Newsroom

Merit Health is hosting a nursing career fair Tuesday, October 23 from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn first-hand about RN and LPN openings at our Jackson area and Vicksburg hospitals. While meeting with Merit Health nursing leadership, participants will enjoy refreshments, giveaways and more. There’s Merit in opportunities! Please RSVP to Mark.Beason@MyMeritHealth.com . The MS Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is located at 1152 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 3921... ... Read More

We are pleased to announce Jackie Williams as human resources director of Merit Health Rankin, Merit Health River Oaks and Merit Health Woman’s Hospital. Jackie started in human resources 30 years ago with Merit Health Central and most recently served as human resources director of Merit Health Madison. Jackie holds her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Jackson State University in Jackson. Please join us in welcoming Jackie to our leadership team. ... Read More

Unless you or someone you know has experienced gout, you may think of it as a disease from the distant past that doesn’t get much mention today. But gout is still very much with us, and the number of Americans affected is increasing alongside the increases in obesity and other associated conditions. “Somewhat simplified, gout occurs when excess uric acid forms into crystals within a joint, resulting in inflammation, pain and other symptoms,” Shuja Yousuf, M.D., said. “The good news is, gout is one of th... ... Read More

Is anyone you know over the age of 50 completely free from knee pain? It seems everyone suffers with stiff or painful knees at least occasionally, and research indicates that up to 30% of the adult population is living with at least some osteoarthritis, in one or both knees. Until the age of 50, the condition is equally common in men and women, but prevalence in women increases after 50. As the U.S. population ages, and becomes more active later in life, the demand for stronger and healthier knees conti... ... Read More

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among adults in the United States. Over 140,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with CRC in 2018. Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) issued new screening guidelines, making a qualified recommendation that routine colon cancer screening begin at age 45 years. The ACS estimates that more than 16,000 new cases of colon or rectal cancers will be diagnosed this year in Americans under 50. Some people are at higher r... ... Read More

Gassing up the grill this summer? July is the peak month for grilling- and for burns involving grills. Don’t invite burns to your summer cookout. Here are some tips provided by the JMS Burn Center, located at Merit Health’s Merit Health Central facility in Jackson, to help you avoid burn injury: Make sure the grill is at least 10 feet away from other objects, like houses or bushes. Check your gas grill for leaks with soapy water. Spray on gas line connections, and if it bubbles, there's trouble. Never s... ... Read More

So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally – it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to a healthy life. Merit Health is raising awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health. Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you healthy all around. “A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or wors... ... Read More

Merit Health River Oaks has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. Merit Health River Oaks earned the award b... ... Read More

Merit Health physicians, leaders and clinicians recently gathered to celebrate the Center of Distinction Award, which was given to Merit Health Central and Merit Health River Oaks by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. The Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for twelve consecutive months, including patient satisfaction higher than 92 percent, and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 91 percent within 30 median days to heal. There were 635 Centers eligi... ... Read More

Merit Health River Oaks recently honored its very first DAISY award recipients, Angel Swartz and Lauren Thompson, with a surprise reception on the hospital’s pediatric unit. Both Swartz and Thompson received a certificate and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved from stone by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was developed in memory of Patrick Barnes. Patrick suffered from the auto-immune disease, Idiopathic Thrombocytopen... ... Read More