MUSC Catalyst

August 24, 2012

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 31, No. 2

Inside MUHA Employee of the Year TherapisT remembered

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The College of Health Professions shares memories of occupational therapist Jerry Burik who recently died.

Trauma Care

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MUSC Children’s Hospital was awarded designation as a Level 1 center.

5 Meet Jay 10 Wellness Works 11 Classifieds

T h e C aTa ly s T Online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst

The Medical University Hospital Authority announced its Employee of the Year Aug. 15. As Employee of the Year, Rutledge Tower Outpatient Pharmacy’s Charlie Smith received a $500 check, a Rising Star Crystal Award and Wendy’s gift certificates.

Smith, who is an MUSC College of Pharmacy alumnus, has worked at MUSC for 13 years. He was nominated for his help in filling one transplant patient’s medication order just before Thanksgiving. Unable to fill the presciptions at MUSC because of an insurance contract, Smith went to a neighboring pharmacy and dropped off the prescriptions to be filled. Later, after finishing his work day, he returned to the pharmacy, paid for it out of his own pocket and delivered the medications to the patient in the hospital. Bottom photo: Members of the Rewards and Recognition Committee serve refreshments at the celebration.

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EmployEE WEllnEss q MUSC’s Pitch the Pack: Free smoking cessation program offered to MUSC employees and students. Classes, counseling and a one-month supply of medications are available to eligible participants.

Susan Johnson Receive a success kit with enrollment filled with gifts.

Enroll online http://ceii.muschealth. com/SCP/SCPRegistration.aspx.

Health at work

q Zumba at Harborview Office Tower: Join licensed Zumba instructor Felecia Curry for a weekly Wednesday night Zumba class held from 5 – 6 p.m. in Room 910, Harborview Office Tower.

Zumba is a dance-based aerobic exercise class, and Curry tailors the workout to accommodate any fitness level. Email curryf@musc.edu or call 822–6136 for more information or to register. q MUSC Urban Farm Work & Learn:

Aug. 25 from 9 – 11 a.m. Bring a plastic bag and take home some fresh produce in return for work efforts on the farm.

Bring water, sunscreen and wear closed toe shoes. Email urbanfarm@musc.edu to register. Open to MUSC employees, students, and the public. Early Bird Stewardship from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., Aug. 29: Hands-on learning with a focus on maintaining a healthy and productive garden to include planting, weeding, fertilizing and keeping the farm clean. q Employee Health will be offering tuberculin skin tests to employees from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Children’s Hospital lobby. q Farmers market: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the area next to Ashley River Tower.

Contact Johnson, Ph.D., at johnsusa@ musc.edu for more information on the Office of Health Promotion at MUSC and Suzan Benenson Whelan at whela@ musc.edu for specific information about Employee Wellness. Events, speakers, classes or any other ideas are welcome.

Recruiting begins for director of MUSC’s Global Initiatives

Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425.

843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Kim Draughn catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu

The Catalyst is published once a week.

Paid adver tisements, which do not represent an endorsement by MUSC or the State of South Carolina, are handled by Island Publications Inc., Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or 843-958-7490. E-mail: sales@moultrienews.com.

The Office of the Provost invites applications from MUSC faculty for the newly created position of director, Center for Global Initiatives. This is a part-time employment opportunity at a commitment of 0.50 full-time equivalent for a minimum of five years with potential for renewal. The position requires an innovative and dynamic individual to lead the development of MUSC’s globalization strategy as part of the MUSC Strategic Plan and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Institutional Effectiveness requirements. The director will shape a center to advance the mission in research and education on a national and international scale.

This position will report directly to the provost and will be expected to help define the university’s globalization

vision and build upon existing institutional strengths.

The director will work closely with faculty and leadership peers from throughout the university, including deans, chairs, directors and senior university leadership to build consensus about new initiatives and MUSC strategies, and sustain longterm collaborations involving multiple administrative units. The director will be responsible for establishing long-term financial sustainability of the center through the execution of successful philanthropic and grant strategies, and achievement of awards consistent with the global health mission and objectives of the university.

For more information about the position and application process, visit globalhealth.musc.edu.

The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012 3

Therapist, practitioner remembered for enthusiasm

By Cindy aBole Public Relations College of Health Professions occupational therapist and educator Jerome (Jerry) K. Burik, 52, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 13 while on vacation in Florida.

A native of McKees Rock, Pa., Burik attended West Virginia University and transferred to Burik MUSC’s Occupational Therapy Program, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1982. He went on to complete his master’s in occupational therapy in 1991 and continued to work professionally as an independent contractor, consultant and adjunct instructor.

A licensed occupational therapist, Burik co-founded Charleston’s first private practice of occupational therapy, Therapy Resources, before returning to MUSC and working with faculty. He went on to serve as adjunct instructor in the occupational therapy program and academic fieldwork coordinator in 1999. He was an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association.

He participated on several advisory boards including Trident Technical College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. His collaboration with faculty colleagues led to funded grant work and publications in the areas of gerontology, neuro-rehabilitation and fieldwork education. He also held leadership roles in the MUSC Leadership Initiative and Creating Collaborative Care program.

In 2002, he was awarded the MUSC Health Science Foundation’s Teaching Excellence Award in the Developing Teacher Category. Burik was a nominee of the Foundation’s Educator-Lecturer Award numerous times and multiple winner of the Teacher of the Year Award and Developing Scholar Award within the College of Health Professions.

Monetary gifts may be made online to the Occupational Therapy Support Program under the designation drop-down box: http://tinyurl.com/9tlfrfl.

Gifts also may be made to the MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee St., MSC 450,Charleston, SC 29425 or call 792–2677. Designate “OT Support Fund in memory of Jerry Burik” on the memo line of your check.

“Jerry Burik was been a key member of the occupational therapy faculty with a unique skill set

in evaluation and treatment of the elderly client, especially in cognition and perception. He was a gifted communicator both on paper and verbally. He could tell a story with humor to make you laugh; he could be poignant with meaning, to the extent that he would have a whole class of students in tears. He could write beautifully with poise and elegance and was a person who was often utilized for editing written work. He was kind but pleasantly firm with students and over the last 13 years had counseled many students during clinical practice as an excellent mentor.”

—Peter Bowma, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions, OT and PT divisions, College of Health Professions “This is a difficult time for us in the College of Health Professions as we grieve the loss of Jerry. He was an incredible teacher, colleague and friend. May our fond memories of Jerry, his compassion for others and incredible sense of humor, help carry us through the days and months ahead.”

—Karen A. Wager, DBA, Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, College of Health Professions “Jerry was first and foremost a friend to all who had

beads Of COurage Womble Carlyle marketing manager Sarah Murray, bottom row (left), presents MUSC Children’s Hospital Administor John Sanders with a $1,500 check in support of Beads of Courage. The Beads of Courage Campaign helps children cope with anxieties and stress of dealing with a major illness.

Through Beads of Courage, young patients receive a color-coded bead for significant milestones in their treatment. These beads are strung on a necklace that the patients can use to explain their experiences.

With Sanders is Volunteer Program specialist, Emily Wallace (top row center); and PCICU guest services representative Kristen Burn; and patient, Alicia Fisher, 15. Alicia is awaiting a heart transplant and is holding the beads.

See Therapist on page 10

Honorary degree nominations accepted for contributions The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost is accepting nominations for persons to receive honorary degrees from MUSC, to be awarded at Commencement in May 2013.

In general, honorary degrees go to individuals in the following broad categories: contribution(s) to the nation; contribution(s) to science; contribution(s) to the state or MUSC. Nominations of MUSC alumni are generally discouraged.

Consider submitting nominations of candidates along with supporting materials such as letters, articles, curriculum vitae, etc., in the above mentioned categories.

The nominations should be forwarded to Marcia Higaki, Office of the Provost, Colcock Hall, 179 Ashley Ave., MSC 002, higakimc@musc.edu, no later than Friday, Oct. 12.

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CurrEnts Aug. 21 People – Fostering employee pride and loyalty HR update Helena Bastian, MUHA HR director, presented the following: q SuccessFactors — Employee reviews are due Aug. 31 and should be electronically signed by the supervisor and the employee by that date; organization goal results have been loaded into SuccessFactors; and questions or concerns may be directed to Kim Duncan, duncanki@musc.edu or Forman, foremanm@musc.edu q Pay Increase — Effective Aug. 26, eligible employees will receive a 1/2 (.5) percent; eligible employees are those who occupy a regular, permanent position.

This is a one-time increase and is not related to an employee’s performance rating(s). Increase(s) will be reflective in the Sept. 19 paycheck q SML Provision — Effective Jan. 1, the supplemental medical leave (SML) provision in HR Policy#18, PTO policy will be phased out; transfer of ESL hours to SML bank will be discontinued; employees with SML balances may continue to utilize SML hours until balance is exhausted. q Upcoming training — Presentation Skills Workshop (1 – 2 p.m., Sept. 12, Room 207, QE. The course covers simple ideas and tricks on presentation, design and delivery; HICS training (10 – 11 a.m., Sept. 18, Room 2408 Ashley River Tower); Basic introductory session to the Hospital Incident Command System that is used for disasters. Register via CATTS or email Allen Coulter, coulteal@musc. edu.

LDI Tracking Database update Mary Fischer, R.N., senior clinical analyst in Enterprise Business Intelligence, reviewed details about the database that was created to track MUSC Excellence initiatives, thank you notes and rounding.

All administrators, managers, directors, supervisors and designees have rights to enter this database to enter MUSC Excellence activities and

manage staff qualifications. With the medical center’s push toward Magnet designation, nursing management has asked that staff education also be tracked.

Fischer reviewed the system’s data entry screens. Under staff qualifications (licensure and certifications), anyone can enter information in this area. The hospital needs to report the percentage of all nurses have certifications. Several reports can be accessed from this screen. Competencies, CATTS and immunizations also can be accessed.

The education form has been updated including credentials, education (highest nursing degree and other degrees). Other details need for Magnet tracking are current school, name of school, degrees working and start date, organizations and professional recognitions. Managements can track staff rounding via an administrator manager report, supervisor reports (arbitrary database), etc.

OCIO offers training (second Thursday of the month from 1– 2:30 p.m., Room 220, Clinical Sciences Building), to learn about this database.

Register via CATTS.

Quality – Providing quality patient care in a safe environment

Dan Furlong, OCIO working in the Project Management Office, reminded managers of the submission status for projects within MUHA’s project request system. Once an OCIO project request (see forms toolbox on the intranet) has been submitted, it is evaluated and ranked by priority. The committee uses various criteria which include Institutes of Medicine quality measures, financial impact, risk for the organization, etc.

So far, more than 550 projects have been completed with some 100 projects still active. Currently, requesters are being contacted regarding the status of active projects. With the Epic enterprise project kickoff scheduled for Nov. 1, some projects will need to be validated and prioritized due to priority with Epic.

To Medical Center Employees: At the Aug. 21 Communications meeting, Dr. Peter Zwerner, chief medical officer, MUSC Physicians, and MUSC Health Strategic Plan strategy leader, updated the management team on the MUSC Access Initiative. One of the most critical components of strategic plan is patient access. This is a broad-based initiative and, as Dr. Zwerner explained, will involve re-engineering MUSC’s access process.

The Access task force has examined best practices at other leading academic medical centers. Among other things, best practices include a standardized access policy, a centralized access function and a master scheduling template. Dr. Zwerner summarized his comments by explaining the net result of the access initiative will be an enhanced patient experience, improved MUSC brand reputation, less complaints from prospective patients and better financial performance. Additional details are included in this newsletter.

In a recent Currents newsletter I explained that we need to reduce the medical center’s labor costs for fiscal year 2013. A number of cost reduction tactics are being investigated at this time. For instance, all directors have been asked to reduce labor costs to the 25th percentile for their respective University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC) peer group, as measured by the Action O-I benchmarking system. In order to fill a vacancy, the respective department director and administrator will need to demonstrate staffing is at the 25th percentile for the respective peer group or provide other relevant data to justify.

Also, in relation to other cost reduction tactics, we will need to examine premium pay and other factors that contribute to labor costs. At the Aug. 21 management communication meeting it was announced that plans are under way to discontinue accruing of Supplemental Medical Leave (SML), with a projected cost savings of $1.5 million. No one will lose any leave currently accrued and may use it as in the past, but the SML program, as we know it (which involves transfer of Extended Sick Leave to SML), will be discontinued in the new calendar year.

On another matter, we are now in the midst of hurricane season and the management team needs to ensure everyone understands their department-based weather emergency plans and relevant policies. Everyone also needs to be familiar with the Weather Emergency Card, which is posted on the intranet at https://www.musc.edu/ medcenter/emergencyManagement/source/MedicalCenterEmployees.pdf.

Finally, City of Charleston leaders contacted MUSC and asked that we work with them to house the City’s incident command in Ashley River Tower (ART) during periods of potential power outages, such as storms or other incidents affecting power.

Key medical center staff worked with City police and fire department leaders to make arrangements to accommodate their incident command in ART. We are pleased to have this cooperative working relationship. The City expects to have its own new facility to house their incident command in 2014. In the meantime, we will welcome their presence in the event of a weather emergency or other incident affecting power.

W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center Projects may be cancelled or placed on hold until after Epic’s installation. Any work required for the McKesson system will be completed by McKesson as part of a limited outsourcing agreement.

Service – Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence Peter L. Zwerner, M.D., chief medical

officer, MUSC Physicians, addressed managers with an overview of the medical center’s new Access Initiative.

He reviewed the current state of access, addresses best practices, outlines a goal for access and the implementation.

Zwerner pointed out weaknesses in the current system in handling new and existing patients. He reviewed the current system which uses a team of

See Currents on page 9

The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012 5

mEEt Jay

Jay Brown II Department Urology, MUSC Health East Cooper How long at MUSC 3 months What do you like most about the new East Cooper facility The patient-centered approach What are you excited about the most for the future of the new facility Growing and expanding patient services What sports team would you like to see visit the facility San Francisco 49ers — the best team ever Favorite decoration at the facility Basket designs Favorite area Third-floor garden Meal you love to cook Anything on the grill What do you do on a rainy day Lay around on the couch Dream vacation A tropical beach Favorite place in the world California Greatest moment in your life The birth of my son

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Medical center employees committed to excellence All medical center employees were Medical center staff were treated to a encouraged to nominate an Employee of the celebration Aug. 15 honoring its 2012 Year online for “their dedication to provide the Employee of the Year and nine other employees who were nominated for excellence. best possible experience for MUSC patients, for their commitment to MUSC Excellence Cassandra Whaley, left photo, (Pharmacy and for their willingness to go above Services), joined by her and beyond.” granddaughter, Ta’miyah Mason, WaTCh Nominees for the Employee of was a nominee for Employee of a Video the Year each received movie passes, the Year. Whaley was nominated visit http://bit.ly/ coupons for Chick-fil-A sandwiches, by a staff member, on behalf of MUHA_EotY tickets to any home RiverDogs game a patient’s family for helping the and coupons to Wendy’s. Wendy’s patient receive medications needed.

Restaurant sponsored the Employees In addition to Whaley, other of the Month as well as the Employee of the nominees were Deb Campbell, Information Year celebrations.

Services, Johnna Jackson, Rutledge Tower All nominees, including Rutledge Tower Children’s Services; Kayla Peterson, Clinical Outpatient Pharmacy’s Charlie Smith, Neurophysiology Services; Kelly Cavins, 2012 Employee of the Year, received their Epilepsy Center; Scott Crego, Respiratory framed nomination and a poem written by Therapy; Adam Kornegay, Clinical Toni Mullins. Mullins is an MUSC vascular Neurophysiology Services; Kelly Howard, Heart & Vascular Center; and Phillip Botham, technologist with the Clinical Neurophysiology Services Department.

Physical Therapy.

Medical center employees receive cupcakes during the annual Employee of the Year celebration.

The Catalyst, August 24, 2012 7

8 The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012

Children’s Hospital awarded Level 1 trauma care

By Cindy aBole Public Relations

L

owcountry children suffering from a life-threatening situation can be assured of receiving the best trauma care, according to John Sanders, Children’s Hospital administrator.

Last spring, the MUSC Children’s Hospital sought an additional designation as a Level 1 S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) Pediatric Trauma Center in addition to already obtaining an American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma status as awarded to MUSC’s adult and pediatric hospitals in 2011. The Children’s Hospital was designated from a site visit of an independent review council coordinated

by DHEC and the S.C. Trauma Advisory Council. The three-year designation assures parents that all pediatric patients will receive the highest level of pediatric trauma care and support at any time. It places the Children’s Hospital in elite company of just a handful of similar institutions such as the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; LaBonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis; Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego; and Children’s at Egleston Hospital, Atlanta.

It also recognizes a statewide system of excellence and commitment from the pediatric trauma team, the Pediatric Emergency Department staff, Department of Pediatrics, including pre-hospital, operating, intensive care units, radiology, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation and other areas needed to support patients transported to MUSC. The distinction as a Level 1 Trauma center is one of the highest levels that the adult and pediatric programs can achieve for commitment, readiness, patient care and performance improvement.

This achievement was the culmination of a two-year, voluntary process that began from a staff whose aim was to provide world-class, collaborative health care to patients, Sanders said.

The effort was supported by board-certified pediatric surgeons, pediatric emergency physicians, pediatric intensivists, pediatricians, nurses, respiratory therapists, technicians and child life specialists.

On the local front, the endeavor was led by Christian Streck, M.D., and Melanie Ann Stroud, R.N., of the pediatric trauma center and pediatric emergency medicine teams.

Their work focused on the delivery of quality care for children of all ages. Streck, who is pediatric trauma medical director and assistant professor of surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery in the Department of Surgery, was inspired to lead this effort after seeing a need for streamlining services and programs throughout the hospital. It wasn’t long before Streck and Stroud, who is pediatric trauma program manager and pediatrics-education clinical resource coordinator, approached Children’s Hospital leadership to gain their support and map out a plan for success.

“This was an opportunity for MUSC Children’s

Pediatric burn nurse Ryan Curry offers Tez Gordon a slice of his cake celebrating his discharge from the Children’s Hospital. Tez was badly burned in a North Charleston apartment fire in February. He was released in May.

“This was an opportunity for MUSC Children’s Hospital to lead the way in meeting and setting a standard and raising the bar as it relates to delivering quality medical care.”

Dr. Christian Streck Hospital to lead the way in meeting and setting a standard and raising the bar as it relates to delivering quality medical care,” said Streck.

Sanders said the effort would reemphasize the hospital’s goal for providing patients and families with full-service care.

The challenge wasn’t unfamiliar to Streck, who came to MUSC in 2008. Streck had worked at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis where he completed his pediatric surgery fellowship training and earlier, a two-year research fellowship in pediatric surgical oncology at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Rita M. Ryan, M.D., Department of Pediatrics chair, has supported the effort since her arrival in 2011 and more than halfway through their accreditation process.

“This accreditation truly improves the care of children. It is not an accident that we are leading this initiative in the state. We feel that our patients who suffer trauma should be given the highest quality of

care, for children and adults. Doing this in concert with the adult trauma team was critical. The goal was to organize standards and establish protocols for care, based on evidence-based guidelines, for pediatric injuries and other trauma. Chris Streck and Melanie Stroud did all the work, and they should get the credit.”

According to Streck, more children in the U.S. die due to injury than all causes combined. Of the 23,000 patients seen at the Pediatric Emergency Room, about 300 are treated for serious injuries including burns, motor vehicle crashes, falls, pedestrian and bicycle injuries. Caring for injured children requires a special, comprehensive and inclusive approach.

Today, both injuries and burns account for about half of the morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. With that said, the hospital’s goal centered on raising the standard of care for pediatric patients.

Streck emphasized differences in the care and treatment of an infant or child versus an adult, especially in a medical emergency or trauma situation. There are size and proportional differences of a child’s head, neck and bones, which are generally softer and more pliable. Because of a child’s size and weight, there are differences in medication dosages and challenges for staff to provide intravenous access and intubation.

“These unique differences require the expertise of pediatric specialists to follow specific pediatric guidelines that can direct care. Our goal is to see that every child admitted as a trauma patient is evaluated thoroughly and receives the best level of care and strategies for prevention,” Streck said.

A priority, according to Streck and Stroud, was to improve systems and develop appropriate plans of care, demonstrate educational processes, initiate trauma research, provide injury prevention activities that focus on risk areas for children such as motor vehicle and water safety. The team works with the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division and team of board certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians, residents and fellows, nurse practitioners, medical students and teams. W. Scott Russell, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine medical director, also was an important leader in the trauma certification process.

Last July, Stroud and the Pediatric Trauma team worked with statewide groups to approve Chandler’s Law to decrease the state’s number of all-terrain vehiclerelated injuries among children. Stroud, working with Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention and Safe Kids coordinator Maudra Rogers, helped organize the Lowcountry’s 5th Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Fair to teach bike safety, provide safety information and distribute more than 400 bicycle helmets to children.

In the trauma research area, Streck and Russell worked to explore radiation safety and defining safe levels for children during a pediatric trauma evaluation.

Their findings led to recommendations to reduce the number of unnecessary tests or scans. The work was published in the Journal of Trauma.

The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012 9

MUSC first to report effective treatment for marijuana cessation Breaking new ground, an MUSC research team has completed the first study to show significant effects of a medication treatment for marijuana cessation in adolescent patients. The antioxidant supplement, used to complement psychosocial behavioral therapy, is available over the counter and has been FDA-approved for other conditions for more than 40 years.

With a reported 25 percent of all high school seniors using marijuana and that number on the rise, addiction specialists and researchers have become increasingly concerned given that adolescents who experiment with marijuana are particularly prone to develop marijuana dependence.

“Prior to this study, research has shown us that while some treatments reduce the amount of marijuana an adolescent uses, marijuana abstinence or cessation rates in adolescent patients are very low,” said study lead author, Kevin M. Gray, M.D.,

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences associate professor. “Reduction of use represents progress, but the ultimate goal is cessation.”

In the landmark study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (http://tinyurl.com/8sq2rlp) and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 116 participants aged 15 to 21 completed a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Along with contingency management behavioral therapy during biweekly intervention visits, participants received either a placebo or a supplement called N-acetylcysteine (NAC). At the conclusion of the study, participants receiving NAC had more than twice the odds, compared with the placebo group, of having negative urinalysis results.

In addition, NAC was well tolerated, producing few adverse events.

Evidence suggests that chronic selfadministration of drugs alters the

neurochemical glutamate in parts of the brain. Work at MUSC by Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., Department of Neurosciences chair and Distinguished University Professor of Neurosciences and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and colleagues revealed that administration of NAC activates a cysteine-glutamate exchanger, normalizing glutamate levels and reducing drug seeking.

“This trial is an exceptional example of the kind of translational research conducted at MUSC in which innovative findings from a basic science laboratory are rapidly translated into a research study conducted in humans,” said Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical and Translational Research Center director, Distinguished University Professor and associate dean for clinical and translational research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Encouragement of this type of investigation is critical to advancing

CurrenTs Continued from Page Four schedulers, registration staff, nurses, providers and administrative assistants who field more than 100,000 calls per month where more than half of the calls are non-scheduling relating. As of 2012, a little more than half of all online appointments were scheduled. Also lag days for new patients fell behind by more than 30-plus days in four sub-specialty medical areas. The current system, according to Zwerner, clearly challenged a patient’s access to services and care at MUSC. To create a new patient-centric plan, hospital leaders looked at best practices of the top 20 nationally-ranked hospitals and identified their successes with access as using a standardized access policy, centralized access function and use of a master scheduling template.

Hospitalwide, leaders identified access imperatives — aggressive competitors, market share, lack of new patient growth, employee and patient satisfaction and cultural shift in patient expectations.

The plan, which is modeled after Emory Clinic’s access efforts, utilizes tenants with supply and demand/ re-engineering, increase new patients, standardize metrics and develop and master scheduling system.

More specifically, the medical center will focus on scheduling new patients within seven days; standardizing and reducing appointment types; establishing a formal process when an appointment cannot be made and developing protocols for late, prescheduling and new patients after hours. Phase 1 of the plan will be incorporated at MUSC Health East

Cooper, which will utilize Swat work teams involving staff, department administrators and clinical faculty to expand access at the facility and build work dashboards.

Teams will serve as key operation pieces evaluating metrics, communications, central scheduling and systems and practice re-engineering.

Each department, division and team will work with a d physician champion and business manager/ administrator will partner with work teams to develop access strategy for their department/division in this process. All department access plans will be approved by the Executive Access Committee and Clinical Leadership Council. According to Zwerner, the project kicked off June 29 with executive access work teams and physician champions being established and leadership currently developing baseline metrics, reports and presentations due by September.

Announcements q Phyllis (PJ) Floyd, R.N., is the new manager of Clinical Documentation Integrity and Data Abstraction in Patient Access Services. Floyd worked 20-plus years in leadership and management experience in the clinical arena. She recently worked in home health and the acute care setting in the director and manager positions. q Action O-I data reports for the quarter ending June 30 are due by Aug. 29. For information, call 792-8793. q The next Communications meeting is Sept. 4.

therapeutic development and improving human health.”

Although the accessibility and affordability of NAC may lead some to consider it as a stand alone intervention for marijuana dependence, it is important to note that more work needs to be done to clarify its role in the full context of comprehensive treatment. Gray and his colleagues plan future research with adult and adolescent participants, including study of post-treatment follow-ups, varying doses of NAC in different settings and timeframes, and NAC paired with other psychosocial treatments. It is unknown at this time if NAC is an effective marijuana cessation treatment without a psychosocial treatment such as contingency management therapy.

For additional information about participating in treatment studies for marijuana or tobacco cessation, call 792-4097.

Clinical Research Ethics Fellowship taking applications The Institute of Human Values in Health Care is sponsoring its second fellowship class in the Clinical Research Ethics Certificate program.

The one-year fellowship, which is part of the Clinical Research Ethics Core of the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute, features a revised introductory-level curriculum designed to provide medical and health professions students and professionals with a variety of online study and experiences in clinical research ethics.

The program combines the master’s in science for clinical research ethics course (MSC 750) and IP Course 738. It comprises seminars that provides opportunities for students to meet with administrators and scientists to discuss information as it relates to research ethics.

Robert M. Sade, M.D., the institute’s director, said that achieving training in this area can strengthen clinical efforts and provide an advantage when applying for research grants.

Fellows who complete the program will earn a certificate in Clinical Research Ethics and are invited to participate in MUSC’s Clinical Research Ethics Consultation Service, in the Institute of Human Values in Health Care and in the newly created Clinical Research Ethics Society.

For information, visit http://academicdepartments. musc.edu/humanvalues/certificate2.htm.

10 The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012

New student initiative to offer wellness balance

By KeVin smunieWsKi Student Programs It’s that time of year again where fresh starts are happening all over campus — new students, new classes for returning students, new books to read, and new people. This academic year also will feature the start of the newest student wellness initiative: MUSC Wellness Works.

Wellness Works will be the new student communication hub of all wellness and well-being programming offered through the Division of Education and Student Life, the Wellness Center, Student Government Association and the Office of Health Promotion. The mission is simple: Wellness Works is dedicated to helping MUSC students develop and increase their awareness of every aspect of wellness.

The aspects of wellness are based on what’s known as the Wellness Wheel, a multi-dimensional, holistic approach to wellness and well-being, designed by Bill Hettler, M.D., co-founder of the National Wellness Institute. The theory suggests that there are six dimensions to complete wellness: physical, intellectual, spiritual, financial, social and emotional. Recently, a seventh dimension was added: environmental. Each of these dimensions is interconnected and each plays a vital role in an individual’s total wellness. Wellness is reached when there is a degree of balance among the areas. Information on the breakdown of these dimensions can be seen at the Wellness Works website that is expected to be live within the next two weeks.

This website also will showcase programs and activities that MUSC offers to students. The programs have been broken down into eight categories that help organize the different offerings available. The categories

and subcategories include: q Academic Success and Enrichment — Center for Academic Excellence, Apple Tree Society, Office of Student Diversity and National Coalition Building Institute q A Better You — Counseling and Psychological Services, Alcohol Advisory Group, and Student Health q Get Financially Fit — DESL “Get Financially Fit” Series q Office of Health Promotion — Employee Wellness (open to students too), Urban Farm, Pitch the Pack and Tobacco-Free Campus q Student Government Association Opportunities — Cultural Projects Council, Intramurals and Outdoor Recreation q Student Collaboration — Cultivating Health Among Medical Students, Clash of the Classes, and other student organization’s wellness programs and events q Volunteering Opportunities — MUSC Gives Back and Blood Donations q Wellness Center Activities — Regular Wellness Center Use and Wellness Run Each of these subcategories will offer different programs and workshops that students can participate in to benefit their well-being. So far, this initiative is in its grassroots stages, and the categories will continue to be developed, so suggestions for programs or services are welcome as are any ideas on information to include.

To submit ideas, email smuniewk@musc.edu.

In addition to these on-campus resources, students also will have access to Wellness Works online resources, such as information on wellness activities

in the greater Charleston community, area student discounts, healthy recipes and guides to healthy restaurants, tools for habit change and even peersubmitted ideas and tips on improving student wellness and well-being.

The website also will feature the first “Wellness Works Challenge.” This challenge will determine the “most fit college” each semester based on the contact hours that students log in each of the categories listed above. Students will receive credit for completing any of the programs, workshops, events and activities that are offered through departments in each category that are open to all students. These credit hours will go toward their college participation total during a three-month period each semester.

This fall semester’s challenge will start Sept. 1 and run through Nov. 30. The winners will have their college’s name engraved on “The Cup,” a trophy that is on permanent display in the Wellness Center and their college will also be eligible for special giveaways and discounts to some of the events put on by MUSC Student Government.

So why do all this?

The most obvious reason is to help students perform their best. There also is research that suggests the health of health care professionals matters and that their practices influence their clinical attitudes toward the promotion of well-being in their patients. This supports the university’s mission of optimizing human life as well as further educating students to become caring, compassionate, ethical and proficient health care professionals and creative biomedical scientists.

TherapisT Continued from Page Three the pleasure of working with him. As the fieldwork coordinator he was the person students had contact with when they were out on clinicals. He would always be available to support them often talking to students in the evenings and on the weekends. He was a wonderful mentor to many students and a true friend and colleague to the College of Health Professions faculty. ” —Nancy E. Carson, Ph.D., OTR/L, Division of Occupational Therapy “As a member of the MUSC Occupational Therapy ‘Royal Court,’ ‘Prince J’ will be missed. Our dear, humble Prince was compassionate, dedicated, practical, sensitive and the consummate professional – excellence was his standard. In a twist to royal

protocol, it was an honor for me, Lady B, to serve as his technology ‘lady-inwaiting,’ as well as a fellow foodie. As the summer of 2012 comes to a close and at the end of my workdays, I no longer hear his footfalls toward my office saying, ‘Lady B, it is time to go home.’ I replay that scene in my mind constantly, as well as his playful yet genuine admonishment, ‘Lady B, pray harder for me and our students, we need it.’”

—Hazel L. Breland, Ph.D., OTR/L, Division of Occupational Therapy “Jerry’s passion was to see ‘his’ occupational therapy students grow into competent, caring and compassionate clinicians who were prepared to meet the demands of today’s health care environment. To that end he filled his

courses with opportunities for students to interact with patients, families and clinicians. As a business owner, practicing therapist-turned-educator, he had a network of relationships within the occupational therapy community.

It was a common belief that Jerry ‘knew everyone!’ He leveraged this network in his role as the OT fieldwork coordinator as he worked to create the just-right match between a student and clinical site. Jerry was kind, hospitable and had a keen sense of humor. He had the rare gift of making others feel special and was always able to make those around him laugh.”

—Michelle L. Woodbury Ph.D., OTR/L Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy and Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions

MU Women’s Club seeks scholarship applications The Medical University Women’s Club is seeking MUSC’s most deserving students for its annual scholarships. All full-time students in their second or subsequent years from any of the six MUSC colleges are eligible to apply. Previous applicants may reapply. Applications are available through the Volunteer Services Office or by download at http://academicdepartments.musc. edu/womensclub/scholarship.htm.

The deadline for submission is Aug. 28. Applicants will be selected based on financial need, academic achievement and community and university service. For information, email MUWCscholarship@gmail. com.

The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012 11

CLASSIFIED P AGE • Household Personal Items for MUSC employees are free.

All other classifieds are charged at rate below. Ads considered venture-making ads (puppy breeder, coffee business, home for sale, etc.) will be charged as PAID ADS •• PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED * NO MORE THAN 3 LINES * FREE ADS RUN 2 WEEKS ONLY!

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