MUSC, Catalyst

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December 9, 2011 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 30, No. 17 Holiday Lights MUSC doctor takes strong advocacy stance in D.C. Hoping to shed more light on the causes behind drug shortages that are having a critical impact on the delivery of quality health care, an MUSC physician delivered testimony in Washingon, D.C., to prompt legislative action. Between 2005 and 2010, the number of prescription drug shortages nearly tripled in the United States, according to the written testimony of Michelle Hudspeth, M.D., the division director of pediatric hematology and oncology. “The current situation is nothing short of a massive national emergency,” she said. To read more of her testimony that was highlighted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, visit http:// tinyurl.com/7xta8rv. To see a video on the hearing and the “Drug Shortage Crisis: Lives are in the Balance,” visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9MQhUBkG80. Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) sent out his weekly email to his constituents Dec. 1. He focused on the hearing and Hudspeth’s testimony. To see the House committee documents: http://tinyurl. com/7rkeqnr. Hudspeth said she believes in being proactive. “Let's hope we can be part of turning this terrible situation around.” Dr. Michelle Hudspeth testifies at a hearing Nov. 30 in Washington, D.C. MUSC’s Nov. 30 tree lighting ceremony featured a visit from Santa, songs, and a special flashmob dance (pictured above) by Children’s Hospital employees.

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MUSC, Catalyst

Transcript of MUSC, Catalyst

Page 1: MUSC, Catalyst

December 9, 2011 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 30, No. 17

Holiday Lights

MUSC doctor takes strong advocacy stance in D.C.Hoping to shed more light on the causes behind

drug shortages that are having a critical impacton the delivery of quality health care, an MUSCphysician delivered testimony in Washingon, D.C.,to prompt legislative action.

Between 2005 and 2010, the number ofprescription drug shortages nearly tripled in theUnited States, according to the written testimony ofMichelle Hudspeth, M.D., the division director ofpediatric hematology and oncology.

“The current situation is nothing short of amassive national emergency,” she said. To readmore of her testimony that was highlighted by the

American Society of Clinical Oncology, visit http://tinyurl.com/7xta8rv.

To see a video on the hearing and the “DrugShortage Crisis: Lives are in the Balance,” visithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9MQhUBkG80.

Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) sent out hisweekly email to his constituents Dec. 1. He focusedon the hearing and Hudspeth’s testimony. To seethe House committee documents: http://tinyurl.com/7rkeqnr.

Hudspeth said she believes in being proactive.“Let's hope we can be part of turning this terriblesituation around.”

Dr. Michelle Hudspeth testifies at a hearing Nov. 30 inWashington, D.C.

MUSC’s Nov.30 tree lightingceremonyfeatured avisit fromSanta, songs,and a specialflashmob dance(pictured above)by Children’sHospitalemployees.

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2 The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011

The Catalyst is published once a week.Paid adver tisements, which do notrepresent an endorsement by MUSCor the State of South Carolina, arehandled by Island Publications Inc. ,Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St. ,Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or843-958-7490. E-mail: [email protected].

Editorial of ficeMUSC Office of Public Relations135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C,Charleston, SC 29425.843-792-4107Fax: 843-792-6723

Editor: Kim [email protected]

Catalyst staff:Cindy Abole, [email protected] Brazell, [email protected]

Applause ProgramThe following employees received recog-

nition through the Applause Program forgoing the extra mile:

Medical CenterRoss Sherman, Dietetic Srvs; StevenWhite, Patient Transportation; Jacque-line Smith, Women’s Services; TerriMassey, Safety & Security/Volunteer& Guest Srvs; Lane Elsey, Safety & Se-curity/Volunteer & Guest Srvs; Ken-dra Ostrander, Medical Records; DorisThomas, Medical Records; Eric Mathe-son, Family Medicine; Frances Washing-ton, Radiology; Kelly Lewis, Radiology;Alexandra Hyatt, 6W; Misty Kahmke,6W; Rie Reid, 6W; Dottie Weiss, 6W;Rebecca Hank, 6W; Amelia Hoak, 6E;Elaine Sola, 6E; Catherine Gaillard, Ra-diology; Philip Egloff, Retail Pharmacy;Michelle Vareltzis, Radiology; SusanBarnes, Referral Call Center; John Da-vis, Radiology; Kellie Adams, Radiology;Brittni Carnes, Speech Language Pathol-ogy; Holly Drechsler, Otolaryngology;Bonnie Vasenda, HCC; Keisuke Shirai,Hematology/Oncology; KellyLee Lucas,Urology; Melissa Youngblood, GI; Juli-ana Akers, DDSL; Lashunda Laboard,4E; Roberta Whetsell, 7A; Lorena Del-grosso, 7A; Carolyn Zaccardo, 7A; Lau-ren Ruthven, 7A; Carolyn Smith, Di-etetic Srvs; Queen Bowens, RespiratoryTherapy; Elizabeth Lynn, Meduflex; An-gela Choi, Residents OB/GYN; RobertaLockwood, 5W; Terry Moore, Environ-mental Srvs; Laura Haley, PCICU; Lo-ryn Krooner, PCICU; Fletcher Springer,Radiology; Erica Adams, Pathology &Laboratory; Marcye Brown, Radiology;Debra Clontz, Radiology; Anne Brom-ley, MedSurg; Marguerite Cappuccio,Vascular Lab; Mary Washington, Cardi-ology; Juliann Wright, Meduflex; SteveZinna, Environmental Services; MirandaChristy, 7W; Susan Bynum, 6E; CarleyEvans, Speech Pathology; Debra Gor-don, Psychiatry; Shelia Bryant, PatientTransport; Gretchen Rivers, Psychiatry;Lisa Hunninghake, Psychiatry; MaryLane, Psychiatry; Donna Oden, Diag-nostic Microbiology; Michelle Cooper,Peds Hem/Onc; Norma Evans, MedicalRecords; Cherise Pelzer, Medical Re-cords; Mike Snyder, Safety & Security;Artemas Burns, Patient Transport; DeonLadson, Environmental Srvcs; MarquitaMungin, Patient Transport; Ross Sher-man, Dietetic Srvs; Tiombe Plair, Social

MUSC Bone & Joint Center; GeoffreyCormier, University Press; Dustin Hedg-peth, College of Dental Medicine; Chris-topher Merrell and staff, OrthopaedicSurgery; Gale O’Neal, Human Resources;Wally Renne, College of Dental Medi-cine; and Thomas Sadowski, Pharmacy.

University

Work; Erin Bevivino, Adult ED; Rod-ney Tyler, James Island PT/OT; NickBrewer, Adult ED; Gilbert Gilmore,Maintenance; Kelly Keiter, Children’sSrvs; Christina Sweatman, 8W; JohnettaBuncum, 8W; Erica Adams, Pathology& Laboratory; Mary Morgan, SEI; Da-vid Callahan, Engineering & Facilities;Rebecca Ladson, Environmental Srvs;Courtney Magwood, HCC; KimberlyAnderson, Transplant; Shannon Riv-ers, Transplant; Chris Hairfield, Trans-plant; Paul Herndon, Transplant; SylviaChapman-Shrock, Transplant; LibbyWoodward, Women’s Srvs; Sharon An-crum, Venipuncture; Gary Gilkeson,Rheumatology & Immunology; HerbertLove, PAS; Joan Ancrum, Patient Trans-portation; Annie Williams, Pre/Post An-thesia; Tricia Crocker, Pharmacy; KevinLee, OR; Linda Washington, BusinessOps; Cathy Quashie, Women’s Srvs;Reid Marmillion, Respiratory Therapy;Dennis White, Safety & Security/Volun-teer & Guest Srvs; Lucretia Wilson, GI;Wilhelmina Thompson, Pre-Op; DonNelson, GI; Diane Graves, MedSurg;Kate Miccichi, MedSurg; Elizabeth Hen-derson, Venipuncture; Elice Graham,Medical Records; Tanya Thompson, 6E;Elaine Sola, 6E; Lisa Mahoney, Women’sSrvs; Edwin Smith, Rheumatology &Immunology; Deidre Williams, Peri-Anesthesia; Michell Clarke, DDC; BettsBishop, 6W; Eric Matheson, FamilyMedicine; Queen Haynes, Family Medi-cine; Tara Dais, Family Medicine; SusanTilley, Family Medicine; Valerie Weeks,Safety & Security/Volunteer & GuestSrvs; Kalee Smith, 9E; Reginald Harney,Patient Transport; Fred Scruggs, 10W;Julia Morton, 7W; Lamont Brown, Envi-ronmental Srvs; Chenaithea Greene, 8W;John Carson, 10W; Toschua Thomas,10W; Melvena Nelson, EnvironmentalSrvs; Vanessa Mitchell, Medical Records;Cherise Pelzer, Medical Records; ErikaSampson, Newborn-Special Care Nurs-ery; George Simon, Hem/Onco; and Me-lissa Brown, Clinical Effectiveness.

From left: MUSC Vice President for Academic Affairs and ProvostDr. Mark Sothmann; Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla(BUAP) Dental School Dean Dr. Jorge Albicker; MUSC PresidentDr. Ray Greenberg; and College of Dental Medicine Dean Dr. JackSanders renew a scientific cooperation agreement between theschools Nov. 21. The collaboration was initiated in 1999 as part of aneffort supporting craniofacial genetics for both BUAP undergraduateand post graduate students in Puebla, Mexico. Dental faculty taughtcraniofacial genetics courses and reviewed craniofacial disorder casesand diagnoses with students. In turn, the dental school hosted BUAPfaculty and pediatric dentistry residents. This agreement allows bothinstitutions to continue their collaboration in joint activities.

Dental partnership between MUSC, Mexico

Diversity office seeking nominations for Higgins awardsMUSC’s Office of Student Diversity

is accepting nominations for the Earl B.Higgins Awards 2012.

Established to honor a formerdirector of minority affairs, the awardacknowledges persistence and dedicationto positive contributions to diversityenhancement on campus.

Submissions must be receivedby 5 p.m., Feb. 3. The form maybe downloaded from http://

academicdepartments.musc.edu/diversity/earlbhiggins.html/.

Electronic submissions to [email protected] are recommended. However,packets may also be submitted via faxand mail. Winners will be announcedMarch 2. For information, call WilletteBurnham at 792-2146 or [email protected].

The awards will be presented at areception April 4 at the Wickliffe House.

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The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011 3

Evaluation system to featureintegrated login, web portalBy Cindy aBole

Public Relations

See PorTal on page 10

Changes to E*ValueIntegrated Login

What is happening?A new portal for logging into E*Valueby use of your MUSC NetID.

Why is this happening?Reduce the number of user IDs a personneeds to remember to access systemsthat are important to you.

Who will be affected?Anyone at MUSC who presentlyaccesses E*Value by logging in at thevendor’s homepage, https://www.e-value.net.

Where will this site be located?The dedicated webpage will be foundat https://evalue.musc.edu. Users willlog in to this page using their MUSCNet ID. Although “go-live” for NetID-integrated login begins Feb. 1, interestedusers can try it now at https://evalue.musc.edu and update their bookmarks.

When will this take place?The start date is targeted forWednesday, Feb. 1.

How can questions be answered?There is a FAQ section on the MUSCE*Value portal, https://evalue.musc.edu or individuals may contact theircollege or program’s workplace E*Valuecoordinator.

In the journey to prepare future healthcare professionals, assessment of a

student’s learning experiences andperformances is a valuable part of theeducational experience. Starting Feb. 1the E*Value system will be upgraded tobe more user-friendly.

E*Value allows students to sharetimely, constructive feedback abouttheir classroom and patient experiencesfor required evaluations. For faculty,the system manages monitors andmeasures student performance. Morethan 40 medical and osteopathic medicalcolleges across the U.S. use this healthcare education management system tomonitor institutional effectiveness.

The system upgrade will provide anintegrated login. Using an individual’sNet ID and MNA password, users will beable to access a new internal homepagelinking them to required evaluations,tools, resources and support servicesthat are specific to MUSC. The changesare expected to impact more than 2,500campuswide users specifically students,residents, faculty and evaluationadministrators.

The system is capable of collecting,managing, tracking and analyzinginformation and procedures throughouta timeline to help college administratorsand faculty know that they are ontrack for meeting their program’s corerequirements.

Previously, students, faculty andevaluation administrators logged intoE*Value either automatically throughcoded links in emails or manually byentering a private user ID and passwordat the vendor’s homepage. This createdthe need for each user to remember yetanother set of access codes, accordingto Larry Afrin, M.D., GraduateMedical Education (GME) director ofinformatics, who also is a member of theE*Value Integrated Login Committee.Afrin, who has worked with E*Value

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See CurrenTs on page 10

To Medical Center Employees

W. Stuart SmithVice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director,MUSC Medical Center

People–Fostering employeepride and loyalty

Currents Dec. 6 At the Dec. 6 management communication meeting, Helena Bastian, director ofhuman resources, announced that we will once again roll out the High-Middle-Lowconversations with all employees during January and February with a slight change. Shenoted a recommendation had been made to change the term “middle” to “solid” and themanagement team, following a quick survey, overwhelmingly supported this change. Ms.Bastian explained our definition of “middle performer” has always been “solid reliableworker” but some equated the word “middle” with “mediocre,” which was not the intent.Ms. Bastian stated that relevant forms in the MUSC Excellence toolbox (located on themedical center intranet) will be updated to reflect this change.

High-Solid-Low conversations provide an opportunity for managers to meet withemployees to discuss performance outside of the annual performance evaluation discussion.Conversations should be at least 90 percent positive. High performer conversationsgive managers an opportunity to recognize employees who serve as role models, expressappreciation for their exceptional work and to seek suggestions on how we can improve ourorganization. Solid performer conversations serve to provide positive feedback, discuss one ortwo opportunities for further development, and to express appreciation for a job well done.Low performer conversations, targeting a very small group, are intended to be specific aboutunacceptable behavioral or performance problems, explain how this adversely impacts othersand to provide a time frame for improvement.

As we approach the holiday season and calendar year end, I want to thank everyone foryour dedicated efforts. We kicked off our MUSC Excellence initiative six years ago and wehave continually improved patient service and quality of care over the years. Have a happyand safe holiday season.

Helena Bastian,MUHA HR director,presented thefollowing:q HMLterminologymodification —MUHA is modifyingthe High-Middle-Low performanceterminology to High-Solid- Low. HR willrevise all resources to reflect the change.Leaders will conduct HSL conversationswith staff through the end of February.q Payroll reminders — Christmasholiday payroll processing: 1st Kronosedit; deadline will be 10 a.m. Dec. 20;Final Kronos deadline will be 10 a.m.,Dec. 21; Managers asked to plan aheadto keep payroll for your designatedarea updated as much as possible; ESLMaximum - cut-off date, Dec. 31, plusaccrual ESL; PTO Maximum — Theyearly cut-off date is the pay periodending date that includes the Dec. 31workday; PTO Carryover — An employeehaving more than 360 PTO hours atthe pay period ending Dec. 31, plus theaccrual for that pay period will need toconsider their excess of 360 PTO hoursthat will be deducted. The leave cut offwill be reflected in the Jan. 11 pay date;ESL Carryover — Employees hired priorto July 1, 2000: maximum ESL carryoverinto 2012 is 1,440 hours; employeeshired on or after July 1, 2000: maximumESL carryover into 2012 is 720 hoursq SML Eligibility and accrual methodfor January: Eligible employees musthave 55 hours of accrued ESL by the lastpay of the calendar year. For the purposeof this policy, the last pay period is thepay period which includes the Dec. 31workday, which for 2011, the payrollending date would be Dec. 31 (includesESL accrual for payroll ending Dec. 31);Employees will automatically have up to12 ESL hours transferred to SML, whichwill be reflected in the Jan. 11 pay date;SML balance may not exceed 24 hours(Employees with more than 24 hoursbalance as of Dec. 31 will not be eligibleto transfer additional hours. Balancesexceeding 24 hours will not be decreasedor cut off).q Tuition reimbursement payments:

Final deadline for calendar year tuitionassistance request to payroll departmentwill be Dec. 16, which will be paid onDec. 28 pay date.q Holiday closures: MUHA will beclosed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2; Office ofParking Management and UniversityTransportation Services and CampusMail Services will be closed on Dec. 23,Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.q New hires: Education Verification fornew hires must be completed by Dec. 18:Schools and offices will be closed Dec.18 and Jan. 2; HR will be unable to verifyeducation unless an applicant’s degreeis registered with the National StudentClearinghouse; The National StudentClearinghouse does not verify highschool diplomas and GEDs.q HBI turnover: Kim Duncan, MUHAHRIS manager, shared details aboutthis reporting program. Highlightname: turnover rolling 12 all; populatesdata after 45 days; part of a voluntary,involuntary and total turnover; includesregular and temporary employees; canuse HBI filters to drill down data orexclude categories; and ability to viewdata during a 12-month period.

Benefit of the Month — DecemberMUSC’s Employee Assistance Program

is available to employees who need helphandling health and personal problems.All inquiries are confidential. Call 792-2848 or visit https://www.musc.edu/medcenter/eap.

Wellness updateSusan Johnson, Ph.D., Employee

Wellness Program coordinator, revieweddetails about MUSC’s move to becomea tobacco-free campus March 1. Johnsonreviewed details with the new policy, whoit affects (MUSC students, employees,patients, visitors, volunteers, contractorsand vendors), details leading up to thischange, signage plans and enforcement.MUSC is offering smoking cessationprograms via MUSC Employee Wellness,[email protected]; Institute ofPsychiatry’s CDAP, 792-5200 and MUSCPharmacy, all locations. Additionally,MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D.,Ph.D., is looking into providing sixmonths of free smoking cessation-quitsmoking classes for employees andstudents.

Quality — Providingquality patient care in a safeenvironment

Dave Northrup,OCIO director ofclinical systems, andJohn Kratz, M.D.,co-chair of the EpicAmbulatory EMRImplementationOversightCommittee, gave anupdate about thenew system that will be replacing PracticePartner in May. Northrup related thecommittee’s progress in the hiring of70 part-time trainers who will assistwith training of 2,500 users and superusers (physicians, nursing/clinical andadministrative staff) scheduled fromFebruary to May. He also reviewed thesystem’s patient portal located underthe “MyChart” area, physician charges(requires specific data elements such aschief complaint, coded diagnosis, signedprogress notes, etc.), order entry withauto-interfaces to lab and radiology,abstracting, and progress in introducingthe system with Carolina Family Care.

Epic training of users and super users

consist of mandatory classroom trainingwith test. Users must register for trainingat locations in Mount Pleasant, NorthCharleston and at MUSC. Other userswill receive training via e-Learning orCATTS. Visit http://epic.musc.edu(NetID required if off campus).

Quality website updateJennifer Hooks, Performance

Improvement Department manager,spoke about concept changes in her areaincluding a new emblem-logo featuringfour components symbolizing the cycleof process improvement — Six Sigma,lean, culture change and continuousimprovement. Fiscal year 2011 and2012 YTD highlights included training,improvements with employee satisfactionscores, improvements in quality projects(hand hygiene, patient discharge, etc.),and financial savings totaling $969,691and training opportunities for MUHAstaff growth.

Patient transport updateDave Neff, Ambulatory Care Service

Line administrator, and Tyler Nance,Ambulatory Care Support Services,

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The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011 5

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Page 6: MUSC, Catalyst

6 The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011

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Page 7: MUSC, Catalyst

The Catalyst, December 9, 2011 7

When Adam Kornegay, manager of the ClinicalNeurophysiology Services, came into Rutledge TowerOct. 2, the last thing he expected was to be runningdown the hall for a fire extinguisher.

Kornegay came to work to help administer an MUSC-hosted exam being given by ABRET (American Boardof Registration of Electroencephalographic and EvokedPotential Technologists), the national credentialingboard for the electroneurodiagnostic community.

Ninety-eight people from throughout the countrywere taking the test, including examinees from as faras Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Kornegay said the people“had a lot invested in this examination” between testfees and travel expenses.

Kornegay was sitting in an office speaking with asection leader of the examination when he hearda fire alarm sounding for Rutledge Tower. He wasimmediately confused because he knew no one otherthan examiners and examinees should be in RutledgeTower 6, he said. He got up and began quickly checkingthe halls for the source of the problem. Shortly afterbeginning the search, he saw the smoke bellowing outof the examinee break room.

When he rushed through the door and saw theflames leaping from the counter top to the cabinets, his

adrenaline was pumping. He was playing a major rolein hosting the exam. He felt responsible. “I was in thezone,” he said. “I didn’t even know who else was there.”

Somebody had left the water boiler switched onwith no water in the pot, which caused the heatingmechanism in the water boiler to melt the plastic,catching napkins and tea boxes on fire.

He rushed to the counter, grabbed the napkins andtea boxes, threw them in the sink and turned the wateron. When Kornegay saw that the pot itself was still

flaming very high, he was about to fill a cup of waterto douse it when he noticed the cord on the pot wasmelted.He thought, “Wait, that’s electric. I can’t use water,that’s going to be bad.” Running down the hall toretrieve the closest fire extinguisher, he returned tospray the flames. In all the excitement, Kornegay failedto realize how much smoke from the burning plastiche was inhaling. This, coupled with his asthma and astubbornness to keep doing his job, sent him to thehospital for two days from smoke inhalation.

After the flames were out, the smell of burned plasticencompassed the floor where the test was being given.Kornegay and his team had to move the testing to ahigher floor in Rutledge Tower. ABRET executivedirector Janice Walbert was instrumental in moving theexam upstairs and allowing Kornegay to stay focusedon communicating with the administration, firemen,public safety, environmental services and caterers.Kornegay said that everybody did an amazing jobresuming the test. There were no complaints from theexaminees. Everybody pulled together. “It was almostsurreal how well it worked.”

Two weeks after the fire, his voice was still weak fromthe smoke chemicals. Marjorie Tucker, president ofABRET, praised how well it was handled. Kornegay saidthis is a tribute to the faculty and MUSC facilities thatthings were able to run smoothly for the examinees.

By JeB edwards

Public Relations

MUSC hero answers an unexpected call of duty

Adam Kornegay holds a hot water pot similar tothe one that started the fire in the break room.

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8 The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011

Cummings to launch lung cancer prevention study

An encyclopedia of knowledge on anything youcould ever want to know about the health effects

of smoking and tobacco policy, K. Michael Cummings,Ph.D., knows how to tell it like it is.

Just ask the tobacco industry.Cummings, who joined MUSC in October as a

professor in the Department of Psychiatry & BehavioralSciences, has authored landmark reports for the Officeof the Surgeon General and the National CancerInstitute. In the late 1990s, Cummings scanned andposted online previously-secret tobacco industrydocuments detailing how product design influencessmoking behavior and nicotine addiction. He hasserved as an expert witness against the tobacco industryin prominent legal proceedings, including cases thatresulted in the Master Settlement Agreement.

He has a plaque “tobacco road” on top of a bookcasein his office in the Bioengineering Building, wherehe works as part of Hollings Cancer Center’s CancerPrevention and Control program, leading research ontobacco control, public policy and smoking cessation.

When asked what his vision is for South Carolina, hedetails an impassioned plan.

“We can’t afford tobacco anymore. It’s a luxury. Theodds of dying from smoking — one out of two. Get acoin out and flip it. If you’re a smoker, one out of twowill die prematurely as a result from smoking — notgood odds. Not good odds when you look at yourparents or your sister or siblings, or co-workers who areaddicted to cigarettes.”

More than 440,000 Americans are going to die thisyear from smoking and that number can be multipliedby 20 to compute the number of people seriously illfrom smoking in this country, he said.

As one of the world’s leading authorities on tobaccopolicy, Cummings wants to start changing the statisticsin this state, bending back the mortality curve. Hebrings to bear his 30-year experience from Roswell Park

Cancer Institute in New York where he ran the NewYork state smokers’ quitline, building it up to be thebiggest quitline services in the world serving more thana million callers since opening in 2000. He’s used toworking with rural populations with high smoking ratesand low access to health care.

“The opportunity here to grow a program broughtme here. Tobacco remains a big problem in the South,even though most tobacco used in US cigarettes today isimported from overseas.”

Cummings also is interested in the problemworldwide. He’s involved in studies in 22 countries,tracking the beliefs and attitudes of smokers and non-smokers and the effectiveness of varying policies used totreat smokers. Cummings said the rising smoking ratesinternationally will have a huge impact on public healthwith serious economic repercussions.

“One-third of all cancers are due to smoking. Imagineif we had a vaccine that could prevent one-third ofall cancers. The answer is we do — don’t smoke. If wecould reduce cigarette consumption by 10 percent wecould prevent millions of deaths from cancer over thenext two decades.”

While biomedical research to improve detectionand treatment of cancer is important to do, the mostimmediate benefits for cancer control will come bylowering smoking rates in the population, he said. Itcosts every South Carolina household about $1,000 peryear to cover the health care costs from smoking-relatedillnesses.

“We can’t afford to subsidize tobacco profits anylonger.”

Cummings said Hollings is already doing importantresearch on tobacco and tobacco cessation. Mostof his research at Roswell stemmed from what helearned about addiction from smokers who came tohis cessation classes. He wanted to find out why theywere having such a hard time quitting and developeffective treatment strategies. He’s encouraged by thelatest scientific advances that range from studyingthe effectiveness of combination therapies to thedevelopment of nicotine vaccines that could be used tohelp the body develop an antibody to nicotine.

Cummings’ plans include establishing comprehensivesmoking cessation services available to residentsstatewide and launching a large study combiningsmoking cessation with spiral CT scanning to screenheavy smokers and formerly-heavy smokers for lungcancer. MUSC was part of a large national study bythe National Lung Cancer screening trial that founda 20 percent reduction in mortality from lung cancerbecause low-dose spiral CT screenings led to earlierdetection and treatment.

“Here’s the exact reason you do translationalscience. This is translating the science of imaging andbiomarkers into something that will make a differenceon a population-wide basis. About two-thirds of lungcancers are diagnosed in a late stage where treatmentstypically don’t work well. We’ve got to make a biggerdifference, and we’ve got to do it sooner.”

Cummings’ hope in the next decade in the state is todrop the late-stage detection rate of lung cancer fromtwo-thirds to under a third. This will flip the survivalcurve around so that most of the lung cancers can bemanaged the way most breast cancers are today.

He’ll continue to do what he does best — educatepeople about the dangers of tobacco use so they canmake educated decisions. He has compassion forsmokers.

“They get addicted to the product. The product has

“Imagine if we had a vaccineto prevent one-third of allcancers. The answer is we do— don’t smoke.”

See Cummings on page 9

By dawn Brazell

Public Relations

Dr. K. Michael Cummings

Page 9: MUSC, Catalyst

The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011 9

Employee WellnessThe holiday season is the busiest time of the year,

filled with parties, shopping and celebrations. Althoughconsidered the “most wonderful time of the year” asthe song goes, it can also be the most stressful. Thereare many strategies to combat holiday stress such asexercise, sleep, and proper nutrition, but not everyonethinks of meditation.

Ramita Bonadonna, Ph.D., R.N., psychiatricconsultation liaison nurse, provides an overview ofmeditation and demonstrates the stress-relievingbenefits for dealing with holiday stress.

Meditation is an ancient practice of trainingattention, she said. If one sits still for just a fewmoments and simply focuses attention on the breath,for example, it quickly becomes evident that the mind isa very unruly thing with thoughts jump from one topicto another to another.

There are many different ways to practice meditation,and all cultures and religions have their version. Oneof the most basic is breath awareness: bringing all ofone’s attention to focus on the in and out breath,experiencing the way the body feels as it breathes andreturning to the breath whenever attention strays. Thisis not a process of forcing attention, but gently bringingattention back, over and over again, to the breath.Bonadonna said meditation practice sounds simple, but

it is not easy, so some people wonder why they shouldmake the effort.

“When the mind is preoccupied with events fromthe past, or anticipating the future, we miss the presentmoment, the only moment we have. With practice,we learn to let go of mental distractions and directthe attention to experiencing life, right here and now.When the skill of directing attention is developed, itbecomes possible to find deep satisfaction in the midstof the simplest daily activity.”

Bonadonna encourages everyone to give themselvesthe gift of presence for the holidays by trying outmeditation.

Employee Wellness eventsq Employee Fitness Series: A free Pilates class will beheld from 12:15 - 12:45 p.m., Dec. 13 at the MUSCWellness Center. Participants will receive a free day passto the wellness center. Email [email protected] Lunch & Learn: Sign up for a Holiday StressManagement session from 12:15 - 12:45 p.m., Dec.14, Room 102, Colbert Education Center & Library.Tammy Yarnall, clinical instructor with MUSCEmployee Assistance Program, will discuss strategies fornavigating holiday stress without negative effects. Spaceis limited. Email [email protected].

Sweet DreamSJoe Secondary (left), a registeredpolysomnographic technologist, staffsan informational table hosted by MUSCSleep Disorder Center for a two-day nightshift appreciation and awareness event.The purpose was to provide informationalmaterials on healthy life adjustments forthose who have to cover late shifts. Topicsincluded shift workers syndrome, thesocial and family issues of shift workersand how to improve your health even ifyou work nights. For information on thesetopics, contact the center at 792-9534 or atnight, 792-8506.

a high abuse liability. I think people ought to have freechoice. This is about free choice,” Cummings said,citing research that most smokers would quit if theycould. He likes to educate smokers about what it’s goingto be like to quit, how to prepare for a relapse, and whatit is about cigarettes that makes them so addictive andlethal.

Cummings believes smokers have a right to knowcigarettes are engineered to be inhalable and highlyaddictive. That’s why 85 percent of users today areaddicted, persistent daily users. “You have 15 percent

of people who use alcohol and have an abuse problem.With cigarettes, 85 percent get hooked and typicallystruggle for decades before they quit or get sick. That’swhy cigarettes are such a huge problem. There is noreason that cigarettes have to be designed to make themso hard to quit, except that tobacco companies havechosen to put their profits ahead of the health of theircustomers. This has to change, and it can be changed.”

To see an interview with Cummings, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/prmusc?feature=mhee. To seeMUSC’s tobacco-free campus website, visit http://www.musc.edu/tobaccofree.

Cummings Continued from Page Eight

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Page 10: MUSC, Catalyst

10 The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011

PorTal Continued from Page ThreeE*Value Integrated Login Committee

Marna Stilley, chair, OCIO; Michele Adelson, OCIO;Dr. Lawrence Afrin, GME; Melissa Freeland, CHP;John Imholz, OCIO; Dr. Stephen Malley, DentalMedicine; Alicia Martinez, GME; Mitchelle Morrison,OCIO; and June Taylor, Pharmacy

with GME resident training since 2002, is amongcampuswide educators who have been planning thislogin and portal changes for the past two years.

“Accessing the system by clicking on the coded linksin E*Value’s emails will still work fine, but as of Feb.1, users who need to manually log into E*Value (forexample, to log in duty hours or clinical procedures)will manually log in through the new MUSC E*Valueportal (https://evalue.musc.edu) using their Net ID andpassword,” said Afrin.

“E*Value has served us well. This upgrade willallow users to use their NetID credentials to access acustomized MUSC-based portal through which theycan access evaluations as well as news, training andinformation that’s relevant to our campus.”

With E*Value, evaluations can be customizedto adapt to any college’s specific needs. Evaluationadministrators review responses, disseminate andanalyze data to make recommendations to curriculumchanges or provide other educational improvements.

In addition to facilitating evaluations, the programfeatures other customizable programs and tools thatcan be used to manage information, prepare foraccreditation visits and streamline tasks. For example,the South Carolina College of Pharmacy uses E*Value’soptimization scheduling and site management toolsto help with clinical rotation and preceptor off-sitelocation management and reporting. The College of

Nursing uses its own version of the MyFolio electronicportfolio for data collection using templates andcustomizable data fields. Several colleges are using othertools to improve communications and courseworkmanagement and standardize data collection processes.

Marna Stilley, an information systems analyst withthe Office of the Chief Information Office Director ofEducational Assessment Systems, chairs the integratedlogin committee. She also is a member of the E*Valuesuper user work group, an adhoc work group thatgathers to share best practices, identify and resolvesystemwide issues and optimize efforts using E*Value.

Stilley said one priority was the need to eliminateduplicate accounts from E*Value, which createdconfusion and inefficiency. According to Stilley,the problem should be resolved with the change toNetID-based login, plus improvements to trainingand education among managers, supervisors andcampuswide users. Last year, MUSC renewed itsE*Value contract and expanded its scope so that alltools offered by E*Value are availabile to the MUSCcommunity.

CurrenTs Continued from Page Four

announced that the hospital’s patient transportservice went live as of 7 a.m., Dec. 6. Services areavailable at Rutledge Tower, HCC, UniversityHospital, Children’s Hospital and ART. Hereminded managers there are three ways to requesta patient transport: bed board (inpatient users),the MUHA intranet (use quick links, patienttransport request), and Rutledge Tower clinics(DAL computers-dedicated auto log). Neff thankedMUHA Hospital Patient Transport Services TaskForce members who have contributed to thisproject.

Hand hygieneNeff provided an overview of the new Hand

Hygiene Compliance Rewards Program. The HandHygiene Compliance Rewards Task Force workedclosely with Infection Prevention & ControlDepartment to establish the rewards program toencourage and recognize inpatient units, clinicalsupport departments and outpatient clinics whohave achieved great success in meeting or exceedingthe 90 percent compliance goal. The new systemwill initially focus on inpatient adult and pediatrichospital units. The first rewards will be presentedin mid-January based on hand hygiene complianceaudits completed in October to December 2011timeframe.

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Page 11: MUSC, Catalyst

The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011 11

CLASSIFIED PCLASSIFIED PAGEAGE• Household Personal Items for MUSC employees are free.

All other classifieds are charged at rate below. Ads considered venture-making ads (puppy breeder, coffee business, home for sale,

etc.) will be charged as PAID ADS •• PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED * NO MORE THAN 3 LINES * FREE ADS RUN 2 WEEKS ONLY!

PAID ADS are $3 per line (1 line = 28 characters) DEADLINE: TUESDAY – 10:00 AM* CLASSIFIED ADS CAN BE E-MAILED TO [email protected],

OR MAILED (134 Columbus St., Charleston SC 29403)Please call 849-1778 with questions. *Must provide Badge No. and Department of Employment for employees and

Student I.D. Number for MUSC Students.IP01-213824a

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Page 12: MUSC, Catalyst

12 The CaTalysT, December 9, 2011

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