Press Release Archive
Mental Health Provider at Hospital Wins Top Workplace Award
Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
Jessica Pfau, CEO, Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
December 18, 2024: The high honor of being named top workplace among large companies in Oklahoma in 2024 went to the area mental health organization that serves Love and eight other Southern Oklahoma counties.
Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers was recognized by The Oklahoman newspaper, which partnered with the employee survey firm Energage to identify the highest-quality workplaces.
In addition, Lighthouse CEO Jessica...
Growers Market Being Converted to Ambulance Station
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
Features of the former Growers Market Building on hospital grounds at 466 Legacy Park Lane are leading to its immediate conversion to medical services. Mercy Health Love County Hospital administrator Scott Callender addressed the topic last week.
“We have to serve the medical needs of the community first and our priority right now is to get our ambulance station and emergency department back to full strength,” he said.
The Growers Market Building has been out of commission since...
Hospital Elects New Board Chair
Monday, October 28th, 2024
Richard Barker of Marietta is the new chairman of the Love County Health Center Board of Control. Members Steve Smith, Andrea Locke, and Lenna Radde elected him to the post at a Board meeting on October 24.
Barker was hospital administrator from 1990 until his retirement in 2021. He was appointed to the Board in 2023. The members then voted to send to the Love County Commissioners the name of Connie Graham of Leon to fill the Board vacancy created by the recent death of former chair Dr....
Testerman was a Brilliant Leader
Tuesday, October 15th, 2024
Dr. Jack Testerman in 2022
The Love County Health Center Board of Control lost a brilliant chairman in the passing of Dr. Jack Testerman on September 29, 2024.
A professor of management, marketing, statistics, and entrepreneurship, Testerman brought a high level of knowledge to the office.
In failing health the past six months, Testerman conducted the September Board meeting at his home. He was 90 years old.
He had chaired the Board since 2013 and he had served as a member for an...
Medicare Capping Drug Costs in 2025
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
Starting in 2025, Medicare beneficiaries will see their out-of-pocket costs for outpatient prescription drugs capped at $2,000.
They also will be able to spread their out-of-pocket costs over a year if they opt into the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Now is the time to compare your current Medicare prescription drug plan against the plans that will be available in Oklahoma as of January 1, 2025. An open enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7.
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024Business and Medical Records Building Gets New Roof
Hospital Working With FEMA on Construction Grants
Monday, September 16th, 2024
Scott Callender, MBA, CPA
Hospital Administrator
(September 16, 2024) Five months after a powerful tornado struck Mercy Health Love County Hospital, demolition projects have begun, and the path to a new hospital is beginning to take shape.
Hospital Administrator Scott Callender, MBA, CPA, has been working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to line up support. FEMA is charged with providing relief to healthcare organizations via direct reimbursement for expenses and...
New Doctor, Yanet Camarena, Joins Clinic
Friday, July 26th, 2024
Yanet Camarena, M.D.
(July 26, 2024): There was excitement in the Mercy Health Love County Clinic on July 24. Dr. Yanet Camarena, M.D., had arrived to organize her office and treatment rooms. She would be starting her first medical practice the following week.
Her husband, Daniel White, their 21-month-old son, Gabriel, and a young niece, Karina Camarena, lent a helping hand (well, Gabriel clattered away on the computer keyboard), along with staff members of the clinic.
“I am very...
Patients Returning to Therapy Building
Friday, July 5th, 2024
Therapy Building Reopens
Following Tornado
Patient Relieved To Be Back: Debby Lambert of Enville worked out with
Marnie Rutledge, PTA, observing. "I appreciate them greatly," Lambert
said of the physical therapists at Mercy Health Love County Hospital.
The Therapy service reopened July 1 after closing for six weeks following
an April 27 tornado that struck the hospital.
Therapy Building Reopens July 1
Tuesday, June 25th, 2024
Therapy Building Reopens: The interior of the outpatient Therapy
Building is shown behind Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Wray
Turner in this 2017 photo.
Mercy Health Love County CEO and Administrator Scott Callender announced Tuesday that the Therapy Building will reopen July 1.
On duty will be Physical Therapist Josh Utt and Physical Therapy Assistants Marnie Rutledge and Brandi Suffal. Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Turner will be available as needed.
Parking and patient...
Hospital Food Pantry Has New Home at Greenville School Cafeteria
Monday, June 24th, 2024
Food Pantry Now at Greenville Cafeteria: Pantry volunteers take pride in the two
coolers supplied by Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Holding up bags of fruit and
produce are Lead Volunteer Lula Finch, Anthony Brown, Ann Graham, Debra Gaines,
Naomi Lornes (seated), Jim Ahern, LeAnn Hart, and Kevin Clements.
It’s official: the Hospital Food Pantry has a new home at the former Greenville School.
The charity’s volunteers dispensed fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food items there for...
Youth Group Cleans Up Hospital's Legacy Park
Sunday, June 23rd, 2024
June 24, 2024
Youth Clean Legacy Park: (From left) Blayden Bridgeman, Andrew
Green, Adelynn Bridgeman, Kendall Bridgeman, Kylie Frazier, Layla Bridgeman,
Hannah Bridgeman, Jackson Banta, Amelia Green, Kynzlee Frazier,
and Claire McGee.
While walking laps around the hospital's Legacy Park, Greg Hambrick noticed a lot of tornado debris still scattered over the area. The grounds crew was unable to mow the grass.
Hambrick knew what to do to help the hospital and give a meaningful...
Beyond Meat Does Amazing Good in Marietta
Tuesday, June 18th, 2024
By Barbara W. Sessions
Hospital Communications Consultant
Ethan Brown, president and owner of Beyond Meat, with Marietta Mayor Kermit Washington at the "Serve Love Beyond Sausage" free meal at The Taste Restaurant in Marietta on June 17, 2024.
Rodney Washington of The Taste Restaurant, served "Beyond Sausage" at Lions' Park on June 17. The plant-based hotdogs drew rave reviews from game fans.
Amazing company of the week has to go to Beyond Meat. This California-based food...
'Excited To Be Here' As Clinic Reopens
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024
No matter whom you asked on June 11, they were elated to have the Mercy Health Love County medical clinic reopen.
“We were all here at 7:30 this morning, just excited,” Clinic Director Misti Kirk told Channel XII.
“I’ve been a patient here for 18 months and need an appointment regularly, so this means a lot to me,” said Lola Reed of Burneyville, as she accepted the assistance of the hospital’s Angie Lang at the east door of the clinic -- the new entry.
The clinic building is the first...
It’s Official: Clinic Reopens June 11
Thursday, June 6th, 2024
(June 6, 2024): The Mercy Health Love County Rural Health Clinic in Marietta will reopen on Tuesday, June 11, Clinic Director Misti Kirk announced Thursday.
Appointments may be made by calling 580-276-2400.
It is the first time patients will be seen inside the clinic since a powerful EF 4 tornado struck the hospital campus on Wanda Street in Marietta on April 27.
Meantime the physicians and nurse practitioners have kept up with their regular patients through home, virtual and telephone visits,...
Clinic Opening Delayed
Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
Clinic Reopening Delayed
But Patients and Doctors Still Interacting
The Mercy Health Love County Clinic did not reopen as planned on May 28. The hospital issued a Facebook release last Thursday stating:
"We are sorry to inform you that during the process of readying the clinic to reopen, we found additional storm-related damage.
"In order to provide a safe clinic setting for our patients and coworkers, we are addressing these newly-found issues. Until the time we can fully reopen we...
Clinic Reopening May 28
Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
(May 8, 2024): Clinic director Misti Kirk announced today that the Mercy Health Love County Clinic will reopen May 28.
Regular clinic hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will resume.
This follows round-the-clock cleanup since an F4 tornado struck the Love County Health Center and nearby businesses on April 27.
All of the physicians and nurse practitioners will be on duty, Kirk said.
The exception to normal routine is that the patient entry has changed from the south side to the east side of...
Hospital Food Pantry Moved to Fair Bldg for Now
Tuesday, May 7th, 2024
While tornado cleanup continues, the services of the Mercy Health Love County Food Pantry Serving the Hungry and Food Insecure of Love County have been moved to the Love County Fair Building at 502 N. 2 St., Marietta, OK.
Hours of operation will be 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, starting on May 14, according to Love County Senior Volunteer Director Mary Jones.
"This will be a drive-thru handing out of food bags," Jones said. We will continue on this schedule and at the Fair Building until...
Seen and Heard at Tornado Press Conference
Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
County Clerk Shelly Russell, volunteer leader (r) with B. Sessions
Senator James Langford at press conference April 30, 2024.
City Administrator Scott Chaney and Marietta Mayor Kermit McKinney.
Staffers on Duty during the tornado meet Gov. Stitt April 30.
They are Jeff McGuire, Paramedic; Maria Maynard, P.A.; and
Curtis Hembree, Central Supply manager.
By Barbara W. Sessions
Hospital Communications Consultant
(May 1, 2024): The visit of state and national leaders on April...
Radiology Department Adds New Equipment, Service, and Technologists
Monday, February 5th, 2024
Marnetta Dorsey, Albert Bearden, and Blake Scott show off
the new x-ray equipment in the Radiology Department.
Other technologists serving patients are Curtis Hembree and
Jami Murray.
The radiology department at Mercy Health Love County in Marietta is bustling with new equipment, a new service, and new people.
Last December, the old x-ray equipment was taken out and replaced with a brand new Del Medical OTC 18 table, wall stand, and imaging device. The device is mounted to an overhead...
Take Action On Your Birthday Medigap Policy Holders
Monday, January 15th, 2024
Have you wanted to shop for a less-expensive Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) Plan but been turned down by insurers due to your health status?
Under a new rule in Oklahoma, Medicare beneficiaries already enrolled in a Medigap plan can now change plans each year without answering a health questionnaire. A “medical underwriting exception” was implemented last fall by the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
It is called the Oklahoma Medigap Birthday Rule because it can be utilized only around...