Ozarks Community Hospital welcomes anesthetist

Submitted Photo Kristi Kroona is the new full-time anesthetist for the Ozarks Community Hospital surgery department. She received her nursing degree from the University of Minnesota, attended the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and obtained her master’s degree in anesthesia from St. Mary’s College.
Submitted Photo Kristi Kroona is the new full-time anesthetist for the Ozarks Community Hospital surgery department. She received her nursing degree from the University of Minnesota, attended the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and obtained her master’s degree in anesthesia from St. Mary’s College.

From Staff Reports

GRAVETTE -- Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette welcomed Kristi Kroona, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, to the medical staff this month.

Kroona will be providing full-time anesthesia coverage for the OCH of Gravette surgery department.

"Our surgery department is growing substantially, so a full-time anesthetist is a must," said communication manager Amanda Gittlein. "Kristi has an immense amount of experience as a traveling anesthetist and will be a great asset to our health system."

Kroona graduated with a nursing degree from the University of Minnesota. She then went on to attend the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and St. Mary's College, where she became certified and obtained her master's degree in anesthesia. Kroona is a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the Arkansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

"I'm excited to be back in Arkansas," said Kroona. "I can't wait to bring the many skills I have learned while traveling as a contract CRNA back to the local community I call home."

The OCH health system encompasses two hospitals and 17 clinics located throughout the Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas area with locations in Springfield, Nixa, Webb City, Carthage, Marshfield, Noel, Boliva, Rogersville, Sparta and Mt. Vernon in Missouri, and Gravette in Arkansas. OCH accepts Medicaid, Medicare, UHC Military and other insurances. For more information, visit www.OCHonline.com.

General News on 06/17/2015