Category: General News

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is now offering Breastfeeding Basics, a FREE breastfeeding class for expecting mothers. Classes are lead by MCCH Lactation Consultant, Victoria Adams, RN and will be held on Thursday, July 14^th, Thursday, September 8^th, and Thursday, November 10^th, 2022, from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, in the Dalton Conference Room at Murray-Calloway County Hospital. The Dalton Conference Room is located on the First Floor of the North Tower. Participants should enter at the West Entrance on 9^th Street, across from the Regional Cancer Center.

Breastfeeding Basics will teach expecting mothers the benefits of breastfeeding and educate on exclusive breastfeeding. Attendees will also learn how to initiate breastfeeding and the benefits of skin-to-skin after delivery, how to prepare and get breastfeeding off to a successful start and what to expect in the first few days of breastfeeding a newborn. Techniques on how to hold and latch a newborn will be covered during the session.

In addition to Breastfeeding Basics, Kim Todd, RN, WIC Coordinator will offer information on health programs available through the Calloway-County Health Department.

MCCH offers Lactation Consultation on an inpatient and outpatient basis, throughout pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum. The service is available during pregnancy on an outpatient basis with Alycia Janow, LPN, at Women’s Health of Murray, during the delivery hospital stay with Victoria Adams, RN, and outpatient post-partum with Jadi McBride, RN, at Murray Pediatrics.

For more information on Breastfeeding Basics classes, to register for the class and other Lactation Consultation services at MCCH, call Victoria Adams, RN, at 270.762.1940.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is pleased to welcome Jessica Pandolfi, DNP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, to the hospitalist team.

Dr. Pandolfi, APRN completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Murray State University. She has worked as a Registered Nurse since 2015 in critical and intensive care in various hospitals. Most recently, she worked as an Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner for Trigg County Medical Clinic in Hopkinsville where she provided care to patients of all ages in a variety settings including both inpatient and outpatient.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, camping, and spending time with her dogs.

Dr. Pandolfi, APRN will join Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the hospitalist team. If you have any questions, please contact the Marketing Department at 270.762.1381 or visit www.murrayhospital.org.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is pleased to welcome Amanda Riggins, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, to Murray Pulmonology.

Ms. Riggins completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing from Austin Peay State University. She has worked as a Registered Nurse at MCCH since 2014 in various departments including CCU, PCU, Wound Care, and Med/Surg. Most recently, she worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Paris, TN, where she provided care to patients of all ages.

She is married with two boys, and enjoys spending time with her family, running, and collecting plants.

Ms. Riggins will join Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the practice of Murray Pulmonology alongside Dr. Shastri. If you have any questions, please contact the Marketing Department at 270.762.1381 or visit www.murrayhospital.org.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is pleased to welcome Jennifer Hudgin, APRN, to Murray Orthopaedics.

Ms. Hudgin completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Kentucky University and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana. She has taught as a preceptor for new registered nurses in the hospital setting, for several Family Nurse Practitioner students during their practicum, and with nursing and athletic training students at Murray State.  She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2014 in urgent care, on the campus of Murray State University as the provider to faculty and students, and at a family practice.

She is married to her husband Jeremy and they have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys any sporting event.

Ms. Hudgin will join Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the practice of Murray Orthopaedics alongside Dr. Richard Blalock II.  If you have any questions, please contact the Marketing Department at 270.762.1381 or visit www.murrayhospital.org.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital is pleased to welcome John McB. Hodgson, MD, Interventional Cardiologist who is focused on coronary and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Hodgson completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Internal Medicine. He continued his education with fellowships in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. He is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and past president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).

During his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Dinah and their three children, international mission work, skiing and woodworking.

Dr. Hodgson will join Dr. Homayuni at Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the practice of Murray Cardiology Associates to lead the Murray Heart and Vascular program.

Murray-Calloway County Hospital recognized National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week with the theme #WeAreHealthCare, which showcases the pride and resiliency of front line workers in America’s hospitals and health systems

National Hospital Week (NHW), followed the theme We Are Health Care — recognizing the women and men who work in America’s hospitals and health systems and the vital role they play in our society. MCCH celebrated with events which included a pancake breakfast, cookout, and wellness Wednesday for staff.

LOUISVILLE, KY – (May 19, 2022) The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) presented several awards on May 18 at the 93^rd Annual KHA Convention. This year’s event was held at the newly renovated Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.

KHA’s Award of Excellence was presented to David Anderson, chief executive officer of Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield, Kentucky, and Jerome Penner, FACHE, chief executive officer of Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Kentucky.

KHA’s Award of Excellence is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to health care in Kentucky. Anderson and Penner were honored for their leadership as their hospitals worked together to provide care for victims after the December 10, 2021, tornado in western Kentucky.

When the tornado hit Mayfield, Jackson Purchase Medical Center did not sustain much damage compared to the heart of the town. However, with so many people in the direct path of the storm needing immediate medical care, many other area health care providers like Murray-Calloway Country Hospital had to leap into action to help their neighbors in trouble. Within moments of the tornado touchdown, Penner reached out to Anderson to offer help. As a result, Murray-Calloway County Hospital was able to take care of several tornado victims.

The two CEOs coordinated their response to the disaster, and thanks to the leadership and collaborative efforts of Anderson and Penner, many lives were saved that day.

As they received the award, both Anderson and Penner accepted on behalf of their entire hospitals’ staff members and clinical teams pointing out it took the commitment of the full team to successfully respond in this emergency. The two also thanked EMS and first responders for their quick response to those in need. Anderson continued his thanks expressing his gratitude to the hospital community for their support and noted, “We will rebuild not just Mayfield, but all of the commonwealth impacted by this devastating storm.”

About the Kentucky Hospital Association: KHA was established in 1929. The Association represents hospitals, related health care organizations, and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health status of the citizens of Kentucky. The Association is headquartered in Louisville.

Suzanne Seeley, Nutrition Coordinator retires from Murray-Calloway County Hospital after 42 years of service.

“I graduated from Murray State and never regretted my field of study. I first became interested in being a dietitian when I was a freshman at Lyon County High School. My dad, who was a hard worker and very active, began falling asleep when sitting down to watch the nightly news and was drinking huge amounts of water.  Eventually, he went to the doctor and found out that he had diabetes. I watched him change his eating habits and take medication for his diabetes, and saw how that made a difference in him feeling terrible all the time to feeling good again. That sparked my interest along with the science behind it,” said Suzanne.

Suzanne said healthcare has changed greatly over the years and remembers how surgeries like gall bladder removal kept patients in the hospital for days and today this surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. She also discussed how nutrition services are now an integral part of preventative care and a patient’s overall plan of care and how these services are now offered on an outpatient basis through the wellness center for the community to schedule an appointment, and how MCCH is moving forward and developing a diabetes education program through Murray Medical Associates.

“When I started as registered dietitian at MCCH in 1979, Mr. Poston was the CEO.  We were a smaller employee group and very much like family.  I will always be grateful that Mr. Poston insisted I come for an interview as I had already accepted a dietitian position at one of the Paducah hospitals.  I had worked at MCCH while as a student at MSU. Once I walked around the hospital after my interview, I instantly felt like I was “back home” and accepted the job,” she stated.

Pictured: Cadelia Turpin, Rebecca Wright, Alyssa Bryan, Amy Ferguson, Suzanne Seeley, Lauren Jones, Amy Fennel, and Anne Newberry – Registered and Licensed Dietitians.

Pam Keller, Laboratory Coordinator retires from Murray-Calloway County Hospital after 25 years of service. She has over 44 years in the profession and has continued to stay throughout Covid to help implement the new molecular technology that was needed.

“I like my job still and developing the team concept and encouraging everyone to do their best and try to look for the good in everyone. I feel blessed I’m in a profession you can continue to grow in knowledge and maturity every day,” she said.

Pam is married to her husband Randy of 27 years who is employed as a professor of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University. During her retirement, she plans to cycle more, attend all the Racer games in the new conference, and spend time with her family. She would also like to travel to Argentina and New Zealand at some point.