November 15, 2013
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA
Vol. 32, No. 14
Inside Employees drill in Great SE ShakeOut HealtHcare
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Hall of fame
MUSC recognized for e-health innovations, new technologies.
Grateful care
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A family’s journey connects them to expert hearing care.
2 Grant Award 5 Meet Lee 11 Classifieds tHe c ata ly s t online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst
Top left photo: Department of Pediatrics’ employees demonstrate the quick moves necessary during a simulated earthquake to minimize getting hit by flying photos provided debris. Above photoAbove photo: ShakeOut drills around MUSC occurred in many forms. The Urology At 10:17 a.m., on Oct. 17, MUSC departments and work clinic staff demonstrate that if a desk or table is not nearby, cover can be found underneath exam tables or areas joined thousands of other colleges, businesses, gurneys. government agencies and families across the country as they participated in the 2013 Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. The ShakeOut is an annual opportunity for people to practice how to protect themselves and be prepared in the event of a major earthquake or catastrophe in their community. People were encouraged to drop, cover and hold on as part of the drill. Local participants were asked to submit their photos of proper earthquake protocol for the Great Southeast ShakeOut, and winners received four-piece sets of MUSC glass tumblers. Participating departments for MUSC’s event included Hematology Oncology, College of Nursing Simulation Center, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics - Med/Surgery (7East), Hollings Cancer Center, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Crime Victim Center, Psychiatry PGY3s, Family Medicine Residency Program and Staff, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MUSC 2013 ShakeOut winners include Hollings Cancer Internal Medicine, Education & Student Support / Student Center’s Tess Morris, from left, Brandon Matthews, Louise Wellness, Service Line / Neuroscience, RT Neurosurgery & Sullivan, Debra Brigham (Laurrie Dowd Rumpp not Spine, Urology Clinic, Health Information Services, Medical pictured). Records and MUSC Health Women’s Care. The activity was coordinated by University Risk Management.
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MUSC inducted into Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame By Mikie hayes Public Relations
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USC was one of six inductees in the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Class of 2013. The inductees were honored at an awards luncheon held on Nov. 5, in New Orleans. Established in 2011, the Internet Hall of Fame recognizes annual inductees selected by an independent board of judges. Inductees include people and organizations whose work and accomplishments have brought innovation and honor to the health care Internet industry. While honoring innovation, the Hall of Fame was also established to ensure the history of the industry is preserved for future generations. 2013 is the third year the organization has honored inductees for their innovative contributions. In addition to MUSC, two other provider organizations were inducted this year: the Cleveland Clinic and Geisinger Health System. MUSC finds itself in very good company; previous inductees have included Mayo Clinic, WebMD, EPIC, and DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center. A member of the Hall of Fame board of judges independently nominated MUSChealth.com, and MUSC was informed once votes were tabulated. As a leader in biomedical research, health education and clinical innovation, MUSC is dedicated to the institution’s slogan, changing what’s possible, in global, regional and local healthcare. Building on its core mission, the commitment to continually refining a comprehensive digital communications strategy has earned MUSC the reputation of being on the vanguard of health care Internet strategy. “MUSC has always been a pioneer in the e-health industry. There has long been an organizational commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship and we remain ahead of the curve on developing digital initiatives such as telehealth, My Chart, podcasts and Epic. Our organization’s e-health innovations are
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 Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu
photo provided
Members of MUSC’s Business Development and Marketing Services gather with their award. driven with one singular purpose in mind – to create a great digital experience for our customers,” said Christine Murray, director of Business Development and Marketing Services. MUSC continues to use the Internet, social media strategies, networked technologies, mobile media and other technologies to stay ahead of the curve in meeting the needs of the patient. MUSC Health, the clinical care delivery system, represents thousands of health care professionals who care for more than 1 million patients annually through direct and eHealth Innovations. Offering more innovative approaches for adult and pediatric care than any other health system in South Carolina, MUSC Health is nationally recognized as a leader in quality, health innovation technology and clinical expertise. “To put this award in perspective, MUSC Health was providing physician profiles before HealthGrades, health information before WebMD, and had an accessible video library before YouTube. MUSC has an
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.
innovative spirit. We are always asking ourselves how can we be better, different, what will benefit the patient? That philosophy manifested itself in MUSChealth. com,” she said. In the 1990s, MUSC’s innovative spirit inspired the launch of MUSChealth.com. MUSC was among the first academic medical centers to establish a unique web experience intended to provide access to some of the richest health care content available for patients at the time, as well as being the first organization in South Carolina to educate the public about the availability of the information, according to Murray. MUSC was also on the frontline of delivering features not widely seen when they were originally introduced: Clinical Trials Searchable Database; Drug Identifier; RSS News Feeds; ebusiness tools such as online appointment requests and the integration of health and wellness tools. Building on 15 years of national recognition, Business Development and Marketing Services continues to launch innovative approaches. Its efforts have led to multiple prestigious national awards, some of which include: 2006 National Gold Award Recipient for Best Presentation of Clinical Content; 2007 National Best in Class Winner for Prevention and Wellness Content; 2007 Best in Class Innovator’s Award for Web 2.0 Rich Media; 2009 Innovator’s Award Best Integrated Content for Results; 2013 Top 50 Hospitals for Social Media (among hospitals, MUSC’s YouTube channel ranked 14th in the country with nearly 1 million views).
MUSC Health.com
Members of MUSC’s Business Development and Marketing Services responsible for maintaining MUSC Health.com are Mark Samber, back row from left, Brian Tillman, Ethan Fugate, Helen Smith, front row from left, Jane Kelley, Christine Murray, director, Christine Gainer, Betsy RevesSidebottom and Danny Spilane
Celebrate S.C. Arbor Day at MUSC Thursday, Dec. 5 10 a.m to 2 p.m. MUSC Horseshoe Come out to plant new trees in front of the Colbert Education Building and Library. Learn more about trees and planting and nature and wood via vendors and exhibitors representing tree, landscape and garden services. Local urban forestry specialists also will be available. Schneider Tree Care staff will perform tree climbing demonstrations and offering lessons. For information, call 792-9143,
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Grant awarded to boost MUSC women scientists Staff Report A handful of women scientists at MUSC’s College of Medicine are making history as the first recipients from a medical school to receive funding by the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program. The principal investigator is breast imaging pioneer and dean of the College of Medicine, Etta D. Pisano, M.D. Established in 2001,the Advance program seeks to not only boost the number of women and others underrepresented in academic science and engineering, but also to improve the way they advance through their careers. The project, funded by COM, is titled ARROWS (Advancement, Recruitment and Retention of Women in Science), and will receive $650,000 during the next four years. Pisano and COM faculty including Ashli J. Sheidow, Ph.D. (psychiatry), Tamara Nowling, Ph.D. (medicine), Cristina Lopez, Ph.D. (pychiatry), and Rosalie Crouch, Ph.D. (Ophthalmology) will implement the program. Pisano The ARROWS project aims to increase the number of women in academic science and change the trajectory of women’s careers in a field that historically has been dominated by men serving in its leadership positions. The team will put forth a package of practices and policies that will specifically benefit basic science women in the immediate environment of a single medical school. Hopefully, this approach will also serve to usher a culture of change within other medical schools across the U.S. by helping them, including ethnic minority women. “We’ve come a long way. Women now lead medical schools and other big and
important ventures. But, there aren't enough of us in leadership or in science. This NSF grant will help us develop methods to improve support for the careers of women in science at MUSC and other similar institutions,” Pisano said. “Women in STEM disciplines – which are science, technology, engineering and math, are finding it very challenging to succeed. ARROWS will be a step toward changing what's possible for women in science.” ARROWS co-principal investigator, Ashli Sheidow, Ph.D., added, “Medical schools employ a third of the nation’s academic scientists, and one quarter of medical school faculty are academic scientists. Interestingly, more women scientists are employed at medical schools than men scientists. Women scientists in medical schools face unique challenges compared to scientists in traditional academic settings. This project is designed to target those challenges.”
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MUSC medical center communications corner Organizational Awards
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USC medical center has received a number of awards this past year, all of which we should be extremely proud. MUSC medical center awards and accomplishments would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our employees. Thank you for the great care you provide every day, and congratulations!
MUSC again received an “A” rating for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group in the Fall 2013 Hospital Safety Score. This is the third year in a row that MUSC has been given this distinction. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score grades hospitals on data related to how safe they are for patients. Baby-Friendly USA has officially designated MUSC as a Baby-Friendly hospital. At this time, only 3 percent of hospitals in the United States are designated as baby friendly. MUSC is the first academic medical center in South Carolina to achieve this designation and the second hospital in the Greater Charleston area. MUSC is also the first of 89 hospitals that are part of the Best Fed Beginnings Collaborative to be designated as baby friendly.
MUSC was one of six inductees announced in the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame for the Class of 2013. The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations that have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the health care internet industry. The organization’s purpose, while honoring innovation, is to ensure that the history of the industry is preserved for future generations new to the health care industry.
For the second year in a row, MUSC has ranked within the Top 25 on the University HealthSystem Consortium’s Quality & Accountability Scorecard.
In October, MUSC medical center received the 2013 Service Award for Excellence in Patient Care from the Studer Group. The Excellence in Patient Care awards are presented to organizations that demonstrate outstanding performance in patient care. Recipients are selected based on achievement, improvement and overall outstanding performance on publicly reported results.
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Meet Lee
Lee Leddy, M.D. Department Orthopaedic Surgery How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC Working with our multi-disciplinary sarcoma team to provide patients with the best care possible How long at MUSC Five years Children and their names Logan, 4, Connor, 3, and Sophia, 11 months A unique talent you have I can coach 4-year-old soccer teams...like herding cats. Favorite summer activity Going to the beach with my family and surfing What food is a must-have in the fridge or pantry Snacks for my children — it helps everyone in the house Greatest moment in your life Marrying my wife, Rebecca
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Thirty travel hours to reach your appointment The Kallmans of Indonesia decide it’s worth the trips By Mikie hayes Public Relations
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ames and Dewi Kallman could have flown a mere 90 minutes to Singapore for their daughter’s cochlear implant surgery, or even visited a renowned program in nearby Australia. Instead, they chose to make a 30-hour trip from Jakarta, Indonesia to MUSC to put Mei Lin in the care of Ted Meyer, MD, Ph.D., director of the MUSC Cochlear Implant Program. The Kallmans’ confidence in the MUSC team fueled their desire to travel halfway around the world so their daughter, Mei Lin, could be seen by a “staff they love.” James and Dewi Kallman first noticed a problem with Mei Lin’s hearing at 6 months when she failed to respond to their voices. They visited doctors in Jakarta who provided them with two hearing aids and a return appointment within a year. While James, an American, was visiting the U.S., he asked a doctor if they knew of anything else that could be done for his daughter. A cochlear implant was recommended. The implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the inner ear that uses small electrical currents to bypass damaged parts of the inner ear. A microphone, processor and transmitter are worn externally. When Mei Lin was age 1, she had her first cochlear implant inserted in her right ear at University of Miami. Her audiologist was Jack King, Ph.D., who later joined the MUSC department of Otolaryngology. At age 6, when doctors suggested she get an implant in her left ear to enhance her hearing and social interaction with others, the Kallmans brought Mei Lin to MUSC. During that visit, they were touched by the treatment they received and delighted to have found a home for Mei Lin’s care. During late summer 2013, Mei Lin began experiencing issues in her left ear and James emailed Meyer for guidance. Within two weeks, the Kallmans were at MUSC and Mei Lin was examined. Meredith Holcomb, Au.D., discovered the device was malfunctioning; Meyer removed it and implanted a new one. Mei Lin’s ability to hear was restored and she began the next phase of her care with Holcomb, her audiologist, who activated and programmed the speech processor after surgery. The procedure and testing were successful and the Kallmans couldn’t have been more relieved. James wrote in a note to Meyer: “We all cannot thank you enough for your care for Mei Lin. We placed her in
See FaMily on page 7
photos by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
Dr. Meredith Holcomb covers her mouth as she has Mei Lin Kallman repeat the words she says. Holcomb is testing Mei Lin’s new cochlear implant in her left ear and adjusting the settings on the sound processor. To see a photo gallery, visit https://depthtml.musc.edu/pr/photogalleries/ 2013/cochlearimplant/index.html
photo by Alison Padlan Gillette
Left, Dr. Ted Meyer checks Mei Lin Kallman’s cochlear device he implanted. Above, James Kallman, left, and his wife Dewi, right, with their daughter, Mei Lin. Pictured left, is the Cochlear Nucleus 6 sound processor that Mei Lin received.
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FaMily Continued from Page Six your hands and you delivered our little girl back to us with hearing. We cannot express our thanks enough.” Meyer credits the expertise and the comprehensive approach of the team of professionals involved in the program, and praised the work of Holcomb. Of the process, Meyer said, “Surgery in itself is a very small part of what’s involved with a cochlear implant. The evaluation is extremely important. The surgery is important. And post-operatively, the rehabilitation that occurs, Meyer either at home as an adult, or with a speech therapist, and at home as a child, is really what’s important for development with speech and language with a cochlear implant.” In 2013-2014 U.S. News & World Report, MUSC MUSC Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology) was ranked 27th in the nation. Only 147 facilities of the 4,806 hospitals in the United States reviewed were ranked in one of 16 specialty care areas. MUSC’s Department of Otolaryngology joins an elite group of health care organizations being recognized for their quality care. James asked Meyer to consider a joint program
“We placed her (Mei Lin) in your hands and you delivered our little girl back to us with hearing.” James and Dewi Kallman between MUSC and health care professionals in Jakarta. James is senior partner and president of Mazars, an accounting and consulting firm with more than 13,000 employees and offices in 71 countries. Owing to MUSC’s desire to extend its outreach on a global scale, the request is under consideration, according to Meyer. Since Meyer has been at the helm of MUSC’s program, the number of cochlear implant procedures has quadrupled. In 2004, Meyer and his staff followed approximately 100 patients. Today, they follow more than 700 patients and perform more than 130 cochlear implant surgeries a year. Meyer said, “It’s considered to be very delicate surgery; however, experienced centers, like MUSC, that do a significant numbers of cochlear implants, are fortunate to have surgeons who are welltrained, have great expertise and experience, and who obtain excellent results.”
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A moving tribute honors MUSC veterans By Mikie hayes Public Relations
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he clothing they wore – scrubs, parking jackets and business suits among other outfits – was different from the khakis, camo or coveralls they donned at another time and another place. But the camaraderie was the same as they greeted each other as captain, airman, corporal, corpsman and various other ranks. The men and women who filed into the Drug Discovery Building Nov. 8 for MUSC’s Veterans Day celebration had been scattered around the globe, from various stateside locations to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign posts. Wherever they were assigned, however, they all carried the same mission: Defend and preserve America’s liberty. Master of Ceremony Roy Dingle, master sergeant, USAF (ret), director of support - contract services, welcomed veterans and guests. The MUSC Public Safety color guard presented the colors and along with Old Glory, flags of the U. S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard stood solemnly and proudly over the ceremony commemorating the bravery and devotion of those being honored. MUSC’s veterans stood at attention, hands over hearts, while Richard Terhune, business manager for Engineering and Facilities sang the national anthem, and all joined Air Force veteran A. Tyler Nance, Ambulatory Care—Support Services, in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. MUSC Chaplain Melvin Williams, Army and Air Force veteran, delivered the Invocation. MUSC Interim President and Provost, Mark Sothmann, Ph.D., welcomed the audience: “To all veterans, we say, Thank You. Thank you for your sacrifices, thank you for your sense of duty, and thank you for your service. Our nation honors you and we gather here today to salute you. We are grateful for your service.” Sothmann shared his experience working on a Department of Defense grant to create a registry of service personnel who had suffered traumatic amputations. At the time, records the armed services kept only listed “major injuries,” and didn't specify what those injuries were. Through his work, he interviewed 500 Vietnam vets whose oral histories are now held at the National Archive.
Left photo: MUSC Public Safety’s color guard presents the colors as employee-veterans, employees and community guests gather at the Nov. 8 ceremony. Above photo: Neurosciences’ Rick Bennett, right, helps distribute lapel pins. photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging
Guest speaker, retired Lt. Col James B. Wilson, United States Air Force Reserve, asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of all who paid the supreme sacrifice. Air Force veteran David Rainville, office of the Chief Information Officer, played a moving rendition of taps. Wilson, commissioned as a second lieutenant, was assigned to the 437th Field Maintenance Squadron in Charleston in January 1972. In 1975, he joined the 943rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in Charleston and supported C-5A, C-141 and C-17 aircraft. Wilson asked the audience to imagine what it’s like for medical personnel who are sent to war, and the sacrifices they make for everyone: “They serve in the background, virtually unnoticed, in private practice one day, and in the middle of wreckage the next day— think about the toll on medical personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Following in the footsteps of a long line of relatives who served in the military, Wilson mentioned in particular his great-grandfather who joined the Ohio militia during the war of 1812. “But,” he kidded, “he only stayed in a couple of weeks until he decided Ohio was not going to be attacked.” The impact of seeing caskets draped with American flags, and the reality that each was an American soldier killed in the Vietnam War, is a vision he will never forget. “People who have served and especially those who made the supreme sacrifice, deserve our every good thought,” Wilson concluded. A powerful video, celebrating the countless acts of heroism U.S. military personnel perform, was presented. The video showcased their courage, honor, integrity, duty, loyalty and commitment. Some nodded
with pride, others looked down remembering, many wiped away tears. Lapel pins were presented to all veterans in thanks for their service, and Army veteran Mary Brigman, health care recruiter and Equal Employment Opportunity compliance officer, shared closing remarks.
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