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News Briefs

Jeffersonians Lobby Washington for Quality Patient Care
Three Jefferson employees who work at the Bodine Center joined a group of 120 radiologic technologists from across the country for an event called "R.T. in D.C." This event, the first-ever lobbying effort by radiologic technologists on Capitol Hill, focused on persuading Congress to enact legislation to improve the quality of the nation’s patient care.

Participating in the event were Betsy Miletta, RT, Registered Radiographer; Bernadette Garofola, MEd RT, Assistant Chief Therapist; and Jennifer Murphy, RT, Registered Radiographer. While in Washington, they met with senators and representatives from New Jersey and Pennsylvania and discussed how quality care could be improved by requiring medical imaging and radiation therapy personnel to meet basic standards.

Jefferson Student Receives Sarnoff Fellowship
James Z. Appel III, Jefferson Medical College Class of 2000, is one of 12 students nationwide to receive a Sarnoff Fellowship for the 1999-2000 school year. Fellows are selected based on their research topics and interest in cardiovascular research. For his research project, Mr. Appel will be paired with a member of the Sarnoff Endowment who will provide guidance during the research year and aid in his overall career development. At Jefferson, Mr. Appel worked with Allan M. Lefer, PhD, Chair and Professor of Physiology, in the Medical Student Summer Research Program.

Mr. Appel is also the recipient of the 1999 Bodine Award, an honor presented by the Office of Scientific Affairs Committee on Research to a junior medical student who excels in laboratory research.

Jefferson Anesthesiologist Named President of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association
Henry Rosenberg, MD, Professor and Residency Director, Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, was named President of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS). Dr. Rosenberg is a founding member of MHAUS and currently serves as the association’s Vice President for Medical Affairs, a position he will continue to hold.

Under Dr. Rosenberg’s leadership, MHAUS will continue to provide information and assistance to professionals caring for malignant hyperthermia (MH) and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) patients. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare inherited condition characterized by a rapid, extreme and often fatal rise in body temperature following the administration of general anesthesia. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a dangerous side effect occasionally seen in patients taking neuroleptic drugs for psychotic symptoms such as paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations.

Jefferson Urologist Wins 1998 Pfizer Scholars in Urology Award
Patrick J. Shenot, MD, Instructor in Urology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, has won the 1998 Pfizer Scholars in Urology Award. Dr. Shenot was nominated for the honor by S. Grant Mulholland, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Urology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University. As part of the honor, Pfizer Inc. is donating a $2,000 grant to Jefferson’s Urology Department in Dr. Shenot’s name.

Richard L. Baron, MD, To Deliver 12th Annual Hodes Lecture
Richard L. Baron, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pittsburgh Physicians, will deliver the 12th annual Philip J. Hodes Lecture of the Department of Radiology on May 4 from 5 to 6 p.m. in Solis-Cohen Auditorium, Jefferson Alumni Hall. Dr. Baron will speak on “Running an Academic Medical Practice As a Business: Should We, Could We?”

Dr. Baron has held faculty appointments in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington in Seattle. Recently he stepped aside as Chairman of the Department of Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to devote full time to his activities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pittsburgh Physicians, the faculty practice plan of that institution.

Dr. Baron’s wide-ranging research interests over the course of his career have focused on numerous aspects of abdominal imaging, with emphasis in recent years on imaging of the liver and biliary tract.

David J. Lansky, PhD,To Deliver 8th Annual Grandon Lecture
David J. Lansky, PhD, President of the Foundation for Accountability (FACCT), will deliver the eighth annual Raymond C. Grandon Lectureship on May 13 from 8 to 10 a.m. in the DePalma Auditorium. Dr. Lansky will speak on “FACCT: The Power of the Purchaser.”The lecture is coordinated each year by the Office of Health Policy, Jefferson Medical College.

Pamela Watson, ScD,RN Elected to AACN Board of Directors
Pamela G. Watson, ScD, RN, Chair of the Department of Nursing in the College of Health Professions at Thomas Jefferson University has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Dr. Watson’s two-year term on the board of the organization that is the national voice for baccalaureate- and graduate-degree nursing education programs began at the conclusion of the Association’s spring annual meeting.

Representing more than 530 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide, AACN’s educational, research, governmental advocacy, data collection, publications, and other programs work to establish quality standards for bachelor’s- and graduate-degree nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate and graduate education, research and practice in nursing – the nation’s largest healthcare profession.

Have Your Hearing, Speech and Language Screened
The Jefferson Hearing Center of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at 925 Chestnut Street will conduct free hearing screenings for employees and their dependents age 5 and older during May in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. To schedule an appointment, call 5-8897.

In addition, the speech, language pathology section of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine will conduct free speech and language screenings for employees and their dependents. To schedule a speech and language screening appointment, call 5-2554.

On Tuesday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., representatives from both departments will distribute information on better speech and hearing in the 11th Street dining area of the Hospital’s Atrium Cafeteria.

S.T.A.R. Tip - Patient Confidentiality
The hospital’s public areas such as elevators and the cafeteria, are filled with people that include staff, patients, family members, sales people and a host of other visitors. Often, these places are where business and socializing are conducted among staff. To continue to uphold our patient’s trust in Jefferson, it is important to remember that patient information is confidential and should only be discussed in private.

It’s not only confidentiality issues that can cause problems. Every hospital employee can undermine the confidence of the public by talking about how short-staffed a department is or by making negative remarks about the hospital, patients or families. Overhearing such conversations makes listeners question the hospital’s quality of care.

So remember when you are on an elevator or in other public areas, avoid discussing patient information and other details that should not be shared with non-employees. Keeping these conversations confidential exhibits our respect for patients’ right to privacy.

Carebridge Helps Employees Find Childcare Services
Arrangements for the care of children are a continuing responsibility for working parents. Studies indicate that 60 percent of working parents have trouble finding childcare arrangements that they feel good about. That’s why Jefferson has an arrangement with Carebridge Corporation, which provides assistance to employees in finding the type of childcare they need. Carebridge Childcare Specialists can assist in finding most types of childcare, including day care centers, before and after school care, family day care homes, back-up care and summer camp.

When you call Carebridge, a professional Child Care Resource Specialist will locate providers that offer the care you need at the price you can afford. Carebridge will help you locate childcare services and providers you may normally have difficulty finding.

Carebridge is a family resource and referral service Jefferson provides cost-free to its employees. Employees can reach Carebridge by calling 1-800-437-0911. Other services available through Carebridge include eldercare assistance, college planning, adoption information, personal financial management, relocation assistance and time management consultation.

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