Dr. Vergil Smith, 80, and Dr. J.T. O'Connor, Jr., 64, join with long-time clinic director Connie Barker on one of O'Connor's last days in the Mercy Health/Love County clinic. O'Connor will transition to serving long-term care patients on January 1. Smith and O'Connor have practiced together in Marietta since 1973.
Starting January 1, a familiar face will be missing from Mercy Health/Love County clinic.
Dr. J.T. O’Connor, Jr., will no longer be reporting to the clinic every day...
In the Pink: Callie Flanagan, 96, goes over her latest crocheting project with Don Sessions, Medicare Part D Volunteer Enroller. Open enrollment for prescription drug plans continues through December 31. Medicare beneficiaries may contact Sessions at 276-2333 for assistance.
Callie Flanagan will celebrate her 97th birthday on December 16. No specific plans have been announced, but if it goes like most days, she’ll likely:
Volunteers Rosa Jackson (left), Ella Toles, and Lula Finch filled and distributed over 300 food packages on a typical Tuesday at the hospital pantry. More volunteers are needed.
These are tough times for many families in Love County.
In the last year, the number of households getting food assistance has increased nearly every month, setting all-time records for usage of food stamps and charitable “grocery relief.”
Chance Weger (l), Chase Weger, and Teresa Tow, Mercy Health/Love County EMS/fire brigade, are the service’s latest paramedic graduates. Chance Weger was co-salutatorian of the class of 23.
Three more emergency medical technicians (EMT-Basics) have completed their paramedic education with Mercy Health/Love County EMS.
Teresa Tow, Chase Weger, and Chance Weger graduated in July, the second class of the only EMS-based paramedic education program in Oklahoma.
Therapy Plus: Hospital Board of Control president Darlene Beardsley, front row center, is joined by the physical therapy unit’s Brenda Beard (l) and Latronda Lornes, and (back) respiratory therapists Ron Kimery and Carolyn Garner in the doorway of the planned conference room segment of the new 3,500 square foot building. The therapy module is being lowered to the foundation on the right. The units will be joined and acquire a brick façade prior to opening in August.
An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic) course will be offered by Mercy Health/Love County EMS starting August 10.
Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until mid-November at the Emergency Services building on Merle Wolfe Road near the WinStar Golf Course.
Seating is limited and an entrance exam is required, according to EMS training officer Natasha West, who will teach the course.
Applicants must be age 18 and have a high school diploma.
A shiny new ambulance is scheduled for delivery at Mercy Health/Love County EMS in August.
The vehicle, which will replace an older model, will keep the fleet at five modern, full life support ambulances. Three will be on duty daily to speed paramedics to the aid of seriously injured or ill residents and visitors to the county, and two will be on standby.
All of the vehicles are equipped with diesel engines and none has more than 100,000 miles of usage, an enviable distinction for the...
Hitting the Books: Dr. Larry D. Powell, center, examines the 12-pound course manual for an advanced life support course Mercy Health/Love County will be co-sponsoring next week. Richard Barker, hospital administrator, (left), and Rod Hargrave, flex program coordinator of the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, will host the training for area rural hospitals at the Winstar Events Center.
Armed with a 12-pound course manual, a team from Mercy Health/Love County will undergo advanced...
Child Abuse Prevention Puppeteers: Holding hand puppets, speech students Erika Agpawa, Karli Plunkett, Brenton Brown, Lauren Navarro, and Trysta Kershner enjoy a light moment during rehearsal, as speech teacher Donna Plunkett, and Community Children’s Shelter counselor Stacey Letkeiwicz look on.
Four years as a puppeteer hasn’t diminished the satisfaction Brenton Brown takes as one of the unseen stars of the annual Child Abuse Prevention Month puppet show.
For two reasons, the Poker Run for Children raising money for the Child Advocacy Center (Sara’s House) on April 10 will make five stops, including at Mercy Health/Love County Hospital, Clinic and EMS.
First, there are five counties – Love, Carter, Johnston, Marshall, and Murray – using the center on 16 NW in Ardmore.
But five was also the average number of interviews child victims of rape or serious physical abuse -- the type of assault likely to result in criminal charges – formerly...
Sissy Burge of Marietta will speak on child abuse prevention efforts in the area to the Love County Community Coalition at a noon luncheon at the Love County Library on April 5.
She will be recognized for leadership as executive director of the C/SARA Foundation in Ardmore.
Her appearance is part of Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in Love County. The Community Coalition has actively supported the prevention, reporting, and treatment of child abuse and neglect for 20...
Coding Detective: Linda Dixon, manager of the health information management department of Mercy Health/Love County, has coded thousands of medical records for reimbursement by Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
Some of the most important work in healthcare takes place away from patients.
Coding, for instance.
Assigning the correct code to each medical diagnosis and procedure is especially critical.
Proper coding ensures that Medicare, Medicaid, or...
Back on Task: Training captain John Gilliam holds a 2009 award for dedicated service and teaching from Mercy Health/Love County Hospital, Clinic and EMS. Following back surgery, he has resumed training paramedics.
Paramedic training at Mercy Health/Love County Hospital, Clinic and EMS is back on track . . . because the trainer has his back on track.
Instead of starting the institution’s second paramedic class as planned last September, EMS training captain John Gilliam found...
Drop-in patients have a new option at Mercy Health/Love County clinic.
A physician assistant has joined the clinic specifically for sick people who are unable to obtain a same-day appointment with their regular practitioner.
“We welcome walk-in patients. They can now be seen in the clinic instead of going to the emergency room most weekdays,” said clinic director Connie Barker.
For most convenience, patients can arrange a same-day appointment with the new...