Blogs

February physician newsletter posted online

jcampe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:14:50 +0000

The most recent issue of the Hurley Physician Connection is now accessible online. The February newsletter includes stories about the departure of Patrick Wardell, Hurley's president and CEO for more than six years. Mr. Wardell accepted the CEO position at Cambridge Health Alliance, an integrated health system primarily serving Cambridge, Sommerille, and Boston Metro-North communities in Massachusetts.

The newsletter also gives details about Hurley's first ever Men's Health Initiative, with a Feb. 25 kickoff at Ebenezer Ministries, entitled "African American Men's Health Summit."

Other articles give updates and training information about the March 4, 2012, go-live date hospitalwide for EPIC, Hurley's new electronic medical record system, which has been implemented incrementally throughout many offices and units of Hurley over a two-year period.

Other topics: Orthopedic surgeon Sidney Martin's return to the Hurley OR (and to his orthopedic resident physicians) after deployment in Afghanistan; new (green) badges for Hurley physicians; the August 2012 launch of Hurley's new vascular center; a photo of the Hurley resident physician team (and a trophy) that was the state champion for the Doctor's Dilemma Jeopardy-style competition, leading to a spot in the 2012 national competition in New Orleans; the 10:30 a.m. Feb. 24, 2012, ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the Paul F. Reinhart Emergency Trauma Center; and the new date of Saturday, April 21, 2012, for the Hurley Benefit Ball "Carnival," with proceeds benefiting the new Hurley Children's Hospital.

Another view of the MSU Flint Campus expansion

jcampe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:54:49 +0000

More details about the expansion of Flint's partnership with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine appeared in the "Community Voice/ Flint Journal Letters" section of The Flint Journal Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Two Hurley Medical Center officials wrote the opinion piece, entitled, "Another view: Expanding the partnership between the MSU Flint Campus and local medical centers."

The authors were James Buterakos MSA (left), who serves as academic officer and designated institutional official at Hurley Medical Center, and Michael Jaggi DO (right), an emergency department physician who serves as vice president and chief medical officer at Hurley Medical Center.

"The expansion of MSU provides excitement for the region and the opportunity to bring more students, faculty and researchers to the community," they wrote. "Over the years, Flint has been devastated by the decline of the automobile industry, high unemployment and extreme poverty levels. Now, the community's historic weakness may serve as the proper ingredients for establishing Flint as a national centerpiece for the public health portion of MSU's proposed expansion."

Neonatologist's presentations accepted at national meetings

jcampe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:25:41 +0000

Can a type of stem cell serve as a biomarker for severe retinopathy of prematurity in very low birthweight babies?

Ranjan Monga MD, a neonatologist-perinatologist at Hurley Medical Center, has collaborated on research on endothelial progenitor cells (a type of stem cell) and their role as a marker in retinopathy of prematurity. Now his 5-member research team is scheduled to present their findings on this topic nationally at the following:

Very low birthweight (VLBW) newborns are at a very high risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). One theoretical explanation is that aberrant vasculogenesis takes place in response to cycles of hypoxia and hyperoxia in these VLBW babies. It is known that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to post-natal vasculogenesis. But is there a connection between the EPCs and ROP?

Monga's team decided to investigate. What were the levels of circulating EPCs in newborns at risk of developing ROP? The team collected blood samples from 15 newborns at 36 weeks post-menstruation age. The samples included: 5 newborns with very low birthweight and with severe ROP, needing photocoagulation; and 10 newborns with very low birthweight who did not have ROP. The team used gradient centrifugation to separate the mononuclear cells, which were subjected to flow cytometry. They abstracted data from the clinical chart to gain clinical parameters. Their findings: EPC subtypes were increased in VLBW newborns with severe ROP, compared to those without ROP (except those with a certain phenotype). Their conclusion: EPCs may play an important role as biomarkers for severe ROP, though further studies are needed to establish gestational age-related changes in EPC percentages.

Monga, a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine clinical assistant professor, completed his pediatric residency training at Hurley Medical Center 2007 and his neonatal perinatal medicine fellowship at Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hutzel Women's Hospital at Wayne State University, Detroit, in 2010. He and his wife Shivani Chaudhary MD (who also completed her residency training at Hurley) have two children and reside in Grand Blanc, Mich. Dr. Monga is part of the faculty in the Hurley Medical Center Pediatric Residency Training Program.

Michigan State University expands medical school, public health graduate program in Flint

jcampe — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:20:27 +0000

Time to wear green & white?

Residents may gain more teaching, mentoring experience as more Spartans join Flint's college town

More young people may soon live, work and study in Flint as Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, implements its medical school and public health program expansions, with a unique feature.

The expansion means Hurley resident physicians may have more opportunities to hone their own teaching and mentoring skills while supervising students.

Medical students double

About 40 MSU-CHM medical students have been completing their third and fourth years of training in Flint for more than 30 years. Beginning in the 2012 academic year, that number is expected to more than double as MSU-CHM expands its Flint-based training positions to 100. The expansion allows Flint to join East Lansing and Grand Rapids as foundations of the college’s statewide medical education program. Plus, medical school leaders are to assess new curriculum that could possibly bring extra medical students to the Flint campus in the future.

Public health expands to Flint

In addition, MSU-CHM also plans to expand its graduate program in Public Health to Flint, bringing even more students to the community. One benefit to the town is that the students will engage in community projects to complete curriculum requirements. And they'll be led by top-notch researchers. MSU-CHM plans to recruit 4-6 federally funded faculty in public health to conduct research in the community. The unique twist? The research focus will be determined by community priorities, as set by the MSU/Flint Community Research Advisory Committee.*

This one-of-a-kind approach to public health research is designed to help MSU researchers to identify best practices to address significant public health problems in the region. Those practices could then be applied to other industrial cities across the nation.

These are exciting changes for medical education in Flint, said Laura Carravallah MD, an MSU-CHM graduate from the Flint Campus, now director of the Hurley Combined Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics Residency Training Program - and current president of the Genesee County Medical Society.

"While the opportunity to teach and mentor more medical students is a pleasure to many of us and has the benefit of exposing more students to our rich medical community, what is even more exciting is that this campus will be specifically tailored to the public health needs of our county," Carravallah wrote in her President's Message in the January 2012 edition of the GCMS Bulletin. "We all know that this is an urgent problem, as Genesee County is at the bottom of the list for most health indicators in our beleaguered state."

$2.8 million from CS Mott Foundation

This educational shift to Flint is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, also in Flint. (The Mott Foundation, established in 1926 by the automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the U.S. and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally.)

The Flint Campus offices of MSU-CHM are currently housed on the 7^th floor of Hurley Medical Center, though students undertake clerkships in each of the three hospitals in the Flint area. The College may expand into other space in downtown Flint, though no decisions have been made, according to an article in The Flint Journal and a news story from Flint's ABC affiliate, WJRT TV 12.

Students at 2 Flint universities can apply for early acceptance to MSU-CHM

MSU-CHM has set the groundwork to ensure success of the expansion. Since 2010, it has offered an "early assurance program" with two local universities: the University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University, Flint (in addition to 4 other universities in the state). With these programs in place, undergraduate students who excel at UM-Flint or Kettering and who are interested in becoming physicians in an underserved region or with an underserved population can apply during their junior year for one of several reserved CHM positions. If accepted to medical school early through this program, they know they will be admitted to CHM - and they'll have special perks, such their choice of their preclinical campus and priority placement in clinical rotations. (Nationwide, Kettering is ranked number 1 in industrial and manufacturing engineering programs and number 2 in mechanical engineering programs, according to the US News & World Report 2012 listing. MSU CHM is ranked 37th in the nation for best primary care medical education in the same listing.)

More students in Downtown Flint

Downtown Flint's once bustling retail district, which has declined after automotive manufacturers eliminated about 80,000 jobs since Flint's peak employment in the 1960s, has been bolstered slightly in recent years by an influx of college students from UM-Flint, Mott Community College, Baker College of Flint, and Kettering University, bringing new patrons for coffee shops, restaurants and street festivals. About 33,000 students attend the 4 schools; about 750 live downtown. Expanding housing options make living downtown an affordable, convenient option. Soon, more MSU Spartan colors of green and white may be spotted among the maize & blue of the UM-Flint Wolverines.

*The MSU/Flint Community Research Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Hurley Medical Center, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Genesys Health System, Hamilton Community Health Network, Mott Children's Health Center, Greater Flint Health Coalition, Genesee County Health Department, Genesee County Community Mental Health, Genesee Health Plan, Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, Genesee County Medical Society, Concerned Pastors for Social Action, Kettering University and MSU Extension. [Return to paragraph about the Advisory Committee.]

Photo of downtown Flint is from the Flint Michigan Facebook page (Profile Album).

Sedentary preschooler topic prompts interview on local ABC-TV affiliate

jcampe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:27:52 +0000

Safety concerns, academic focus, budget constraints lead to less activity for preschoolers, says Pediatric Residency Program Director

Mona Hanna-Attisha MD, director of the Hurley-Michigan State Univeristy Pediatric Residency Training Program, talks about causes for and risks of children who don't get enough movement and exercise. The interview with Terry Camp of WJRT-TV 12, Flint's ABC TV affiliate aired Jan. 11, 2012, during the "First at 4 Focus" segment.

Click the picture at right to watch the interview.

Martin returns from Afghanistan, performs orthopedic surgery as usual at Hurley

jcampe — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:18:36 +0000

Each time Sidney Martin MD, 54, of Fenton returns from duty with the U.S. Air National Guard, he brings back unique experience: Combat surgery and humanitarian ethics.

"I've always felt that serving our country in this way was the thing I would do," Martin told The Flint Journal recently. "In July I (will) have been in the service for 24 years. I wouldn't change any of it."

Martin - at center in The Flint Journal photo posted here with permission (he's donned in blue scrubs, red Crocs and a star-spangled bandana) - is a familar figure to resident physicians and staff at Hurley Medical Center. The orthopedic surgeon is a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Assistant Clinical Professor, teaching orthopedic surgery residents who train at Hurley.

Martin returned Dec. 8 from his fourth military deployment, this time a month of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he served as a commandar of the 127th Medical Group with the Air National Guard. He was responsible for evaluating the medical condition of the U.S. Air Force flight crews. Yes, it was more dangerous than practicing medicine in the U.S., he said.

"Over here, for the most part, no one's shooting at you," he told a Flint Journal reporter for a Jan. 3, 2012, article. "Over there, they're still shooting at you. ... I'm very lucky that I don't have to go outside the wire."

Martin was commissioned into the military in 1988 during his residency training and attended an 8-week military flight surgery school in 1990. In 1991, he was deployed to England for 4 months during Desert Storm. In 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan for 4 months for Operation Enduring Freedom, where he flew in combat missions as the flight surgeon. In 2007, he was deployed in Balad, Iraq, where he treated injured soldiers.

"I have had the honor of caring for those who have been wounded," he said. "As long as I feel I can be of service to my country, I will continue (to serve)."

When he's not performing military duties, Martin serves the community as one of 15 physicians at Family Orthopedic Associates in Flint Township, operating much of the time at Hurley Medical Center. He also spends time with his wife Pam and three children, ages 24-33.

These excerpts from The Flint Journal article by Sarah Schuch were used with permission, as was the photo by Dorothy Edwards of The Flint Journal.

For more from Flint's daily newspaper, The Flint Journal, visit it online at mlive.com at: www.mlive.com/flintjournal.

Trophy finds new home at Hurley for a year

jcampe — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:12:28 +0000

It may not be the Stanley Cup at the Joe Louis Arena, but the Doctors' Dilemma trophy brought smiles just as big to the Hurley team that won this statewide trophy, placing them on the path to national competition.

A Hurley team won the trophy in 2008 - and again in 2011, when Padmaja Veeramreddy MD (chief resident in Hurley’s Combined Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics Residency Program) and Narendra Veerapaneni MD and Srinivasa Sanikommu MD (both third-year residents in the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at Hurley) beat the competition in a close contest Sept. 9, 2011. (Alternate was Mohammad Sharif MD.)

The Jeopardy-style of medical knowledge competition took place during the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine-Michigan Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich. To prepare, the Hurley team not only boned up on its medical knowledge (including medical history) but also its strategy. Knowing when to "push the button" is part of the team's success. That and remaining calm under pressure.

The win earned the team an all-expense-paid trip to the ACP Internal Medicine 2012 conference in New Orleans April 19-21, 2012, where they will represent the Michigan region in the competition for the national championship title. Up to 40 teams of residents from around the nation are expected, according to the ACP Internal Medicine Doctor's Dilemma web page. The Hurley team earned the right to compete in the Michigan statewide competition by winning the Doctor's Dilemma Competition during the regional ACP Associates Day May 20, 2011, in Ann Arbor.

The team didn't let the win go to their heads, but they did take a few minutes to celebrate when the trophy arrived in a gigantic box in Hurley's Graduate Medical Education office. No, they didn't circle around, holding the trophy above their heads as the Detroit Red Wings do, but they did sneak in a few other tributes, albeit to a smaller audience on the 10th floor. (Photos by Doug Pike.)

Med-Peds Program Director appointed to Genesee County Board of Health

jcampe — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:01:26 +0000

As the leader of one of the most comprehensive resident physician training programs at Hurley Medical Center, Laura Carravallah MD sees the effects of poverty on the very young and the very old and on all ages in between, as she helps to train physicians in evidence-based inpatient and outpatient health care.

Now the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Director has another perspective to offer, that of a public health decision-maker.

The Davison resident was recently appointed to the five-member Genesee County Board of Health, which is responsible for guiding the Genesee County Health Department in its mission to "improve the quality of life in Genesee County by preventing disease, promoting health, and protecting the public from environmental hazards to health."

Carravallah, who also is president of the Genesee County Medical Society, said she was happy to be appointed to the position, replacing Michael Boucree MD, former Chief Quality Officer at Hurley.

"I was interested because I think the Health Department has a vital mission that must be coordinated with that of the medical community, but sometimes the communication in both directions is not as effective as it needs to be," she said. "With increased and, hopefully, effective communication, I hope that we can work in a synergistic fashion to improve the health of the people in our county."

Carravallah said she expects her experience to give new perspectives for her resident physicians at Hurley, as well. "I hope to bring my own improved understanding to our residents and would love to find some areas in which the residents might participate in and contribute to some of the health department's programs," she said.

5 more years for residency program

jcampe — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:51:11 +0000

Internal Medicine Residency Program earns long accreditation cycle

Current and future resident physicians in the Hurley Internal Medicine Residency Training Program can feel confident in their decision to train at Hurley.

The program recently earned five years of accreditation – with zero citations – from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a nonprofit organization that certifies the quality of a medical residency or fellowship program through its accreditation process. The ACGME evaluates and accredits medical residency training programs in the United States.

Nationwide, 44% of Internal Medicine residency training programs earn accreditation cycles of five years, the maximum cycle length,¹ according to 2010 figures. The rating puts Hurley in the “high level of performance” category as indicated by the Residency Review Committee (RRC²) action.

“Our residents get an excellent experience at Hurley,” said Program Director Ghassan Bachuwa MD MS MHSA. “That helps us to recruit highly qualified residents.”

It takes a lot of work from a lot of people to provide an outstanding education, said Bachuwa. “What makes our program special is our hospital support of graduate medical education; our wide diversity of patients and pathology; our long-term experienced and committed faculty – both full- and part-time, as well as community faculty members; and our educational resources, such as our medical library and our simulation lab activities – and our ancillary and community support.”

Hurley Academic Officer and Designated Institutional Official James Buterakos said, “The 5-year accreditation with no citations is a phenomenal accomplishment.”

What factors led to the long accreditation period?

“I believe the results are indicative of the necessary curriculum and structural changes that were made since the last review, proper preparation for the site review and a commitment to academic excellence,” said Buterakos. “Having a small program means we are held to a higher standard. Dr. Bachuwa has provided the leadership to bring everyone together and to strive for clinical and academic superiority.”

The accreditation is important – to Hurley and to its resident physicians, he said.

“A strong academic program will assist the organization in improving quality, outcomes and patient safety,” said Buterakos. “Our program continues to be positioned to address health care reform and to train the next generation of residents.”

Chief Medical Officer Michael Jaggi DO said a combination of factors led to the strong accreditation results.

“Without the collaboration, innovation and the commitment of our teaching faculty, community physicians and residents, implementing changes to make for such a successful review would have been extremely difficult,” he said.

The education program performs extremely well in many areas, incorporating resident education with ongoing hospital functions, he said.

“It is important to recognize that now - and moving to the future - our programs must be integrated with quality improvement principles, patient safety goals, team-based patient care, and new health information technology,” said Jaggi. “We are training physicians differently now than we did in the past.”

Bachuwa said the five-year accreditation also “allows us to pursue new innovation and experimentation in medical education that could lead to a special exemption status with ACGME” in the future.

Nationwide, ACGME accredits 9,008 residency programs in 120 specialties and subspecialties, with 116,229 on-duty residents (as of Nov. 1, 2011, online ACGME data). As of the 2010-2011 year, 380 accredited internal medicine training programs existed, with 22,751 residents (about 24% of all residents in training).

Hurley’s three-year Internal Medicine Program trains 30 residents at a time, 10 in each program year. In addition to producing competent physicians with excellent rates of board-certification and fellowship acceptance, Hurley’s Internal Medicine Program also offers a combination of strong academic and community health experiences, rare for a small community hospital, where residents also build close professional relationships and have formal and informal mentors. For example, senior residents can earn faculty status through Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and take on teaching roles with junior residents and medical students. The program also has beefed up its research structure, with resident-faculty teams producing solid, published work. In addition, the program immerses its multicultural physicians into the culture of the community surrounding the hospital with resident teams visiting a few homeless shelters each week. And the program’s new 4+1 rotation schedule allows residents to focus on 4 solid weeks of inpatient (or elective) rotations and related educational matter, followed by 1 solid week of continuity clinic time and supplemental activities, such as the homeless shelter or simulation laboratory training.

The Internal Medicine Program’s next RRC site visit date is tentatively set for autumn 2016.

Accreditation is important because:

Only graduates from ACGME-accredited programs are eligible to take board-certification examinations in that program’s specialty.
Only graduates of accredited training programs can apply for a physician license in most states.
Once a physician graduates from an accredited program, he or she has the status of “board eligible,” which most physician jobs require.
Only accredited programs are eligible for federal money through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services graduate medical education fund. Thus, programs that lose accreditation status may lose resident training money, which can lead to the closure of a program and loss of medical service to the community.

¹Only a few pilot residency training programs have cycle lengths longer than 5 years.

²RRC is composed of health professionals who determine accreditation cycle lengths, citations, etc., based on a site visit, many types of data, and other written reports.

Physician Agreements - Monthly GME lecture now online

jcampe — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:07:58 +0000

If you're a resident or a fellow at Hurley Medical Center and couldn't attend the Nov. 28 Graduate Medical Education Combined Lecture, you can view the information online here.

The presentation - by Daniel J. Schulte, legal counsel to the Michigan State Medical Society - covers basic information about physician employment agreements (aka contracts).

Afterward, remember to complete the mandatory post-quiz online. Results are reported to your program director, and a passing score is required.

Med-Peds Program Director heads up county medical society

jcampe — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:16:52 +0000

Laura Carravallah MD will be using her leadership skills in a new arena, now that she has begun her term as president of the Genesee County Medical Society. (Click the photo at right to read the GCMS article about her in its Bulletin.)

The Hurley physician is accustomed to leading the way. She has been the director of the Hurley Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Training Program since 1995 and has headed up or served on multiple national, regional and local committees.

Peter Levine, executive director of the GCMS, said he remembers Carravallah when she was a resident physician, and even then she was interested in quality and public health issues.

"Dr. Carravallah is a strong leader who has a rich academic, public health, and clinical background," he wrote in his monthly column in THe GCMS Bulletin. "Most of all, her instincts ... are remarkably good."

The GCMS mission is leadership, advocacy, education, and service on behalf of its members and their patients. Local physicians who join GCMS automatically become members of the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS).

Geriatric training for health professionals (Flint, MI)

jcampe — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:12:11 +0000

Keeping Granny Safe (and Granddad, too)

An interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and care of older adults

If you're a health professional who would like to learn the latest about the health needs of increasing geriatric demographics, this 2-day seminar in Flint, Mich., may be of interest to you. Click on the photo to download the brochure with information about professional education credits, registration information and more.

Details:

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday & Friday
Nov. 10 & 11, 2011
Insight Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience
4800 S. Saginaw St., Flint MI 48507
(Next to Hurley Health & Fitness Center, between Hemphill & Atherton roads)
Ample parking
$25 for 2 days of education, includes meals
Register online: https://classfindweb.beryl.net/Search.aspx?ClientID=10448
Or by phone: 1-888-611-4HMC

The Pediatric Medical Home Model: A Systems Approach - How the Pieces Fit

jcampe — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:43:45 +0000

Physicians (and other health professionals) in the area can get some rare perspectives on children's health issues right here in Flint during a day-long conference on health topics, such as oral health, special education, pediatric medical homes, developmental approaches, family perspectives, medical home projects, and other topics.

The 39th Annual Tuuri Day Conference takes place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, on Gateway Centre Rd., off of Hill Rd. between the Hill Road exits of US-23 (Exit # 90) and I-475 (Exit #2), in Flint.

Here's a brief run-down of the schedule:

8 a.m. Registration/ continental breakfast
8:30 a.m. Welcome from Lawrence Reynolds MD, President & CEO of Mott Children's Health Center
8:45 a.m. Morning keynote address by V. Fan Tait MD, associate executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics: "Pediatric Medical Home: A Systems Approach to Quality and Value in Practice."
10 a.m. Break & Resource Tables
10:15 a.m. Morning workshops (choose from 4 topics)
11:30 a.m. Lunch & Resource Tables
12:45 p.m. Afternoon keynote address: Jametta Lilly, project director from Wayne Children's Healthcare Access Program: Building the Children's Medical Home - Realities, Relationships and Return on Investment. The Children's Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) - and Innovative Model for Primary Care Support and Systems Change"
2 p.m. Break & Resource Tables
2:15 p.m. Afternoon workshops (choose from 4 topics)
3:30 p.m. Break & Resource Tables
3:45 p.m. Wrap-up and evaluations

Click here to download the registration booklet.

The event is sponsored by Mott Children's Health Center, Hurley Medical Center, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Genesee District Dental Society.

For more information, contact Mott Children's Health Center at 810-767-5750, EXT. 5299.

More research honors from Johns Hopkins

jcampe — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:01:50 +0000

Haseeb Ilias Basha MD (photo, at right) is the second Hurley Internal Medicine resident physician to receive research honors from Johns Hopkins in recent years.

Basha's abstract was mentioned honorably in the Johns Hopkins General Internal Medicine Housestaff Research Awards announcement, which is to appear online. The award recognized his research in the area of health care prevention and epidemiology: Identification of Immunodominant HLA-B7 Restricted CD8+ Cytotoxic T cell Epitopes Derived From Mammaglobin-A Expressed on Human Breast Cancers, which was published as a preclinical study in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. It appeared online June 11, 2010.

Basha, a Grand Blanc, Mich., resident, is in his second year of his Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at Hurley Medical Center/ Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Last year, Rajaie Namas MD, also of Grand Blanc and now a third-year Internal Medicine resident, also received an honorable mention from the Johns Hopkins Research Award Competition for his paper: An Adequately Robust Early TNF-alpha Response is a Hallmark of Survival Following Trauma/Hemorrhage.

A copy of the first page of Basha's published article appears at right.

Resident coauthors sepsis review article for critical care journal

jcampe — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:22:32 +0000

Rajaie Namas MD (photo, right) may have made things a bit easier for critical care physicians who want to stay up on the latest evidence regarding sepsis, inflammatory responses, and physiological variability - and who want to look at the deadly syndrome through a new, individualized, time-varying, systems' modeling approach for possibly better patient outcomes.

The Hurley Internal Medicine chief resident coauthored a review article about sepsis, Sepsis: Something old, something new, and a systems review, which appeared ahead of print in the July 28, 2011, online edition of the Journal of Critical Care. Sepsis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for patients admitted to an intensive care unit and may be the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.

According to the published abstract of Namas' article, sepsis is:

"... a clinical syndrome characterized by a multisystem response to a microbial pathogenic insult consisting of a mosaic of interconnected biochemical, cellular, and organ-organ interaction networks. A central thread that connects these responses is inflammation that, while attempting to defend the body and prevent further harm, causes further damage through the feed-forward, proinflammatory effects of damage-associated molecular pattern molecules. In this review, we address the epidemiology and current definitions of sepsis and focus specifically on the biologic cascades that comprise the inflammatory response to sepsis. We suggest that attempts to improve clinical outcomes by targeting specific components of this network have been unsuccessful due to the lack of an integrative, predictive, and individualized systems-based approach to define the time-varying, multidimensional state of the patient. We highlight the translational impact of computational modeling and other complex systems' approaches as applied to sepsis, including in-silico clinical trials, patient-specific models, and complexity-based assessments of physiology."

In short, the article looks not only at the traditional types of clinical research and evidence about sepsis but also considers "in silico" clinical trials - that is, computer modeling of clinical scenarios - a potentially new way to conduct research and to predict outcomes.

The Journal of Critical Care, the official publication of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine (WFSICCM), is a leading international, peer-reviewed journal providing original research, review articles, tutorials, and invited articles for physicians and allied health professionals involved in treating the critically ill. The Journal aims to improve patient care by furthering understanding of health systems research and its integration into clinical practice.

Namas, in his third and final year of his internal medicine residency training at Hurley Medical Center, resides in Grand Blanc, Mich.

'They were on fire'

jcampe — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:32:46 +0000

New Orleans bound, 2012

Veeramreddy, Veerapaneni, Sanikommu - and Sharif take top prize in statewide competition

One of Hurley's resident physician teams took first place in the Doctor's Dilemma Jeopardy-style of medical competition Sept. 9 during the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine-Michigan Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich. Padmaja Veeramreddy MD (fourth-year Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics resident), Narendra Veerapaneni MD and Srinivasa Sanikommu MD (both third-year Internal Medicine residents) edged out the competition to win the title of state champ for the Hurley team. Mohammad Sharif MD (third-year Internal Medicine resident) served as alternate. All four prepared for the competition.

Laura Carravallah MD, director of the Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics Residency Program at Hurley, posted news of their win, along with a photo, to the "HMC Housestaff" Facebook page (a closed group just for Hurley house staff physicians). "They were on fire!" she wrote.

Ghassan Bachuwa MD, director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Hurley, sent the news via his iPad. "Great job!" he wrote. "We are very proud of you. Hope for the first place at the national. Pack your bags for next year!"

The Hurley team earned the right to compete in the Michigan statewide competition by winning the Doctor's Dilemma Competition during the regional ACP Associates Day May 20, 2011, in Ann Arbor.

According to Carravallah, the team practiced diligently to prepare for the competition.

"In addition to their mastery of the content, they had also carefully studied the rules and polished their functioning as a unit," she wrote, when asked to describe the team's secrets to success. "Dr. Padmaja Veeramreddy was the Chief Button Pusher; Dr. Narendra Veerapaneni spoke for the team, and Dr. Srinivasa Sanikommu's knowledge of medical history helped to sweep that category. Both the Program Co-Chair, Dr. Barnes, and the Governor, Dr. Carl Lauter, commented publicly and privately on their skill and professionalism in this contest."

'Dr. Padmaja Veeramreddy was the Chief Button Pusher; Dr. Narendra Veerapaneni spoke for the team, and Dr. Srinivasa Sanikommu's knowledge of medical history helped to sweep that category.'

~Dr. Laura Caravallah

New COO, honors, Indian food and more featured in September Physician Connection

jcampe — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:18:34 +0000

What’s new at Hurley this month? Plenty, apparently. Here are a few topics highlighted in the September issue of Physician Connection, Hurley’s newsletter for physicians:

Melanie Gavulic RN MBA named new chief operating officer (and senior vice president) at Hurley.
Public Safety launches new security/badging system.
Employee Wellness announces dates for third annual, free, employee health screening and assessment series (with cash incentives).
Clinical and Nutrition Services enhances ethnic food offerings in the Hurley Cafeteria with Café Spice, which brings traditional Indian cuisine, such as a chutney bar and entrees such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Curry Bowls, and Chicken Vindaloo.
Infection Control begins High-Five Hand Hygiene Program to remind other staff members to clean their hands, which can prevent hospital-acquired infections.
Pediatric surgeon John Carr MD selected to serve on the Pediatric Chest Medicine Network Steering Committee through the American College of Chest Physicians.
Four dietetic interns (Lana Coxton, John Pancheck, Tara Cook and Andrea Thompson) to graduate Sept. 30, after completing their 36-week supervised clinical practice at Hurley and other community locations.
Upcoming Hurley Bariatric television commercial features Midland family (Nancy Grau and her 3 children), who lost >200 pounds combined after surgery performed by Hurley’s Kurt Kralovich MD.
Vijay Naraparaju MD (associate program director of Hurley’s Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics Residency Program) 1 of 25 pediatricians in U.S. selected for NIH-funded, 6-month Asthma Champions Leadership Training Program.
Epifania Aranas MD (Hurley neonatologist) receives “Breastfeeding Advocate of the Year” award from Genesee County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Larry Young MD (Hurley obstetrician and gynecologist) receives honors for outstanding efforts and promotion of breastfeeding by Genesee County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Hurley Health & Fitness Center (HHFC) named best fitness center in Genesee County, according to a Flint Journal/MLIVE poll. Not only is it excellent for general exercise but also for specific conditions that benefit from medical supervision, such aquatics and Tai Chi for arthritis, education & exercise for diabetes, rehab for cardiac or pulmonary issues, and yoga for multiple sclerosis. (Insurance often pays for pulmonary rehab.) HHFC is known for its Physician Referral Program, which can provide patient progress updates and other notifications to physicians who refer their patients. (Information: 810-262-2200)
Dates to remember:
- Sept. 12, 2011 – 27^th Annual Hurley Trauma Center Golf Classic. (Information: 810-262-9399)
- Sept. 21, 2011 – FREE CME: Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Diseases, Holiday Inn-Gateway Centre, Grand Blanc; 5-6:30 p.m. (Register: 1-888-611-4462)
- Sept. 28, 2011 – FREE CME: Lyme Disease: Dilemmas of Diagnosis & Treatment, Holiday Inn-Gateway Center, Grand Blanc; 5-6:30 p.m. (Register: 1-888-611-4462)
- Oct. 22, 2011 – NEW DATE: Endocrine Update, Holiday Inn-Gateway Center, Grand Blanc; 10 a.m. to 12 noon.; $35; CME earned. (Register: 1-888-611-4462)

To get the whole scoop, read the September issue of Physician Connection.

Comfort Cover Ministry, Hurley Pastoral Care Services

jcampe — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:18:24 +0000

Hurley nurses and a patient hold afghans, made by volunteers with donated yarn, then given as “comfort covers” to patients at Hurley Medical Center. From left are: Marsha Kelley RN (retired), Nora Bieszak RN (currently on 9E), Lisa Bedsole RN (currently on 5C), patient Tracy Harris, and Gayle York RN (currently a nurse recruiter). (Hurley file photo, circa 2006)

Yarn donations needed to make comfort covers for patients

Even adults feel better with a little warmth and security, according to the Rev. Jean Munro, a board-certified chaplain and coordinator of pastoral care at Hurley Medical Center. It’s even nicer when it’s a comfortable blanket crafted by volunteers with yarn donated by countless individuals in the region surrounding Hurley, she said.

If anyone finds unused yarn at home – or in a friend or relative’s home, garage sale or thrift store – Hurley will gladly take it off of your hands to share with the volunteers, who can artistically integrate all different sorts of fibers and colors into a beautiful and comfortable afghan.

These “comfort covers” are given as gifts to Hurley patients, who “take them home to be wrapped not only in physical warmth but in the love of the unknown ‘angels,’” said Munro.

For example, said Munro, one family member whose mother received a donated comfort cover wrote:

My mother was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Shortly after my mother was admitted for surgery to remove the cancer, her nurse brought a colorful afghan that had a tag, which read: "Your comfort cover, prayerfully made just for you and blessed by those of many faiths."

It brought a smile to both my mother and father’s faces. For the next nine days whenever any visitors would come in, the first thing that they would hear about was mom’s comfort cover. During the long sleepless nights at the hospital, after her surgery, my mother was always asking for the cover to be pulled up by her face so she could snuggle into it.

Munro said that nurses attempt to give patients an afghan color of their choice, which can help to soothe their souls as their bodies are healing and their minds are busy coping with, perhaps, unsettling diagnoses.

Munro said help is always needed and welcome. If you have or know of yarn that could be donated – no matter how small or large a quantity - or if you’d like to learn more about the Comfort Cover Ministry, contact Munro at:

Jean Munro, BCC
Coordinator of Pastoral Care
Hurley Medical Center
One Hurley Plaza
Flint, MI 48503
Office: 810-262-9517
E-mail: Jmunro1@hurleymc.com

Back to school with help for good health

jcampe — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:17:16 +0000

Tough times, but families are not alone

About 7000 uninsured children in Genesee County could get their visits to the doctor, dentist or hospital covered by insurance - but only if their caregivers or others dial "2-1-1" to refer them to one of the state's health care plans for children.

Hurley Medical Center joined other hospitals, school districts, and community-based health centers in the "Enroll Michigan" campaign to sign up the state's 127,000 uninsured children for free or low-cost health care offered by the State of Michigan.

If eligible, kids can get free or low-cost health care through Medicaid (Health Kids) and MIChild health insurance programs.

In March 2011, a coalition of Michigan hospitals, school districts and community-based health centers launched “Enroll Michigan”, a campaign to enroll as many eligible children as possible in the state’s free or low-cost health insurance programs.

Hurley President and CEO Patrick Wardell told reporters that Hurley supports maximum enrollment in the plan, which can not only improve health for children but also help reduce record-high uncompensated care that hospitals such as Hurley provides as the community's health care safety net.

When children don't have health care, even their academic performance is affected, according to one school official, who talked to The Flint Journal.

Hurley officially launched its “Enroll Michigan Back to School” campaign Aug. 23, 2011, as part of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association's (MHA) "Back to School" enrollment event series across the state and includes an extensive 8-week paid media campaign to raise awareness of the insurance options for uninsured kids. According to the MHA's online "Monday Report" posted Aug. 29, 2011, "since the kickoff, the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) has reported a significant volume of calls to its enrollment specialists, and www.enrollmichigan.com has experienced a 1,000 percent increase in traffic. MPCA is one of the major partners in the initiative."

As an incentive, anyone who refers a child for enrollment before Sept. 30, 2011, can receive a $10 gift card. Details are available by calling "2-1-1-" or by visiting the Enroll Michigan website at http://www.mha.org/mha/enrollmichigan/index.jsp.

Below are pictures of some of the people who attended the Aug. 23 press conference at Hurley Medical Center.

Posing for a photo during the Aug. 23, 2011, press conference are a few representative from organizations that are collaborating on the Children's Health Ensurance Enrollment campaign. From left are: Doug Paterson, director of State Policy, Michigan Primary Care Association; Cindy Bruett, planning analyst, Genesys Health System; ; Eileen Tomasi, RN, Flint Community Schools; Larry Daly, director of Planning & Business Development at Covenant HealthCare; Patrick Wardell, president and chief executive officer, Hurley Medical Center; Ruthanne Sudderth, manager of Public Affiars, Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Asthma champion in the making

jcampe — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:45:27 +0000

Vijay Naraparaju MD, associate program director in Hurley Medical Center’s Combined Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics Residency Program, soon may have even more to offer as he teaches resident physicians and medical students about asthma care and other topics.

Naraparaju, a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine faculty member on the Flint campus, was one of 25 pediatricians in the United States selected to participate in the Asthma Champions Leadership Training Program, funded in part by the National Institutes for Health and the National Asthma Control Initiative of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The $4000 workshop is free to Naraparaju, who is expected to generate improvement plans for asthma care throughout the 6-month program.

The professional development program is led by the South Bronx Asthma Partnership and the National Asthma Control Initiative. It targets early-career pediatricians who:

Have served as an attending pediatrician in any ACGME*-accredited residency training program with an academic appointment <7 years.
Plan to continue as a faculty member in a residency training program for at least two more years
Have demonstrated leadership potential in promoting quality patient care.
Want to actively help the future health care system to succeed

The development program is especially designed to help those who serve geographical locations with the greatest need, such as the Flint area with its high prevalence of childhood asthma and Hurley as a community safety-net hospital. While Hurley provides excellent care to residents in many surrounding counties, disparate asthma outcomes still exist, primarily distinguished by geographical location and socioeconomic status. So, for example, children in neighborhoods around the hospital may fare worse than children in more affluent locations.

According to an Aug. 10, 2011, eMedicine.com summary article about asthma, about 34.1 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetime. The most recent US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Asthma Surveillance Survey estimates the prevalence of current asthma during 2001-2003 at 6.7% in adults and 8.5% in children, with the burden of asthma increasing more than 75% from 1980 to1999.

The eMedicine authors also stated that asthma accounts for more school absences and more hospitalizations than any other chronic illness. In most children's hospitals in the United States, it is the most common diagnosis at admission.

Worldwide, 130 million people have asthma. The prevalence is 8-10 times higher in developed countries (eg, United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand) than in developing countries. In developed countries, the prevalence is higher in low-income groups in urban areas and inner cities than in other groups.

Locally, Genesee County’s pediatric asthma numbers are better than the state as a whole, except when comparing by insurance status. Children with Medicaid in Genesee County fare worse, according to the Asthma Initiative of Michigan’s data for Genesee County from 2005-2006, available online. It lists the following rates for asthma, which costs ~$18,000 per person per year in direct and indirect costs:

Table 1. Average Number and Rates of Hospitalization due to Asthma, Genesee County and Michigan, All Ages, 2004-2006 (Source: Asthma Initiative of Michigan)

Group	Average Number of Hospitalizations per Year in Genesee County	Rate per 10,000 People in Genesee County	Rate per 10,000 People in Michigan
Sex*
Male	286	13.2	13.6
Female	486	20.7	19.3
Race*
White	424	12.2	11.1
Black	341	37.1	47.5
Age
0 to 17	263	22.6	22.1
18 and Older	508	15.4	14.1

Total	771	17.3	16.6

Table 2. Characteristics of Asthma Management for Children Enrolled in Medicaid¹ with Persistent Asthma², Genesee County and Michigan, Age ≤18 Years, 2005 (Source: Asthma Initiative of Michigan)

Characteristic of Asthma Management	County Percent	Michigan Percent
≥ 1 Office Visit for Asthma	58.2%	49.0%
≥ 1 Emergency Department Visit for Asthma	41.9%	33.8%
≥ 13 Quick Relief Medications	1.7%	2.6%
≥ 1 Long Term Control Medication	56.7%	69.7%

For more information, visit the AIM website at: http://www.getasthmahelp.org/county-asthma-statistics.aspx.

Hurley cafeteria expands menu options for multicultural flavor

jcampe — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:32:19 +0000

Tandoori chicken, naan, mangos ... Yep. Lunch options are getting spiced up at Hurley Medical Center.

Starting today, Aug. 17, 2011, cafeteria patrons can choose from Indian-style menu items from the Hurley cafeteria, whose vendor, Sodexo, now has an agreement with the award-winning Indian food provider, Cafe Spice, to bring traditional Indian food to universities, hospitals and the like.

Hurley, with its multicultural staff and visitors, likely will be a grateful consumer of the South Asian foods, especially when Ramadan is over at the end of August. Ramadan - the Islamic month of fasting during daylight hours - follows a lunar calendar, so the final day of fasting in 2011 is August 29.

But you don't have to be from Asia or the Middle East to appreciate South Asian foods.

“The menu features traditional Indian favorites like Chicken Tikka Masala, Curry Bowls and Chicken Vindaloo, all prepared using all natural ingredients and Halal meats," said Chef Steve Dunn, Sodexo Executive Chef at Hurley Medical Center. "Also available are Café Spice’s naan sandwiches, a uniquely ‘made to order,’ folded, crispy naan bread with a variety of authentic fillings. Adding to the experience is the chutney bar, where guests can customize their entrée with traditional chutneys such as mango, tamarind and mint.”

Joanne Whitlatch, director of Clinical and Nutrition Services at Hurley, said the new offerings will provide welcome variety. "Indian fare plays an important role in our expanding menu, as patients, visitors, physicians and Hurley Medical Center staff seek traditional ethnic flavors, including the aromatic spices and rich flavors that Cafe Spice has to offer,” she said.

Sign up to get JAMA blogs in your email

jcampe — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:03:32 +0000

Is autism more likely to occur if a previously born sibling has the condition?
What's the risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis if a sibling has that condition?
With warm climates shifting and spreading, are there any health considerations?

If you were to subcribe to JAMA's blog, you could find these answers (and more) in your email in box every day (or every week, if you'd rather get the posts in one batch). The answers to the above questions (in order) are:

Yes (18.7% higher risk of autism when 1 sibling has that diagnosis - and 32% higher risk in families with 2 or more siblings diagnosed with autism).
50 times higher if 2 siblings have blood clots.
Yes, climate shifts widen the territory for rabbies-carrying vampire bats and dengue-fever-causing mosquitoes.

The new blog at http://newsatjama.jama.com/ began in January 2011. To subscribe, visit the website at http://newsatjama.jama.com/ and enter your email address in the "Subscribe to news@JAMA" box in the right column.

JAMA is the international peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association, published continuously since 1883 and is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. JAMA's 2010 impact factor is 30 (the impact factor is a measure of citation rate per article, and is calculated by dividing 1 year's worth of citations to a journal's articles published in the previous 2 years by the number of major articles [eg, research papers, reviews] published by that journal in those 2 years). JAMA's acceptance rate is approximately 9% of the nearly 6000 solicited and unsolicited manuscripts it receives annually.

100% board-passage rates for 2011 Ob-Gyn grads

jcampe — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:16:29 +0000

News flash: Results just in

Hard work and solid preparation paid off for the fourth year in a row for graduates of Hurley's Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Training Program. 2011 board passage rates were recently announced for that training specialty, and 100% of Hurley's graduates passed the certification exam, administered by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). This marks the fourth consecutive year of perfect board passage rates for Hurley Ob-Gyn graduates.

ABOG is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States. Founded in 1927, ABOG is one of 24 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Pediatric residents offer free back-to-school physical exams

jcampe — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:18:01 +0000

Health screenings offered at community schools

Kids without insurance - or even with insurance - can get free back-to-school physicals, thanks to pediatric resident physicians from Hurley Medical Center. Immunizations also are available for ages 0-18. Arveity Setty MD, a third-year pediatric resident, talked about the free health screening programs at various schools throughout the county during an in-studio interview on Flint's ABC affiliate, WJRT-TV Mid-Michigan.

Vision and hearing screening are especially important for preschool and elementary age children, who may not be able to self-identify hearing or vision loss, said Dr. Setty, who explained that deficits in those areas can impact education.

Cardiovascular health is also a focus for all ages but especially for those who play sports, as unidentified heart or lung conditions can be serious, he said. Asthma is often identified in a health screening, and proper treatment can prevent more serious complications. The resident physicians are booked for three health screening sessions through Aug. 23.

13 Hurley projects accepted at fall regional ACP Scientific Meeting

jcampe — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:24:49 +0000

Grand Rapids, here they come.

Hurley is sending a cadre of resident physicians and fellows to present poster and oral projects at Annual Scientific Meeting of the Michigan Chapter of American College of Physicians-Internal Medicine. The meeting takes place Sept. 8-10, 2011, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids. From Hurley, projects from residents and fellows in Internal Medicine, Combined Medicine/ Pediatrics, and the Geriatric Fellowship were accepted for presentation during the juried scientific meeting.

Here is a list of projects and first author; other residents and faculty members may be involved, as well. Coauthors weren't available from the ACP web listing of accepted projects at the time of this blog.

Oral Presentations

Program	First Author	Category	Title
Geriatric Fellowship	Sanaz Kashan MD	CQI/EBM	Osteoporosis awareness in men at risk for fragility fracture and osteoporosis
Medicine/Pediatrics	Shahzad Faisal MD	Research	So Clear, Yet So Dark: A Rare Occurrence of a Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Mandible in an Adolescent Girl
Medicine/Pediatrics	Vinod Nagabhairu MD	Research	Clinical outcomes with the use of Humulin U-500 in T2DM Patients with Insulin Resistance

Poster Presentations

Program	First Author	Category	Title
Internal Medicine	Mayuri Jagirdar MD	Clinical Vignette	An Interesting Case of Catamenial Hemopneumothorax
Internal Medicine	Arashdeep Litt MD*	Clinical Vignette	A rare case of sternal osteomyelitis in a young healthy female
Internal Medicine	Arashdeep Litt MD*	Clinical Vignette	A rare case of clear cell meningioma
Medicine/Pediatrics	Sunil Meruga MD	Clinical Vignette	Penile Gangrene: An Unusual Manifestation of Calciphylaxis in a Patient with End Stage Renal Disease
Medicine/Pediatrics	Sunil Meruga MD	Clinical Vignette	Nitrofurantoin-Associated Pulmonary Infiltrates in a Young Pregnant Woman
Medicine/Pediatrics	Jitendra Sah MD	Clinical Vignette	Insensitivity in a Sensitive Issue!
Internal Medicine	Samer Saleh MD	Clinical Vignette	Recognition of Fibromuscular Dysplasia in the Coronary Arteries
Medicine/Pediatrics	Gopesh Singh MD	Clinical Vignette	Compartment syndrome, a rare but limb-threatening complication of Rhabdomyolysis
Medicine/Pediatrics	Mohammad Omaira MD	Research	Ethnic disparity of treatment initiation in women diagnosed with breast cancer
Medicine/Pediatrics	Mohammad Omaira MD	Research	The impact of ethnicity and insurance status on stage of cancer at diagnosis and overall survival of breast cancer

*Dr. Litt graduated in June 2011 and is now a faculty member in the Department of Internal Medicine at Hurley.

The meeting includes the following:

Professors In Action
Multiple Small Feedings of the Mind
Thieves’ Market
Meet the Professor
Doctor’s Dilemma ™ (Medical Jeopardy)
Top Ten Articles in Internal Medicine
SEP Modules
Medical Student, Resident & Fellow Presentations
Advocacy Committee Meeting
Report from ACP in Philadelphia
Medical Student Program
Chapter Award Presentations
CMEs earned

Welcome to Pediatrics

jcampe — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:30:24 +0000

Now that's a team

Pediatric nurses welcomed incoming resident physicians with food and conversation during their 2011 welcome potluck.

Nurses from 2E Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care hosted the event, getting to know the new residents from the Pediatric and Combined Medicine / Pediatric residency training programs at Hurley.

They also asked the first-year residents to fill out a short questionnaire about their background, how they like to be addressed, and what they do for fun. Each month, they plan to post a profile about a different intern as a way to get to know them. And they're planning to keep the information in a special book on the floor.

(Photos courtesy of Laura Carravallah MD)

July 2011 Physician Connection available online

jcampe — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:31:16 +0000

The latest issue of Hurley’s Physician Connection is now available online at http://education.hurleymc.com/graduate-medical-education/physician-connection. It features the following photos and stories:

June 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony for Hurley’s new main lobby,
“Save the date” announcements,
A possible $90,000 donation for the pediatric waiting room in Hurley’s new Emergency Trauma Center from the Sheppy Dog Fund (recommended by Pediatric Dentist Alan Klein, an advisor to the Fund and the donor of dental equipment for Pediatric dental emergencies at Hurley),
A Hurley visit from Missouri Pediatric Rheumatologist Andrew Lasky MD for case presentations and a Pediatric Grand Rounds, thanks to a visiting professorship award from the American Academy of Rheumatology,
CT turnaround time improvements as part of a Six Sigma project,
Sunita Vedakath, new service line administrator for Cardiovascular and Internal Medicine Services,
Recap of Hurley’s Free Women’s Day: “A Day Just for You” in May,
AppaRao Mukkamala MD re-elected to AMA House of Delegates,
3-year accreditation (and 3-star honors) for Hurley’s Bariatric Center,
TV commercial shoot for Hurley breast cancer survivors,
Federal funds available for Electronic Medical Records training for staff in physician offices, administered by the Genesee/ Shiawassee Michigan Works office,
EPIC letter follow-up about medical staff privileges and mandatory EPIC training (deadline: Oct. 29, 2011),
Honors for Asif Ishaque MD, who earned the highest ranking in all of Michigan in Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) practice, based on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan quality and use scores and his PCMH capabilities,
Welcome to 6 new physicians, including the return of Elizabeth Hale MD, in Infectious Diseases.
Call for Hurley Pinnacle Award nominations (and a list of past winners),
Physician chair massages, courtesy of Baker College students,
Hurley historical facts,
Changes to Hurley Maternal Fetal Medicine staff, including new physician Michael Bork DO,
Welcome to incoming residents and fellows at Hurley (list of names), and
Hurley Foundation news (including Aug. 13 Dairy Queen Blizzard Day – proceeds go to Children’s Miracle Network).

Sleepy? You're not alone

jcampe — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:01:58 +0000

If you're not getting your 8 hours a night, you're probably not thinking as clearly as you could be

New duty-hour restructions* for resident physicians theoretically should improve the length of their nightly sleep (but maybe not, according to some studies). Even so, residents might find themselves in a pickle, so to speak, when their shifting shift schedules interfere with their nightly need for Zs.

A New York Times article talks about what happens when you don't get that 8 nightly hours of beauty sleep (sleep isn't just for beauty) - and how well humans judge their capabilities when under the influence of sleepiness (not well, it turns out).

How can you avoid falling into the lower-performing sleepy group? And what should you do if you do find yourself sleep-deprived?

Hurley Graduate Medical Education developed a brochure to address those - and other concerns. It's available in Hurley's GME office on 10W - or online at: http://education.hurleymc.com/gme. (Click on "How to recognize sleep deprivation and fatigue" in the left-hand column.)

Bottom line: Make it a priority to sleep well, and sleep long enough.

* New duty-hour restrictions established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education took effect July 1, 2011.

Program Director's speech captures essence of Hurley mission

jcampe — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:20:20 +0000

By Elyse Berry

Director, Hurley Physician Services

For the new residents who just arrived, as well as for all, I thought it would be a great time to post Dr. Laura Carravallah’s Pinnacle Award speech on the GME Blog.

The speech is from Hurley’s Nov. 2, 2010, Primary Care Physician Pinnacle Award Ceremony, when Dr. Carravallah accepted the highest physician honor at Hurley. Many of the speakers on that day applauded Dr. Carravallah’s dedication to Hurley, her residents and her colleagues. Dr. Carravallah’s words really capture the essence of Hurley and its mission: Clinical Excellence. Service to People. As you continue your journey at Hurley, I believe you will come to more fully understand the message.

Here’s an excerpt, which first appeared in the December 2010 issue of the Physician Connection newsletter. Enjoy!

Dr. Carravallah is director of the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Training Program at Hurley.

These past weeks I have received such an outpouring of support and affection – it was unexpected and humbling. I am so lucky – I get to do something with my life that has a chance to make a difference on so many different levels – and I really love what I do.

It seems too soon to get this award – although I’ve spent almost half my life here – now 23 years – there is still so much more that I would like to do – I hope I get that chance here at Hurley.

Of course, as a medical student I must be able to obtain and retain information from books, but I learn best through stories – those of patients, colleagues, and often the story of my own small mistakes and triumphs - this place has provided so many for me and for many others.

I am grateful to so many.

First of all, my family, many of whom have traveled here today, from as far away as Maryland, and always made me believe that I could do anything if I worked hard and gave me a lot of confidence and love; my husband & chief advisor Asif and my son Danyal – also my teacher in humility and love. There is nothing like being a parent to make one humble.

MSU Medical School

Coming here as a medical student, I knew that Flint was the best campus in the MSU system to get an outstanding clinical education. This place felt real – real people with real problems – a place where people really need the care we provide. And many staff and patients here have many similarities with my family. It felt familiar and MEANINGFUL. There was a chance to make a difference, and I hope to expand that impact with some of our current & ongoing projects.

The Hurley Residency Program

I swore I wouldn’t stay – I had been in the MSU system for a long time and felt that I needed to make a change – and yet here I am. I couldn’t find a better place – I interviewed widely, but always ended up comparing those places to Hurley – so why go somewhere else, when all I could think of was here?

The Hurley Faculty

After I graduated, I was honored to be invited to stay here. I always wanted to be a teacher – just wasn’t sure what I would teach. Medicine was perfect for me. I get to have an impact for the better – again a chance for meaningfulness.

I was particularly honored to join the ranks of my own teachers – many of the ‘pearls’ that I have learned have come from the Book of Inoue, the Book of Nolan, the Book of Hamp. What a privilege to be able to work with them.

The Hurley Residents

Now I have the amazing privilege of having a group of extremely talented residents come and share a crucial piece of their life with me here. Most of them had many choices as to where they would spend this one chance at residency training in this country. They keep me fresh and fired up – and I am again humbled by the trust they place in me and this institution to allow themselves to be open and vulnerable to feedback. It is not possible to learn if you are not open to constructive criticism, and that requires a lot of trust. Fulfilling this trust is really the crux of what I do here.

The Hurley Staff

Our staff is the blood and bone and muscle of Hurley Medical Center. I have many friends and colleagues – partners in care and sometimes ‘benign’ crime – some of whom have been here since (and even before) I was a student.

All of these people create and drive and continue part of what I really want to celebrate today – the culture of Hurley.

This medical center can sometimes seem like a big lumbering beast – very slow to change course. It has many moving parts and each area can have its own idea – those areas are made of people, after all, with individual imperatives, opinions and motives. BUT, when all the parts work together – as they often do – we do miracles.

Hurley is where I learned about the magic of working on a team in which that is the common goal – doing the best thing for our patients, who are often the neediest and sickest people in the county, and beyond. Many of our patients do not have another place to go to meet their health needs – either because they lack the financial resources, or because they are so sick that no other institution in this area could take care of them.

Hurley, at its best, is all of these people here from many different disciplines coming together for the specific purpose of bringing their knowledge and expertise to bear on patients as individuals and also collectively. It’s truly an amazing feeling when we work together as a team with this clearly understood purpose – I feel like we can accomplish almost anything.

I thank you all so much for your part in this - and for allowing me to be on Team Hurley with you!

Laura Carravallah MD

Director, Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Training Program

November 2, 2010

Measuring success, part of the picture

jcampe — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:23:53 +0000

How do Hurley physicians see how we're doing?

One quick way to find out how Hurley is doing is for physicians to glance at the Patient Satisfaction Board in the Hurley Physician Lounge (right above the counter that serves fruit, bagels, etc.). It gives part of the picture of Hurley performance. The board changes monthly, with updates about:

Patient satisfaction with physicians for each hospital unit/floor
Positive comments
Missed opportunities, and
A comparison of recent monthly satisfaction scores

It's also a good learning opportunity for physicians in training. They can see the types of survey questions that Hurley asks patients after receiving care here. With monthly data and comments posted, they can see what's important to patients and what stands out in their memory about their experience at Hurley.

If you haven't checked the physician metrics lately, stop by the next time you're in the Hurley Physicians' Lounge. It serves as a reminder of what patients are saying - and how physicians play a critical role in patient satisfaction, which is a significant component in the larger picture of clinical excellence and service to people at Hurley.

Welcome Incoming Residents and Fellows

jcampe — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:45:25 +0000

New faces in 2011-2012

Please help us welcome the more than 100 residents and fellows who train at Hurley Medical Center ever year in programs that last 1-5 years. Typically, the educational year begins July 1, although it may be different for certain programs or certain individuals. Here are some of the new people who will begin their training at Hurley sometime this year. If you see someone who looks new, be sure to extend Hurley's famed hospitality by showing them around, sharing some of your favorite things to do in the area, and making them feel at home.

(Some might be familiar because they may have completed one residency program at Hurley and then entered a Hurley fellowship or another residency training program.)

Combined Medicine/Pediatrics
- Sriranjani Bajjuri, MD
- Junaid Farooq, MD
- Amani Hassan, MD
- Faisal Niazi MD
Internal Medicine
- Firas Abed, MD
- Delshad Ahmad, MD
- Syeda Ali, MD
- Omar Alkharabsheh, MD
- Amro Alsaid, MD (was TY resident 2010-2011)
- Imran Baig, MD
- Syed Haamid, MD
- Deepali Jain, MD
- Rasha Nakhleh, MD
- Neiveen Peter, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Atinuke Akinpeloye, MD
- Oluwamuyiwa Bolonduro, MD
- Abraham Madany, MD (was TY resident 2010-2011)
Pediatrics
- Ahmed Abusamra, MD (PGY2)
- Smita Gaikwad, MD (PGY2)
- Israa Khan, MD
- Poonam Mahajan, MD
- Chetna Mangat, MD
- Naveen Minumula, MD
- Sneha Rao, MD
Transitional Year
- Shiran Alagacone, MD
- Sasikanth Gorantla, MD
- Deepak Kalra, MD
- Abed Kanzy, MD
- Subhadra Mandadi, MD
- Achenef Melese, MD
- Preethi Ratakonda, MD
- Bouchra Younes, MD
Pediatric Dentistry
Begin 7/1/11
- Litsa Karaouzas, DDS
- Aimee Picard, DDS
- Melisa Susanto, DDS
- Banafsheh Vahid, DMD
- Jody Wrathall, DDS
Radiology
- Asif Bhimani, MD (was TY resident in 2010-2011)
- John R. Hanna, MD
- Asad A. Hayat, MD
Geriatric Fellowship
- Sanaz Kashan, MD (was IM resident 2010-2011)
Medical Psychology Fellow
(Begin 9/1/11)
- Maegan Hatfield-Eldred, PhD
- Katherine Poitras, PsyD
- Radiology Fellowship
- Chaitanya Vemulapalli, MD
Trauma Fellowship
- Anas Alzuhaili, M.D.

Memorable comments from 2010-2011

jcampe — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:27:49 +0000

As we welcome new residents and fellows and begin the new academic year, I couldn't help reflecting back on my first half-year in Hurley’s Graduate Medical Education Department. Here are some of the memorable quotes overheard at Hurley and elsewhere.

Child #1: “Girls can be doctors?”

Child #2: “Yes, they’re called nurses.”

Overheard during a birthday party for a fifth-grader (10- and 11-year-olds)

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“Hurley is where I learned about the magic of working on a team in which that is the common goal – doing the best thing for our patients, who are often the neediest and sickest people in the county and beyond. Many of our patients do not have another place to go to meet their health needs – either because they lack the financial resources, or because they are so sick that no other institution in this area could take care of them.”

Dr. Laura Carravallah, after accepting Hurley’s 2010 Primary Care Physician Pinnacle Award

“If you patch one corner of your pants, the other side rips. … This is not only a tsunami but also an earthquake.”

A faculty member, on the initial frustration of scheduling resident physicians in a small residency training program under new duty-hour rules that were to take effect a few months later. After a bit of tweaking, the schedule worked.

Quip #1: “I wonder how they recruited patients for this study?”

Quip #2: “Lawn mower accidents – lots of them.”

Overheard during the 2011 MSU/FAME Community Research Forum, about a research project involving fractured tibias – of rabbits.

“The PIF? I’d rather have a kidney stone.”

A residency program director, about completing the newly expanded and complicated Program Information Form for the accreditation of a residency training program, required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

“Don’t PIF me off …”

A staff member involved in Graduate Medical Education (after working with the progressively worsening PIF process for years).

“My father had never heard of Flint, but he said, ‘You’ll get mugged in New York. Go to Flint.’”

Dr. Brian Nolan, after accepting Hurley’s 2011 Pinnacle Award

“I asked (his wife), ‘What’s the secret to your long marriage?’ and she said, ‘Ear plugs.’”

Dr. Aftab Aftab, chair of Hurley pediatrics, joking during Dr. Nolan’s award ceremony

For more quotes from Dr. Nolan’s award ceremony, see the Hurley Blog posting at: http://education.hurleymc.com/blogs/20110308/notable-quotes-hurley-pinnacle-award-ceremony

Physician news posted monthly

jcampe — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:27:52 +0000

June was such a busy month, with graduation and the end of one educational year and the beginning of another, orientation of new residents, the start of summer ...

If you didn't have time to read the June issue of Hurley's Physician Connection, here's a reminder that this physician newsletter is post online every month.

The June issue was filled with interesting stories: Hurley CME is 1 of 6 statewide providers to get top honors and a 6-year accreditation; Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, new Hurley Pediatric Residency Director; June 17 new Hurley lobby ceremony; awards for Dr. and Mrs. Dismond; Blue Cross recognition for Dr. Farhand Khan; Flint's "comeback city" mention in Kiplinger's; launch of Hurleyasthmakids.com; Russ Winters RN awarded Sue A. Wright Nursing Award; Dr. Haseeb Ilias Basha, 1st place in national ACP research meeting; Flint's Archer Granger, 7, selected as Michigan's Children's Miracle network Champion; digital mammography at Hurley; federal grant for EMR training; and other tidbits.

Why medical ethics matter

jcampe — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:46:42 +0000

Another example, this time from Michigan's past

Sometimes, it's tempting to skim over the rules and laws related to informed consent, research, treatment and the like. It's just another list of things to know and do - kind of a pain in the patootie when you've got so many hoops to jump through and not enough time in the day. But in most instances, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has created laws only after something horrific prompted it to do so. The laws make sense. And the reasons for them are sometimes terribly important.

If you've studied research and medical ethics, then you're already familiar with Nazi medical experiments and the Tuskegee syphilis study (which continued into the 1970s, well after laws clearly required informed consent and forbade deceit and knowing harm ...). But every now and then a reminder crops up about more widespread, almost routine actions that occurred all over the United States - or even closer to home, such as Lapeer, Michigan.

A June 23, 2011, www.mlive.com news article describes the forced sterilization of more than 3,000 people in Michigan before Michigan's sterilization law was repealed in 1974. The repeal was not nearly early enough for Fred Aslin (pictured above, right - AP File Photo courtesy of MLive.com), a 10-year-old Native American boy from Michigan's Upper Peninsula who was housed in the Lapeer State School (an old-fashioned mental institution for the "feeble minded") after his father died, and his mother was unable to care for him and his eight siblings. He was sterilized without consent when he turned 18, as were four siblings. Why? To find out, decades later he ordered copies of his Lapeer records and was appalled to find that the school/hospital said he was a "feeble-minded idiot," and his progeny could end up like him "or worse." For the record, neither Aslin nor his siblings were feeble-minded - or idiots - and Aslin was apparently so infuriated by his discovery that he filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from the State of Michigan, which was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.

The January 2009 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal (at right) talks about the legal history of sterilization - and related legal/ethical topics - and points out that legislation sometimes has unintended consequences. For example, when - if ever - is it appropriate to sterilize someone with extremely limited mental capacity to prevent unwanted pregnancy? And whose decision is it? The parents'? The courts'?

In 1981 and beyond, Genesee County Probate and Circuit Courts wrestled with just those questions when the parents of Lora Faye Wirsing requested permission to authorize a tubal ligation for their daughter, who was diagnosed with a mental capacity of a 4-year-old. The parents eventually won the right to make that choice for their daughter - but only after close to 15 years of legal decisions and appeal attempts by various advocacy groups for the disabled. In the end, a Michigan Supreme Court ruling confirmed that the Probate Court does have the right to preside over such cases - and it distinguished between forced sterilization, abolished in Michigan in 1974, and an individual's right to choose sterilization (or the right of a legal guardian or parent to make that choice for someone under their charge).

Bottom line: The informed consent process for research and medical care can be lengthy and tedious, but it serves an important purpose. We're charged with providing information and assistance, so that individuals can made the best decisions for themselves - or for those under their care. When the paperwork seems overwhelming, sometimes a look back at the not-so-distant past helps to put it in perspective - and makes it more bearable.

In honor of Hurley's first pediatric resident physician ...

jcampe — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:36:34 +0000

The Berton Mathias MD Award

2011 Winner: Kofi Asare-Bawuah MD

We already posted the list of resident award-winners from Hurley's June 3, 2011, graduation ceremony, but it's nice to know a little history behind some of the awards.

Laura Carravallah MD (director of Hurley's Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program) shared a photo of the plaque for the annual Berton Mathias MD Pediatric Resident Award. This year's winner, Dr. Asare-Bawuah's, name will be posted on this plaque for all to see in years to come.

So what is the history of this award? The plaque inscription explains:

"In honor of the legacy of Hurley Medical Center’s first pediatric resident, Dr. Berton Mathias, this award is presented annually to a graduating Hurley pediatrics resident who has demonstrated outstanding compassion for children and families, exceptional clinical skills, teamwork and dedication to the art and science of healing."

No dilemma here: 3 Hurley residents win competition; eligible for statewide contest

jcampe — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:36 +0000

HARD WORK PAYS OFF: Members of the Hurley Medical Center Doctors' Dilemma Team worked hard to prepare for the 2011 Doctors' Dilemma competition during the American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine Michigan Chapter Associate's Day May 20 in Ann Arbor. Now that hard work has paid off - in the form of more work - and possibly more honors. From left, Padmaja Veeramreddy MD (Combined Medicine/Pediatrics resident), Narendra Veerapaneni MD and Srinivasa Reddy Sanikommu MD (both Internal Medicine residents) are now eligible to compete in the statewide ACP Doctors' Dilemma competition Sept. 8-10 in Grand Rapids during the Annual Scientific Chapter Meeting at the Amway Grand Hotel.

Graduation 2011: Cross-Sectional Radiology Fellowship

jcampe — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:59:45 +0000

(Photo by Doug Pike, Hurley Marketing Department)

FINE FELLOW: Rajul Pandya MD (left) was graduated June 3, 2011, from his neuro-nuclear radiology fellowship at Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich. Radiology Fellowship Program Director PC Shetty MD talked about Pandya's fine work before handing him his diploma during the ceremony at the Flint Golf Club. The fellowship program is affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

New lobby open for business - and so is Dort Park

jcampe — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:26:16 +0000

SIDEWALKS were poured, trees planted, and benches and tables put in place in the relocated Dort Park, just in time for the June 17, 2011, ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new, 9,000-square-foot lobby and entrance at Hurley Medical Center. This photo, taken from the 6th floor in the West Patient Tower on June 20, 2011, looks easterly across Grand Traverse, with Genesee County Community Mental Health in the upper right, obstructed by the fully leafed-out trees. The new hospital entrance offers clearly marked, ample patient- and visitor-drop-off under a glass canopy, so visitors can be comfortable no matter what Michigan's weather brings. The $30 million project also includes expanded emergency and trauma services space and a pediatric wing (not yet open for business). (Photo by Nicolas Lecea, Academic Research Coordinator.)

Time for a picnic

Hurley's new lobby is open, and grand entrance looks spiffy, thanks to Ruth Mott Foundation grant for new Dort Park location

Just as Hurley's 50,000-square-foot hospital expansion project has been moving steadily forward, so has the redevelopment of Dort Park, which received a $50,000 grant from the Ruth Mott Foundation for its relocation, according to The Hurley Foundation.

Integrated into the Hurley Medical Center campus for more than 85 years, Dort Park was relocated to accommodate the new, 50,000-square-foot Hurley Emergency Trauma Center. Ruth Mott Foundation support helped to redevelop the community park at the new entrance to the medical center. With paved sidewalks, even people in wheelchairs and patients with O₂ on wheels, for example, can easily make the trek to park benches and picnic tables, nestled among the new trees and other landscape features.

Founded by Ruth Rawlings Mott, the Ruth Mott Foundation is committed to cultivating community vitality and nurturing hope and pride. The Foundation funds organizations and programs serving residents in the City of Flint and Genesee County, Michigan. Foundation funding is focused in the areas of beautification, health promotion, and arts and culture while advancing the mission of advocating, stimulating, and supporting community vitality.

Graduation 2011: Postdoctoral Medical Psychology Fellows at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:00:26 +0000

The 2011 Resident Physician & Fellow Graduation for Hurley Medical Center took place at the Flint Golf Club June 3, 2011. Kirk Stucky PsyD (top photo, right) congratulates graduating residents from Hurley's postdoctoral medical psychology fellowship program. (Photos by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing.)

Research Honors: 2011 Michigan State University Flint Area Medical Education Community Research Forum

jcampe — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:59:19 +0000

Hurley takes 5 major awards

By Nicolas Lecea BS

Hurley took home 5 of the major awards at the 13th Annual MSU/FAME Community Research Forum May 4, 2011, at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, Flint, Mich. Here is a list of Hurley's winning projects in each category:

MEDICAL STUDENT AWARDS

1^st – Hurley – Does an Individual’s Identity Influence Performance on National Medical Examinations, and Can Either Predict Eventual Physician Satisfaction – Sarah Homitsky, Erynne Faucett, Jing Chen, Jenny LaChance

2^nd – Hurley – Early Second Trimester Uterine Rupture - John Fam, Vickie Mello, Ivana Vettraino, Tawsufe Majid

RESIDENT AWARDS

Oral Case

1^st – Hurley – Watch What you Touch, A Bad Germ Gets Worse: Non-antibiotic Associated Clostridium Difficile Diarrhea in Infants: Case Series, Clinical Reality – Olugbemiga Jegede, Irmgard Philipowitz, Walid Abuhammour

2^nd – Hurley – Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak – Rajaie Namas, Sampath Ethiraj, Neha Tyagi, Mohammed Sharif, Huda Elhwairis, Atif Abdalla

FACULTY/HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Oral

1^st – Hurley – Drug and Alcohol Related Emergency Department Visits: A Pilot of the Collection of DAWN Surveillance Data – James Weber, Tiffany Ceja, Jenny Lachance, Kay Taylor, Nicolas Lecea, Lori McQuillan, Kim Wisniewski, Kristie Schmiege

The annual research forum accepts top projects from each of the three Michigan State University teaching hospitals in the Flint community. Research findings are presented by students, residents and fellows, as well as by nurses, faculty and other allied health staff. Projects are adjudicated based on scientific merit and presentation criteria.

Nicolas Lecea BS is an academic research coordinator at Hurley Medical Center.

Graduation 2011: Pediatric Dentistry Residents at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:49:34 +0000

Hurley Medical Center's Resident and Fellow Graduation took place June 3, 2011, at the Flint Golf Club. Program Director Robert Majewski DDS awarded diplomas to graduates from the Pediatric Denistry Training Program, which is affiliated with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Photos by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing.

Graduation 2011: Pediatric Residents at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:51:31 +0000

During the ceremony, Interim Program Director Susumu Inoue MD made his own comments for each graduate but also read excerpts from their former program director, Melissa Hamp MD. (Photos by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing. The Pediatric Residency Training Program is affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.)

Graduation 2011: Transitional Year Residents at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:31:09 +0000

Photo by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing. The Transitional YearTraining Program is affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Graduation 2011: Geriatric Medicine Fellow at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:02:41 +0000

Photo by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing. The Geriatric Fellowship Program is affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Graduation 2011: Internal Medicine Residents at Hurley Medical Center

jcampe — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:52:31 +0000

Photos by Doug Pike, Hurley Planning & Marketing. The Internal Medicine Residency Training Program is affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Greek Festival

jcampe — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:18:35 +0000

Baklava, anyone? An annual GreekFest takes place June 24-26 at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 2245 E. Baldwin Rd., Grand Blanc, MI, 48439.,

Cost is $2 at the door or $1 in advance. Children 12 and under are free. The festival is open from Noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from Noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Features authentic Greek food & pastries, a marketplace, children's entertainment, folk dancing, church tours and more. Free parking.

To find other fun things to do, visit the online Calendar for the Genesee County area at: GeneseeFun.com.

New director of Pediatric Residency Program

jcampe — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:13:20 +0000

Mona Hanna-Attisha MD MPH starts off by listening

It wasn’t exactly a time warp, but it may have seemed like one for the new director for Hurley’s Pediatric Residency Program. Mona Hanna-Attisha MD MPH spent two years in Flint as a medical student in Michigan State University’s Flint Area Medical Educationcampus of the College of Human Medicine.

“It was super weird,” she said, about her first day, which conjured up images from her student days at Hurley. “Despite more gray hair and hopefully more wisdom,” she said, she initially felt like a student again. “All my memories (about Hurley) are from a decade ago. I’m still getting lost, so it’s all new to me. I have to ask where the conference room is and where the bathrooms are. … It’s nice to be back. I have fond memories here. It’s where I got my passion for pediatrics.”

Hanna said she hopes to instill that same passion in students – and in Pediatric residents, with whom she met as a group on June 7. Some of their first questions: What is she going to do first & what is she going to change first?

“I told them, ‘The first thing I’m going to do is listen,’” she said, adding that communication and consensus-building is her natural style. “We’ll work together. … It’s not one person fixing a problem.”

On her second day at Hurley Medical Center, “Dr. Hanna” (as she prefers to be called) was still sifting through boxes and getting used to her office, which was one of the surprises that came with her new job.

“My office is larger than I expected,” she said. “Other surprises so far? I asked the residents all what they liked about this place. They commented on the family atmosphere here, the personal, intimate feeling, the feeling that everyone cares about them. That’s what I thought when I was a student and again when I came back. So I was glad to hear that, but I guess I wasn’t surprised by it.”

Hanna hopes that people will feel comfortable visiting her office because her door will be open most of the time. “I have an open-door policy,” she said. “I don’t use a pager. My cell phone is available 24/7.”

Hanna and her husband, Elliott Attisha MD, have two children, Nina, 5, and Layla, 2 ½. Her husband, also a pediatrician (and an award-winning photographer), works in Detroit, so the couple live between their two jobs and each commute, though Hanna has the easier drive since there’s very little northbound traffic on her way in and very little southbound traffic on her way home.

When she’s not working, she likes to spend time with her husband, children and parents, who help with her kids.

“I don’t have much ‘me time,’” said Hanna. “But I love to just hang out with my family and play. We love to travel when we can. And I love to read when I have time.”

In fact, as associate director for the pediatric residency program at Children’s Hospital in Detroit since 2009, she headed up a virtual book club, “Literature in Medicine,” and she hopes to start something similar at Hurley, tying the books into pediatrics, cultural competencies, etc.

“The last really good book I read was Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese MD, she said, explaining that it’s about an infectious disease physician and weaves in stories about the lives of international medical graduates.

Hanna also likes to cook and play volleyball. And she admits that she’s a bit of a tech geek. She hopes to use more of an online platform for much of pediatric education, with streaming video of lectures and other applications.

She’s glad to return to Hurley, she said. “I’m super excited. I think it will be a lot of fun.”

In addition to her medical degree from MSU, Hanna holds a master of public health degree from the University of Michigan and the title of assistant professor of pediatrics at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

In her previous position as associate director of the pediatric program at Children’s Hospital, Hanna supervised 100 residents, developed a longitudinal curriculum, implemented an online education platform, helped to recruit and select residents, and helped in key residency program committees.

Photos above: At top, the 2000 MSU/CHM Flint Campus class medical student roster (courtesy of Susan Miller of MSU/FAME) shows Dr. Hanna as many may remember her. Next photo: Dr. Hanna and her husband, Elliott Attisha MD, attended Hurley's June 3 graduation ceremony at the Flint Golf Club. (Photo by Doug Pike.)

Honors for 2011 grads & faculty

jcampe — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:19:12 +0000

The 2011 Hurley Resident Physician & Fellow Graduation June 3 at the Flint Golf Club was filled with heartwarming stories, laughs and photos, as family and colleagues watched resident physicians and fellows accept their certificates. Awards also were given to a few residents and faculty members, as follows:

Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Teaching Faculty Award: Vijay Naraparjau MD
Internal Medicine Dr. Ronald E. Easterling Memorial Faculty Award: Varkey Thomas MD
Internal Medicine Dr. R. Roderic Abbott Resident Award: Asha Mohamud Jama Madhar MD
Transitional Year Dr. Willys Mueller Faculty Award: Ghassan Bachuwa MD
Pediatrics Tauscher Faculty Award: Esam Kazem MD
Pediatrics Mathias Resident Award: Kofi Bawuah MD
Pediatrics Banerjee Resident Award: Barbara Sagoe MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology APGO Excellence in Teaching Faculty Award: Saqib Ahmad MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology CREOG National Faculty Award: Jay Holmes MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinton H. Dowd Annual Teaching Faculty Award: Manilal Mewada MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology Program Director’s Annual Resident Achievement Award: Ruchira Singh MD

Check back soon for photos and a list of the graduates.

Photo by Doug Pike: From left: Dr. Akram Mohammed's daughter, Ghassan Bachuwa, Jim Buterakos

RSS Feed: How to get this blog (and others) delivered automatically to your Outlook 2007

jcampe — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:38:38 +0000

Let's say you have a few websites you like to read, but you don't always remember to visit. Lucky for you, there's a way to get content from many web pages delivered daily. You can either click on the RSS feed icon (usually an orange symbol, like the one at right) on your favorite web page (if available) - and follow the directions. Or you can integrate the feeds into your own Outlook (2007 or higher).

Here's how to do the latter, courtesy of Nicolas Lecea, Research Coordinator at Hurley Medical Center.

With the Client version (desktop version - not the web-based version) of MS Outlook you need to do only the following:

Click "Tools," then "Account Settings …"
Click on the "RSS Feeds" tab.
Click "New."
Paste "http://feeds.feedburner.com/hurley_gme?format=xml." (You can cut & paste it right from here, if you'd like.)
Click "Add."
If you want to be able to see photos or audio files that might come with the text from the blog, then click the box under Downloads that reads: "Automatically download Enclosures for this feed."
Click "OK."

That's it, according to Nick. Now you can check your RSS Feeds Folder daily for the latest - and, since you added the information via Outlook, you can treat each "Feed" just as you would any other Outlook item, such as email or appointments. You can flag it, file it, delete it, save it, etc.

Stay tuned, er ..., add this "feed" to your client version of Outlook 2007 for future information about RSS, feeds, blogs and other terms ...

Meet the next chief resident: Hurley Pediatrics Program

jcampe — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:07:16 +0000

Vaniawala Bhavna MD

Dr. Vaniawala has worked hard to raise her family, cook healthy meals, and study to become a Pediatrician at the same time. She still manages to eke out time for shopping, movies, and dreams of yellow ... speed ... wind ... sun ...

When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		I like watching movies, shopping, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite movies, books or music:		Indian movie - Silsila and DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge). American movie - Titanic and I, Robot
Favorite food:		Spicy Indian and Mexican food.
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		My surprise about coming to America was how organized it was - and how clean!! Unbelievable!!! And what surprised me about my residency training was the 360-degree evaluation!!! We've got to perform better!!!!
What do you like most about being a physician?		It's a dream come true!!!!!
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		Before I became crazy about becoming a physician, I wanted to become a scientist or a teacher!
Family?		I am married with 2 children. My husband is a pediatrician too. … Some of my family is in Texas, but the rest are in India.
Where did you grow up?		I grew up in Surat, India, which is now the fastest growing city in the world and was once awarded as “the most clean city in India after a plague outbreak!!!” There's a saying that goes like this: "Surat nu jaman and Kashi nu maran." This means, if you are looking for really good food, Surat is the place for you! And if you want to die peacefully, go to Kashi (religious place in India).
What do you miss most about home?		My family, my parents, and my brother and sisters. ... I was the most pampered and spoiled child in my family. … Thanks to the system here, calling India is not a big deal. And thanks to Skype, too, we chat live very often.
Special talents?		I am a good cook! I have “green thumbs.” … I love gardening and plants grow quite well with me. My house is full of plants!! One of my friends often gives me her plants that are dying so I can bring them back to life!
People might not know that:		My favorite color is yellow, and I would really like a yellow convertible car!

Namas strikes again

jcampe — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Mouse livers may not sound exciting to some, but Rajaie Namas MD, a second-year Internal Medicine resident at Hurley Medical Center, found them fascinating, at least at the cellular level.

The Grand Blanc, Mich., resident's latest research findings stemmed from his work with hypoxic hepatocytes in mice, that is, oxygen-starved liver cells, as may occur in humans under inflammatory conditions such as ischemia/reperfusion and hemorrhagic shock. Ischemia is restricted blood flow to an area, such as the liver, which can occur following an injury. Reperfusion is the resupply of blood to that area, which itself can cause injury. Hemorrhagic shock is the loss of fluid from circulation as a result of blood loss, such as from a traumatic injury or internal bleeding.

Specifically, Namas and colleagues were investigating the expression of cell death protein BNIP3 in the mice's hypoxic hepatocytes, as well as the role that HIF-1a plays in the upregulation of BNIP3 in mice with hypoxic stress. BNIP3 is a member of a unique family of death-inducing mitochondrial proteins. HIF-1a is part of the class of hypoxia inducible factors and encodes a protein found in mammalian cells at low oxygen concentrations. It plays an essential role in cellular and systemic responses to hypoxia. Upregulation is an increase in the expression of a gene.

Their findings? Hypoxic stress increases the formation of the BNIP3 homodimer and decreases the amount of the monomeric form of BNIP3 in primary mouse hepatocytes. In short, this gene plays an important role in liver transplant ischemia and reperfusion, as well as in hemorrhagic shock.

Why does this matter? Some day in the future, humans with liver hypoxia may receive a selective treatment developed as a result of these findings.

“Targeting this gene could have a great effect on patients with transplant and in hemorrhagic shock patients in the field,” said Namas, adding that it could help in various settings, such as during trauma or elective surgeries.

Namas, recently selected chief resident starting July 1 in Hurley Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, said he enjoys research. “What I like in this project and in any project at the molecular level is, as a physician treating patients, it’s great to get ideas from bedside and to go back to bench to try to do your best to treat and heal the people that are in need for your help. What I believe in as a physician is to ‘innovate and don't imitate,’” he said.

Namas' paper about the research was published online ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journal Shock in May 2011. The paper was titled: Hypoxia-Induced Overexpression of BNIP3 Is Not Dependent on HIF1a in Mouse Hepatocytes.

HIF-1A photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

Soggy & foggy

jcampe — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:03:34 +0000

This photo from 11 a.m. May 20 shows deep fog and rain, uncharacteristic for May in Michigan, especially 5 hours after sunrise, when this photo was taken. Fog generally lifts shortly after sunrise. This photo, taken from a 6th-floor research office, overlooks the construction site, where Hurley Medical Center's new main entrance will be in use in about a month. It looks easterly across Grand Traverse. Genesee County Community Mental Health is visible in the back right. (Photo by Nicolas Lecea)

Record rain

Spring isn't officially over, but its 14.53 inches thus far makes it the wettest spring in history for the Flint area, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record of 13.8 inches was set in 1945. Climate records for the Flint area go back to 1921.

The meteorological spring season is March 1 through May 31. Flint recorded 3.92 inches of precipitation in March (6th wettest March), 5.47 inches in April (5th wettest April), and 5.14 inches in May, as of May 19.

Note that we're using the word "preciptation" instead of rain here? That's because we also received hail and a bit of snow in this time period.

For Michigan, this amount of rain means delayed or lost crops due to saturated or flooded soil, flooded basements for homeowners, and closed roads due to flooding. It also means that sporting events have been cancelled due to flooded fields or dangerous weather.

Forecast for Memorial Day weekend calls for cloud cover Saturday, with a chance of rain and late thunderstorms - high temperatures in the 70s F⁰. Sunday may be cloudy in the morning, clearing up for the afternoon, with high temperatures in the 80s. Monday looks as if it will be clear, sunny and hot, with predicted high temperatures of 85-89.

Source: The National Weather Service.

6 more years of excellent CME

jcampe — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:26:25 +0000

Hard work pays off

Accreditation processes can be grueling. But for Hurley's Continuing Medical Education, it paid off big time, with a 6-year accreditation (good through Sept. 2017). Plus, of the 55 CME providers in the state, Hurley Medical Center is one of only six to achieve “Commendation” status from Michigan State Medical Society Committee on CME Accreditation. Physicians in Michigan are required to obtain 150 CME hours in a 3-year period to maintain their medical licenses, and the hours must be free from commercial bias.

As an accredited provider of CME for physicians, the Hurley Medical Center Institute for Continuing Medical Education is bound by stringent regulations that monitor the credibility of programs and assure they are provided without commercial bias from the speakers. The purpose of CME is to provide physician programs to enhance knowledge, competence, and performance -- ultimately to improve patient outcomes.

For more information about CME at Hurley, visit our CME web pages at: http://education.hurleymc.com/cme .

Meet the next chief resident: Hurley Combined Medicine Pediatrics Residency

jcampe — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:48:07 +0000

Dinesh Chaudhary MD

He may be far from home, but he's not far from friends, thanks to people he's met at Hurley - and Facebook. The Nepalese native turns to comedy to keep his spirits up - and there's a lot of it out there. And while Michigan has its own natural beauty with the world's largest fresh-water lakes, national forests and picturesque lakes, rivers and streams ... it's hard to compete with the breathtaking scenes from Dr. Chaudhary's home country of Nepal. Read more to find out about Dr. Chaudhary and ... Shamu?

When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		"Facebook" is always on. Watch "Two and a Half Men" and "House" TV shows.
Favorite food:		Momo.
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		"Snowfall" of Flint
What do you like most about being a physician?		Patient care and satisfaction.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		Pilot.
Family?		It's complicated ...
Where did you grow up?		I grew up in a small but beautiful town in Nepal where the majority of people do agriculture for a living, "wine, dine and sunshine" for fun. Nepal is a country of "Himalayas and Birth Place of Buddha." Strongly recommend a visit Nepal once to see its natural beauty.
What do you miss most about home?		I miss my parents here. I talk to them frequently and enjoy my residency with my friends here.
Favorite movies, books or music?		Andaz apna apna, The Hangover, Couples Retreat, My Cousin Vinny.*
Special talents?		I make my friend’s baby smile.
People might not know that:		Shamu is my best animal.
Other comments:		"Life is short; try to enjoy each and every moment to the fullest."

* In English: “To Each, His Own Style”

Photo sources:

Momo photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plateful_of_Momo_in_Nepal.jpg. Accessed 13-May-2011. (Information |Description=momo |Source=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/8126330@N05/4270920525/ fimg_9787] * Uploaded by Ekabhishek|Date=2010-01-10 16:18 |Author=[http://www.flickr.com/people/8126330@N05 Ritesh Man Tamrakar] |Permissio)
Andaz apna apna photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaz_Apna_Apna. Accessed 13-May-2011.
Nepal photo source: http://blog.bookingadvisor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Tengboche-Nepal.jpg. Accessed 13-May-2011.
Nepal mountain-water photo source: http://www.himalayanholidays.biz/. Accessed 13-May-2011.
Shamu: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.orlandofuntickets.com/Blog/uploaded_images/Shamu-1-749750.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.orlandofuntickets.com/Blog/2007/09/terrific-tuesdays-at-seaworld-orlando.html&usg=__es9UL7p0cjtyWRWpa7UeO3g_nv4=&h=1600&w=1064&sz=255&hl=en&start=82&sig2=dyg4Md8Lx6Tr5M_ti2LJCw&zoom=1&tbnid=9nbL-akSnzYKqM:&tbnh=152&tbnw=132&ei=la_NTaGLOsbz0gHL8MSaDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshamu%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D647%26tbm%3Disch0%2C2605&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=831&vpy=261&dur=1907&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=114&ty=259&page=6&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:82&biw=1259&bih=647 Accessed 13-May-2011.

Not the first 'first' for Basha

jcampe — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:19:29 +0000

Top prize, poster category in national ACP conference

Haseeb Ilias Basha MD chalked up a lot of firsts in the past year. The first-year Hurley Internal Medicine resident physician got married, landed a residency position at Hurley Medical Center, moved to Michigan – and took home a first-place national research award in the Associates Research Poster category of the 2011 American College of Physicians-Internal Medicine meeting in San Diego April 7.

Oh - and his research project also was the first ever to explore the recently identified Interleukin-17 (aka T_H17 or “T-helper 17”) in certain patients with hepatitis C who had a liver transplant – and the first ever to explain how this molecule triggers the immune response to hepatitis C that induces fast disease progression in most of these individuals. The identification of the T_H17 pathway could lead to new treatment options one day.

Two other Hurley physicians coauthored the research poster with Basha: Ghassan Bachuwa MD, director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Hurley, and Huda Elhwairis MD, faculty member in the same program.

The award-winning poster describes a three-arm research study that Basha and his colleagues conducted, examining the role of a pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic T_H17 pathway in recurrent, Hepatitis C-induced allograft fibrosis following orthotopic liver transplantation. The researchers used novel cytology techniques to look at a subset of CD4⁺T cells, which, in turn, were the first ever to be linked to liver transplant patients and disease progression.

The work was funded by a National Institutes of Health grant awarded to Basha’s mentor, T. Mohanakumar PhD, the Jacqueline G. & William Maritz Chair in Immunology and Oncology in the Department of Transplant Surgery at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. The research findings were published in the April 2011 issue of the peer-reviewed American Journal of Transplantation.

Basha, a Grand Blanc resident, joined Hurley Medical Center as a resident physician in July 2011.

“I love Michigan,” he said. “I have many relatives and friends who live here. The first time I visited Michigan was during the summer of 2008, when I spent an entire month at my cousin's place in Novi. I realized that Michigan was a great place to live. … In Flint, you’re within an hour’s drive of almost everything.”

His Hurley program director, Ghassan Bachuwa MD, and other faculty members encourage research, which is one reason Basha said wanted to complete his residency training at Hurley. He also hopes to combine bench research with clinical patient care.

“My objective is to look at medicine from a different perspective,” he said, adding that in the emerging concept of “translational” research, information needs to travel both ways. It should go from bedside to benchside and from benchside to bedside.

“A clinical problem can be effectivelyaddressed by benchside research,” he said. “A more practical way for information to travel from patient’s bedside to the bench would be to encourage bedside physicians to do benchside research.”

In his previous two years as a researcher, Basha has accumulated in-depth experience in many research-related topics, from cytology methodology & validation and NIH grant-writing & reporting to research design, study implementation, data analysis and scholarly writing. He coauthored more than 20 published scholarly papers and abstracts and presented oral and poster studies at national and international conferences, including the 2009 American Society of Transplantation meeting in Florida, for which he received the Young Investigator Travel Award.

Basha, whose parents live in India, said he’s glad to work with Hurley’s encouraging faculty to continue the lessons learned by working with Mohanakumar at Washington University, where he developed a passion for research.

“By learning about how and why clinical conditions progress differently in individuals, an investigator can have a huge impact on science, medicine and the quality of patient lives,” said Basha.

His T_H17 research began with a clinical problem: Why do a significant proportion of liver transplant patients with hepatitis C infection deteriorate many times faster than others?

“In my study, we identified a pathogenic molecule (responsible for adverse health outcomes). … It offers a new drug target for future investigators in this field who can refine it and bring it back to the bedside in the form of treatment,” he said.

Basha graduated with honors from Stanley Medical College, India, in 2007, and in 2008 began work as a postdoctoral research associate in transplantation and cancer immunology at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.

On New Year’s Eve 2010, Basha married Haleema Zarqua Sadath, a bungee-jumping, fun-loving medical student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx. She’ll finish medical school around the same time he finishes his residency training at Hurley, and Basha said his wife just may be ready to swap the sweltering Houston heat for Michigan’s milder summers and more adventurous winters.

As for Basha, he wants to stay in Michigan. But he’d much rather cook up adventurous Thai dishes than, say, go sky-diving.

However, he welcomes the novelty of a yet another new experience this year.

“I’ve been behind closed doors for about 2 years, and it is really nice to work with people again,” he said.

Here's a photo of his winning poster:

Hurley construction on time, on budget, despite rain

jcampe — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:13:21 +0000

(Photo by Nicolas Lecea, from the 6th floor of the west tower, in Hurley Research Center. This easterly view looks across the top of the new ED entrance, with Community Mental Health in the background at right, across Grand Traverse St. Notice the yellow construction vehicle toward the back of the new Dort Park, its wheels mired in mud? Definitely a day for the umbrella ... Local weather forecast: Mid-40s today; more rain every day through Sunday, possibly drier and warmer next week, but no promises.)

Rain, more rain, mud, wind, more rain - and still on target

Despite the soggy, rainy, windy mess of weather conditions the past few weeks in Michigan, Hurley's construction is "on schedule (and) thus far on budget," said Michael Jaggi DO, Chief Medical Officer at Hurley Medical Center.

The new Main Lobby is slated to open sometime in June, he said.

What's next?

"We are really focusing on the imminent work-flow changes and new process design," Jaggi said.

Hurley’s new project includes a greatly expanded and improved Main Lobby and Emergency Department (ED) and Trauma Center, with a drop-off lane in front of the new main adult ED and pediatric ED entrances. It also features a roomy, 9,000-square-foot lobby with increased seating and views of Dort Park (which is being repositioned and relandscaped).

The new rooms and department incorporate significant improvements, including up to a 50% increase in size over existing rooms, private rooms supporting adult and pediatric patients, improved adjacencies and operability, decreased noise levels, and the integration of new technology, such as the EPIC information system.

The new ED takes over the entire main floor of the east wing (the long corridor off the parking garage), then extends out another 25,000 square feet toward Fifth Avenue for a total of 50,000 square feet. The current front of the building will become the back of the building, where ambulance and emergency vehicles will be directed for better traffic flow. The main lobby is being relocated to face Fifth Avenue, which makes the hospital seem more connected to the revitalized downtown. Since Hurley is up on a hill, visitors will have a nice view of downtown Flint.

Background

The $30 million expansion - one of the largest construction projects in Genesee County in recent years - has been in the works for several years. Hurley's ED, with about 50 beds, currently accommodates about 85,000 patients a year, including some of the most seriously injured accident and other trauma victims. As the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, Hurley treats thousands of patients 24/7, 365 days a year, and its heliport provides fast medical care to trauma patients from across the region. The new ED's 72 rooms, more efficient space configuration, and new work flow processes likely will result in shorter ED patient wait times.

What to expect

Construction is expected to be completed in 2012. Flint's weather, on the other hand, is expected to continue to be rainy and windy for the next 3-4 days - hopefully with a good chance of drier days before 2012. While it may be too wet to plant trees in the new Dort Park, we could, perhaps, swim?

For a video update on the project, see story at WJRT, Flint's ABC affiliate:

P.S. The new ED and Trauma Center will be named the Paul F. Reinhart Emergency Trauma Center, after the late Paul F. Reinhart, who devoted his career to advocating for Michigan Medicaid patients and hospitals such as Hurley.

Patient- and Family-Centered Care at Hurley Medical Center: From the coordinator

jcampe — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:22:10 +0000

Now that the first stages of implementation are underway, Karen Lantzy RN MSN NE BC agreed to talk about progress so far. Lantzy is coordinator of the Patient and Family-Centered Care Program at Hurley.

Q. What’s the 2-minute description of the program?
A. Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) was developed more than 10 years ago to address quality and safety concerns in the health care system. We know that close to 100,000 people die each year as a result of medical errors and that the majority of those errors are the result of poor communication. PFCC is a way to improve communication with the patient - and the family members who know the patient best, thereby improving safety and quality. PFCC puts the patient and designated family members on the team with us. In other words, we do everything with the patient and family, rather than for them.

Q. Why did Hurley decide to adopt this model?
A. This model has been slow to take hold because it involves real changes in processes and routines that are often seen as inconvenient, but it is gaining in national momentum. Many states have mandated that their hospitals participate, and PFCC initiatives are increasingly required by (The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO). Consumers of health care are increasingly savvy about safety, quality concerns, medical errors, their own roles as empowered patients – and they are demanding these changes. Market competition could be reason alone, but we all want to do the absolute best for our patients and families. Truly, the best reason is that it is the right thing to do. It is how we would want things to be if we or any members of our families were the patient.

Q. Which parts of the hospital have begun implementation?
A. Implementation first began in the nursing department with white boards at each bedside, safety huddles, bedside shift reports, 5 minutes at the bedside, and person-to-person hand-offs. Hurley established a PFCC Steering Committee to guide implementation hospitalwide for all departments. The most important thing that has been done is to establish the PFCC Partnership Council. This council is primarily made up of patients, family members and members of the community who use Hurley for health care. Family rounds have begun on 7E, PICU, Peds and Women’s Services. These rounds include nursing and the patient/family as active members on the team, so the conversation includes them and invites feedback during the discussion. There will be more in the coming year.

Q. From a resident physician’s perspective, what’s different?
A. Before the PFCC model, there was a traditional structure of teaching rounds, with most of the discussion away from the bedside. The medical staff completed the plan of care, made decisions for the patient and talked about it with them later. Coordination between the various disciplines was incomplete. For example, orders from one specialist may have conflicted with orders from another. One specialist may have said it’s OK to discharge the patient (from his or her perspective), while other may have ordered several days worth of diagnostic testing.

After the PFCC model, the discussion during rounds includes the bedside RN and the patient (and family, if appropriate). The health team asks for patient and family feedback, developing the plan of care with them. Before leaving the room, they review the plan and enter orders right there, in the room, avoiding unnecessary delays and communication lapses. Interestingly, studies have shown that the simple act of sitting down at the bedside and making good eye contact - for less than five minutes - gives the patient the perception that you actually spent much more time with them.

Q. From a patient and family perspective, what’s different?
A. Improved communication. We are listening to them; they can trust us; we are all on the same page. Whether family or advocate, they have access to the patient 24/7. The patient is safe, and we care.

Q. Is this a fast process, or will the transition take several years to completely completely, smoothly operate throughout the institution?
A. This is a very slow process because it requires individual awareness and change. It is not a “do this and you will achieve” kind of thing, and you never really arrive. You just keep on changing to meet the changing needs of your patients. Many hospitals nationwide have been doing this now for over 10 years, and they will tell you that their journey is a continuous one.

Q. What are some of the most common questions you receive when you’re training people on this concept?
A. The most common questions are concerns about HIPAA and concerns that this means there are no rules. I can address this concern with some simple steps that we take with the patient before communicating at the bedside. Also, by reminding everyone that PFCC does not mean that there are no rules, does not excuse bad behavior and never trumps patient safety. Many in the organization still confuse it with customer service and achieving better survey scores rather than improving safety and quality.

Q. Before you took on this project, what did you do?
A. I have been a RN for 35 years with a clinical background in pediatrics, labor and delivery, GYN oncology and medical-surgical. For the past 12 years before coming to Hurley, I was in nursing management of pediatrics and women’s service units.

Q. How long have you been at Hurley, and where have you worked?
A. I have now been at Hurley for 18 months and have worked just about everywhere in my 35-year career. The bulk of my experience has been in southeastern Michigan including the DMC, St John Health System and the Beaumont Hospital system. I did spend a few years in mid-Michigan as a manager at Genesys.

Q. Why did you choose the health field as a career?
A. That is a loaded question for anyone to answer, but I suppose it comes down to the same for just about all of us in this field: the love of people, wanting to help and just making a difference.

Q. What do you do for fun?
A. The most important thing for me is spending quality time with my family. And my 18-month-old grandson – he provides the fun. I love to cook for relaxation, so if I can cook for my family, even better.

Q What’s next for PFCC at Hurley Medical Center?
A. PFCC has a place in every department and every service that touches our patients and families. The challenge is to make it relevant to areas that do not provide patient care. We have just begun talking about it more extensively in new-hire orientation and are looking at how we can advance the concept beyond what is being done on the nursing units. Residents can help by seeking out more information on the topic, by referring patients and/or family members who might be interested in being involved on our Partnership Council, or by contacting me for more information.

Tech Tips: Multiple calendars (and more) with Apple's iPhone

jcampe — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:48:47 +0000

Guest Blog by Mike Worrell

So you’ve got an iPhone, a Gmail account, and multiple Gmail calendars. You’ve set your Gmail account up on your iPhone using the Gmail button – but you only get your main calendar. What gives?

A student came to me recently with just this issue. Here is how to resolve the issue.

Sync multiple Gmail calendars to iPhone

First – set your current Gmail account to inactive on your iPhone. Go to settings, Mail Contacts Calendar, choose your account, and toggle the Account slider to Off.
Now add the account back to the iPhone. (These instructions are available at http://support.google.com/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&topic=14252&answer=138740).
Go back to Mail Contacts Calendar, and tap Add Account. Select Microsoft Exchange. In the e-mail field, enter your email address. Leave the domain field blank. For the username, enter your Google email address and your Google account password as the password. Tap next (choose cancel if the “Unable to verify Certificate” dialog appears). Enter m.google.com in the server field. Tap next. Choose the services you want to sync (Mail, Calendar, and Contacts). Unless you really want to delete all the contacts and calendars on your phone, choose “Keep on my iPhone” when prompted. You’re all set with your new account setup.
Now, open safari on your iPhone and browse to m.google.com/. (Using a Google apps account? Use the button on the bottom of the page.) Choose Sync from your list of choices.
After you log in, choose which calendars you would like to sync and choose save. You should see a message saying your calendar selection was successful.
Now open up your Calendar app and take a look around. You should see all the calendar items from the calendars you chose to sync.

'Push' email to iPhone

Another benefit of this setup is that your Gmail can now be “pushed” to your iPhone. Previously you would have had to wait 5 minutes or more for your mail to show-up. With push, things happen much faster and mail will show up on your iPhone almost instantaneously as it arrives in your Gmail inbox. You can be sure Push is enabled by opening Settings, Mail Calendar Contacts, and selecting Fetch New Data. Toggle the Push slider to On.

Mike Worrell is the network administrator for Michigan State University-Flint Area Medical Education, housed at Hurley Medical Center. MSU-FAME is responsible for the Flint campus of MSU's community-based medical school. Students from the MSU College of Human Medicine complete their final two years of medical school in community campuses, such as Flint. This blog was reprinted with permission from Tech Know Advice from the MSU/FAME “Green Scene” newsletter for students.

Meet next chief resident, Hurley Internal Medicine Program

jcampe — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:29:56 +0000

Mohammed Sharif MD

If you were to look in Dr. Mohammed Sharif's grocery bag, you may find some olive oil, garlic, lemon and thyme. Though far from his family in Jordan, Dr. Sharif found he doesn't have to feel so far away, especially at meal time. So he has begun to cook for himself. He likes Mediterranean food the most. And if he needs to see how something should be prepared, he can always ask his family to demonstrate - via Skype. Read on for more information about one of the new chief residents in Hurley's Internal Medicine program.

Program		Internal Medicine
When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		Sports, swimming, and watching movies.
Favorite food:		Mediterranean food.
Favorite movies, books or music?		My favorite singer is Amr Diab. And best movie is “Training Day,” It’s a great one.
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		It was a big change. New area, different health care system, but it is a very interesting experience
What do you like most about being a physician?		The ability to make patients feel better. And the best moments are when a cure is reached.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		I can’t think of something else!!
Family?		Single. My family is in Jordan, I have 3 brothers and one lovely sister.
Where did you grow up?		I grew up in Jordan, where I completed medical school and joined internal medicine residency currently at Hurley MC!
What do you miss most about home?		I miss my family, and I wish that one day the whole family will meet again as in the old days. Thanks for Skype that connects me with them all the time!
Special talents?		I just started to learn cooking!
Other comments:		It's so nice to join the Hurley family!

Return to Hurley GME Blog page.

Cautionary tale – don’t just ‘take’ photos from the web

jcampe — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Let’s say you’re about to present something about a tricuspid valve, and you want a generic image to go along with your presentation. So you grab a photo or diagram from the web, plop it into your PowerPoint presentation, and you’re good to go, right? Maybe, maybe not.

One web writer found out the hard way that not all web photos are “tagged” with copyright information appropriately. The writer paid $4000 as a result. Click here to read that story.

To be safe, you should consider three things before borrowing an image from the Internet: 1) copyright, 2) royalties and other fees, and 3) purpose of use. And you should follow the guidelines listed below.

Copyright

Many images found on the Internet are copyrighted – that is, their use is protected under U.S. law. It’s sometimes OK to use an image or a limited excerpt from a document that’s copyrighted – if used for purposes of education, research, news reporting, critiquing, etc. But it’s a gray area under the “fair use” section of U.S. copyright law (Title 17), found at http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html. Many images are posted by professional photographers or illustrators who own the rights to their own work – and they’re usually digitally “tagged” with a copyright certificate, though not always. In any case, you should request permission to use the image, usually obtained by emailing the owner of the copyright.

Other images are public domain or free source – and many, such as some found on Wikipedia– specify the conditions in which they may be used. Often, the purposes are the same listed in the Fair Use section of the copyright law, listed above, as well as stipulations that the image can’t be substantially altered. Some historical photos and other images are in the public domain, and no copyright law applies. In these cases, it’s usually OK to use the image as long as you list the source (name of organization and the website where you found it). Academicians are usually happy to share images or diagrams they’ve created – as long as you obtain permission and cite them appropriately.

Royalties and other fees

Many images on the Internet are owned by photographers and illustrators who make their living by selling the images. To use these images, sometimes you’ll pay a one-time fee to the artist or an aggregator of such images, such as a photo or artwork service. Other times, you may have a one-time fee and also “royalties,” or payments to the owner, usually based on a percentage of income earned from the use of the image. Finally, you may acquire the image for free, but you still may have to pay a royalty fee when you use it. It can be complicated. Usually this type of image includes words across the top, such as “preview,” to prevent you from copying it without paying for it. If you want this type of image, it’s typically very easy to buy it online and avoid complications later.

Purpose of use

As mentioned in the copyright section, if you’re planning to use an image solely for teaching or research purposes, you probably don’t have to worry about copyright. But what if your presentation wins an award, and you’re asked to take your show on the road and present to, say, medical professionals around the state? And you’re PAID to do it. Your purpose then becomes commercial because you’d be making money using that image. In this case, make sure your presentation includes the source of your image – and make sure you have permission to use it for your purpose.

Guidelines

Cite the source of photo or illustration. (Usually list the organization or artist’s name, plus the website where you found the image.)
Consider buying the image. You can often purchase appropriate images for $5-$10 from photo and image websites. (See sources, below). And you will have covered the other guidelines.
Write for permission to use, if applicable – and keep it with your presentation documents. Usually, a quick email approval is all you need.
Medical education includes scholarly activity, which has a set of ethics that strives to protect intellectual property rights, including the ownership of images. Be sure to model the ethics that go with your profession.

Public domain image resources

At the bottom of the Wikipedia public domain image web page are clickable links to public domain image sources. Or try some of these common fee-for-image websites below.

Atanga Peace Project - In Flint

jcampe — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:00:22 +0000

Some of you may remember Bernadette Atanga MD, who graduated from Hurley's Combined Medicine-Pediatrics residency program a few years ago. Yes, she's still practicing medicine. And, yes, she still records 15-minute radio talks in Flint about health issues, to be aired for educational purposes in her native country of Cameroon. Now, as part of the Atanga Peace Project, she's working to make things better for women, children and others in West Africa. The University of Michigan-Flint is cosponsoring two events as part of this effort:

Community Forum, 5-7 p.m. Tues., March 29: In the Tuscola Room of the William S. White Building at UM-Flint, students, faculty and members of the public can learn how to take part in women and gender issues and projects related to mental and physical health, conflict resolution, peace studies and cultural diversity. (Refreshments will be served.)

Welcome Reception for Fon Fobuzi, 4-5:30 p.m. Wed., March 30: In the Park Place Room, North Bank Center at UM-Flint, students, faculty and members of the public can meet His Royal Highness, who also serves as the Atanga Peace Project Ambassador for Women's Issues. Find out how to engage in intervention and education projects in West Africa. (Refreshments will be served.)

Check back in the future for more information about Dr. Atanga and her favorite projects.

Return to Hurley GME Blog page.

News for and about Hurley physicians

jcampe — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:19:40 +0000

Hurley's March 2011 Physician Connection (a newsletter for physicians) was posted online. It invites physicians (including resident physicians) to Hurley's National Doctor's Day celebration Wednesday, March 30, beginning with a 7-10 a.m. breakfast and health screenings in Merliss Brown Auditorium. The day also includes cake and punch at 11:30 a.m. in Hurley's Physician Lounge. Other topics include:

EPIC update. Describes Hurley's implementation of EPIC (an integrated electronic medical records and real-time electronic health care system) and advises on choosing an electronic medical records system for physicians' own offices.
BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions). Pilot program at Hurley designed to reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days at Hurley. Targets transition of care, with an emphasis on discharged patients visiting their primary care physicians within 7 days of discharge. (Evidence shows readmission rates decrease with this step alone.)
Patient- and Family-Centered Care update. New council accepting patients and family members to join council to help improve Hurley through this program.
Hurley Community Garden, honored for beautification efforts in county.
Hurley's "Go Red" event at Genesee Valley Mall.
New or expanded Hurley services: New full-time pediatric surgeon; new 24-hr MRI; longer hours for OB ultrasound and ostomy wound care clinic.
WIOG Radiothon, "WIOG Cares for Kids," raises $71,154 in pledges for Hurley's Children's Miracle Network.
Hurley's new GME Blog, targets graduate medical education readers.
Hurley physician news:
- Nuzhat J. Ali MD, Hurley pediatrician, named consultant for Michigan Department of Community Health.
- Ahmad Kaddurah MD, director of Hurley's Pediatric Neurology, named pediatric sleep specialist at Hurley's Sleep Diagnostic Center.
- Paul Musson MD and Ghassan Bachuwa MD, first scheduled speakers for Hurley's new, free health series at the Flint Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley St., Flint. Next session: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2011, with Sean Wilson MD on "Nonoperative Treatments for Hip and Knee Arthritis, Joint Replacement Surgery - and is it right for you?"
- Robert Soderstrom MD, photographed exercising at Hurley Health and Fitness Center. An article describes how physicians can boost or maintain their own physical fitness.
- Syed Aftim Karim MD, Rizwan Danish MD and Qazi Azher MD, authored article published in peer-reviewed journal (and already featured in this blog).
- Faisal Mawri MD (former Hurley resident), "Never Shake Your Baby" educational video available (featured in this blog), based on "Shaken Baby Syndrome" project begun during his residency in Hurley's Pediatrics graduate medical education program.

The publication also includes a "mark your calendar" section with dates for interesting events.

Return to Hurley GME Blog page.

Dr. Raju's Mayo Clinic course scholarship also benefits colleagues

jcampe — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:09:09 +0000

Dr. Sushma Bangalore Raju’s hard work and studious habits have paid off – for herself and her colleagues.

The second-year Hurley Internal Medicine resident has earned a $1200 scholarship to attend the 20^thAnnual Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review Course, July 14-19, 2011, in Rochester, Minnesota. Ten resident physicians nationwide were selected to receive the scholarship.

As a result of the honor, Mayo Clinic also will also send Raju’s program director, Dr. Ghassan Bachuwa of Internal Medicine, a DVD set of the 2011 Internal Medicine Board Review lectures. The DVDs can be used to help other residents prepare for the board certification exam. According to Mayo Clinic faculty, resident physicians who review and discuss exam topics together have better exam outcomes.

The course prepares participants to take the 2011 American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification and Maintenance of Certification Examinations. The course also provides a comprehensive overview of all areas in internal medicine for practicing physicians.

The scholarship covers the registration fee, which includes tuition, electronic course syllabus, Question and Answer Book, 9th Ed. Internal Medicine Review textbook, Internal Medicine images on CD, simulated board question-and-answer sessions, continental breakfasts, lunches, break refreshments, and a welcome reception.

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Meet the next chief resident, Hurley Internal Medicine Program

jcampe — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:28:50 +0000

Rajaie Namas MD

Some of Dr. Namas' colleagues might think that his bedtime reading is only from a statistics book. But don't let his interest in research fool you. This upcoming chief resident for Hurley's Internal Medicine Residency Training Program might also know a thing or two about Dickens, the automobile, and ... Pomeranians?

Program		Internal Medicine
When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		I enjoy swimming, going out with friends and traveling.
Favorite food:		Italian, Indian and Middle Eastern. I really enjoy vegetarian dishes.
Favorite movies, books or music?		Great Expectations, When Harry Met Sally. Science fiction. Pop music.
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		It was nicer than I expected, a multicultural community. The weather is one thing I didn't expect (not a fan of snow) but getting used to it and enjoying winter games.
What do you like most about being a physician?		Making people feel better and heal their pain. I like to listen to them because I feel that 50 percent of the time, the patients need someone to talk with about their concerns.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		A lawyer to defend people's civil liberties.
Family?		In a relationship with a pretty lawyer ;)
Where did you grow up?		I was born in Tripoli, Libya.
What do you miss most about home?		My mom, food and smell. And I want to thank my family for what I am in now.
Special talents?		Great cook
People might not know that I:		Love cars, and I love my girlfriend's Pomeranian.
Other comments:		Love Hurley

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Meet the next chief resident, Hurley Internal Medicine Program

jcampe — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:55:20 +0000

Sushma Bangalore Raju MD

Dr. Raju is known for her academic excellence, good organization and her Indian food. She also likes to spend time with her preschool-age son - and her husband, of course. She begins her term as chief resident for Internal Medicine in July. What are her favorite movies? Read on ...

Program		Internal Medicine
When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		Enjoy spending time with my family.
Favorite food:		Indian, Thai
Favorite movies, books or music?		Pretty Woman, Cast Away and many more ...
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		No big surprises so far!
What do you like most about being a physician?		Enjoy spending time with patients and their families.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		Probably homemaker.
Family?		I am married. My husband is a doctor, too. I have a 4-year-old son. Most of my friends and family are in this region. I have had some good times over here.
Where did you grow up?		Grew up in India, did my medical schooling in India. Worked in the UK before moving here.
What do you miss most about home?		Family and good Indian food, although I try to cook most of the time.

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Settling a 60-year-old debt

jcampe — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:28:29 +0000

On March 8, 2011, Bob Brown traveled 540 miles to Hurley from Dexter, Missouri, to settle a 60-year-old debt. In 1951, his wife delivered twins at Hurley. The Browns had only enough money - $5 - to pay for the deliverly of one child, since they did not expect twins. The debt has weighed on Brown all these years. It was the only bill he never paid, and he wanted a clear conscience.

So Brown drove two days to reach Hurley, with his 60-year-old twins, Garry and Larry Brown.This photo was taken at the cashier’s window, where they received a receipt and a warm Hurley welcome.

Hurley has a long history of providing care to those who need it most, regardless of ability to pay.

(This story was originally posted on Hurley's Facebook page.)

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Meet the next chief resident, Hurley Pediatrics Program

jcampe — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:23:25 +0000

Irmgard (Philipowitz) Tackie MD

Dr. Tackie can be found in the Pediatric clinic, on the Pediatric floors, talking with colleagues - or shopping for exotic vegetables? Read on to find out more about Dr. Tackie. She begins her term as chief resident for Pediatrics on July 1, 2011.

ABOUT THE CHIEF

Program		Pediatrics
When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		I like to cook, read and make beaded jewelery.
Favorite food:		I love Ghanaian food, especially fufu and light soup. I like trying new and exotic foods.
Favorite movies, books or music?		I love books by Patricia Cornwell. When it comes to my favorite singers, the list includes Barry White, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Marc Anthony and Ghanaian singers like Ofori Amponsah and Kwadwo Antwi.
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		I used to call it "ward", now I call it "floor"; "corridor" is "hallway"; "petrol" is "gas ...”
What do you like most about being a physician?		Knowing I can make a difference in a child's life.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		I would like to own a shop that specialized in baby products.
Family?		Married - Home is where the husband is ... San Diego.
Where did you grow up?		It was fun growing up in Ghana.
What do you miss most about home?		I miss my family and think the guys who developed Skype should all be made saints!!!
Special talent:		I can sing but will never be able to draw to save myself.
Pets:		I love rabbits, and if I get my husband an aquarium, he might not mind too much if I brought home a rabbit ... or two ... or three ...

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Facial palsy associated with Legionnaires: Rare case published by Hurley physicians

jcampe — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:47:48 +0000

When 3 Hurley physicians treated a patient with facial palsy associated with Legionnaires’ disease, it was a first. After searching the medical literature published worldwide, they found just two cases, each different from Hurley’s case in substantial ways.

They describe their case in Case Report: Legionnaires’ Disease with Facial Nerve Palsy, which appeared in the peer-reviewed online journal, Case Reports in Medicine (Vol. 2011, 2011), published by Hindawi Publishing Corp, available at: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2011/916859/.

Two resident physicians wrote the paper with Eyassu Habte-Gabr MD, director of Infectious Diseases at Hurley Medical Center and a faculty member of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Shailesh R. Basani MD and Salwa Mohamed Ahmed MD were first and second authors, respectively. Both were resident physicians in the Internal Medicine Program at Hurley at the time they investigated and wrote up the case. The Xray of the lungs, above, shows bilateral infiltrates caused by Legionella pneumophilia.

As excerpted from their paper:

Legionnaires’ disease was described initially in 1976 among delegates of American Legion Convention in Philadelphia [1]. It is primarily a pneumonic process caused by Legionella pneumophilia, a gram-negative aerobic bacillus, but also has multiple-system involvement. Neurological manifestations are well recognized and may develop in 40%–50% of patients [2]. The most common manifestation is encephalopathy, suggesting a generalized brain dysfunction, but focal neurological manifestations -- such as brainstem dysfunction, cranial nerve dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy -- have also been reported as rare occurrence [3, 4]. Reports of isolated cranial nerve involvement were of 3rd nerve, 6th nerve, and 7th nerve dysfunction. This paper describes a patient with Legionella pneumonia associated with cerebellar dysfunction and unilateral facial nerve weakness.

According to the authors, the case is important to point out because the neurological deficit itself could help to diagnose Legionnaire’s disease, as opposed to other causes of pneumonia, leading to an earlier, more effective treatment for patients.

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Outstanding Resident Educators

jcampe — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:48:37 +0000

Medical students who train in the Flint area - including Hurley Medical Center - named three Hurley resident physicians as top teachers.

Ahmed Akl MD (from left, at top) and Thalia Pachiyannakis MD, both of Ob/Gyn, and Binay Kumar MD of Internal Medicine received the 2011 “Outstanding Resident Educators” award for the Flint Campus of the College of Human Medicine (CHM) at Michigan State University (MSU).

This award is given annually by each graduating class of medical students to residents who, in the students' opinion, have demonstrated excellence in teaching and an enthusiastic commitment to student education.

Kathleen Assiff MA announced the awards on March 11, 2011. Assiff is director of Student Programs and community administrator for the Flint Campus of MSU CHM.

(The Flint MSU students also selected Robert Kinzinger MD (at right), an orthopedic surgery resident who is often seen in Hurley's orthopedic clinic, emergency department, and operating rooms, as an award recipient.)

Meet next chief resident, Hurley Obstetrics and Gynecology Program

jcampe — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:32:25 +0000

Cecily Anne Clark-Ganheart MD

Dr. Ganheart's term as chief resident in OB-Gyn begins July 1, 2011. Many of you probably know her for her clinical excellence and hard work ethic. But here are a few things you may not know:

ABOUT THE CHIEF

When you're not working, what do you do for fun?		Enjoy my family and new son, Michael!
Favorite food:		Tomatoes!
Favorite movies, books or music?		Movie:The Land Before Time; Book: The Giving Tree; Music: Whatever is on the radio
What was your biggest surprise about your residency training?		How nice and wonderful our program director (John Hebert MD) is!
What do you like most about being a physician?		The fact that our patients entrust in us their most precious possession, their health.
If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be?		A recording artist or an actress.
Family?		Married, with a new baby boy, and two cats
Where did you grow up?		Battle Creek, MI
What do you miss most about home?		My parents' cooking! Sorry, Flint, there is no substitute!
Special talent:		I am an avid MSU Spartan Fan! It takes skill to be a Spartan!
Favorite restaurant:		The best Place to eat in Flint is Sagano's!
Other comments?		Welcome to Hurley!

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Survey: What's your favorite winter boot?

jcampe — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:42:12 +0000

It's March in Michigan, but winter isn't over yet. Look for signs of spring, such as snowdrops (small, white flowers, peeking up from the snow) - and winter boot sales at nearby stores, so you can buy for next year. What's your favorite winter boot? Tell us your opinion - and then see how you compare to other responses. (Don't forget to check back for polling results.) Click here to take the quick, 3-question survey: What is your favorite winter boot?

(Snowdrops photo courtesy of Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson of Iowa, who writes a blog about gardening and other topics.)

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New interim VP for Hurley Operations

jcampe — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:22:24 +0000

“Melany (Gavulic) is simply the best administrator I’ve ever worked with.”

Brian Nolan MD
2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Recipient, during award ceremony March 8, 2011

On March 9, 2011, Hurley President and CEO Patrick Wardell announced that Melany Gavulic, Vice President for Procedural and Ambulatory Services, would assume the role of Interim Senior Vice President for Operations. She replaces Jamal Ghani, who had served as Senior Vice President for Operations for four years and who resigned effective Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Beth Brophy, Senior Finance Administrator for Patient Care Services Business Operations, is to take over project management of the Hurley Emergency Department project.

In a statement to Hurley employes, Wardell said that Ghani "played leadership roles in our financial turnaround, the new emergency department project, EPIC project, our 'White Glove' campaign and the introduction of the Six Sigma process improvement technique."

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Preemie rises to prime time

jcampe — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:01:54 +0000

Dr. Nolan “wouldn’t recognize me today.”

Alexander Ray, 13, born in with medical conditions that required a transfer to Hurley Medical Center and several readmissions and procedures, including the removal of part of his lung. The young musician and athlete sang an original song, “You saved me from myself,” to Dr. Nolan during the 2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Ceremony for Brian Nolan MD. A video played in the background, showing family photos of Alexander in Hurley's incubator as a preemie, then growing up and playing basketball and baseball, swimming, playing his guitar and singing. The performance moved many audience members to tears.

Read more about him in the Hurley Graduate Medical Education Facebook pages.

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Pipes for the procession

jcampe — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:33:57 +0000

"Everybody's gotta have a hobby."

Lynn Lebeck CRNA PhD
Administrative Director of Anesthesia Services, Hurley
Director of the Master of Science in Anesthesia Program at University of Michigan-Flint
Department of Health Sciences and Administration in the School of Health Professions and Studies, on playing the bagpipes during the 2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Ceremony for Dr. Brian Nolan on March 8, 2011

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Notable quotes from the Hurley Pinnacle Award Ceremony

jcampe — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:04:20 +0000

“My father had never heard of Flint. He said, ‘You’ll get mugged in New York. Go to Flint.’”
Brian Nolan MD
2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Recipient

Brian Nolan MD received the 2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award, the highest honor for physicians at Hurley Medical Center, on March 8, 2011. Articles about his accomplishments appear in internal newsletters and external newspaper articles. See bottom of blog for some of his titles and certifications. Here are some excerpts from today’s award ceremony.

Notable quotes from the 2011 Pinnacle Award ceremony today:

“It’s not easy to rise to the position of chief of staff. I lost the election to Brian Nolan.”
AppaRao Mukkamala MD
Chair, Hurley Board of Managers

“This is one of the first times he’s in a suit, and I’m in scrubs. You look good, Brian.”
F. Michael Jaggi DO
Chief Medical Officer, Hurley, on the fact that Dr. Nolan seems always to be working

“He’s a perfect 10 on (the) Richter Scale.”
Aftab Aftab MD
Chair of Pediatrics Department

“We’ve always been on the same page, or at least the same chapter within a few pages of each other.”
Aftab Aftab MD
Chair of Pediatrics Department

“I asked Michelle, ‘What’s the secret to your long marriage?’ and she said, ‘Ear plugs.’”
Aftab Aftab MD
Chair of Pediatrics Department

“I learned from him how to give compassionate care at the bedside.”
Mahesh Sharman MD
Dr. Nolan’s PICU practice partner

“Forget Bieber. I have Nolan fever.”
Bright green sign held by Brian Nolan Fan Club member

“What else is there to say? Don’t you all want to be Dr. Nolan?”
Patrick Wardell
President & CEO of Hurley Medical Center

“What’s our personality? Who are we as an institution? … Anyone who knows Brian knows the answer.”
Patrick Wardell
President & CEO of Hurley Medical Center

“It was 103 years ago that Mr. Hurley passed away. Although he came from Liverpool, … he was Irish. It’s taken 103 years for an Irishman to get the Pinnacle Award.”
Patrick Wardell
President & CEO of Hurley Medical Center

“… I’ll even go so far as to say Administration.”
Brian Nolan MD
2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Recipient, on the many other people who deserve the award, including nurses, doctors and …

“My home is PICU and Pediatrics, and the nurses are the backbone.”
Brian Nolan MD
2011 Hurley Pinnacle Award Recipient

Dr. Nolan’s titles include:

Clinical Director of Pediatrics, Hurley
Association Professor of Pediatrics, MSU College of Human Medicine
Director of Pediatric Critical Care, Hurley
Former Chief of Staff, Hurley

He’s board-certified in:

Pediatrics
Pediatrics Critical Care
Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine
Child Abuse Pediatrics

For more quotes and information from today's ceremony, visit the official Hurley Graduate Medical Education Facebook site.

Or if you are (or were) part of medical education at Hurley, by all means visit the Hurley Medical Education Past and Present Facebook site and read about the inside scoop - or share your own information.

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Hurley’s radiology staff give the inside scoop on new MRI

jcampe — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:33:38 +0000

Hurley employees Dawn Sturk MS, RT(R), RCIS and Todd Williams BA, RT, (R) (CT) (MR) said the hospital's new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wing has many special features. Dawn, administrative director for Hurley's radiologic services, said she planned the space for now and the near future, designing a flexible space with priorities of patient safety, patient ease and comfort, staff maneuverability – and excellent imaging. Todd, the MRI lead technologist, said the MRI wing is equipped to handle nearly anything. For example:

The GE 450W MRI has 2 dockable tables that can be easily removed and replaced. This means:
- One patient can be scanned on one table, while another is prepared in the staging area on the other table.
- Unconscious patients can be brought in and out on one docking table, without holding up waiting patients, who can use the other table.
- Since Hurley is a Level 1 Trauma Center, it often treats the most critically injured patients in the region. The new MRI gives Hurley physicians another diagnostic option, so they can treat injured patient as quickly as possible. Should a patient "crash" during the MRI scan, he or she can be undocked quickly and taken to the staging area outside the MRI room door, where the in-hospital medical experts can administer life-saving measures. Dawn said that, as expected, it's already happened, and they had the patient out of the MRI and into the staging room in seconds, before the hospital’s crash team arrived a few seconds later.

The staging area is equipped with an MRI-safe crash cart; a charting station (i.e., computer) on an articulating, wall-mounted arm, so it can be positioned wherever most convenient for electronic charting in the hospital's new computer-based EPIC system; cupboards; sink & counter; and other wall-mounted tools. It also has other MRI-safe equipment, such as a special IV pole and pump that can go with the patient inside the MRI room because they won't interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI.

Sturk said the MRI setup is perfect for children, who may need sedation to be still enough for quality images to be obtained. First, they arrive at the staging area with a parent, who is by the child's side when sedation is administered. After the imaging, the sedated child is brought back to the staging area, and the parent is invited to sit in a special rocking chair to hold the sleeping child as he or she awakens from sedation. It's very comforting for children, not to mention parents, said Dawn.

For older children - and adults - coming soon is a DVD entertainment system, designed to work with the MRI. It won't interfere with the magnetic field - and it has a special mirror that allows a patient inside the MRI unit to watch the DVD. Calming distractions such as this help people lie still and can reduce fear and anxiety and the occasional case of claustrophobia. And it just plain makes for a better experience for patients.

Since the "bore" (or tunnel) on this particular MRI is so large, most patients don't feel as constrained as they may in smaller MRI units, so Dawn said she expects fewer instances of claustrophobia. Patients report feeling more comfortable. (The unit is faster, cooler and quieter, too.)

Dawn said the wing was designed with older patients in mind, too. That’s why the dedicated entrance is just a few steps from the curb – and valet parking is free for MRI patients. The MRI also has its own waiting room, which is quiet and cozy – and away from other parts of the bustling hospital. So it won’t be as confusing or disorienting for older visitors.

The 24-hour service should be a boon for the community. Working folks especially will like that they can get appointments anytime between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., 7 days per week. There’s no need to miss work or school. On-call MRI staff are available after 11 p.m. for 24-hour emergency service.

Last but not least is the technology, which the radiologists appreciate. The cutting-edge MRI’s lower magnetic field strength can accommodate patients who may have metal parts, such as rods, pins, dental work or a cardiac stent from previous surgeries – which typically prevent them from using MRI technology due to interference with the magnets used by the MRI. Also, this MRI can provide excellent imaging – even of a kidney – without contrast dye, which some patients can’t tolerate.

To schedule a Hurley MRI exam for your patients, call 810-262-9MRI. And tell your patients to say hi to Dawn and Todd.

Check back soon to hear why one resident physician is excited about the new MRI unit. It gives a new dimension to his training as a fourth-year resident in the MSU/FAME Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, a shared education program at Hurley.

Here's the real skinny on the new HMC MRI

jcampe — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:51:52 +0000

OK, Hurley's new large-bore MRI unit really is cool. Not just because it can hold up to 500 pounds and can therefore accommodate a wider range of people, and not because it's the only hospital-based, large-bore GE 450W in the area and features the latest in GE's magnetic resonance technology. The entire MRI wing is cool for unexpected reasons. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I can tell you about them:

The new MRI wing smells good, kind of like a new car smell. And everything is clean and shiny.
It's located on the first floor, not far from Hurley's helipad. If you're driving, you'd pull into the circle drive (leading to Hurley's current main entrance) off of Eighth Avenue near Grand Traverse.
It's easy to enter.
- You could have someone drop you off at the MRI unit's very own entrance door, just steps from the curb.
- Or you can drive forward a few more feet and get FREE valet parking just for MRI patients.
From inside the hospital, the MRI unit can be found adjacent to the ED's Prompt Care Waiting Area, just off the main lobby. (You could get a cup of latte from the Jazzman Cafe in the Main Lobby on your way to visit.)
The new MRI wing has its own waiting room. Nice and quiet and secluded.
The new MRI wing has its own changing room. Solid door (not a curtain), quiet and private.
It offers 24-hour service.
- 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 7 days a week. (Call 810-262-9MRI for an appointment.)
- On call for 3rd shift emergency use 7 days a week. (Call 810-262-9000, and the operator will page MRI staff

Check back soon for the inside scoop from Hurley's radiology staff.

HURLEY ANNOUNCES NEW MRI TECHNOLOGY

jcampe — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:17:17 +0000

Let’s say you’re not sure what’s happening with a patient, and you need a noninvasive way to get answers fast.

Hurley’s new GE 450W magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit could be the answer. Faster than traditional MRI imaging modality, the new MRI is the only hospital-based MRI in the Flint community that provides such fast, safe imaging to help provide excellent patient care. It’s especially helpful for larger patients, who may be over the weight limit for the tables of traditional imaging machines – and may be too large to fit inside some of the diagnostic equipment. Here are a few of the best features:

First, this new MRI’s tunnel (called a “bore” in radiology lingo) is really big – 20 cm larger than other hospital-based MRI units in the region. That means even large patients can comfortably receive potentially life-saving imaging. And that larger opening means that the procedure is more comfortable for ALL patients, from neonates to the elderly.

Second, it’s cooler and quieter than other models, so hopefully the technologist can obtain an excellent scan on the FIRST attempt, rather than rescanning when patients fidget or startle due to noise (not to mention claustrophobia). And patients may find the procedure more comfortable.

Third, the images are superior, with lots of advanced application potential. GE overcame the lower gradient strength that resulted from widening (and effectively raising) the bore. Bottom line: Enhanced vascular imaging – even without contrast medium, which is contraindicated for some conditions or patients. For example, the high-resolution diffusion-weighted brain imaging corrects for susceptibility artifacts and eliminates those due to dental and surgical implants. You can also get a large field of view of the abdomen, resulting in much better care for obese patients. You can even “suppress fat” when you’re scanning, say an abdomen or breast. It also provides two-station spine imaging. Practically speaking, you can get an image of the entire spine – with multiple contrasts – in a short time. Even the kidney can be seen clearly without injection of contrast dye.

Fourth, its removable “Express” table means that patients with limited mobility (e.g., unconscious) can be safely, efficiently moved in and out, without slowing up the MRI process for other waiting patients.

Fifth, it’s located right outside of Hurley’s ED Prompt Care Waiting Area and has its own waiting room and entrance. This location is ideal for outpatients, inpatients and the urgent emergency department patients.

For physicians already in the Flint community, the benefits of the new MRI are obvious. But if you’re hoping to join Hurley’s Transitional Year Residency Program with the plan of entering a radiology residency, this technology is an excellent chance to observe cutting-edge imaging advancements. Other resident physicians, too, can benefit by observing first-hand the gains from fast, safe imaging, which especially benefits some of our larger patients.

To obtain an MRI exam for your patients, call the Hurley MRI Scheduling number at 810-262-9MRI.

This LAVA Flex axial MRI image, taken with a GE 450W MRI similar to Hurley's, shows the same view with four contrasts: water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase. LAVA Flex is a high-resolution volume imaging technique with water and fat separation. LAVA Flex is based on the standard LAVA sequence modified to acquire two echoes at in-phase and out-of-phase echo times within the same breath hold. It generates water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of phase images from a single scan. LAVA Flex improves the visualization of small lesions and makes it possible to reformat the 3D dataset into any slice orientation with a near isotropic resolution. [Photo courtesy of GE; explanation courtesy of Vincent Barrau, MD, an associate radiologist at Centre Cardiologique du Nord (CCN), SaintDenis, and a part-time abdominal radiologistat Hospital Beaujon, Clichy,and Hospital Avicenne, Bobigny, all in France.]

Hurley physicians educate teens about ‘shaken baby syndrome’

jcampe — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:20:50 +0000

Physicians at Hurley Medical Center headed to Flint area high schools recently, armed with life-size baby dolls and educational pamphlets targeting teens. Their aim? To prevent “shaken baby syndrome,” which has been in local news recently in the Flint area. (Click here to see local ABC News story.)

Faisal Mawri MD, a pediatric emergency fellow at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Hurley Medical Center, Flint, has been working on the issue for several years.

In 2008, while Mawri was still in training as a pediatric physician at Hurley Medical Center, he received a $3,000 planning grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics for its Community Access to Child Health (CATCH)program. Mawri's “Never Shake Your Baby” program was one of 22 submissions from a field of 40 to receive funding. The money was used to develop an educational video and distribute free pamphlets for parents and expectant parents in the Flint area to teach them about Shaken Baby Syndrome.

In 2010, he received a $12,000 grant from the Academy’s 2010 CATCH implementation fund. Mawri's proposal, "KISS — Keeping Infants Safe and Secure for Schools," was one of 26 proposals out of a field of 58 selected for the award. This time, the grant money pays for educational materials, informational DVDs about shaken baby syndrome, and distribution to local Flint schools at no cost to the schools or children. The goals of the program are to educate students at 3-5 Flint area high schools about the effects and dangers of shaken baby syndrome and, ultimately, to incorporate the program into the Michigan High School Health Curriculum statewide. To measure effectiveness of the program, the physicians plan to measure the students’ knowledge about the issue prior to the educational sessions, immediately afterward, and again a few months later.

While Mawri was chief pediatric resident physician at Hurley, he worked with babies brought in for shaken baby syndrome, which is one of the leading causes of death in children younger than 12 months old. Mawri said many parents don't realize that shaking a baby can cause major harm, resulting in blindness, paralysis, brain damage – even death. Educating high school students about shaken baby syndrome is an important first step, said Mawri, adding that also needed are basic anger management and childcare skills – before young people become parents and caregivers.

“It’s imperative students learn to deal with the stress that comes with caring for an infant, before it’s too late,” said Mawri.

Also on the implementation and evaluation team are Brian Nolan MD (Hurley director of clinical pediatrics), as well as Rachel Stanley MD and Elaine Pomeranz MD, both of the University of Michigan Emergency Medicine Department at Hurley.

The CATCH planning funds program provides grants for pediatricians to develop innovative, community-based initiatives that increase children's access to medical homes or to specific health services not otherwise available.

Hurley Medical Center (the 443-bed premier public teaching hospital in the heart of Genesee County) is known for its children's services. It's the region's only Level I Trauma Center, burn center and the highest level neonatal intensive care unit available in the region. Hurley also has a pediatric intensive care unit and a pediatric emergency department, in addition to its general pediatric inpatient floor.

Case report by 4 Hurley faculty members published in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery

jcampe — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:34:03 +0000

Congratulations to 4 Hurley physicians whose paper, Glioblastoma multiforme in a patient with a small cell lung cancer: Case report, appears in the January 2011 issue of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Authors are: Khadeejah U. Bari, Rizwan Danish, Qazi Azher, Aftab S. Karim, all on staff at Hurley Medical Center, Flint. Dr. Bari and Dr. Karim are from the Department of Surgery; Dr. Danish is from the Department of Hematology-Oncology; and Dr. Azher is from the Department of Pathology. Each also holds academic appointments from Michigan State University School of Medicine, East Lansing.

The paper discusses a patient who had two primary tumors: in the lung and in the brain. Typically, one might suspect that the lung was the primary site, and the cancer had metastasized, forming a second tumor in the brain - or vice-versa. Or it could have indicated cancer of the central nervous system.

However, in this case, each tumor represented a separate and distinct primary cancer. This was an important finding because treatment for a primary brain tumor is different from treating a metastatic brain tumor. The patient underwent treatment and was doing well at time of publication.

To see the full paper, visit the journal's website at: www.clineu-journal.com.

Source: Glioblastoma multiforme in a patient with a small cell lung cancer: Case report. Khadeejah U. Bari, Rizwan Danish, Qazi Azher, Aftab S. Karim. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - January 2011 (Vol. 113, Issue 1, Pages 78-79, DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2010.08.014)

What does Hurley mean to our 15-county 'community?' Tune in Feb. 24 & 25 to the WIOG Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon and listen to the stories of Hurley children to find out

jcampe — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:31:54 +0000

Where: Over the airwaves, on streaming radio - and live from Hurley Medical Center's West Lobby

Date: Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 and Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

Time: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

Listen Live: Tune into 102.5 FM or listen to streaming radio at www.wiog.com

If you want a sense of what it’s like to work at Hurley – and what it means to people in the community - tune into 102.5 FM 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Thursday and Friday, Feb. 24 and 25, to hear heartwarming stories about many of our miracle children and the amazing doctors, nurses and therapists at Hurley Medical Center. The stories are told during this radio fund-raiser, where listeners are asked to call in with donations to help Hurley’s Children’s Miracle Network.

Children's Miracle Network is a system of 170 hospitals across the United States and Canada that is dedicated to providing the very best care for sick and injured children. Hurley Medical Center has been a member since 1990.

As a Children's Miracle Network hospital, Hurley helps kids with cancer, birth defects, accidents, trauma, and almost any other health issue you can imagine. Hurley provides quality, kid-centered care to every child who needs it, regardless of the family's ability to pay.

Hurley's pediatric services support children and their families throughout a 15-county area as far as Alpena to the north, Mt. Pleasant to the west, the Thumb to the east, and all of Genesee County to the south.

In 2010, the WIOG Radiothon raised $75,184. Donations to the Children's Miracle Network at Hurley are used to purchase specialized equipment, to provide valuable services to people, and for a variety of other purposes including buying toys and cuddly stuffed animals to comfort a sick or anxious child. Every cent collected stays at Hurley.

Here’s an example of how Children’s Miracle Network money was spent recently:

Six month supply of Welcome Packetsfor parents of our patients in the Pediatrics Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, which includes parking pass and food vouchers ($18,000)
Fifteen Infant Bassinets with plastic baskets and mattresses ($15,675)
One year supply of Breast Pump kits so mothers with fragile infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can provide the best nutrition for their babies ($15,283)
Four NeoBlue Phototherapy Lights for the treatment of newborn jaundice ($12,580)
Twenty Cold Light Transilluminators to help locate hard-to-find veins in infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ($1,259)

To donate, visit http://www.hurleyfoundation.org. Or call in your pledge toll-free during the radiothon at 1-866-775-KIDS.

Below is a photo of Terry Lewis, his wife Alicia, and their baby Kaidyn, who was born 11 weeks early Aug. 10, 2010, due to a condition called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which prevented normal growth. He weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces, and measured 12 inches long. His name means "little fighter or warrior," which his mother said fits him perfectly. He and his family came to know the staff in Hurley's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit very well. Hurley, with the only Level III NICU in Genesee County, provides the highest level of critical care for the tiniest patients. By the time Kaidyn went home on Oct. 15, 2010, he weighed 3 pounds, 14 ounces.

Genesee County residents continue to be at high risk for disease

jcampe — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:21:53 +0000

Physicians who train and practice medicine in the Flint area are likely to see higher than average rates of diabetes and related diseases.

Newly released county-level data shows Genesee County residents continue to be at high risk for certain illnesses. According to newly released U.S. Center for Disease Control data from 2008, nearly one-third of Genesee County’s adults (age >20 years) were physically inactive during leisure time, a major risk factor for Type II diabetes. In Michigan, Genesee County’s 29% was second only to its northern neighbor, Saginaw County, in which 29.5% of residents reported physical inactivity. Nationwide, 24.6% of U.S. adults were physically inactive in 2008.

The CDC had previously released other county-level data related to diabetes. For instance, in Genesee County, 10.4% adults had diagnoses of diabetes in 2008, second in the state only to Wayne County’s 11%. However, Genesee County topped the state with its obesity rate of 34.9% in 2008. Next highest was Wayne County, with 33.6% of its residents classified as obese.

Tracking the trends is important in order to help focus health prevention efforts. Physical inactivity and obesity are risk factors for diabetes, which is:

The leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States.
A major cause of heart disease and stroke.
The seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

An estimated 8.3% of U.S. residents of all ages have diabetes. For U.S. residents ages 65 and older, 20.9 million or 26.9% have diabetes.

Data for the study were collected from the Census and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (an ongoing phone survey) in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

SOURCES:

USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2011-02-16-cdcinactivity17_ST_N.htm(Accessed 17-FEB-2011)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet: national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, 2011. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx?StateId=26&mode=PHY (Accessed 17-FEB-2011)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Surveillance System.
Available online at: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDTSTRS/default.aspx. Retrieved 2/17/2011.

Log procedures, duty hours on iPhone

jcampe — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:31:37 +0000

Did you know that resident physicians can now log procedures on their iPhones, using a free New Innovations (NI) application available from the iPhone store? Here’s what can you can do with it:

Sync your data wirelessly with your program’s online database.
Retrieve your latest procedure log information from your current rotation.
See required information in red text.
Use grouping function to narrow your search for a diagnosis or procedure.
Maintain secure data with 128-bit encryption.

Note that you must have a valid NI username and password, have privileges in your program’s Procedure Logger module, and be on an active rotation. (NI is the resident management software used by Hurley Medical Center to comply with accreditation documentation and reporting requirements.)

You can also use the new Duty Hours feature for the following:

Document your work hours using your program’s duty types or assignments.
Include duty/assignment location and log vacation days.
Synchronize data with New Innovations’ online duty hour application.
Maintain secure data with 128-bit encryption.

To obtain the free mobile application for your IPhone, visit the iTunes App Store and search for the NI application, listed as “NI GME.”

Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Program Director receives 2010 Athena Award

jcampe — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:16:55 +0000

Laura Carravallah MD has done it again. The director of the Combined Medicine/Pediatrics residency program at Hurley received more professional honors. The Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded her the 2010 Athena Award, which recognizes women who personify professional excellence, have devoted time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assist other women in realizing their leadership potential. Here’s an excerpt from her nomination form: "She sets a positive example for women working full time, raising a family and demonstrating dynamic leadership. Her excellence is a testament to how much women can achieve.”

Cool 'body browser'

jcampe — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:45:14 +0000

Google’s new Body Browser hasn’t made it out of the Google Labs yet, but you can use the test version to peel back layers of the 3-D human body and explore. You can zoom in and out, rotate, search by medical term and more. As of January 2011, it had only a female figure, and the colors were nothing special, but it’s still an amazing tool. At the moment, it’s compatible only with the following browsers: beta version of the Google Chrome browser, Mozilla Firefox 4 beta or another browser that supports WebGL, which allows for 3-D graphics to be displayed within a browser’s window. Links to those browsers can be found in the Google Body Browser page at: http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/. It’s not a substitute for, say, Gray’s Anatomy (the book – not the TV show!), but it might make a good patient education tool.

$50K grant to help pediatric cancer patients

jcampe — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:16:12 +0000

Children with cancer who live in the outlying areas of Hurley Medical Center’s region soon will have an easier time accessing cutting-edge treatment for their condition.

Hurley received a $50,000 grant Dec. 27, 2010, from the St. Baldrick Foundation, which funds more pediatric cancer research than any other organization in the country, except for the U.S. government. Hurley was one of 25 organizations who received grant funding totaling $1.3 million in 2010.

Susumu Inoue MD, director of Hurley’s Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, is principal investigator for the project, which aims to make it easier for Mid-Michigan families to obtain care for their children with cancer, without leaving the region. The money can be used to help families overcome barriers to treatment, such as travel and accommodation expenses, which can be prohibitive during sometimes lengthy treatment regimens.

However, for some patients, the biggest barrier isn’t expense – it’s lack of knowledge. Many older teens and young adults are treated with adult cancer protocols. However, research data show that the outcome for this group of patients is significantly better if they’re treated with pediatric protocols.

That’s why the grant money also will be used to inform the medical community about Hurley’s oncology services and assistance to families. Hurley is a member of the national Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and generally offers access to about 30 national clinical trials for pediatric oncology treatment. That means that children don’t have to leave the Tri-County region to receive the best care in the nation for their cancer, even if it’s uncommon. Some of the pediatric oncology trials at Hurley include acute lymphoblast leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia and neuroblastoma.

COG is the only pediatric oncology clinical trials group funded by the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Questions? Contact Dr. Inoue at 810-262-6211 or SInoue1@HurleyMC.com. Or contact David K. Swenson, Development Manager, from the Hurley Foundation at 810-262-9503 or DSwenso1@HurleyMC.com.

March 1 deadline to submit abstract for annual research forum

jcampe — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:27:14 +0000

Research: Every year, residents have a chance to practice their research presentation skills at the annual Community Research Forum, led by Michigan State University-Flint Area Medical Education and the three teaching hospitals in Flint, including Hurley. This year, the all-day forum takes place on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at the Holiday Inn-Gateway Centre, Flint, MI. (Deadline to submit abstracts is: March 1, 2011.) It's a good way to hear about research in the community - and it's a good professional development opportunity for resident physicians. Free and open to the public, attendees can earn CMEs.

Program director honored by peers

jcampe — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:06:10 +0000

Laura Carravallah MD heads up the residency training program of Combined Medicine/Pediatrics and is highly esteemed by her peers. If you land a residency at Hurley, may work with her. Carravallah was awarded the 2010 Hurley Pinnacle Award (Hurley Medical Center’s highest physician honor) for her years of dedication to Hurley, its residents and colleagues; for her clinical excellence; and for her modeling the role that physicians should strive to adopt. Bottom line: Residents learn top clinical skills from her and develop into fine physicians with her example.

Hurley's GME Blog

jcampe — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:56:58 +0000

Welcome to the new blog in Graduate Medical Education at Hurley Medical Center. Visit often to find out behind-the-scenes information, such as:

(Click here to read more Blog entries.)

What’s it really like to work at Hurley?
What are the faculty members like? Can I get guidance and mentoring to help me reach my professional goals?
How can I find quick and easy “tech tips” to make sure I’m up to speed with computers and gadgets?
Where do resident physicians like to eat, shop and hang out?
What are the chief residents like?
What’s special about Hurley? About Flint? About Genesee County? About Michigan?
What do newcomers need to know about the weather, transportation, housing, and food?
What is the Flint community like?

My name is Julie Campe, and I'll serve as your guide, with frequent guest perspectives. I've worked at Hurley Medical Center for more than 15 years, first in the Hurley Research Center and now in the Graduate Medical Education Department. One of the most exciting events at the moment is the ongoing construction of the expansion of the medical center. Here's an artist's rendering of what it might look like when it's finished in 2012:

Get the whole scoop about the project here.

Click here to read more blog entries about the people and happenings at Hurley.

Back to top

Blogs

February physician newsletter posted online

Another view of the MSU Flint Campus expansion

Neonatologist's presentations accepted at national meetings

Can a type of stem cell serve as a biomarker for severe retinopathy of prematurity in very low birthweight babies?

Michigan State University expands medical school, public health graduate program in Flint

Time to wear green & white?

Residents may gain more teaching, mentoring experience as more Spartans join Flint's college town

Medical students double

Public health expands to Flint

$2.8 million from CS Mott Foundation

Students at 2 Flint universities can apply for early acceptance to MSU-CHM

More students in Downtown Flint

Photo of downtown Flint is from the Flint Michigan Facebook page (Profile Album).

Sedentary preschooler topic prompts interview on local ABC-TV affiliate

Safety concerns, academic focus, budget constraints lead to less activity for preschoolers, says Pediatric Residency Program Director

Martin returns from Afghanistan, performs orthopedic surgery as usual at Hurley

Trophy finds new home at Hurley for a year

Med-Peds Program Director appointed to Genesee County Board of Health

5 more years for residency program

Internal Medicine Residency Program earns long accreditation cycle

Physician Agreements - Monthly GME lecture now online

Med-Peds Program Director heads up county medical society

Geriatric training for health professionals (Flint, MI)

Keeping Granny Safe (and Granddad, too)

An interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and care of older adults

The Pediatric Medical Home Model: A Systems Approach - How the Pieces Fit

For more information, contact Mott Children's Health Center at 810-767-5750, EXT. 5299.

More research honors from Johns Hopkins

Resident coauthors sepsis review article for critical care journal

'They were on fire'

New Orleans bound, 2012

Veeramreddy, Veerapaneni, Sanikommu - and Sharif take top prize in statewide competition

'Dr. Padmaja Veeramreddy was the Chief Button Pusher; Dr. Narendra Veerapaneni spoke for the team, and Dr. Srinivasa Sanikommu's knowledge of medical history helped to sweep that category.'

~Dr. Laura Caravallah

New COO, honors, Indian food and more featured in September Physician Connection

What’s new at Hurley this month? Plenty, apparently. Here are a few topics highlighted in the September issue of Physician Connection, Hurley’s newsletter for physicians:

Comfort Cover Ministry, Hurley Pastoral Care Services

Yarn donations needed to make comfort covers for patients

Back to school with help for good health

Tough times, but families are not alone

Below are pictures of some of the people who attended the Aug. 23 press conference at Hurley Medical Center.

Asthma champion in the making

Group

Average Number of Hospitalizations per Year in Genesee County

Rate per 10,000 People in Genesee County

Rate per 10,000 People in Michigan

Sex*

Male

286

13.2

13.6

Female

486

20.7

19.3

Race*

White

424

12.2

11.1

Black

341

37.1

47.5

Age

0 to 17

263

22.6

22.1

18 and Older

508

15.4

14.1

Total

Characteristic of Asthma Management

County Percent

Michigan Percent

≥ 1 Office Visit for Asthma

58.2%

Average Number of
Hospitalizations per
Year in Genesee
County

Rate per 10,000
People in Genesee
County

Rate per 10,000
People in Michigan