Business Briefs

HEATHER DUNK has joined the staff at Helms Lawn Specialist Inc. as a landscape designer. With her help, the company now offers custom garden designs to the surrounding area.

The business added the services of Pleasure Ponds for design, installation and maintenance of ponds and pondless waterfalls. Helms will carry pond supplies and plans to add plants and fish to its inventory.

Owners JIM AND BILLIE HELMS completed training and certification to offer ponds through the company.

LOGANSPORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL has received a $48,500 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the continuation of the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement initiative started in 2006.

The purpose of the Patient Registry Program is to improve the health outcomes of chronic disease patients that the hospital and associated primary care providers serve. Patients' participation in personal disease management increases, and patient outcomes improve.

Through the Patient Registry Program, patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more closelymonitored and educated about their chronic disease.

"The risk of developing complications and the severity of those complications is decreased by effective metabolic control, regular examinations and patient education," explainedVickiByrd, Vice President of Planning and Development at LogansportMemorial Hospital. "These processes help to reduce the death rate for patientswith diabetes and cardiovascular disease."