MUSC Catalyst

August 24, 2012 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 31, No. 2

MUHA Employee of the Year

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3TherapisT

remembered

MUSCChildren’s

Hospital wasawarded

designation as aLevel 1 center.

The Collegeof Health

Professionsshares memoriesof occupationaltherapist Jerry

Burik whorecently died.

Meet JayWellness WorksClassifieds

Inside

The CaTalysTOnline

http://www.musc.edu/

catalyst

TraumaCare

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The Medical University HospitalAuthority announced its Employeeof the Year Aug. 15. As Employee ofthe Year, Rutledge Tower OutpatientPharmacy’s Charlie Smith receiveda $500 check, a Rising Star CrystalAward and Wendy’s gift certificates.Smith, who is an MUSC Collegeof Pharmacy alumnus, has workedat MUSC for 13 years. He wasnominated for his help in filling onetransplant patient’s medication orderjust before Thanksgiving. Unableto fill the presciptions at MUSCbecause of an insurance contract,Smith went to a neighboringpharmacy and dropped off theprescriptions to be filled. Later, afterfinishing his work day, he returnedto the pharmacy, paid for it out ofhis own pocket and delivered themedications to the patient in thehospital. Bottom photo: Membersof the Rewards and RecognitionCommittee serve refreshments at thecelebration.

2 The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012

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]

The Office of the Provost invitesapplications from MUSC faculty forthe newly created position of director,Center for Global Initiatives. This isa part-time employment opportunityat a commitment of 0.50 full-timeequivalent for a minimum of five yearswith potential for renewal. The positionrequires an innovative and dynamicindividual to lead the developmentof MUSC’s globalization strategy aspart of the MUSC Strategic Plan andthe Southern Association of Collegesand Schools Institutional Effectivenessrequirements. The director will shape acenter to advance the mission in researchand education on a national andinternational scale.

This position will report directly tothe provost and will be expected to helpdefine the university’s globalization

vision and build upon existinginstitutional strengths.

The director will work closelywith faculty and leadership peersfrom throughout the university,including deans, chairs, directors andsenior university leadership to buildconsensus about new initiatives andMUSC strategies, and sustain long-term collaborations involving multipleadministrative units. The director willbe responsible for establishing long-termfinancial sustainability of the centerthrough the execution of successfulphilanthropic and grant strategies, andachievement of awards consistent withthe global health mission and objectivesof the university.

For more information about theposition and application process, visitglobalhealth.musc.edu.

Recruiting begins for directorof MUSC’s Global Initiatives

q MUSC’sPitch the Pack:Free smokingcessation programoffered to MUSCemployees andstudents. Classes,counseling and aone-month supplyof medications areavailable to eligibleparticipants.Receive a successkit with enrollmentfilled with gifts.Enroll online http://ceii.muschealth.com/SCP/SCPRegistration.aspx.

q Zumba at Harborview Office Tower:Join licensed Zumba instructor FeleciaCurry for a weekly Wednesday nightZumba class held from 5 – 6 p.m. inRoom 910, Harborview Office Tower.Zumba is a dance-based aerobic exerciseclass, and Curry tailors the workout toaccommodate any fitness level. [email protected] or call 822–6136 formore information or to register.

q MUSC Urban Farm Work & Learn:

Aug. 25 from 9 – 11 a.m. Bring a plasticbag and take home some fresh producein return for work efforts on the farm.Bring water, sunscreen and wear closedtoe shoes. Email [email protected] register. Open to MUSC employees,students, and the public. Early BirdStewardship from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., Aug.29: Hands-on learning with a focus onmaintaining a healthy and productivegarden to include planting, weeding,fertilizing and keeping the farm clean.

q Employee Health will be offeringtuberculin skin tests to employees from11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Children’sHospital lobby.

q Farmers market: Fresh fruits andvegetables are available from localfarmers from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. everyFriday in the Horseshoe and in the areanext to Ashley River Tower.

Contact Johnson, Ph.D., at [email protected] for more information on theOffice of Health Promotion at MUSCand Suzan Benenson Whelan at [email protected] for specific information aboutEmployee Wellness. Events, speakers,classes or any other ideas are welcome.

EmployEE WEllnEss

Healthat workSusan Johnson

The CaTalysT, August 24, 2012 3

College of Health Professionsoccupational therapist and educatorJerome (Jerry) K. Burik, 52, passedaway unexpectedly Aug. 13 while onvacation in Florida.

A native of McKees Rock, Pa.,Burik attended West VirginiaUniversity and transferred toMUSC’s Occupational TherapyProgram, graduating with a bachelorof science degree in 1982. He went on to complete hismaster’s in occupational therapy in 1991 and continuedto work professionally as an independent contractor,consultant and adjunct instructor.

A licensed occupational therapist, Burik co-foundedCharleston’s first private practice of occupationaltherapy, Therapy Resources, before returning to MUSCand working with faculty. He went on to serve asadjunct instructor in the occupational therapy programand academic fieldwork coordinator in 1999. He was anactive member of the American Occupational TherapyAssociation and the South Carolina OccupationalTherapy Association.

He participated on several advisory boards includingTrident Technical College’s Occupational TherapyAssistant Program. His collaboration with facultycolleagues led to funded grant work and publicationsin the areas of gerontology, neuro-rehabilitation andfieldwork education. He also held leadership rolesin the MUSC Leadership Initiative and CreatingCollaborative Care program.

In 2002, he was awarded the MUSC Health ScienceFoundation’s Teaching Excellence Award in theDeveloping Teacher Category. Burik was a nominee ofthe Foundation’s Educator-Lecturer Award numeroustimes and multiple winner of the Teacher of the YearAward and Developing Scholar Award within theCollege of Health Professions.

Monetary gifts may be made online to theOccupational Therapy Support Program under thedesignation drop-down box: http://tinyurl.com/9tlfrfl.Gifts also may be made to the MUSC Foundation,18 Bee St., MSC 450,Charleston, SC 29425 or call792–2677. Designate “OT Support Fund in memory ofJerry Burik” on the memo line of your check.

“Jerry Burik was been a key member of theoccupational therapy faculty with a unique skill set

in evaluation and treatment of the elderly client,especially in cognition and perception. He was a giftedcommunicator both on paper and verbally. He couldtell a story with humor to make you laugh; he couldbe poignant with meaning, to the extent that he wouldhave a whole class of students in tears. He could writebeautifully with poise and elegance and was a personwho was often utilized for editing written work. He waskind but pleasantly firm with students and over the last13 years had counseled many students during clinicalpractice as an excellent mentor.”—Peter Bowma, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Directorof Admissions, OT and PT divisions, College of HealthProfessions

“This is a difficult time for us in the College ofHealth Professions as we grieve the loss of Jerry. He wasan incredible teacher, colleague and friend. May ourfond memories of Jerry, his compassion for others andincredible sense of humor, help carry us through thedays and months ahead.”—Karen A. Wager, DBA, Professor and Associate Dean forStudent Affairs, College of Health Professions

“Jerry was first and foremost a friend to all who had

Therapist, practitioner remembered for enthusiasmBy Cindy aBole

Public Relations

Burik

See Therapist on page 10

beads Of COurageThe Office of the Vice President

for Academic Affairs and Provost isaccepting nominations for persons toreceive honorary degrees from MUSC,to be awarded at Commencement inMay 2013.

In general, honorary degrees go toindividuals in the following broadcategories: contribution(s) to thenation; contribution(s) to science;contribution(s) to the state or MUSC.Nominations of MUSC alumni aregenerally discouraged.

Consider submitting nominationsof candidates along with supportingmaterials such as letters, articles,curriculum vitae, etc., in the abovementioned categories.

The nominations should beforwarded to Marcia Higaki, Office ofthe Provost, Colcock Hall, 179 AshleyAve., MSC 002, [email protected],no later than Friday, Oct. 12.

Honorary degree nominationsaccepted for contributions

Womble Carlyle marketingmanager Sarah Murray, bottom row(left), presents MUSC Children’sHospital Administor John Sanderswith a $1,500 check in support ofBeads of Courage. The Beads ofCourage Campaign helps childrencope with anxieties and stressof dealing with a major illness.Through Beads of Courage, youngpatients receive a color-coded beadfor significant milestones in theirtreatment. These beads are strungon a necklace that the patients canuse to explain their experiences.With Sanders is Volunteer Programspecialist, Emily Wallace (top rowcenter); and PCICU guest servicesrepresentative Kristen Burn; andpatient, Alicia Fisher, 15. Alicia isawaiting a heart transplant and isholding the beads.


CurrEnts Aug. 21People – Fostering employeepride and loyaltyHR update

Helena Bastian, MUHAHR director, presented thefollowing:q SuccessFactors —Employee reviews are due Aug. 31 andshould be electronically signed by thesupervisor and the employee by thatdate; organization goal results havebeen loaded into SuccessFactors; andquestions or concerns may be directedto Kim Duncan, [email protected] orForman, [email protected] Pay Increase — Effective Aug. 26,eligible employees will receive a 1/2 (.5)percent; eligible employees are those whooccupy a regular, permanent position.This is a one-time increase and is notrelated to an employee’s performancerating(s). Increase(s) will be reflective inthe Sept. 19 paycheckq SML Provision — Effective Jan. 1,the supplemental medical leave (SML)provision in HR Policy#18, PTO policywill be phased out; transfer of ESL hoursto SML bank will be discontinued;employees with SML balances maycontinue to utilize SML hours untilbalance is exhausted.q Upcoming training — PresentationSkills Workshop (1 – 2 p.m., Sept. 12,Room 207, QE. The course covers simpleideas and tricks on presentation, designand delivery; HICS training (10 – 11a.m., Sept. 18, Room 2408 Ashley RiverTower); Basic introductory session to theHospital Incident Command System thatis used for disasters. Register via CATTSor email Allen Coulter, [email protected].

LDI Tracking Database updateMary Fischer, R.N., senior clinical

analyst in Enterprise BusinessIntelligence, reviewed details about thedatabase that was created to track MUSCExcellence initiatives, thank you notesand rounding.

All administrators, managers,directors, supervisors and designeeshave rights to enter this database toenter MUSC Excellence activities and

manage staff qualifications. With themedical center’s push toward Magnetdesignation, nursing managementhas asked that staff education also betracked.

Fischer reviewed the system’s dataentry screens. Under staff qualifications(licensure and certifications), anyonecan enter information in this area. Thehospital needs to report the percentageof all nurses have certifications. Severalreports can be accessed from thisscreen. Competencies, CATTS andimmunizations also can be accessed.The education form has been updatedincluding credentials, education (highestnursing degree and other degrees). Otherdetails need for Magnet tracking arecurrent school, name of school, degreesworking and start date, organizations andprofessional recognitions. Managementscan track staff rounding via anadministrator manager report, supervisorreports (arbitrary database), etc.

OCIO offers training (secondThursday of the month from 1– 2:30p.m., Room 220, Clinical SciencesBuilding), to learn about this database.Register via CATTS.

Quality – Providing qualitypatient care in a safeenvironment

Dan Furlong, OCIOworking in the ProjectManagement Office,reminded managers ofthe submission status forprojects within MUHA’s project requestsystem. Once an OCIO project request(see forms toolbox on the intranet) hasbeen submitted, it is evaluated andranked by priority. The committee usesvarious criteria which include Institutesof Medicine quality measures, financialimpact, risk for the organization, etc.So far, more than 550 projects havebeen completed with some 100 projectsstill active. Currently, requesters arebeing contacted regarding the status ofactive projects. With the Epic enterpriseproject kickoff scheduled for Nov. 1,some projects will need to be validatedand prioritized due to priority with Epic.

To Medical Center Employees:At the Aug. 21 Communications meeting, Dr. Peter Zwerner, chief medical officer,

MUSC Physicians, and MUSC Health Strategic Plan strategy leader, updated themanagement team on the MUSC Access Initiative. One of the most critical componentsof strategic plan is patient access. This is a broad-based initiative and, as Dr. Zwernerexplained, will involve re-engineering MUSC’s access process.

The Access task force has examined best practices at other leading academic medicalcenters. Among other things, best practices include a standardized access policy, acentralized access function and a master scheduling template. Dr. Zwerner summarizedhis comments by explaining the net result of the access initiative will be an enhancedpatient experience, improved MUSC brand reputation, less complaints from prospectivepatients and better financial performance. Additional details are included in thisnewsletter.

In a recent Currents newsletter I explained that we need to reduce the medicalcenter’s labor costs for fiscal year 2013. A number of cost reduction tactics are beinginvestigated at this time. For instance, all directors have been asked to reduce labor coststo the 25th percentile for their respective University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC)peer group, as measured by the Action O-I benchmarking system. In order to fill avacancy, the respective department director and administrator will need to demonstratestaffing is at the 25th percentile for the respective peer group or provide other relevantdata to justify.

Also, in relation to other cost reduction tactics, we will need to examine premiumpay and other factors that contribute to labor costs. At the Aug. 21 managementcommunication meeting it was announced that plans are under way to discontinueaccruing of Supplemental Medical Leave (SML), with a projected cost savings of $1.5million. No one will lose any leave currently accrued and may use it as in the past, butthe SML program, as we know it (which involves transfer of Extended Sick Leave toSML), will be discontinued in the new calendar year.

On another matter, we are now in the midst of hurricane season and themanagement team needs to ensure everyone understands their department-based weatheremergency plans and relevant policies. Everyone also needs to be familiar with theWeather Emergency Card, which is posted on the intranet at https://www.musc.edu/medcenter/emergencyManagement/source/MedicalCenterEmployees.pdf.

Finally, City of Charleston leaders contacted MUSC and asked that we work withthem to house the City’s incident command in Ashley River Tower (ART) duringperiods of potential power outages, such as storms or other incidents affecting power.Key medical center staff worked with City police and fire department leaders to makearrangements to accommodate their incident command in ART. We are pleased to havethis cooperative working relationship. The City expects to have its own new facility tohouse their incident command in 2014. In the meantime, we will welcome their presencein the event of a weather emergency or other incident affecting power.

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

See Currents on page 9

Projects may be cancelled or placed onhold until after Epic’s installation. Anywork required for the McKesson systemwill be completed by McKesson as part ofa limited outsourcing agreement.

Service – Serving the publicwith compassion, respect andexcellence

Peter L. Zwerner, M.D., chief medical

officer, MUSC Physicians, addressedmanagers with an overview of themedical center’s new Access Initiative.He reviewed the current state of access,addresses best practices, outlines a goalfor access and the implementation.

Zwerner pointed out weaknesses inthe current system in handling newand existing patients. He reviewed thecurrent system which uses a team of


mEEt Jay

Jay Brown IIDepartmentUrology, MUSC Health East CooperHow long at MUSC3 monthsWhat do you like most about the newEast Cooper facilityThe patient-centered approachWhat are you excited about the mostfor the future of the new facilityGrowing and expanding patient servicesWhat sports team would you like tosee visit the facilitySan Francisco 49ers— the best team everFavorite decoration at the facilityBasket designsFavorite areaThird-floor gardenMeal you love to cookAnything on the grillWhat do you do on a rainy dayLay around on the couchDream vacationA tropical beachFavorite place in the worldCaliforniaGreatest moment in your lifeThe birth of my son


Medical center employeescommitted to excellence

Medical center staff were treated to acelebration Aug. 15 honoring its 2012Employee of the Year and nine otheremployees who were nominated for excellence.

Cassandra Whaley, left photo, (PharmacyServices), joined by hergranddaughter, Ta’miyah Mason,was a nominee for Employee ofthe Year. Whaley was nominatedby a staff member, on behalf ofa patient’s family for helping thepatient receive medications needed.

In addition to Whaley, othernominees were Deb Campbell, InformationServices, Johnna Jackson, Rutledge TowerChildren’s Services; Kayla Peterson, ClinicalNeurophysiology Services; Kelly Cavins,Epilepsy Center; Scott Crego, RespiratoryTherapy; Adam Kornegay, ClinicalNeurophysiology Services; Kelly Howard,Heart & Vascular Center; and Phillip Botham,Physical Therapy.

All medical center employees wereencouraged to nominate an Employee of theYear online for “their dedication to provide thebest possible experience for MUSC patients,for their commitment to MUSC Excellence

and for their willingness to go aboveand beyond.”

Nominees for the Employee ofthe Year each received movie passes,coupons for Chick-fil-A sandwiches,tickets to any home RiverDogs gameand coupons to Wendy’s. Wendy’sRestaurant sponsored the Employees

of the Month as well as the Employee of theYear celebrations.

All nominees, including Rutledge TowerOutpatient Pharmacy’s Charlie Smith,2012 Employee of the Year, received theirframed nomination and a poem written byToni Mullins. Mullins is an MUSC vasculartechnologist with the Clinical NeurophysiologyServices Department.

visit http://bit.ly/MUHA_EotY

WaTCha Video

Medical center employees receive cupcakes during the annual Employee of the Year celebration.

The Catalyst, August 24, 2012 7


L owcountry children suffering from a life-threateningsituation can be assured of receiving the best

trauma care, according to John Sanders, Children’sHospital administrator.

Last spring, the MUSC Children’s Hospital soughtan additional designation as a Level 1 S.C. Departmentof Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) PediatricTrauma Center in addition to already obtaining anAmerican College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma statusas awarded to MUSC’s adult and pediatric hospitals in2011. The Children’s Hospital was designated from asite visit of an independent review council coordinatedby DHEC and the S.C. Trauma Advisory Council. Thethree-year designation assures parents that all pediatricpatients will receive the highest level of pediatric traumacare and support at any time. It places the Children’sHospital in elite company of just a handful of similarinstitutions such as the Children’s Hospital ofPittsburgh; LaBonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis;Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego; and Children’s atEgleston Hospital, Atlanta.

It also recognizes a statewide system of excellenceand commitment from the pediatric trauma team, thePediatric Emergency Department staff, Department ofPediatrics, including pre-hospital, operating, intensivecare units, radiology, respiratory therapy, rehabilitationand other areas needed to support patients transportedto MUSC. The distinction as a Level 1 Trauma centeris one of the highest levels that the adult and pediatricprograms can achieve for commitment, readiness,patient care and performance improvement.

This achievement was the culmination of a two-year,voluntary process that began from a staff whose aimwas to provide world-class, collaborative health care topatients, Sanders said.

The effort was supported by board-certified pediatricsurgeons, pediatric emergency physicians, pediatricintensivists, pediatricians, nurses, respiratory therapists,technicians and child life specialists.

On the local front, the endeavor was led by ChristianStreck, M.D., and Melanie Ann Stroud, R.N., ofthe pediatric trauma center and pediatric emergencymedicine teams.

Their work focused on the delivery of quality carefor children of all ages. Streck, who is pediatric traumamedical director and assistant professor of surgery,Division of Pediatric Surgery in the Departmentof Surgery, was inspired to lead this effort afterseeing a need for streamlining services and programsthroughout the hospital. It wasn’t long before Streckand Stroud, who is pediatric trauma program managerand pediatrics-education clinical resource coordinator,approached Children’s Hospital leadership to gain theirsupport and map out a plan for success.

“This was an opportunity for MUSC Children’s

Children’s Hospital awarded Level 1 trauma careBy Cindy aBole

Public Relations

Hospital to lead the way in meeting and setting astandard and raising the bar as it relates to deliveringquality medical care,” said Streck.

Sanders said the effort would reemphasize thehospital’s goal for providing patients and families withfull-service care.

The challenge wasn’t unfamiliar to Streck, who cameto MUSC in 2008. Streck had worked at LeBonheurChildren’s Hospital in Memphis where he completedhis pediatric surgery fellowship training and earlier,a two-year research fellowship in pediatric surgicaloncology at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Rita M. Ryan, M.D., Department of Pediatrics chair,has supported the effort since her arrival in 2011 andmore than halfway through their accreditation process.

“This accreditation truly improves the care ofchildren. It is not an accident that we are leading thisinitiative in the state. We feel that our patients whosuffer trauma should be given the highest quality of

care, for children and adults. Doing this in concertwith the adult trauma team was critical. The goalwas to organize standards and establish protocols forcare, based on evidence-based guidelines, for pediatricinjuries and other trauma. Chris Streck and MelanieStroud did all the work, and they should get the credit.”

According to Streck, more children in the U.S. diedue to injury than all causes combined. Of the 23,000patients seen at the Pediatric Emergency Room, about300 are treated for serious injuries including burns,motor vehicle crashes, falls, pedestrian and bicycleinjuries. Caring for injured children requires a special,comprehensive and inclusive approach.

Today, both injuries and burns account for abouthalf of the morbidity and mortality in the pediatricpopulation. With that said, the hospital’s goal centeredon raising the standard of care for pediatric patients.Streck emphasized differences in the care and treatmentof an infant or child versus an adult, especially in amedical emergency or trauma situation. There aresize and proportional differences of a child’s head,neck and bones, which are generally softer and morepliable. Because of a child’s size and weight, there aredifferences in medication dosages and challenges forstaff to provide intravenous access and intubation.

“These unique differences require the expertiseof pediatric specialists to follow specific pediatricguidelines that can direct care. Our goal is to see thatevery child admitted as a trauma patient is evaluatedthoroughly and receives the best level of care andstrategies for prevention,” Streck said.

A priority, according to Streck and Stroud, was toimprove systems and develop appropriate plans of care,demonstrate educational processes, initiate traumaresearch, provide injury prevention activities thatfocus on risk areas for children such as motor vehicleand water safety. The team works with the PediatricEmergency Medicine Division and team of boardcertified pediatric emergency medicine physicians,residents and fellows, nurse practitioners, medicalstudents and teams. W. Scott Russell, M.D., PediatricEmergency Medicine medical director, also was animportant leader in the trauma certification process.

Last July, Stroud and the Pediatric Trauma teamworked with statewide groups to approve Chandler’sLaw to decrease the state’s number of all-terrain vehicle-related injuries among children. Stroud, workingwith Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention and SafeKids coordinator Maudra Rogers, helped organize theLowcountry’s 5th Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Fairto teach bike safety, provide safety information anddistribute more than 400 bicycle helmets to children.

In the trauma research area, Streck and Russellworked to explore radiation safety and defining safelevels for children during a pediatric trauma evaluation.Their findings led to recommendations to reduce thenumber of unnecessary tests or scans. The work waspublished in the Journal of Trauma.

“This was an opportunity forMUSC Children’s Hospital tolead the way in meeting andsetting a standard and raisingthe bar as it relates to deliveringquality medical care.”

Dr. Christian Streck

Pediatric burn nurse Ryan Curry offers TezGordon a slice of his cake celebrating hisdischarge from the Children’s Hospital. Tez wasbadly burned in a North Charleston apartmentfire in February. He was released in May.


Breaking new ground, an MUSCresearch team has completed the firststudy to show significant effects of amedication treatment for marijuanacessation in adolescent patients. Theantioxidant supplement, used tocomplement psychosocial behavioraltherapy, is available over the counterand has been FDA-approved for otherconditions for more than 40 years.

With a reported 25 percent of all highschool seniors using marijuana and thatnumber on the rise, addiction specialistsand researchers have become increasinglyconcerned given that adolescentswho experiment with marijuana areparticularly prone to develop marijuanadependence.

“Prior to this study, research has shownus that while some treatments reduce theamount of marijuana an adolescent uses,marijuana abstinence or cessation ratesin adolescent patients are very low,” saidstudy lead author, Kevin M. Gray, M.D.,

Department of Psychiatry and BehavioralSciences associate professor. “Reductionof use represents progress, but theultimate goal is cessation.”

In the landmark study published inthe American Journal of Psychiatry(http://tinyurl.com/8sq2rlp) and fundedby the National Institute on DrugAbuse, 116 participants aged 15 to 21completed a double-blind, randomizedand placebo-controlled clinical trial.Along with contingency managementbehavioral therapy during biweeklyintervention visits, participants receivedeither a placebo or a supplementcalled N-acetylcysteine (NAC). At theconclusion of the study, participantsreceiving NAC had more than twice theodds, compared with the placebo group,of having negative urinalysis results.In addition, NAC was well tolerated,producing few adverse events.

Evidence suggests that chronic self-administration of drugs alters the

neurochemical glutamate in parts of thebrain. Work at MUSC by Peter Kalivas,Ph.D., Department of Neuroscienceschair and Distinguished UniversityProfessor of Neurosciences andPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, andcolleagues revealed that administrationof NAC activates a cysteine-glutamateexchanger, normalizing glutamate levelsand reducing drug seeking.

“This trial is an exceptional exampleof the kind of translational researchconducted at MUSC in which innovativefindings from a basic science laboratoryare rapidly translated into a researchstudy conducted in humans,” saidKathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., Clinicaland Translational Research Centerdirector, Distinguished UniversityProfessor and associate dean for clinicaland translational research in theDepartment of Psychiatry and BehavioralSciences. “Encouragement of this typeof investigation is critical to advancing

therapeutic development and improvinghuman health.”

Although the accessibility andaffordability of NAC may leadsome to consider it as a stand aloneintervention for marijuana dependence,it is important to note that more workneeds to be done to clarify its rolein the full context of comprehensivetreatment. Gray and his colleaguesplan future research with adult andadolescent participants, including studyof post-treatment follow-ups, varyingdoses of NAC in different settings andtimeframes, and NAC paired withother psychosocial treatments. It isunknown at this time if NAC is aneffective marijuana cessation treatmentwithout a psychosocial treatment such ascontingency management therapy.

For additional information aboutparticipating in treatment studies formarijuana or tobacco cessation, call792-4097.

MUSC first to report effective treatment for marijuana cessation

CurrenTs Continued from Page Four

The Institute of Human Values in Health Care issponsoring its second fellowship class in the ClinicalResearch Ethics Certificate program.

The one-year fellowship, which is part of theClinical Research Ethics Core of the South CarolinaClinical and Translational Research Institute, featuresa revised introductory-level curriculum designed toprovide medical and health professions studentsand professionals with a variety of online study andexperiences in clinical research ethics.

The program combines the master’s in science forclinical research ethics course (MSC 750) and IP Course738. It comprises seminars that provides opportunitiesfor students to meet with administrators and scientiststo discuss information as it relates to research ethics.Robert M. Sade, M.D., the institute’s director, said thatachieving training in this area can strengthen clinicalefforts and provide an advantage when applying forresearch grants.

Fellows who complete the program will earn acertificate in Clinical Research Ethics and are invitedto participate in MUSC’s Clinical Research EthicsConsultation Service, in the Institute of Human Valuesin Health Care and in the newly created ClinicalResearch Ethics Society.

For information, visit http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/humanvalues/certificate2.htm.

Clinical Research EthicsFellowship taking applicationsschedulers, registration staff, nurses, providers and

administrative assistants who field more than 100,000calls per month where more than half of the calls arenon-scheduling relating. As of 2012, a little more thanhalf of all online appointments were scheduled. Also lagdays for new patients fell behind by more than 30-plusdays in four sub-specialty medical areas. The currentsystem, according to Zwerner, clearly challenged apatient’s access to services and care at MUSC.

To create a new patient-centric plan, hospital leaderslooked at best practices of the top 20 nationally-rankedhospitals and identified their successes with access asusing a standardized access policy, centralized accessfunction and use of a master scheduling template.Hospitalwide, leaders identified access imperatives— aggressive competitors, market share, lack of newpatient growth, employee and patient satisfaction andcultural shift in patient expectations.

The plan, which is modeled after Emory Clinic’saccess efforts, utilizes tenants with supply and demand/re-engineering, increase new patients, standardizemetrics and develop and master scheduling system.

More specifically, the medical center will focuson scheduling new patients within seven days;standardizing and reducing appointment types;establishing a formal process when an appointmentcannot be made and developing protocols for late, pre-scheduling and new patients after hours. Phase 1 ofthe plan will be incorporated at MUSC Health East

Cooper, which will utilize Swat work teams involvingstaff, department administrators and clinical faculty toexpand access at the facility and build work dashboards.Teams will serve as key operation pieces evaluatingmetrics, communications, central scheduling andsystems and practice re-engineering.

Each department, division and team will workwith a d physician champion and business manager/administrator will partner with work teams to developaccess strategy for their department/division in thisprocess. All department access plans will be approvedby the Executive Access Committee and ClinicalLeadership Council. According to Zwerner, the projectkicked off June 29 with executive access work teams andphysician champions being established and leadershipcurrently developing baseline metrics, reports andpresentations due by September.

Announcementsq Phyllis (PJ) Floyd, R.N., is the new manager ofClinical Documentation Integrity and Data Abstractionin Patient Access Services. Floyd worked 20-plus years inleadership and management experience in the clinicalarena. She recently worked in home health and theacute care setting in the director and manager positions.

q Action O-I data reports for the quarter ending June30 are due by Aug. 29. For information, call 792-8793.

q The next Communications meeting is Sept. 4.


It’s that time of year again where fresh starts arehappening all over campus — new students, new classesfor returning students, new books to read, and newpeople. This academic year also will feature the start ofthe newest student wellness initiative: MUSC WellnessWorks.

Wellness Works will be the new studentcommunication hub of all wellness and well-beingprogramming offered through the Division ofEducation and Student Life, the Wellness Center,Student Government Association and the Office ofHealth Promotion. The mission is simple: WellnessWorks is dedicated to helping MUSC students developand increase their awareness of every aspect of wellness.

The aspects of wellness are based on what’s knownas the Wellness Wheel, a multi-dimensional, holisticapproach to wellness and well-being, designed by BillHettler, M.D., co-founder of the National WellnessInstitute. The theory suggests that there are sixdimensions to complete wellness: physical, intellectual,spiritual, financial, social and emotional. Recently, aseventh dimension was added: environmental. Eachof these dimensions is interconnected and each playsa vital role in an individual’s total wellness. Wellnessis reached when there is a degree of balance amongthe areas. Information on the breakdown of thesedimensions can be seen at the Wellness Works websitethat is expected to be live within the next two weeks.

This website also will showcase programs andactivities that MUSC offers to students. The programshave been broken down into eight categories that helporganize the different offerings available. The categories

and subcategories include:q Academic Success and Enrichment — Center forAcademic Excellence, Apple Tree Society, Office ofStudent Diversity and National Coalition BuildingInstituteq A Better You — Counseling and PsychologicalServices, Alcohol Advisory Group, and Student Healthq Get Financially Fit — DESL “Get Financially Fit”Seriesq Office of Health Promotion — Employee Wellness(open to students too), Urban Farm, Pitch the Pack andTobacco-Free Campusq Student Government Association Opportunities —Cultural Projects Council, Intramurals and OutdoorRecreationq Student Collaboration — Cultivating Health AmongMedical Students, Clash of the Classes, and otherstudent organization’swellness programs andeventsq VolunteeringOpportunities — MUSCGives Back and Blood Donationsq Wellness Center Activities — Regular WellnessCenter Use and Wellness Run

Each of these subcategories will offer differentprograms and workshops that students can participatein to benefit their well-being. So far, this initiative is inits grassroots stages, and the categories will continue tobe developed, so suggestions for programs or servicesare welcome as are any ideas on information to include.To submit ideas, email [email protected].

In addition to these on-campus resources, studentsalso will have access to Wellness Works onlineresources, such as information on wellness activities

in the greater Charleston community, area studentdiscounts, healthy recipes and guides to healthyrestaurants, tools for habit change and even peer-submitted ideas and tips on improving student wellnessand well-being.

The website also will feature the first “WellnessWorks Challenge.” This challenge will determine the“most fit college” each semester based on the contacthours that students log in each of the categories listedabove. Students will receive credit for completing any ofthe programs, workshops, events and activities that areoffered through departments in each category that areopen to all students. These credit hours will go towardtheir college participation total during a three-monthperiod each semester.

This fall semester’s challenge will start Sept. 1 andrun through Nov. 30. The winners will have their

college’s name engravedon “The Cup,” a trophythat is on permanentdisplay in the WellnessCenter and their college

will also be eligible for special giveaways and discountsto some of the events put on by MUSC StudentGovernment.

So why do all this?The most obvious reason is to help students perform

their best. There also is research that suggests the healthof health care professionals matters and that theirpractices influence their clinical attitudes toward thepromotion of well-being in their patients. This supportsthe university’s mission of optimizing human life aswell as further educating students to become caring,compassionate, ethical and proficient health careprofessionals and creative biomedical scientists.

the pleasure of working with him. As thefieldwork coordinator he was the personstudents had contact with when theywere out on clinicals. He would always beavailable to support them often talkingto students in the evenings and on theweekends. He was a wonderful mentorto many students and a true friendand colleague to the College of HealthProfessions faculty. ”—Nancy E. Carson, Ph.D., OTR/L,Division of Occupational Therapy

“As a member of the MUSCOccupational Therapy ‘Royal Court,’‘Prince J’ will be missed. Our dear,humble Prince was compassionate,dedicated, practical, sensitive and theconsummate professional – excellencewas his standard. In a twist to royal

protocol, it was an honor for me, LadyB, to serve as his technology ‘lady-in-waiting,’ as well as a fellow foodie. As thesummer of 2012 comes to a close andat the end of my workdays, I no longerhear his footfalls toward my office saying,‘Lady B, it is time to go home.’ I replaythat scene in my mind constantly, as wellas his playful yet genuine admonishment,‘Lady B, pray harder for me and ourstudents, we need it.’”—Hazel L. Breland, Ph.D., OTR/L,Division of Occupational Therapy

“Jerry’s passion was to see ‘his’occupational therapy students grow intocompetent, caring and compassionateclinicians who were prepared to meetthe demands of today’s health careenvironment. To that end he filled his

courses with opportunities for studentsto interact with patients, familiesand clinicians. As a business owner,practicing therapist-turned-educator, hehad a network of relationships withinthe occupational therapy community.It was a common belief that Jerry ‘kneweveryone!’ He leveraged this network inhis role as the OT fieldwork coordinatoras he worked to create the just-rightmatch between a student and clinicalsite. Jerry was kind, hospitable and hada keen sense of humor. He had the raregift of making others feel special and wasalways able to make those around himlaugh.”—Michelle L. Woodbury Ph.D., OTR/LAssistant Professor, Division of OccupationalTherapy and Center for RehabilitationResearch in Neurological Conditions

TherapisT Continued from Page Three

By KeVin smunieWsKi

Student Programs

New student initiative to offer wellness balance

The Medical University Women’sClub is seeking MUSC’s mostdeserving students for its annualscholarships. All full-time studentsin their second or subsequent yearsfrom any of the six MUSC collegesare eligible to apply. Previousapplicants may reapply. Applicationsare available through the VolunteerServices Office or by download athttp://academicdepartments.musc.edu/womensclub/scholarship.htm.

The deadline for submission isAug. 28. Applicants will be selectedbased on financial need, academicachievement and community anduniversity service. For information,email [email protected].

MU Women’s Club seeksscholarship applications


Rental Properties

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 = 35 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.IP01-681634

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MUSC Catalyst

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