Hannibal Regional

Hannibal Regional is committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals and will once again offer the Patient Care Training Program, set to begin on October 4, 2024. This unique opportunity allows individuals to earn a wage while they learn, providing both classroom education and hands-on training in a real healthcare environment. The Patient Care Training Program is perfect for those who are compassionate, attentive, and eager to make a difference in the lives of patients. Participants will gain valuable skills that can serve as a foundation for a rewarding career in healthcare. Responsibilities that trainees will learn include taking vital signs, collecting specimens, performing catheterizations, and assisting patients with daily activities such as eating, personal hygiene, and grooming. Patient Care Tech, Anna Echternacht shares, “The Patient Care Training Program at Hannibal Regional has helped me with my future in many ways, especially the hands-on training, so far I have learned a lot of skills that will help me for when I attend nursing school.” Participants in the program will be paid for both classroom learning and on-the-job training, making this an excellent pathway for those looking to start a career in healthcare. A high school diploma or GED is required to apply. Interviews currently being conducted, and interested applicants may apply at jobs.hannibalregional.org. For questions or to learn more about the Patient Care Training Program at Hannibal Regional, please contact Amy Lakenburger at 573-629-3560 or email recruiter@hannibalregional.org.

Trisha Brooks has dedicated the past 11 years to being a respiratory therapist, a career she finds incredibly rewarding. Her journey began in a large hospital in St. Louis, but it was at Hannibal Regional where she found her true home in healthcare. Making the transition from a large urban hospital to the tight-knit community of Hannibal Regional, Trisha felt she had a better opportunity to really get to know her patients and provide more individualized care. Trisha explains, “The environment at Hannibal Regional is a world apart from the large hospital I previously worked at. Here, I can truly meet patients’ needs and provide high-quality care. Collaborating directly with physicians, nurses, and team members from various departments allows us to deliver the very best care. The top-notch, innovative technology we use enhances our ability to serve our patients. It means so much to me to get to know my patients personally and provide care in a close-knit, supportive environment.” Hannibal Regional currently has opportunities for respiratory therapists to join the team. A sign-on bonus or tuition repayment of $10,000 is being offered for eligible positions. If you are a respiratory therapist interested in making a difference in patient care and being part of a close-knit family, apply today at jobs.hannibalregional.org.

Join our award-winning team at Hannibal Regional Medical Group in Bowling Green! We have an exciting full-time Patient Access Representative position available, offering an extensive benefits package in a welcoming, family healthcare setting. If you are a dedicated and hardworking individual, apply today at https://lnkd.in/g_HHPZy2

Hannibal Regional is excited to announce that, upon patients' or providers' request, imaging exams are now being distributed through an online platform called Patient Link by Medicom. Patient Link is an innovative digital platform that allows patients or providers to receive and download imaging exams quickly and easily. Instead of receiving a disc with their imaging exam, patients will now receive an access code to view and download their images online. This platform allows for medical images to be shared easily between providers and facilities, making patient care more seamless. When patients request their images, they will receive an access code by email and/or a printout handed to them. The new implementation of Patient Link aims to empower patients by providing them with the information and tools they need to actively participate in their healthcare journey. Hannibal Regional’s state-of-the-art radiology department is dedicated to using the latest technology to deliver quick and accurate results to patients. To schedule an appointment, please call 573-248-5688. For questions on using Patient link, please call Medicom support at 844-686-9599 or contact Hannibal Regional Radiology at 573-248-5301. 

Hannibal Regional is committed to the health and well-being of the community that we serve, extending care beyond traditional medical services by offering free support groups. These groups provide essential guidance, support, and education to patients, their families, and our own team members. Ongoing support groups include:   Accountability Support Group: The Accountability Support Group provides a foundation to help implement and maintain healthy lifestyle choices. Topic areas that are discussed include fitness, nutrition, mental health and so much more. This support group meets every Thursday from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the Sunroom. For more information, please call 573-629-3382.   Breastfeeding Support Group: The Breastfeeding Support Group provides an opportunity to enjoy the support and suggestions of other breastfeeding mothers, get questions answered and check your baby's weight. One of our board-certified lactation consultants will be there to help answer questions. The group meets twice each week in the OB Classroom at Hannibal Regional Hospital on Monday evenings at 5:00 pm and Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am. For questions, call 573-248-5161.   Diabetes Support Group: Join the Diabetes Support Group to learn about the healthcare management that goes along with diabetes. A variety of educational topics on diabetes management are discussed to support mental and physical health. Participants have the opportunity to connect with others and healthcare professionals to further their knowledge and support on diabetes management. For more information, call 573-629-3382.   Stroke Support Group: Life after a stroke often brings new challenges for stroke survivors, their families, and caregivers. Recognizing the need for stroke support, Hannibal Regional is pleased to offer a free Stroke Support Group. The Stroke Support Group meets every fourth Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm in the Sun Room. For more information, please call 573-629-3444.   Through these support groups, participants are able to relate to others going through similar health journeys, as well as gain the knowledge and tools they may need to take control of their health. To learn more about Hannibal Regional and the various services provided, please visit hannibalregional.org or call 573-248-1300 to make an appointment with a Hannibal Regional provider.

In the summer of 2022, Rebekah Parks of Memphis Missouri found herself grappling with significant health challenges. At 340 lbs. and in her early 50s, she was dealing with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure requiring medication, frequent migraines, joint pain, and low energy levels. Despite trying various weight loss methods, diets, and medications over the years, any success she had was short-lived, with the weight always returning, often with more added.   Recognizing the need for professional help, Rebekah consulted her primary care physician, Dr. Priyanka Yerragorla, at Hannibal Regional Medical Group. Dr. Yerragorla candidly informed Rebekah that her health would continue to deteriorate and recommended surgery as the best option for long-term success given her severe obesity.   Following this advice, Rebekah was referred to Dr. Richie Goriparthi, a bariatric surgeon at Hannibal Regional Medical Group. After an in-depth discussion about her weight and other medical conditions, they decided on the Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) procedure. This surgery, more so than gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, significantly impacts intestinal hormones to reduce hunger, increase fullness, and improve blood sugar control. It is considered the most effective metabolic operation for treating type 2 diabetes. Also, it offers the least chance of weight regain compared to the other procedures. Dr.Goriparthi was the first to perform this complex procedure in 2022 at Hannibal Regional Hospital using the advanced Robotic surgery technology, and had performed several successfully since then. Rebekah recalls, “I felt reassured by Dr. Goriparthi's knowledge and the detailed information he provided. That was all I needed to feel comfortable moving forward with the procedure.”   Rebekah says a crucial element of her journey was the support from the Weight Management Solutions Team, both before and after her surgery. She began a pre-operative diet immediately, losing 32 pounds before the surgery. She explains, “The dietitians were always available to answer my questions, and the support meetings, which I could attend virtually if necessary, were immensely beneficial. Because of all of these resources, I never felt alone in my journey.”   Eighteen months after her surgery, Rebekah has lost an astonishing 170 pounds! She has completely reversed her health issues and regained a significant part of her life that was lost to poor health. Reflecting on her transformation, Rebekah shared, “Over the years I lost so much of myself to poor health, migraines, and always feeling tired. Now I can go and do the things I want to with my grandkids without worrying if there will be too much walking. This surgery has given me the greatest gift – it has given me my life back!”

On Friday, June 28 Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed the FY25 state budget, finalizing a $15,000,000 state appropriation to Hannibal Regional to build a new cancer center in Kirksville. Since 2022, Kirksville has lacked life-saving radiation oncology services, creating an undue burden on area residents fighting cancer. Hannibal Regional, with the support of many partners, identified this critical issue and now with state support will begin efforts to offer this life-saving care in Kirksville. Since purchasing the Complete Family Medicine clinics in the Kirksville/Highway 63 market, Hannibal Regional has seen rapid growth in the services they provide, which prompted them to begin conversations in the community about important unmet healthcare needs. Through these discussions, Hannibal Regional quickly identified the pressing need for radiation oncology services for cancer patients in the Kirksville market, which had been discontinued in the summer of 2022. The lack of this life-saving service in the Kirksville community has created an undue burden on hundreds of area residents as they must travel nearly 200 miles roundtrip daily (for 5 days each week, normally 6-8 weeks total) for cancer treatments should they receive a diagnosis that requires radiation oncology. Hannibal Regional identified this as a major disservice to the Kirksville community and began taking steps to invest in this service in Kirksville. Hannibal Regional has been offering compassionate, expert radiation oncology services to the Hannibal community at the Cary Cancer Center since 2003, which reinforced Hannibal Regional’s understanding of what a void Kirksville is facing without these services in that community. This state investment into the local healthcare of northeast Missouri was led by Senator Cindy O’Laughlin, and supported by others including Senator Rusty Black, and Representatives Louis Riggs, Greg Sharpe, Chad Perkins and Danny Busick. While the state funding is a major injection of resources into this important project, it is not the only step needed to build the cancer center. Hannibal Regional has submitted a full Certificate of Need application in compliance with receiving approval for the major medical equipment over $1,000,000 for the linear accelerator and vault. The state Certificate of Need process will determine if there is an unmet need in the community and how it should be serviced. While there is definitely an unmet need now since Northeast Regional Medical Center discontinued radiation oncology services in 2022, they recently announced they may have intentions of buying a new linear accelerator and offering this service again. Should this happen, the Certificate of Need process will be used to determine what entity is approved to purchase the linear accelerator and meet this need. For more information on Hannibal Regional and Complete Family Medicine, or questions regarding the cancer center, call 573-629-3577. 

Meet Taylor Lyles, a Clinical Research Nurse on the Innovation and Research team here at Hannibal Regional. Taylor cares for patients who are taking part in clinical trial studies. She coordinates patient care, administers clinical trial medications, and screens patients for new trials. Taylor also works closely with patients to monitor their symptoms and improvements throughout a clinical trial. For Taylor, the best part of her job is the relationships she builds with patients. "We usually see our patients every few weeks and stay in frequent communication with them. It's incredibly rewarding to witness the clinical trial side of medicine and understand how our standards of care have evolved. I've learned so much about various medical conditions and how they impact daily lives." The Innovation and Research team works hard to better patient's wellbeing and to bring new medications and treatment to the area. Thank you, Taylor, for caring for our patients and guiding them to BETTER.

Are you a compassionate RN, LPN, or CNA looking to make a meaningful impact in healthcare? Hannibal Regional has a variety of open RN, LPN and CNA positions. To view available positions and to apply, visit jobs.hannibalregional.org. For questions about available positions, contact Clinical Recruiter, Amy Lakenburger, at 573-629-3593.

Lindsey Gander is a Clinical Research Nurse on the Innovation and Research team here at Hannibal Regional. For Lindsey, coordinating clinical trials makes each day unique. From scheduling to conducting patient visits with a variety of assessments and tests, she ensures all procedures align with the clinical trial study protocol and collaborates with different departments to maintain smooth operations. Lindsey also woks closely with physicians and monitors patients throughout clinical trial studies. Lindsey says, "My favorite part of my job is having the opportunity to develop relationships with patients on a long-term basis throughout each clinical trial. Getting to know our patients on a personal level and helping improve their health is rewarding. I love Hannibal Regional for its small-town feel coupled with large opportunities for both employees and patients. It's a special place where we make a big impact!" Hannibal Regional is proud to offer an expanding research department, bringing groundbreaking investigational treatments close to home. Thank you Lindsey for playing a vital role in medical advancement right here in Hannibal. #ClinicalTrialsDay #LoveHannibalRegional #GuidingYouToBETTER