Newsroom

The warm weather of summer creates more opportunities for people to spend time outside. Whether you are working, exercising, or doing other activities it is important to protect yourself from heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Know what to expect when you are planning outdoor activities by checking the temperature and heat index. Try to plan exercise and outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, early morning and late afternoon. “Spending time in cool, air conditio... ... Read More

Gretta Madison never thought she’d see the day when she’d be wearing her 20-year-old daughter’s jeans. Madison has lost 120 pounds as a result of bariatric surgery performed by David Carroll, MD, FACS, FASMBS, surgeon and medical director of the bariatric program at Merit Health River Oaks. Making several long-term lifestyle changes following the surgery has helped Madison maintain an optimal weight of 130. Today, she's happily swapping clothes with her daughter and regularly receiving compliments from ... ... Read More

Every year in the United States, more than 600,000 people have a new stroke and 130,000 of those strokes are fatal. The American Heart Association states more than 795,000 people in the US have a stroke in a year. Stroke accounts for approximately 1 of every 19 deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 80% of strokes could be prevented through controlling the health conditions that raise your risk for stroke. “Anyone - including children - can have a... ... Read More

Employees of Merit Health hospitals are now eligible for new and enhanced benefits designed as pathways to help them eliminate existing student debt faster, pursue additional professional education, and advance their careers. The goal in offering Merit Health Pathways benefits is to support and retain employees and attract a strong workforce, especially frontline nurses, technicians, therapists and other clinicians and caregivers, along with support personnel. Benefits include a new student loan repayme... ... Read More

Family medicine nurse practitioner Mallory Vandevender, FNP-C, has joined Merit Health Medical Group in Flowood. Vandevender received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama. Vandevender can treat your entire family for everything from minor emergencies to chronic disease management and preventive care. Services and conditions treated include: Minor injuries, including cuts, sprains and... ... Read More

Merit Health is honoring five nurses who have been selected to receive a Nursing Excellence Award. This peer-nominated award, given in recognition of the critical role nurses play in treating patients, was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position and who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence. “Merit Health is fortunate to have many outstanding nurses like these among our ranks - nurses who deliver exemplary care, compassion and servi... ... Read More

A new, minimally invasive option for hysterectomy procedures is now available to central Mississippi patients. Known as vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES), the advanced gynecologic technique provides many benefits to female patients, such as a shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, no visible scars, and a faster recovery time. W. Ashley Hood, D.O., and William Bush, M.D., members of the medical staff of Merit Health River Oaks, have been specially trained on this i... ... Read More

Merit Health River Oaks has named Jonathan Koonce as the new chief operating officer. Koonce will be responsible for supporting the overall strategic operations of the hospital including oversight of multiple ancillary departments and physician recruitment. Koonce comes to Merit Health River Oaks from Crozer Keystone Health System (CKHS) in Upland, PA, where he served in several leadership positions since 2018. In his most recent role as hospital administrator for Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, PA, Koo... ... Read More

Merit Health Heart is the new umbrella name for the network’s multidisciplinary specialists in cardiology, imaging, nutrition and cardiovascular surgery, who are working together to prevent and treat heart disease through advanced care and services to heart patients in the Jackson metropolitan, Vicksburg and Hattiesburg areas. Merit Health has continually invested in resources to advance cardiac services and recruit providers to enhance local access to care. “When you put your heart in our hands, you ge... ... Read More

As another year comes to an end, I would like to say thank you to the people who keep healthcare moving forward in Mississippi. Top of mind for me is a thank you to the outstanding staff at our Merit Health hospitals and clinics across the region. These team members deliver safe, quality healthcare, and have continued going above and beyond in this second year of the pandemic. They attend to the ebb and flow of patient surges and adjust to ever-changing guidelines. Delivering care with compassion, they ... ... Read More