ER Visits up and Employees Down As Flu Season Takes Its Toll at KUMC
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
13 JANUARY 2000 • VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2 bronchial and respiratory problems, plus just ER visits up and employees down complete fatigue.” as flu season takes its toll at KUMC Jordan advises all KUMC employees to take precautions against getting the flu and spreading it to others. Try to avoid he flu season has hit Kansas City—and “We are seeing more patients with the crowds, wash your hands more often, and T KUMC—with a vengeance this year, as flu than we did last year,” said Debra Jordan, cover your mouth and nose when coughing hardy strains of viruses send increasing RN, BSN, assistant nurse manager in the or sneezing to help contain the spread numbers of area residents to the Emergency Emergency Department. “I think the of viruses. Department and scores of employees to the viruses going around this year are hitting relative comfort of their beds. patients harder and lasting longer than what KU MedWest Breast we’ve seen in the past.” Program opens Jan. 3 The flu has taken its toll Johnson County women now have on employees as well. Several easier access to breast cancer departments throughout the prevention, screening and treatment medical center are working services, thanks to the new Breast with reduced staffs, as Program at KU MedWest. The program, employees are forced to stay an extension of the KU Med Breast home and do battle with the Cancer Program, began offering services raging flu virus. at KU MedWest Jan. 3. KMBZ Radio reporter Bob Bennish interviewed Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Jim Pevehouse, “It just attacked me,” “There is a high demand in our MD, Wednesday on the high number of flu patients KU said Hospital Human community for risk assessment and Med has received this year. Other radio stations, as well as TV stations and The Kansas City Star, have sent Resources Office Specialist prevention consultation,” said Carol reporters to KU Med in recent weeks to see how the Lela Jones. “I went from Fabian, MD, professor of clinical hospital is keeping up with the steady flow of flu sufferers. having a sore throat to getting oncology and director of the Breast At KU Med, more than 500 patients the chills to aching all over. I couldn’t do Cancer Prevention Unit at KU Med. have visited the Emergency Department anything for a week. It was nasty.” “There are a variety of options to with flu symptoms since the week of “It was horrible,” agreed Information decrease breast cancer risk while Christmas. Most victims are children and Resources Office Assistant Abott Durocher, improving one’s overall health and older adults, as well as people with chronic who came down with the bug New Year’s quality of life.” illnesses. A full three out of 10 patients in the Eve and was laid up for four work days plus The new program will allow more ER are there because of the flu. a weekend. “I had a terrible cough and women to access state-of-the-art See KU MedWest, page 6 THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER Welcome our new department chairs Executive Forum Donald Hagen, MD Executive Vice Chancellor University of Kansas Medical Center What better way to welcome the New Year than to acknowledge new We are also pleased about the recruitment of Dr. Barbara Atkinson to department chairs! head the Department of Pathology. I commend Dr. Powell for her efforts This week we have honored Dr. William Gabrielli, who is now in enticing Dr. Atkinson to sample our culture and then bringing her on chairman of Psychiatry. Dr. Gabrielli has served as interim chair during a board. Dr. Atkinson’s noted professionalism, experience and enthusiasm very challenging time and has truly earned the move to the senior position are exactly what are needed. in his department. These are just three examples of the array of opportunities that the You will also see in this issue the announcement of the arrival of new year brings to us . three dynamic leaders who will work with us to Dr. Thomas DuBose, the new chairman of Internal Medicine. The move all entities of KUMC forward. I, of course, will take all of the credit recruitment of Dr. DuBose was a result of the School of Medicine working for the recruitment, although I did none of the work. Our success in these with the Hospital Authority and the KU Endowment Association. All endeavors is due in large part to the actions of the executive dean and her involved wanted to ensure that one of our most vital departments would staff. When I look at the great new faculty and leaders who have come be led by an internationally recognized physician-scientist and leader. We here since I arrived, I have every reason to be optimistic. look forward to the strengthening and expansion of the Internal Medicine Congratulate each of our new leaders and work with them to make Department under his leadership. us all successful. School of Medicine names DuBose, Gabrielli to top department posts The KU School of Medicine has set a positive course for the future Nephrology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and of clinical and psychological education with recent appointments to two medical director for the University Kidney Center, both of Houston. In leadership positions. 1995 he was named vice chairman of the Department of Internal Following a major national search, Thomas DuBose, Jr., MD has Medicine. Dr. DuBose has been an NIH-funded investigator involved in been selected chair of the Department of Medicine and named the new fundamental research and clinical investigation. He has achieved a Peter T. Bohan Professor of Medicine. national and international reputation in the field of acid-base physiology. “I believe we have found, in Dr. DuBose, exactly the right leader for William Gabrielli, MD, PhD, was recently named chair of the the largest department of the medical school,” said Deborah E. Powell, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. MD, School of Medicine executive dean and vice chancellor for Clinical “We owe Dr. Gabrielli much thanks for his leadership as acting chair Affairs. “He is a physician-scientist with not only a deep appreciation for during the last three years,” Dean Powell said. “He has built a strong and academic medicine and medical education, but also a clear and committed respected faculty, and with great effectiveness cultivated collaborative appreciation of the fiscal realities and constraints of the modern health care relationships for the department throughout the medical center, the environment. I think we have identified the best person to lead this community and the state.” department into this new century.” Internationally recognized for his research on familial factors in Since 1991, Dr. DuBose has served as professor of internal medicine addictions and alcoholism, Dr. Gabrielli has been a KUMC faculty and division director for renal diseases and hypertension at the University member since 1983 when he was appointed assistant professor in the of Texas Medical Center, Houston. He was also chief of the Section of Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology. 2 Student Union scholarships Internal medicine group helps students The Student Union Corporation has make informed career path decisions endowed the University of Kansas Medical Center with $50,000 for student scholarships. The endowment will provide six, $1,000 scholarships each year—two each for the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health. All students applying for scholarships at KUMC will automatically be considered for these awards. The Student Union operates the Courtyard Cafe in Orr-Major and the campus bookstores. Front row, left to right: IMSIG officers Sheila Tatpati, Jennifer MacDonald, Matthew Earnest, Webb Mccanse and James Lehman. Back row, left to right: Drs. Financial Aid Day Amy O’Brien-Ladner, Norton Greenberger, Michael Connor and Matthew Marvin. The KUMC Student Wellness Program With so many medical specialties, it This spring, the organization will will sponsor Financial Aid Day on Thursday, can be difficult to decide which one to sponsor a Residency Fair for students Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in Stoland pursue. That’s why the Internal Medicine interested in applying for an internal Lounge. Staff from the Office of Student Student Interest Group (IMSIG) seeks to medicine residency. Financial Aid will be available to answer educate other students about the specialty Amy O’Brien-Ladner, MD, associate questions and provide financial aid forms for of internal medicine, so that students can professor of pulmonary and critical care the upcoming academic year. make informed decisions about their future medicine, is the faculty sponsor for career paths. IMSIG. Officers include Mccanse, chair; The group is made up of KU School of Matthew Earnest, vice chair; Jennifer Medicine students in all four classes who are MacDonald, secretary; Sheila Tatpati, student interested in internal medicine or wish to treasurer; Brandy Bialek, third year learn more about it. “The first major representative; Michelle Yoon, second NEWS decision a medical student must make is year representative and James Lehman, between medicine and surgery,” said first year representative. Internal Women and mental health Webb Mccanse, IMSIG chairperson. “Often, Medicine Chief Residents Michael Students for Women’s Wellness will their exposure to these fields is limited to Connor, MD, Matthew Harms, MD, and sponsor a seminar entitled “Women’s their third year clinical rotations. The Matthew Marvin, MD, also help facilitate Issues in Mental Health” on Wednesday, IMSIG was started to provide information to the group. Jan. 19, noon-1 p.m. in Lied Auditorium. students during their first and second years.” The next IMSIG meeting will be Annette Stanton, PhD, professor of IMSIG meets monthly to discuss a at noon on Monday, Jan.