Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 10, 2000 - The state of Mississippi recently approved Baptist Memorial Health Care's certificate of need application to add lithotripsy, a medical procedure that safely disintegrates kidney or ureteral stones with shock waves, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto.

Baptist DeSoto plans to initiate Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Services on Feb. 10. Lithotripsy breaks down kidney and ureteral stones into sand-grain sized particles, so the stone fragments can easily be passed through the urinary tract.

Initially, lithotripsy will be offered on a part-time basis, one half-day to one full day every other week. Providing this service at Baptist DeSoto will bring greater convenience for patients needing lithotripsy services, said Melvin Walker, CEO and administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto.

"It's important to our patients that we have the newest technology that will make medical treatments easier for them," Walker said. "We want to give the very best possible care in a convenient location and a comfortable setting."

Opened in 1988, Baptist DeSoto in Southaven, Miss., comprises 110 acute care beds, 30 rehabilitation beds, and a 120-bed skilled nursing facility. Last year, the staff at Baptist DeSoto delivered almost 1,200 babies.

The hospital offers a Women's Center and services in skilled nursing, diagnostics, laboratory, cardiopulmonary, rehabilitation, industrial health and home care & hospice. Other services for patients at Baptist DeSoto include an occupational medicine program; transportation services for outpatients; and the Peace of Mind Program breast cancer program, designed to educate women about breast disease, encourage them to have regular mammograms and teach proper self-examination techniques.

In 1995 & 1996, Baptist DeSoto received the state of Mississippi's Excellence Award, and in 1997, became the only Mississippi hospital ever to receive the Governor's Award. The hospital received Certificate of Need approval in 1998 for its current $40 million expansion.

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