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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises everyone 6 months or older to get a flu shot, especially people at high risk for developing serious complications from influenza: young children, adults over 65, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and lung disease. Adults are contagious one day before getting symptoms and up to five days after getting sick. If you think you have the flu, visit your doctor or an urgent care as soon as possible. They may ... Read More

Merit Health Biloxi is pleased to announce that they have received a Gold certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). The Mississippi Cancer Registry began a certification process in 2008 for hospitals modeled after the central cancer registry certification conducted by the NAACCR. The purpose of the certification process is to recognize those hospitals who have submitted timely, complete and high quality data to the Mississippi Cancer Registry. Certification th ... Read More

If you need help comparing plans or filling-out an application on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Merit Health Biloxi is once again offering free assistance during Open Enrollment, November 1 – January 31, 2017. Appointments may be made with the hospital’s certified assisters by calling (228) 436-1102 or can be booked online by going to www.GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, and this year’s Open Enrollment marks the fourth annual camp ... Read More

Gastroenterologist Marc D. Hopkins, M.D. has joined the medical staff of Merit Health Biloxi. Dr. Hopkins joins Merit Health from Keesler Medical Center where he practiced in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He graduated from Grove City College in Grove City, PA with a degree in Biology. Dr. Hopkins obtained his medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA in 2003. He then completed his residency and training at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA and Kees ... Read More

Miss-Lou High School Football Games to Have Dedicated Ambulance Coverage NATCHEZ, Miss. –September 13, 2016 – To support timely delivery of medical care in an emergency, Merit Health Natchez is sponsoring dedicated, on-site ambulances and crews at the remaining varsity football games in the Miss-Lou Region.  Home games, and any possible playoff home games, for the following schools will be supported with the ambulance service:  Trinity Episcopal School; Cathedral School; Natchez High School; A... ... Read More

Dr. Sahitya Bhandari to Begin Practice on September 6 NATCHEZ, Miss. –September 7, 2016 – Internal Medicine Physician Sahitya Bhandari, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Merit Health Natchez.    Dr. Bhandari received her Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 2009 from Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu University, Nepal.   She completed her Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus (formerly known as ... ... Read More

Pathologist Brian Arbogast, M.D. FCAP, has joined the medical staff of Merit Health Biloxi. Dr. Arbogast joins Merit Health Biloxi from Bloomington, IL where he practiced as a pathologist at Bloomington Medical Laboratory. He graduated from Virginian Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA in 2005 with a degree in Biology. Dr. Arbogast obtained his medical degree at St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies in 2010. He then completed his residency in Anatomical and Clinical P ... Read More

Jether C. Farino, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Merit Health Biloxi and Merit Health Gulf Oaks. Dr. Farino attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Farino joins Merit Health after practicing for three (3) years with the United States Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base. He has received numerous honors and awards and well as many years of teachin ... Read More

Kelly Nation, M.D. has joined the medical staff of Merit Health Biloxi and Gulf Coast Children’s Clinic. Dr. Nation received her Medical Doctorate from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She completed her pediatric internship at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Medical Center, Travis AFB, California and her pediatric residency at the University of California Davis Hospital, Sacramento, California. Dr. Nation’s most recent assignment has been with ... Read More

Merit Health Biloxi has acquired an additional surgical robotics system. Robotic surgical systems are already at use at Merit Health Biloxi, however the newest system was designed with the goal of further advancing the technology used in minimally invasive surgery. The system can be used across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures with integrated table motion and has been optimized for multi-quadrant surgeries in the areas of gynecology, urology, thoracic, colorectal and general surgery. Th ... Read More