South Central Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the expansion of cancer services with a new facility set to open in early 2024. South Central Cancer Center, currently located at 1203 Jefferson Street, will relocate services to a multi-million dollar facility located in the former Emergency Department at South Central Regional Medical Center.

The new facility will offer medical oncology/hematology services, chemotherapy treatment, outpatient infusion treatment, more exam rooms, public spaces, better amenities, convenient parking and an unprecedented experience for our patients and their loved ones. South Central Cancer Center is designed for outpatient care and continuity of service in a setting that is easily accessible while serving the patient’s health needs. Our experienced team of healthcare providers and specially trained staff are excited to offer services in the new facility.

Early Detection

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Within the United States there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors. This is because most breast cancer can be completely cured if it is detected early. There is a 1-in-8 chance that a woman will have invasive breast cancer some time during her life, so regular screenings are very important for early detection and survival of the disease.

Most breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous) growths that do not spread and are not life-threatening. However, there are many different types of breast cancer. Breast cancer can become a very serious disease in the advanced stages that can spread through the lymph system to other parts of the body.

Risk Factors

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, women in Mississippi who are likely to have advanced stages of breast cancer include minorities, elderly women and the medically underserved. This reflects differences in access to screenings and access to information about the symptoms of breast cancer. Although positive family history is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer, there are several other risk factors that have also been identified.

Women identified to be at higher risk for developing breast cancer include:

• Women who do not have children or had them later in life
• Women who have recently used birth control pills
• Women who receive Postmenopausal Combination Hormone Therapy not estrogen alone
• Women who did not breast feed
• Women who drink alcohol
• Women who are overweight or obese
• Women who do not exercise

Comprehensive Cancer Care

South Central Cancer Center provides comprehensive cancer treatment to breast cancer patients in Laurel and the surrounding areas. Lisa Bond, MD, Hematologist/Medical Oncologist, Sandeep Singh, MD, Hematologist/Medical Oncologist and CJ Dennis, FNP, are part of the care team at South Central Cancer Center. Our facility prides itself in providing excellent care within our local medical community. We have all of the components of state-of-the-art breast cancer treatment in Laurel including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, diagnostic imaging and cosmetic reconstruction services.

The two most important recommendations to women for early detection and survival of breast cancer are to do monthly self-breast exams and yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Contact your OB-GYN provider or Primary Care provider immediately if you notice anything at all that might be a symptom of breast cancer. By offering women 3D mammograms, the center hopes to increase the number of area women who follow recommendations for regular screenings.

For more information on the comprehensive cancer program in Laurel at South Central Cancer Center, please visit our website at scrmc.com. Click here to read the full feature.

South Central Behavioral Health provides opioid addiction treatment and recovery in Laurel and surrounding areas. Amandeep Singh, MD, Psychiatrist, works with each patient to meet their specific needs. Medication-Assisted Treatment is an outpatient service, so the participant can continue to recover while continuing their daily activities like work, schooling and home care uninterrupted.

Our Services for Opioid Addiction Treatment:

• Medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone medication to address withdrawal symptoms and cravings
• Medical exams with our physician at each visit to ensure safety
• Convenient outpatient services
• No referral required
• Confidential treatment provided

Suboxone medication is used as a safe alternative to satisfy the needs of patients who have experienced substance abuse. The benefits of Suboxone treatment include lowering the potential for misuse, suppressing opioid withdrawal and decreasing the craving symptoms. 

To learn more about this service or to schedule an appointment, call 601-426-9614. The facility is located at 1105 Adams Street in Laurel.

Dense breast tissue can obscure lesions on a traditional mammogram, making cancers harder to detect. Ask your doctor if a 3D mammography™ exam fits your profile and needs. Call your medical provider’s office today. 3D Mammography exams are available at South Central Regional Medical Center.

Invenia™ ABUS – Dense Breast Screening

About 40% of women have dense breast tissue. And for these women, mammograms alone may not be enough to find breast cancer. South Central Regional Medical Center now offers Invenia™ ABUS, the only breast cancer screening technology FDA-approved for detection in women with dense breast tissue.

What does Breast Density mean? Breasts are made of fat and breast tissue. Some women have more fat than breast tissue while others have more breast tissue than fat. When there is more breast tissue the breast is considered dense. On a mammogram dense tissue looks white. Since masses or lumps also appear white on a mammogram, a suspicious lump may be masked by the dense breast tissue.

Dense breast tissue is also linked with an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer. Women with extremely dense breast tissue have a 4 to 6 times greater risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not have dense breast tissue. Invenia™ ABUS helps physicians look differently at dense breast tissue.

Breast density is determined by the radiologist who reads your mammogram and classifies the density into one of four categories. Your doctor will tell you if you have dense breasts based on your mammogram’s classification on the density scale.

Visit scrmc.com/services/mammography today to learn more.

Lauren Thompson, RN, has been a member of the South Central Regional Medical Center family for four years. Lauren, who is a Jones County native, works on the Telemetry floor at SCRMC.

As a telemetry nurse, Lauren provides treatment to patients experiencing chest pain, post cardiac arrest, heart failure, and other health issues. “I absolutely love what I do and the team I work with,” says Lauren. “I chose South Central because the people I work with make the bad days better. Being a caregiver can be difficult; however, we have a great staff, from physicians to techs, that offer excellent care.”

At SCRMC, our goal is for employees to choose us. Our health system offers extensive benefits and competitive pay rates. By choosing South Central, you become a part of our healthcare family. To view our open positions at South Central, visit scrmc.com/careers.

During the month of October, the Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center is offering 20% off Photofacials, Facial Resurfacing Packages and Obagi Blue Peel.

This month, let us help you minimize the appearance of dull and uneven skin to reveal a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. These services are the perfect way to freshen up your skin!

Call today – 601-425-7522. Offer valid through 10/31/2023.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a cutting-edge medical procedure that harnesses the healing power of your own blood. It involves drawing a small sample of your blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets, growth factors, and other beneficial components, and then injecting this PRP back into the body at targeted areas.

Benefits of PRP for hair restoration:

• Stimulates hair growth.
• Strengthens existing hair.
• Improves hair thickness and density.
• Enhances overall hair health.
• Minimizes hair loss.

Don’t suffer from hair loss anymore! South Central Dermatology offers PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections for hair loss. PRP is extremely safe because we inject your own white blood cells into the scalp to stimulate hair follicles. Your hair will grow thicker and the appearance of hair loss will improve for both men and women! If you are interested please call 601-425-4860 to schedule today!

Osteoporosis is a growing healthcare crisis affecting millions of women and men worldwide. Over 77% of American women with osteoporosis are undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Most people do not know they have osteoporosis until they break a bone, such as your hip, wrist, or spine. The sooner a healthcare provider diagnoses osteoporosis, the less likely you are to experience bone fractures. Fortunately, osteoporosis is detectable and treatable, and testing is safe and non-invasive.

Alison Redding, MD, Internist at South Central Internal Medicine, explains osteoporosis. “Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that is characterized by loss of bone density and increases your risk of developing a fracture. Because women are at the highest risk, we begin screening all women at age 65. Those who have low estrogen, who are postmenopausal, and even men who have low testosterone are at risk for developing osteoporosis. We have also found that people who smoke, take certain medications for an extended period of time, have low calcium intake, and do little exercise, are more prone to develop this disease.”

The unique thing about osteoporosis is that it does not have symptoms the way lots of other health conditions do. Healthcare providers often call it a silent disease.

Dr. Redding states, “The most common signal to a person is suddenly breaking a bone, especially after a small fall or minor accident that usually would not cause a fracture. Individuals may notice a few changes in their body that can mean their bones are losing strength or density.”

The warning signs of osteoporosis can include: losing an inch or more in height, changes in natural posture, shortness of breath, and lower back pain. These signs can indicate that you should visit a healthcare provider for a bone density test.

A bone density test is an imaging test that measures the strength of your bones. It uses X-rays to measure how much calcium and other minerals are in your bones. South Central Regional Medical Center offers the Horizon DXA system from Hologic. This imaging technology provides advanced diagnostic tools to support early detection and treatment of the disease.

“Once we have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, we want to make sure you receive enough calcium and vitamin D,” said Dr. Redding. “This can be through diet or over the counter supplementations. We also put emphasis on weight bearing exercises. Adding running, brisk walking, or muscle strengthening can build muscles around your joints to help protect your bones.”

After making lifestyle modifications, the most common treatment is through medications. Dr. Redding states, “We can offer antiresorptive medications to increase bone strength in individuals. Anabolic agents can stimulate bone formation and aide in the treatment of osteoporosis. There are many options available now to help treat this disease and maintain quality of life.”

“If you are having pains in any of your bones, let your healthcare provider know,” said Dr. Redding. “It may be a fracture that you have not found. Again, it is recommended for all individuals, ages 65 and older, to have a bone density test. There are also other medical conditions that qualify people for a bone density exam. The best way to determine this is by talking with your healthcare provider.”

Dr. Redding is an internist at South Central Internal Medicine who provides comprehensive medical treatment for adults. Along with treatment for osteoporosis, the staff provides wellness prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic care patients. South Central Internal Medicine is accepting new patients. Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans are accepted. South Central Internal Medicine is located inside of South Central Clinics at 1203 Jefferson Street in Laurel, directly across from SCRMC. For an appointment, call 601-649-2863.

Working with your hands day after day can take a toll on them, causing pain, numbness, and weakness. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one condition that many individuals can experience. Kristal Forthner-Jones, a local accountant for the City of Laurel, began experiencing all these symptoms, but it was not until the pain woke her in her sleep that she sought treatment.

Mrs. Jones, who lives in Paulding, is married to Sedrick, and has a 12-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. She explains what led her to seek medical help. “I have worked for over 18 years with the City of Laurel. I experienced a lot of overuse in my left hand. At first, it was small aches and numbness here and there, but this past May was when the pain increased tremendously. I was noticing pain that would wake me from my sleep and it was causing me to not be able to perform certain job duties or participate in activities with my kids. At this point, I knew I needed to seek medical treatment.”

Mrs. Jones visited Thomas Baylis, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon at South Central Orthopedics in Laurel. “Dr. Baylis evaluated my hand and wrist, and then ordered a nerve study with local neurologist, Gulshan Oberoi, MD, at South Central Neurology. The testing determined that I had advanced carpal tunnel syndrome. Because of the severity at that time, injections and therapy would not help, so I scheduled surgery with Dr. Baylis.”

Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical treatments include wearing a wrist brace during the night, therapy services to reduce pain and undergoing cortisone injections. Surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome is a carpal tunnel release, which is an outpatient surgical procedure.

“I believe my pain increased so much because I delayed treatment. I was nervous about having surgery,” said Jones. “But, surgery was very easy. I was really sore for a few days following the procedure, but looking back I am so glad I had it done. I was on medical leave from work for 3 weeks, and soon after started occupational therapy at South Central Rehabilitation Services with Alaura.”

Alaura Culpepper, MOTR/L, CHT, is the only certified hand therapist in Jones County. Culpepper evaluates and treats any upper limb problem, providing post-operative rehabilitation, preventative, non-operative or conservative treatment, or industry consultation. She works closely with each patient’s medical provider to provide a continuum of care, starting within days of injury or surgery and continuing until the patient can return to work and have a productive lifestyle.

Mrs. Jones has received occupational hand therapy for 6 weeks. As part of her therapy, she received paraffin hand baths, fludiotherapy, ultrasound, deep massage therapy and worked on exercises to strengthen her muscles.

Culpepper explains treatment methods more. “We offer ultrasound therapy which helps to promote healing, reduce inflammation and pain, and breaks down scar tissue. The fludiotherapy helps with sensations, so if there is stiffness in the joints or numbness and tingling, this treatment aids in recovery.”

Mrs. Jones, who is 6-weeks out from surgery, said she is looking forward to doing a variety of activities with her hand. “My daughter wants to try different hair styles. Before, I would have to tell her no, but now I am able to grip and hold. I will be able to open envelopes and hold papers at work now. You do not realize how hard it is to open an envelope if you do not have use of your hand.”

If you have an injury to your hand, wrist, arm, or elbow or are experiencing chronic pain or discomfort doing daily tasks, it is probably time to see a hand therapist. Culpepper states, “Often I treat patients who are experiencing limitations in their range of motion, coordination, strength, or any condition that is stopping them from fulfilling their daily activities. It is encouraging to see a patient go from not being able to use their extremity to coming back excited that they were able to accomplish their personal goal. It is not only a celebration for the patient, but also for myself as a therapist. I am excited to be able to help patients grow.”

South Central Rehabilitation Services offers a variety of services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. If you know of someone who is experiencing upper extremity problems, help is available. A physician referral is required. Hand therapy is offered at South Central Rehabilitation Services at 1002 Jefferson Street in Laurel. To learn more about services at South Central Rehabilitation Services, call 601-399-0530.

In conjunction with South Central Health Care Foundation’s Sporting Clays fundraiser, we are hosting a “Duck Drop” for a chance to win $1,000. Rubber ducks will be dropped from a scissor lift on Friday, October 20th. The numbered duck that lands closest to the center of the hula hoop ring will win $1,000.

Tickets are $20 each. Only 150 tickets are available to purchase.

The winner will be announced on Friday, October 20th at the SCHCF Sporting Clays Event. The winner does not have to be present to win.

To purchase, call 601-399-0501 or email lcooley@scrmc.com.

Ticket sales end Thursday, October 19th at 5 p.m.

I chose South Central because I can advance my career.

Alex Pippen, BSRN, MBA, NHA, has been a member of the South Central Regional Medical Center family for 17 years. Alex, who is a Jones County native, works as a Nursing Home Administrator at ComfortCare Nursing Center. He began his career at SCRMC as a registered nurse on the Medical-Surgical floor; he then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and Outpatient Wound Care Center. Alex made the decision he wanted to transition into long-term care and worked his way to becoming the Administrator of the facility.

“South Central has been very supportive of me throughout my career,” said Alex. “I have been able to move through different roles, learn new skills and build on those skills to further my career. I would tell anyone who wants to become a nurse to pursue their goal. The possibilities in nursing are endless.”

South Central encourages employees to grow in their careers. “By offering benefits such as flexible schedules, tuition assistance and on-the-job training, it really shows the organization’s commitment to the employee. Today, I work with the geriatric population. In this area you are able to build a personal relationship with the resident and their families. Being able to spend time with someone who may not have family nearby is a very special opportunity.”

In long-term care, employees make a special connection with their residents. “The staff become more like family to the resident than a caregiver. Nursing is a calling and being able to care for geriatric residents is a very special calling. I encourage anyone who is interested in nursing to consider Long Term Care, because there is such a special bond made.”

Our focus at South Central is to support employees. Alex states, “To me working for South Central means stability. There are many opportunities to serve and to grow within the organization. The sky is the limit with SCRMC.”

At SCRMC, our goal is for employees to choose us. Our health system offers extensive benefits and competitive pay rates. By choosing South Central, you become a part of our healthcare family. To view our open positions at South Central, click here.