerve disorders.

CoxHealth will purchase the clinic and assets of SNSI including their imaging center. The physicians will provide services to the clinic and the hospital. The 80 individuals employed by SNSI will become employees of CoxHealth.

“With this partnership, we expect to align physician and hospital incentives to improve access, expand services, reduce costs and create a seamless experience for patients. We will look back on this day and remember it as the day we began something very special for neurosciences in our region,” says Robert H. Bezanson, president and CEO of CoxHealth.

Dr. Mark Crabtree, neurosurgeon and managing partner of SNSI adds: “CoxHealth and SNSI have been working on tighter clinical and financial integration since October 2003, and we believe that this partnership will better prepare us to meet the future needs of the patients and communities that we serve.”

SNSI joins CoxHealth’s integrated health care delivery system through its professional services agreement (PSA) along with partner Ferrell-Duncan Clinic, Inc, and the CoxHealth employed physicians of Regional Services. CoxHealth and its physician partners plan to create a comprehensive neuroscience institute that will become an integral part of the Cox South campus with a goal of rivaling the best centers in the nation.

As a top 100 health care system, CoxHealth is committed to delivering on the proven benefits of integrated health care delivery. The joining forces of SNSI and CoxHealth further this effort to improve care for patients.

Experts, friends, neighbors on parade

CoxHealth took its “Be Heart Smart” message to the streets Saturday, Dec. 13 for the annual Springfield Christmas parade, whose 2008 theme was “At the Movies.”

The Heart Smart Kids band, which originally appeared in a promotional video now playing at Campbell 16 and Hollywood Theater, joined representatives from Marketing and Planning and Pre-Hospital Services to remind parade spectators to “Get up and exercise!” Christmas treats of heart-healthy popcorn were an extra crowd pleaser.

To view the Heart Smart video, visit coxhealth.com.

Metal is latest focus of recycling efforts

As part of CoxHealth’s ongoing environmental efforts, metals are now among the items being recycled at Cox.

Large bins for metal were added to the waste disposal area at the back of Cox South in September, joining the bins for paper and pallets of cardboard set for recycling.

Dieter Reichmann, plant facilities coordinator in Engineering, says the department is already providing a steady stream of metal with leftover bits and pieces from construction projects throughout the system.

The excess metal comes from large and small projects alike. Reichmann points to a few dozen discarded fluorescent light fixtures sitting near the dock.

“We normally take this to the Dumpster, but if we’re careful we can just take the glass out and put the metal frames in the bin for recycling,” he says.

In addition to metal created by engineering and construction projects, the recycling efforts also include streams from food services (containers for canned food, for example). Soon, containers for aluminum cans will be placed on floors at Cox South.

The metal is being handled by Commercial Metals Company Recycling, a national firm with local offices. CMC picks up the full bins and hauls them away for sorting and processing.

“The good thing is, we don’t have to pay for stripping insulation off of wire and things like that,” Reichmann says. “They do all of that, do a tally at the end of the month and cut us a check.”

With metal recycling in place, efforts are now under way to develop plastic recycling in the near future.

CoxHealth celebrates Veterans Day

CoxHealth celebrated Veterans Day today by thanking employees who have served their country in the military.

A reception was held at Cox South to recognize active duty personnel, veterans of past wars and those who have served during times of peace. The system also recognized employees who have a spouse, son or daughter in the armed forces.

Employees representing all branches of the military stopped by the reception at Cox South to share stories of their service, including Tracy Mitchell, QRD performance improvement manager, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1983-1988.

“Most people I work with are surprised I served in the military,” says Mitchell. “It’s important not to lose sight of the sacrifice people have made and are making for the security of our country.”

Dr. Martin Sellers, Cox College vice president of academic affairs, served as a Sergeant in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Sellers appreciates Cox for taking time to honor employees for their military service.

“All of the achievements of our nation are due in part to the contributions made by people in the military,” says Sellers. “So many people have given their lives for their country. I can’t think of anything more honorable than that.”

“We wanted to thank our employees who have served their nation to keep us all safe and to protect our freedoms,” says veteran John Hursh, vice president of Human Resources. “We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

“The number of CoxHealth employees who are also veterans is amazing,” says veteran Bob Bezanson, president and CEO, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1970-1981. “We are proud to salute our veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.”