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Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi recently announced Merit Health Wesley as a Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for Maternity Care. The facility is being recognized by the state’s leading health and wellness company for its work in meeting stringent criteria focused on patient safety and clinical outcomes. “Our goal is always putting the patient first,” said Shantele Bolton, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist with Merit Health Wesley, “and making sure that they receive not only evidence-b... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Robotic-guided spine surgery continues to evolve. With each new generation of robotic guidance systems, surgeons have better tools so they can offer patients the most advanced care and minimally invasive procedures to address neck and back pain. The spine surgeons at Merit Health Wesley now offer robotic-guided surgery as an option to some of their patients. “Robotic guidance allows us to provide surgical spine care that has increased planning and precision,” says David Lee, M.D., medi... ... Read More

Early detection and treatment supports the best possible outcomes Hattiesburg – Breast cancer and other medical illnesses remain a risk for women - even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, due to concerns about the virus, many women have postponed their annual screening mammograms, increasing their risk of undetected cancer. Merit Health Wesley is encouraging women who may have delayed their mammograms to schedule the screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-sa... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley welcomes internal medicine physician Scott Buckner, M.D., to the medical staff’s hospitalist team. “We strive to provide our patients with the highest quality of care,” said hospital CEO Matthew Banks, “and hospitalists’ care is a vital part of the patient experience. I know Dr. Buckner’s knowledge and enthusiasm will be appreciated by both his patients and colleagues.” Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Dr. Buckner attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley has earned continued accreditation for the bariatric surgery program from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The accreditation ensures the bariatric surgery program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality. The MBSAQIP, a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), ensures that metabolic and bariatric p... ... Read More

Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With the Guidelines - Stroke Quality Achievement Award for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Stroke is the number 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recur... ... Read More

Learn your risk factors to prevent life-threatening blood clots. Hattiesburg – The pandemic has heightened attention to the dangers of blood clots including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and clot-provoked stroke. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA), blood clots kill 274 Americans each day when they restrict blood flow and cause a medical emergency. While different types of blood clotting are being reported among people affected by COVID-19, particularly those who become sever... ... Read More

BILOXI, MS – With homeschooling and hybrid learning disrupting classroom learning for the past 18 months, it’s easy to forget what preparing for a “normal” school year might look like. In addition to buying new clothes and stocking your child’s backpack with the right supplies, an annual physical and the proper immunizations will start your child’s new school year on a healthy foundation. “Annual checkups are an important aspect of your child’s overall care. These appointments allow a physician to get t... ... Read More

Hattiesburg - Merit Health Wesley welcomes two new physicians. Jennie Stanford, M.D., practices traditional family medicine, seeing patients both in her clinic and in the hospital. Umar Razzaq, M.D., joins the organization’s hospitalist team. Originally from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, Stanford earned her Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Southern Mississippi. She attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center for medical school and continued her training with ... ... Read More

27 Residents Graduate; 28 New Residents Arrive in Hattiesburg HATTIESBURG - Merit Health Wesley’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency program, which has seen great success since its inception in July 2015, recently held graduation for 27 resident physicians. At the same time, the GME program welcomed a new class of 28 first-year residents. The program now includes 24 emergency medicine, 30 internal medicine and 12 transitional year residents. The program started with two areas of focus, Emergency... ... Read More