Applause!
Kudos
Health System named a Clinical Center of Excellence in Dermatology
The Jan. 23 issue of Medical Economics launched the first of what will be a regular series: Clinical Centers of Excellence. The University of Michigan Health System was named a Clinical Center of Excellence in Dermatology. The purpose of the series is to recognize hospitals that bring something extra to a specialty, whether through research, patient care or community outreach.
“Doctors who refer patients to university-affiliated dermatology centers naturally expect them to receive the most up-to-date treatment from top physicians,” says senior editor Jeffrey Bendix. “At the University of Michigan’s Department of Dermatology, they get all that, plus something they may not expect: A level of service similar to what guests receive at Ritz-Carlton hotels.”
Centers were selected based on information from key opinion leaders (KOLs) in various specialties and through physician surveys. Medical Economics surveyed readers of Dermatology Times and spoke with dermatology KOLs.
Patient satisfaction scores hit all-time highs
Doug Strong, CEO, U-M Hospitals & Health Centers, announced that, as of January 2009, the UMHS patient satisfaction index is at an all-time high score of 88.2. He attributed this most recent achievement to Health System employees’ commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence.
The patient satisfaction index provides feedback in four major areas: ambulatory care, emergency department, inpatient adult care and inpatient pediatric care. UMHS gets data throughout the year by surveying patients at different points in their experience (outpatient clinic visits, after inpatient discharge, etc.).
The index score of 88.2 has improved consistently since late 2005, when the score was just above 86. This improvement means that more and more patients believe the Health System is providing the highest possible level of care.
Grants awarded for studies in musculoskeletal injury
The U-M Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center has awarded grants to four U-M researchers focused on musculoskeletal health.
Ron Zernicke, M.D., center director, said, “I am pleased to award these grants to clinician-scientists and researchers focused on unlocking some of the mysteries of musculoskeletal injuries. Research in musculoskeletal health is more important than ever—more than 50 percent of all injuries are to the musculoskeletal system and cost our society more than $250 million per year.”
The 2009 center grants were awarded to the following researchers:
Peter Erlich, M.D., M.Sc., associate professor and director of Pediatric Trauma, will complete a study of "Measurement of Maximal Hand-Rail and Hand-Rung Coupling Forces in Children: Effects of Age and Gender."
Richard Hughes, Ph.D., associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, will lead a study on "Optimizing Shoulder Rehabilitation.”
Scott McLean, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, will research “Integrated Structural & Mechanical Contributions to ACL Injury Risk.”
Jon Sekiya, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, will study the "Role of the Acetabulum in Hip Joint Function."
The 2009 Bone & Joint Center grants demonstrate the range of strengths at Michigan—Kinesiology, Orthopedics, Biomedical Engineering—all key in the critical research needed to prevent injury.
Anxiety Disorders Program turns 30
Jan 23 marked a 30th Anniversary Celebration for the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Program within the Department of Psychiatry.
“What makes us most unique is that we have, from our inception 30 years ago, delivered state-of-the-art pharmacological care for anxiety disorders and state-of-the-art psychotherapeutic care,” says James L. Abelson, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychiatry, director, Anxiety Disorders Treatment Program. “That was totally unique 30 years ago and we remain unusual nationally in the way in which we integrate psychiatric and psychologic approaches to studying and treating anxiety.”
Abselson attributes the high demand of the program, both for treatment and training, to the program’s pharmacological and psychotherapeutic care.
Inside View Editorial Advisory Group
Constance Bridges, Office of the Dean, Medical School
Paula Greeno, Office of the EVPMA
Judy Hallberg, S.P.H.R., UMMS Human Resources
Kelly, UMHS Human Resources
Erin Koenigsknecht, UMHS Marketing Communications
Eric Kratochwill, UMHHC Office of the CEO
Allison Krieger, Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Rick Krupinski, Editor, Medicine at Michigan
Alisa Morningstar, UMHS, MFit Health Promotion
Sara Nielsen, Safety Management Services
Tammy Nipper, UMMS Human Resources
Juanita Parry, Nurse Recruitment & Retention
Steve Raymond, UMHHC Leadership & Staff Development
Karen Schlueter, Livonia Health Center
Carole Strong, House Officers Association
Staff
Michael Harrison, chief public relations and marketing officer
Kara Gavin, director of public relations
Beth Johnson, editor and senior writer
Jessica Soulliere, assistant editor
Margarita Bauza, public relations representative
Jennifer Day, senior health care writer
Cathy Mellett, contributing writer
Corrie Feldkamp, contributing writer
Juliet Fuller, photography coordinator
Geoff O’Connor, Web developer
