Little Rock — Arkansas Heart Hospital and Interventional Cardiologists Dr. David Mego and Dr. William Rollefson became the first in this region of the United States to implant the SAPIEN transcatheter aortic heart valve as an FDA-approved standard of care. The implants on December 20 were the fifth and sixth in the United States since FDA approval. Device approval was based on results from the PARTNER trial, which showed that transcatheter aortic valve implantation improved survival and quality of life compared with standard therapy in non-operative patients with severely diseased aortic valves.  The Partner study demonstrated dramatic mortality benefits at 1 and 2 years versus medical therapy.

“Approval of the SAPIEN transcatheter aortic heart valve is a monumental event on par with FDA approval of the bare metal stent in 1994.  For patients too sick for open-heart surgery, this new treatment is the difference between life and death,” says Dr. Bruce Murphy, President and CEO of Arkansas Heart Hospital.  “It is a huge honor for our team to perform the first two procedures in this region of the United States as an FDA-approved preferred treatment.”

The expanded team of physicians trained and participating in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program includes cardiologists Dr. David Mego, Dr. William Rollefson, Dr. Michael Huber and cardiovascular surgeons Dr. Michael Nolen and Dr. Charles Watkins.  Erin Barry Powell, BSN, RN serves as nurse coordinator. The success of this program requires input from both cardiology and surgery to determine candidates and the best course of treatment,” says Dr. Murphy.  Dr. Mego’s and Dr. Rollefson’s patients were turned down for traditional open heart surgery and had no other viable treatment options. Both patients were discharged from Arkansas Heart Hospital 2 days after their procedure in excellent condition.

Lowell V. Ozment: Generations of Caring

Lowell Ozment, MD, 97, a resident of Camden, Ark. died Saturday, January 14, 2012. Dr. Ozment had always wanted to be a physician, but after graduating from the University of Illinois, other things came first, like his family and two young sons. Years later he fulfilled a lifelong dream to become a physician and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock in 1949 where he was awarded the Faculty Key for the “most outstanding student” over four years. After completion of an internship in New Orleans, LA, he subsequently opened his primary care practice in Camden, AR in 1951 where he cared for generations of families over sixty years, retiring at age 97. Dr. Ozment was instrumental in starting the Ouachita County Hospital’s first coronary intensive care unit, a heart strengthening program for patients with recurrent congestive heart failure along with state of the art new diagnostic tests. His contributions and devotion to medicine garnered him the Asklepion Award in 2006, an award given by the Arkansas Medical Society to honor a member who promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health and embodies the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, integrity and ethical behavior. He has served as Chief of Staff for the Ouachita County Medical Center and was honored with the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Camden. He enjoyed thoroughbred racing at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs for over sixty years where he was affectionately known as “Doc” and was well respected for his command of numbers and handicapping skills.

UAMS Myeloma Institute Names Ammon to Lead Advisory Board

Carol A. Ammon, of Wilmington, Del., founder and retired chief executive officer and chairman of Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., has been named chairman of the advisory board for the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The newly established 13-member Myeloma Institute Advisory Board will cultivate resources to allow the institute to maintain and expand its clinical, research and educational programs. The Myeloma Institute, established in 1989, was the first center in the world devoted exclusively to research and clinical care of multiple myeloma and related disorders. 

In addition to Ammon, the board members include:

Michael Birnbaum of San Antonio

Louis Cella of St. Louis

Lucia Dougherty of Miami

Stephen Engstrom of Little Rock

Ken Halliday of San Antonio

Denny Holman of Dallas

Bob Kohler of Fayetteville

Jimmy Moses of Little Rock

Denis McDonald of New Orleans

Dag Skattum of London

Joseph Walker of Dana Point, Calif.

William Webb of Nashville, Tenn.

ACH Kicks Off Centennial with Launch of ACH100.org Website

As Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) kicks off its centennial celebration,  it also highlights the thousands of people who have made care, love and hope an Arkansas tradition. The state’s only pediatric medical center is launching a new website and social media effort to share the experiences of lives touched by the hospital through ach100.org.

On ach100.org, visitors will find a comprehensive history of ACH, leading them from its days as a fledgling orphanage to today’s milestones as a comprehensive 316-bed facility with dozens of specialty care clinics. The site provides educational tools that will be helpful to teachers across the state, emphasizing important moments in Arkansas history.

The site gives families a chance to share their own experiences at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. During the fall, ACH invited the community to send in their stories, photos and videos via a form on archildrens.org.

Visitors to ach100.org will also find events in communities around the state to help ACH celebrate its 100th anniversary, from donation drives to Circle of Friends meetings and other festivities. There also will be opportunities to support the hospital on ach100.org through fundraising, volunteer commitments and donations of items ranging from toys to batteries.

Fifth Consecutive Dividend Declared

The Board of Directors of the Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company has approved a fifth straight dividend for all LAMMICO policyholders in Louisiana and Arkansas. The announcement affects close to 6,000 policyholders, who will receive a 10 percent dividend of a policyholder’s written premium.

 Thomas H. Grimstad, M.D., LAMMICO’s President and Chief Executive Officer said the company is financially strong because of the partnerships developed with policyholders over the last 30 years, and that they make this dividend with confidence while maintaining a surplus level that ensures the reliable payment of claims over any cycle.

 The total dividend declared is approximately $5.1 million. LAMMICO’s dividend plan was approved by the Louisiana Department of Insurance on December 12, 2011.

 In April 2008, the LAMMICO Board of Directors authorized the company’s first ever dividend, totaling 20 percent. A second dividend totaling 20 percent was distributed later that year, followed by a 10 percent dividend in 2009 and a 10 percent dividend in 2010.

 All LAMMICO policyholders in Louisiana and Arkansas (including individual physicians and other health care professionals, groups & healthcare facilities) holding a LAMMICO policy in force as of December 7, 2011, will receive dividend checks during the first quarter of 2012.

Rate Reduction, Stephens Inc. alliance announced at AMIC Meeting

A double-digit rate reduction, the announcement of a new business alliance with Stephens Inc. and a grant to the Arkansas Medical Foundation highlighted the 2011 annual Business Review and CME Meeting of Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company. 

Addressing the audience of policyholders and guests, Arkansas Mutual CEO Corey Little thanked policyholders for their remarkable success during 2011 and previous years.  Arkansas Mutual has had no paid indemnities since its founding, which is itself a strong testament to the skilled and careful manner in which policyholders are treating their patients and running their practices according to Little.

Little announced that the Board of Directors of Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company has confirmed a 12.5% rate reduction for policyholders effective with their next policy years.  The rate reduction was approved following review by the Arkansas Insurance Department. 

Supporting the company’s unique focus on Arkansas physicians and the future of medical care in the state, a Stephens Inc. executive announced a new alliance with Arkansas Mutual.  Brian Bush, Executive Vice President of Stephens Capital Management, announced the launch of the Arkansas Mutual Capital Advantage, a unique set of financial services that complements Arkansas Mutual’s offerings in medical malpractice insurance.  These services will be offered in an exclusive fashion to Arkansas Mutual policyholders.

 Little also announced that Arkansas Mutual is increasing its financial support for the Arkansas Medical Foundation, which facilitates the identification and treatment of physicians with illnesses or impairments to both promote public health and enable the continued availability of medical care in the state.

Glass Seating & Mobility Wins 2011 Hme Excellence Award For Best Rehab Technology Provider

Glass Seating & Mobility recently won the 2011 Home Medical Equipment (HME) Excellence Award for Best Rehab Technology Provider.  The HME Excellence Awards seek to identify the nation’s premier providers of home medical equipment, home respiratory therapy and rehab supplies.  The awards include three categories: Best HME Provider, Best Home Respiratory Provider and Best Rehab Technology Provider.

Glass Seating & Mobility provides Assistive Technology to the physically challenged population including those with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or any condition that renders a person permanently immobile and in need of a mobility device such as a custom power or manual wheelchair.  The company’s specific area of expertise lies in the fields of custom wheelchairs, seating systems, wheelchair cushions, and professional positioning and fitting for mobility devices.

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