Newsroom

Baby-Friendly USA, recently announced that Merit Health Wesley has earned prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility. The Baby-Friendly initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. This award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. “Breastfeeding plays... ... Read More

Merit Health Medical Group welcomes Robert Watson, D.O., to the new primary care clinic in Purvis. Dr. Watson joins Merit Health Medical Group after working across Mississippi in emergency medicine and family medicine, most recently serving as a family practice physician at Anazia Medical Clinic in McComb, Miss. and at Copiah Medical Associates in Hazlehurst, Miss. Dr. Watson received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Mississippi and attended medical school at University of Health Sc... ... Read More

First in State to Achieve Certification in Sepsis Care Know the risks. Spot the signs. Act fast. Merit Health Wesley has worked for the past few years to integrate evidence-based clinical practices into the medical management of sepsis and reduce risk in the community by educating the public about the illness. Merit Health Wesley is the first in Mississippi to achieve The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Care. “This achievement is a symbol of quality that reflects our hospital’s ongo... ... Read More

Merit Health Medical Group welcomes Mike Bird, FNP-BC to its Walthall primary care clinic. A native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Bird completed prerequisites at Idaho State University before attending New Mexico State University, where he received a bachelor of science in nursing. He received a master of science in nursing from Walden University. He has worked at Merit Health Wesley since 2006, serving as both an emergency department nurse and intensive care nurse. Prior to his work at Merit Health Wesley... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley welcomes Matthew Banks as Chief Executive Officer. Banks has most recently served as Chief Executive Officer at Davis Regional Medical Center, a 144-bed CHS affiliated hospital in Statesville, NC. “Matthew has a proven track record of success,” said Gardner Fletcher, M.D., Board of Trustees Chairman. “We look forward to seeing his enthusiasm and experience continue to strengthen the quality care we provide our patients in the Pine Belt.” Prior to his work at Davis R... ... Read More

Leakesville – Merit Health Medical Group welcomes Nurse Practitioner, April Hinton, FNP-C, to its primary care clinic in Leakesville. Hinton, a native of McLain, joins Nurse Practitioner Winette Denmark, FNP-BC, providing family medicine expertise to the area. Hinton, a graduate of Greene County High School, returns to the area after working as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Family Health Clinic of Grenada in Grenada, Miss. Previously, she worked as a registered nurse in Hattiesburg, Columbus, and Green... ... Read More

By: Heather Waters, D.O. It’s that time of year again—cold and flu season. Colds and the flu often occur around the same time of year and both have similar, unpleasant symptoms. While it can be hard to differentiate between the two, it’s important to distinguish the cause of your symptoms to determine the best course of treatment. The common cold The most common symptoms of a cold are within the respiratory system and include a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, cough or chest discomfort. Treatment for the... ... Read More

Merit Health Wesley welcomes Carol Upton as its new Chief Operating Officer, overseeing hospital operations and clinical departments as well as physician relations. Upton comes to Merit Health Wesley from Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory, Miss., where she has served as Assistant Chief Executive Officer since 2015. She has ten years of experience in healthcare leadership, having served as Director of Operations and Physician Services and Director of Business Development at Gilmore Memorial, and as Dire... ... Read More

Merit Health Wesley welcomes Stephen G. Fletcher, D.O. as a new hospitalist, joining the inpatient care team of Kurt Bruckmeier, M.D., Gagan Grewal, M.D., Kosana Simeunovic, M.D., Deepu Thoppil, M.D., and Andrea Braswell, N.P. The inpatient care team is responsible for the care of hospitalized patients, working with the patient’s primary care physician and any other needed specialists to determine the best methods of care for each patient. Fletcher attended medical school at William Carey University Col... ... Read More

Merit Health Wesley welcomes Carol Upton as its new Chief Operating Officer, overseeing hospital operations and clinical departments as well as physician relations. Upton comes to Merit Health Wesley from Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory, Miss., where she has served as Assistant Chief Executive Officer since 2015. She has ten years of experience in healthcare leadership, having served as Director of Operations and Physician Services and Director of Business Development at Gilmore Memorial, and as Dire... ... Read More