131 years in print Vol. CXXXI Issue xXIII
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS ORGANIZATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | WWW.NEWSRECORD.ORG
The News Record WEDNESDAY | DEC. 1 | 2010
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Helicopters might inhibit health care JAMES SPRAGUE | news editor
file art | the news record
IN THE CHOPPER A study led by a University of Cincinnati professor shows that helicopter EMS services often delay treatment for heart attacks.
CPD layoffs could affect university
A recent study led by a professor at the University of Cincinnati reported that helicopter emergency medical services often delay treatment for patients. The study, led by Dr. Jason McMullan, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at UC, found that, in 2007, the majority of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) — a type of heart attack caused by a sudden and total blockage of a coronary artery — patients transported to a hospital by a helicopter emergency medical service did not receive treatment within a recommended time limit. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiologists recommends 30 minutes to open the
artery using drugs and 90 minutes using a stent — a tiny tube placed into an artery to open it. “The goal of treating patients suffering heart attacks is to open a clogged cardiac artery as soon as possible,” McMullan said. The study reviewed 179 patients flown by UC Health’s helicopter emergency service from 16 referring hospitals to six area hospitals and found only 3 percent of patients who needed stents received treatment within 90 minutes, while more than half received treatment after two hours. “Our results suggest that, when interhospital transfers are required, significant delays are introduced — even when a helicopter is used,” McMullan said.
CINCINNATI ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY pat strang | senior photographer
jason hoffman | staff Reporter
Patrols that partner the Cincinnati Police Department with University of Cincinnati Police Division officers could be in jeopardy as the 2011 city budget calls for possible police layoffs. Facing financial shortfalls, city council has proposed laying off 144 fire fighters and 131 police officers throughout the city. Mayor Mark Mallory delivered the budget proposal to city council Monday. Mallory did not amend City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr.’s plan, which made the proposal for the cuts initially. Although the number of officers specific districts and other units would lose has not yet been discussed publicly due to the budget’s state as a proposal, Districts Four and Five — which cover UC and the neighborhoods surrounding it — stand to lose approximately 42 officers, said a source within the CPD who requested anonymity because details have not been made public. The proposed budget would force CPD to cut its spending by $16 million next year. That amounts to a loss of approximately 131 sworn police officers from the department’s current strength of 1,133. The layoffs might affect the UC campus and its surrounding neighborhood as well. District Four is responsible for patrols around Corryville and District Five’s jurisdiction includes Clifton Heights, University Heights, Camp Washington, Clifton and Northside. UCPD and CPD officers from District Five currently run tandem patrols to maintain safety levels around UC’s main campus. The decrease of police presence could reduce the security posture on the outskirts of the campus where the joint patrols occur. “Any diminishing of resources would have some effect,” said Gene Ferrara, chief of UCPD. City council has until the end of the year to finalize the budget. After it is finalized, the police department and the officers’ union, the Fraternal Order of Police, will decide upon any cuts.
Any diminishing of resources would have some effect [on security.] —gene ferrara chief of ucpd
BUSINESS IS ON UPSWING Local economy slowly recovering JAMES SPRAGUE | NEWS editor
The economy in the Greater Cincinnati area continued on its road to recovery during November, according to a report released Tuesday. The Cincinnati Report on Business, issued by UC’s Applied Economics Research Institute and the National Association of Purchasing Management, reveals that the local economy is growing. The report — covering Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana — measures economic growth by a using a Purchasing Management Index (PMI). The index ranges in value from 20 to 80, with 50 representing the break-even point. Cincinnati’s PMI total for November was 57.5, marking the eleventh consecutive month the city’s index number has been above 50. This has not happened since the affluent era of 2007, according to the report. November’s index value also indicates “a solid sustained recovery” for the region. The report also examines employment throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, showing 36 percent of respondents reporting an increase in jobs, compared to only 19 percent in October. “Last month many businesses shed jobs; this month many were adding jobs,” according to the report. Dollars spent by regional purchasers also increased for the second consecutive month, as 63 percent of respondents increased their spending from October. “Analysts believe that increased spending activity will have beneficial ripple effects throughout the economy,” the report stated in regard to local purchasing.
german lopez | NEWS EDITOR
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Dispute ends in gunfire
There have also been noticeable price changes to some consumer goods in November, according to the report. The price of gasoline, cardboard, copper, flour and nickel have increased, while prices for plastic, cheese, steel and natural gas have decreased. The report also states that alcohol, lemons, garlic and iron ore are among items short in supply. The economic improvement in Greater Cincinnati coincides with the increase of the national Consumer Confidence Index, which jumped from a value of 49.9 in October to 54.1 in November. “Consumer confidence is now at its highest level in five months,” said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center, which is responsible for the index. “A welcome sign as we enter the holiday season.” Consumers’ assessment of the current state of the economy suggests that it is still expanding, — albeit slowly, Franco said.
CINCINNATI AT A GLANCE PRICES ARE UP FOR: Gas, cardboard,
resin, copper, toner PRICES ARE DOWN FOR: Plastic, cheese, natural gas and steel IN SHORT SUPPLY: Alcohol, lemons,
iron ore and garlic STATISTICS PROVIDED BY THE NAPM
A 32-year-old man was arrested Monday night for allegedly firing three shots at his girlfriend on the University of Cincinnati’s Raymond Walters College branch campus in Blue Ash. James O. Bourrage Jr. of the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill is accused of attempting to get into the woman’s vehicle and firing three shots toward it as she pulled away. The woman, who is a student at Raymond Walters College, left campus and reported the incident to a Blue Ash police officer. bourrage The shots missed the woman and did not injure anyone, said Capt. James Schaffer of the Blue Ash police. Police have charged Bourrage with second-degree felonious assault, firing a weapon into a habitat or school and carrying a weapon illegally. After he fired the shots, Bourrage fled the scene. Police searched for approximately five hours before Mount Healthy authorities arrested him at approximately 11:15 p.m. There was some questions as to why the university did not send out an alert as it usually does when crime happens on and around campus. As of press time, no official report of the incident had appeared. “Emergency Alerts are issued to provide information to the community about actions to be taken to protect itself from the present danger,”said Gene Ferrara, UC Police Division chief. UC issues crime alerts for two reasons: to warn the community when a criminal act presents an ongoing danger and to request information from anyone who can identify the suspect and where they can be located. By the time UCPD learned of the situation, Bourrage had been identified, fled the Raymond Walters campus and was no longer a threat to the campus community, Ferrara said. “There was no longer any danger to take action against,” Ferrara said. Bourrage was convicted of a separate domestic violence involving the same woman more than a year ago, according to Hamilton County court records.
UC nursing dean to retire after 20 years
2 Classifieds 3 Spotlight 4 Sports
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james sprague | news editor
INSIDE
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The study also revealed that fewer than half of the patients treated with artery-opening drugs were medicated in the 30-minute goal. Delays in the process of activating a helicopter EMS could contribute to the delayed treatment, according to the study. “The take-home point of our findings is certainly not that helicopter EMS doesn’t help STEMI heart attack patients; on the contrary, HEMS undoubtedly saves many lives in getting suburban and rural STEMI patients to cardiac catheterization labs for [stents] as rapidly as possible,” said William Hinckley, medical director for UC’s Air
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Andrea Lindell, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati, will be leaving her job after 46 years in the nursing profession. In a letter to students and faculty Monday, Lindell wrote that leaving will help jumpstart President Greg Williams’ UC2019 plan. “I believe a new nursing leader can bring fresh vision, creativity, goals and innovation,” she wrote. Her retirement leaves two vacancies at UC’s medical colleges. Provost Santa Ono has already launched a search for a new dean at the College of Medicine.
In addition to acting as a dean, Lindell is the assistant vice president of University Hospital. She earned her Ph.D. in psychiatric mental health at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Lindell is also former president of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and worked as a consultant in international programs. In 2006, Lindell served as a U.S. representative to Jordan who reviewed the country’s nursing programs for quality assurance. She has written for multiple medical journals, including multiple articles for the Journal of Professional Nursing.
courtesy of uc academic health center
HAPPY TRAILS, DEAN The dean of UC’s College of Nursing, Andrea Lindell, is retiring after 46 years in the nursing field.
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