November 25, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: DEBORAH ROBERTS PUGH

(662) 377-3712

Visit www.nmhs.net for an electronic version of this article.

THREE NURSE LINK® CALL CENTER NURSES

CERTIFIED IN TELEHEALTH PRACTICE

TUPELO, Miss.—Three Nurse Link® Call Center nurses from North Mississippi Medical Center recently obtained Telehealth Nursing Practice Certification.

Kim Mayhall, RN, of Fulton is senior triage nurse for Nurse Link. Mayhall has been employed by NMMC for more than 10 years and joined the Nurse Link staff in 1996.

Linda Asters, RN, BSN, of Tupelo has been employed as a nurse at NMMC for more than 25 years and joined the Nurse Link staff in 1999. She is a charge nurse at the call center.

Bernice Smith, RN, MSN, of Tupelo is also a charge nurse at the call center. Smith has been a nurse at NMMC for more than 15 years and joined the Nurse Link staff in 1999.

By successfully passing the certification exam, these nurses can now use the credentials RNC with their names. The certification is bestowed by the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses and the National Certification Corporation. Nurses must have at least two years of telehealth nursing experience to be eligible to take the certification examination.

Nurse Link is a telephone triage and health information program. Registered nurses provide callers with quick responses to their health questions by using computerized medical protocols. Nurse Link nurses also help callers make informed decisions regarding the appropriate setting from which to receive medical care. Telehealth nursing includes patient care, health education, patient advocacy, health counseling, decision support and coordination of patient services.

Nurse Link is available from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. For more information, call Nurse Link at 1-800-882-6274.

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