emergency medicine
2013 75
2009 36
2004 6
As
director of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s for 22 years, Richard Ruddy, MD, knows how to make things better. Whether working to improve systems within the hospital, leading the Section of Emergency Medicine of the American Academy of Pediatrics or reviewing operations at other emergency departments around the country, Ruddy has developed a keen sense of what it takes to transform emergency services for children. He also knows that earning a place as one of the nation’s top pediatric emergency medicine divisions requires regular checkups. Which is why he has looked forward to each of the four Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) reviews he has gone through during his time here. “I actually like the process,” Ruddy says. “It has led to important changes in the growth and goals of the Division of Emergency Medicine, and it parallels the ability of the division to do its own strategic and tactical planning. It’s a very positive experience.” An unvarnished look
The Division of Emergency Medicine has dramatically increased it’s peer reviewed publications since 2004.
Prepared For Emergencies Review helps Emergency Medicine prepare for a future filled with uncertainty
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CINCINNATI CHILDREN’S RESEARCH FOUNDATION
“It’s not clear we will have the financial resources in the future, but we will not and should not turn away patients needing care.”
Every five years or so, SAC review requires that a division presents a comprehensive overview of what it is doing and learns what it needs to do to be at the top of its game. The process “involves everyone,” Ruddy says, including research, clinical care, education, advocacy and work that crosses division lines. And the process is not intended only to showcase what is working well. “It has really become critical to think about the problems to solve, as opposed to the accomplishments that have been made,” says Ruddy. “I like the fact that it addresses all the important questions and gets us closer to being the best we can be.” Jacqueline M. Grupp-Phelan, MD, MPH, Research Director in the Division of Emergency Medicine, says she appreciates the perspective provided by the review. “Because of the reputation and experience of our SAC reviewers, we are able to understand where we fall CINCINNATICHILDRENS.ORG/RESEARCH
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