Baptist’s Expansion to Focus on Patient Experience

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

Jackson, Miss. – February 13, 2008 – This year, an historic event will take place in Jackson, Miss. as Baptist Health Systems, Inc., begins the count to its 100th anniversary with completion of a new tower attached to the west side of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center.

In 1908, two Jackson physicians opened a clinic at the corner of Manship and North State Streets, which, in 1911 became Mississippi Baptist Hospital, Jackson’s first hospital. Construction of the new tower will commemorate the 100th year a hospital will be in this location.

The 205,000 square foot tower will be six levels with dedicated entrances for both a women’s and cardiovascular hospital.

“This addition will add more than space. It’ll enhance the experience of patients and visitors,” added Baptist Spokesman Robby Channell. “We conducted focus groups to find out what was most important to our patients.”

Baptist for Women will offer direct access to services such as The Birthplace at Baptist, an expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other women’s areas.

To more accurately reflect the range of services it provides, Baptist Heart Services is now called Baptist Cardiovascular Services. Many of the procedures at Baptist involve the vascular system (veins and arteries) not just the heart. The Cardiovascular Center will give patients and visitors one entrance to access all cardiovascular services. It will occupy the first through third floors.

The atrium area will house the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program and focus on prevention and wellness. In addition, the Outpatient Cardiovascular Unit, which is an expansion of the existing unit, is designed for all outpatient and select inpatient procedures related to cardiovascular patients. A new service, called Cardiovascular Interventional Unit, will focus on nursing care for the short stay, interventional patient. It will rapidly ambulate, educate and discharge patients having minimally invasive procedures. There will also be two 24-bed units designed for medical surgical cardiovascular patients.

“Expanded facilities, enhanced access of services, and fluid process design will provide a satisfying comprehensive experience for our patients and physicians. We are very excited to introduce our new Cardiovascular Center to the community,” said Baptist Cardiovascular Services Director Heather Sistrunk, RN, BSN.

In addition, Baptist Cardiovascular Services has a new comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) program within the new facility. A team of cardiac electrophysiologists, nurses and electrophysiology (EP) staff can help patients decide which option(s) might work best when it comes to managing the abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. AFib can have very serious complications that include stroke, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and even death. Our team understands the complexities associated with Afib and is leading the state in providing all treatment options. Baptist Cardiovascular Services serves as a complete source for education, medical, ablative, surgical treatments and outcome measures for the management of atrial fibrillation (Afib).

According to the American Heart Association, AFib is the most commonly diagnosed arrhythmia. Approximately 2.2 million people in the US have Afib. Sistrunk added that those diagnosed with Afib understand the burden it bestows.

“Limitation of normal activity, loss of work, high cost of medications, and problematic side effects from drugs all may be associated with this condition. At Baptist, we want to provide all treatment options so that the patient along with his/her physician can appropriately determine an individualized management strategy that best suits the needs of the patient,” Sistrunk expressed.

For more information on the tower and other services, visit www.mbhs.org/tower.

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