WRMC installs MRI unit; Surgeons perform robotic prostate surgery
Pictured is the new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit recently installed in the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women and Imaging at the White River Medical Center in Batesville (upper and bottom left-hand photos) and the da Vinci Surgical System at the hospital, which allows surgeons to operate while seated comfortably at a console viewing a 3-D high-definition image of the surgical field (bottom right-hand photo). Photos submitted White River Medical Center (WRMC) in Batesville has upgraded the technology of the imaging department with the installation of a Siemens MAGNETOM Espree Open Bore magnetic resonance imager in a state-of-the-art imaging suite in the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women and Imaging. The new unit delivers high-quality, whole-body images while reducing exam times. The design features of the unit are especially beneficial to claustrophobic or larger patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive diagnostic test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to produce pictures of organs and structures inside the body. In many cases, an MRI gives physicians different information and may show problems that cannot be seen with other imaging methods. The new MRI provides the strength needed to obtain higher quality diagnostic images over low-field open magnets. The improved technology will also reduce scan times for most patients. The opening of the MRI provides a foot of space above the patient's head and allows the patient's head to be completely outside the magnet bore for most exams and more room from side to side for a more comfortable shoulder, chest or upper abdomen scan. Recently, technicians disassembled the MRI unit installed in 1995 to make room for the installation of a second new MRI. The renovations of the area and installation are expected to be complete in October. "Since 2002, we've operated two MRI suites," said Robert Wright, director of Radiology. "The MRI upgrades have been staged so that two MRI suites are operational at all times." WRMC is also the first hospital in North Central Arkansas to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery. Drs. Rob Emery and Hunter Brown performed the first surgery using the new technology recently. The da Vinci robotic surgical system can be used effectively in prostate surgery and gynecological surgery. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated comfortably at a console viewing a 3-D high-definition image of the surgical field. The surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls below the display, with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to their eyes. The system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments at the surgical site. Many surgical procedures performed today using standard laparoscopic technique may be performed more quickly and easily using the da Vinci Surgical System. Robotic surgery delivers increased clinical capability while maintaining the same "look and feel" as open surgery. While traditional laparoscopy is widely applied to a limited set of routine procedures, few surgeons used the minimally invasive approach for complex procedures. The da Vinci Surgical System allows trained surgeons to perform complex procedures using a minimally invasive approach -- routinely and with confidence. The advanced feature set and extensive EndoWrist instrumentation of the da Vinci Surgical System enable surgeons to perform procedures through 1- to 2-centimeter incisions. "Robotic surgery is especially applicable to prostate surgery because of the complex nature of the surgery," said Emery. "With the da Vinci system, patients experience smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less post-operative pain and discomfort, less risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery and return to normal daily activities." "Patients may also experience fewer negative side effects typically associated with prostate surgery," said Brown. Brown and Emery are board certified urologists in private practice at Batesville Surgery and CT Imaging. To learn more about the robotic surgery program at WRMC, call (870) 262-1035 or Batesville Surgery at (870) 698-1846. WRMC is a 199-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System. WRHS is a not-for-profit health care system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, rural health clinics, primary care and specialty physician offices, home health and hospice care, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. WRHS is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association and the Arkansas Hospital Association and is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health. From Press Release American League Champions
Pictured are the 2008 American League champions of the Independence County Youth Athletic Association. The team was a part of the Cal Ripken pitching machine league for 7- and 8-year-olds and was sponsored by Wade's Refrigeration. Pictured are (l-r) first row -- Brent Scheffler, Jackson Hunter, Andrew Milam, Joey Leal, Riain Florczak, and Keaton Richardson; second row -- Hayden Mace, Seth Morgan, Trey Ford, Zane Smart, Levi Horne, Dalton Collins; assistant coach Rocky Morgan; and head coach Brad Mace. Photo by Diane Smith Modern Woodmen offers free civics program for local children Modern Woodmen of America now offers a free, patriotic civics program that makes history and civics interesting and fun for children. "Patriotism is a core value of Modern Woodmen," said local representative Cledas "Bubby" Manuel. "Donating the patriotic civics program to local schools and youth groups allows us to connect to our history of patriotism while making a difference in the local community." The new program is one of six free youth educational programs Modern Woodmen offers to schools, homeschoolers and youth groups nationwide. In 2007, the programs connected with more than 1.5 million children nationwide. "Teachers and youth leaders often don't have the time or budget to develop new programs," said Manuel. "Donating these free, curriculum-enhancing programs is one way Modern Woodmen can support our members' communities." Teachers, principals, youth leaders or homeschoolers can contact Manuel at (870) 307-3769 or cledas.manuel@mwarep.org for more information or to order the programs for their schools or organizations. From Press Release T Tauri screenings, awards set
Dogtown: It's Not What You Think by Katelyn Abel of North Little Rock and The Elizabeth Richardson Center by Alex Summers and Kelsey Norbash of Fayetteville High School are two of the films that will be screened at the T Tauri Film Festival Finale Showcase on Saturday, July 26. Photos submitted The fourth annual T Tauri Film Festival Finale Showcase takes place Saturday, July 26, in Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. The day's activities will include screenings of the award winners and official selections from this year's Young Filmmakers Competition, films created during this year's Movie Camp workshops, and Southern Fried Saturdays, a short documentary produced in the T Tauri academic-year workshop by students in the Lyon College APPLE Upward Bound project. All films are suitable for all ages. Here is a schedule of the day's events: 2-3:15 p.m. -- Competition official selections: Documentaries include Amanda's Choice by students from Batesville High School, Coolest Town in Arkansas by students at the St. Joe School East Lab, Return to Sender by Emma Bailin and Sarah Bailin of Little Rock, A New Depression by Emily Thomason of Nashville, and three films produced by one of the most established youth media organizations in the nation: San Francisco's Bay Area Video Coalition. Admission is free. 4-6 p.m. -- Competition official selections: drama, comedy, music video, public service announcement, experimental and animation. A collection of some of the best films submitted to this year's competition including work from some of the nation's leading youth media organizations. Competition award winners from outside of Arkansas will also be announced and screened at this time. Admission is free. 7 p.m. -- Fourth annual T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp Finale Showcase. Awards will be presented to competition award winners from Arkansas, and the winning Arkansas films will be screened. Movies produced in the 2008 Movie Camp workshops and Southern Fried Saturdays will also be screened. The Finale Showcase is hosted by T Tauri workshop participants and competition judges. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for adults 55 and over and Foothills Film Society members, and $3 for youth ages 18 and under. This year's festival attracted 106 entries. Entries were judged by high school students in the Lyon College APPLE project. The T Tauri Award that will be presented to the winners was designed and is created annually by David and Becki Dahlstedt of Mountain View Pottery. The T Tauri Film Festival is presented by First Community Bank of Batesville with additional support from the Arkansas Arts Council, the Arkansas Sheriffs' Youth Ranch, the Canon Corp., the Field Shop, the Independence County Quorum Court, the Lego Children's Fund, Lyon College, the Puffin Foundation, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, the University of Central Arkansas, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, and other sponsors and contributors. Information is available at www.ttauri.org or (870) 251-1189. From Press Release From the Batesville Chamber by Jonah Shumate As you read this editorial, you are probably hearing more and more about the Water Carnival, and I hope you are looking to attend some, if not all, of the events associated with the 65th installment of the greatest carnival in Arkansas! But you may not know some of the history about how this event got started, and what conditions were at the time of its creation. In 1943, the economy in Batesville was in pretty bad shape. World War II was in full swing, and the people of Batesville were looking at what they could do to help spur the local economy. The Young Men's Business Association came up with an idea to have an event centered on what our community was founded around, and because of, and that was the White River. Thus was born the White River Water Carnival. It was held each year in August to commemorate the White River, and everything that was great about it. Over the years, a beauty pageant, golf tournament, putt-putt contest, a Boy Scouts Canoe Race, and so much more have been stable fixtures of the greatest event of its kind in Arkansas. Over the years, we have had some pretty famous people perform as entertainment (Roy Orbison, Mark Wills, Mark Chesnutt, Lonestar, The Oak Ridge Boys) and some who were never able to perform (Elvis Presley). We have had more than our fair share of Miss Americas come through Batesville via the Miss White River Beauty Pageant, and thousands of families watch the always-enjoyable White River Water Carnival Parade. What started in 1943 as an effort to kick-start the Batesville economy through a tourism-related effort to bring people to town, demonstrated more than just a great idea by some young businessmen. It demonstrated that in a time of economic uncertainty, in a time of World War and our country being threatened on both coasts, that our community came together to do something significant. That something significant was community pride and leadership. It took a group of young men that wanted to do something positive. It took a group of young men working hard and volunteering their time to put something together that the entire community could enjoy, and take pride in. This year is not much different in Batesville than it was in 1943. The population in 1943 was just over 5,000 people (currently it's 9,445), there was a World War (war in Iraq, Afghanistan), and the economy was not so good (recent closure at GDX, layoffs at White-Rodgers). But what we do have is the ability as a community to come together. We have the ability to look each other in the eye and say we will work together to make our community great again. We can work together to create another moment in time where we do something very significant, and we will all have the ability to participate. Hopefully, there will soon be some very positive news about new jobs and our community. Hopefully, we will be able to share with people of this community how we will be enjoying job security for many, many years to come. Hopefully, this significant event will help create a few more significant events that we all can take pride in, that we all can look back on, and think about much of the same way we do about UACCB when just ten short years ago, a sales tax was passed that brought Gateway Technical College into the University of Arkansas system, and sealed its fate as an integral part of our community. Citizens of Independence County will have the chance to be a part of something significant very soon. Many years ago, Independence County was the first County in Arkansas that passed a 1% permanent sales tax. When that happened, it propelled us forward and set the standard for other counties in Arkansas. Very soon, residents of our community will hopefully have another opportunity to help propel our community forward and solidify our future for our children and our grandchildren. So as you make plans to attend many of the free events scheduled for your family and friends at this year's Water Carnival, look around you, and see how you will have the opportunity very soon to be a part of something very significant! Jonah Shumate is the president and chief executive officer of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. He may be reached at jonah.shumate@mybatesville.org.
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