USA Medical Center Named Top Performer

The University of South Alabama Medical Center has been named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The Medical Center is one of 33 hospitals recognized in Alabama, and the only one in Mobile.

The Medical Center was recognized for its achievement on the following measure sets: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. The ratings are based on data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2012 calendar year.

“We understand that what matters most to patients at the USA Medical Center is patient-centered care that is safe and effective. That’s why we have made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. The Medical Center is proud to receive the distinction of being a Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures,” said Medical Center Administrator Beth Anderson.

Nov. 7 DSS to Feature Dr. Richard Myers

Next week's Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Richard Myers, faculty investigator, president and director of the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Ala.

The lecture will take place Nov. 7, 2013, at 4 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Medical Sciences Building on USA’s main campus.

Dr. Myers received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. He performed postdoctoral work at Harvard University.

Dr. Myers’ research program is concentrated on human genetics and genomics. The work completed in his laboratory has led to the identification of genes involved in inherited diseases. His genome research has contributed more than 10 percent of the data available for the public Human Genome Project.

The lecture series is comprised of distinguished scientists from other academic institutions who are invited by the University of South Alabama College of Medicine basic science departments to present a seminar showcasing their latest research findings. Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to attend.

For more information on Dr. Myers, click here. To learn more about the lecture series, click here.

USA Physicians Group to Participate in Benefits Fair

Kim Partridge (center), USA Patient Navigator, and Tommie Carlisle (right), coordinator for Health Services operations, represent USA Physicians Group at the Employee Benefits Fair in 2012.

The University of South Alabama human resources office will host the 2013 Employee Benefits Fair on Nov. 7, 2013, and Nov. 8, 2013.

The fair will be held at the following locations:

USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013
CWEB 2 - Atlantis Room
8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

USA Medical Center
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013
Cafeteria
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

USA Main Campus
Friday, Nov. 8, 2013
Human Resources TRP III
Suite 2200
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The University of South Alabama Physicians Group will have a booth at the fair and USA Physicians Group providers - including the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and the departments of orthopaedics, bariatric surgery and cardiology - will be on hand to answer questions regarding your health. In addition, flu shots will be available at the main campus location.

All employees are encouraged to attend. For additional information on the event contact the University of South Alabama Human Resources Office at (251) 460-6133, or by email at hrmaincampus@southalabama.edu.

Charlene Jordan Appointed Assistant Director, Health Systems Grants Administration and Development

Charlene Jordan was recently appointed assistant director of Health Systems Grants Administration and Development at the University of South Alabama. Jordan has more than 20 years of experience in grant administration and budget development, including large multi-project programs and institutional training grants.

In her new position, Jordan will work with faculty and staff within the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health and the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute in both grant submissions and post-award grant management.

Prior to her appointment as assistant director, Jordan served as financial operations specialist for the USA Center for Lung Biology, where she provided grant management assistance and coordinated grant processing activities for the director of the Center, chairs of participating departments, and faculty members. In addition to serving as financial operations specialist, she also served as the director of Percipio Art in Science Program for the USA Center for Lung Biology.

Jordan earned a certificate in research administration from the Research Administration Certification Council and a certificate in financial management from the Society of Research Administration.

She is currently a member of the Society of Research Administrators International and the USA Research Operations Council.

November Med School Café - 'Just What Did the Doctor Say? Tips on Communicating with Your Health Care Providers'

The November Med School Café lecture will feature Dr. Rosina Connelly, assistant professor of pediatrics at the USA College of Medicine and a pediatrician with USA Physicians Group.

Her lecture, titled “Just What Did the Doctor Say? Tips on Communicating with Your Health Care Providers,” will take place Nov. 6, 2013, at the USA Faculty Club on USA’s main campus. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.

According to Dr. Connelly, limited health literacy skills affect more than 70 million American adults and result in poorer health outcomes. Dr. Connelly’s lecture will include tips on learning how to better communicate with health care providers and how to get the most out of a medical encounter. In addition, Dr. Connelly will explain where patients can find trusted health information to complement their knowledge and thus improve health.

The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call Kim Partridge at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kepartridge@usouthal.edu.

Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.



November Med School Café Preview from USA Health System on Vimeo.

Free Community Lecture on Epilepsy

The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama in conjunction with the University of South Alabama Neurosciences and SouthCEP will host a community lecture on Nov. 9, 2013, at 10 a.m. the University of South Alabama Medical Center. 

The lecture, titled “New Directions in Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment” will be given by Dr. Dean K. Naritoku, professor and chair of the USA department of neurology.

During his talk, Dr. Naritoku, who is a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy, will discuss the latest epilepsy treatments and research.

Immediately following the lecture, tours will be available of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at USA Medical Center.  The EMU is a collaborative environment that provides unique and highly specialized care with state-of-the-art technology for patients with epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

November is national epilepsy awareness month, which seeks to dispel common myths about the disorder, promote public awareness and understanding of the condition, inform people with seizure disorders and their families about service programs and informational resources available nationally and in their local areas, as well as educate the public about the symptoms of epilepsy and seizure disorders to help eliminate the stigma unjustly associated with the condition.

According the Centers for Disease Control, epilepsy affects about 2 million people in the United States.  Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Delayed recognition of these seizures and inadequate treatment increases the risk for additional seizures, disability, decreased health-related quality of life and, in rare instances, death.

For more information, please contact David Toenes at 341-0170.