Printer-friendly format

Mark Your Calendars

October is a busy month for area events pertaining to the healthcare industry. For more details on these events and additional listings, go online to www.nashvillemedicalnews.com. All phone numbers are (615) unless otherwise noted.

October 4: EyeBall 2008 • Downtown Hilton • 6 p.m. • Annual black-tie, classical ballroom charity fundraising gala to benefit the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration • Reservations: Alanna Napier at wangfoundation@yahoo.com • 321-8878.

October 5: Dierks Bentley's Third Annual "Miles & Music for Kids" • Benefits Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt • Ride registration at 11 a.m. at Harley Davidson of Cool Springs before 2 p.m. departure • Evening-only concert tickets (Riverfront Park) also available through Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

October 7: Hospital Hospitality House Patrons' Luncheon • Renaissance Nashville Hotel • 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • Keynote Speaker impressionist Steve Bridges • www.hospitalhospitalityhouse.org • 329-0477

October 17: Rascal Flatts Concert with special guest Taylor Swift • Sommet Center • Benefits Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt • Tickets available through Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Teens Making Poor Choices When it Comes to Riding in Vehicles

Injury prevention experts have long known that teens are less likely than other motorists to wear seat belts while driving. Now, researchers from the Meharry-State Farm Alliance at Meharry Medical College have discovered lack of seat belt use by teen passengers may be an even bigger problem.

In the first ever direct comparison of the differences between driver and passenger seat belt use for a nationally representative teen population, the Meharry researchers found that 59 percent of teens always buckled up in the driver seat but only 42 percent always wore seat belts as passengers. Even more sobering, only 38 percent of all teens reported always buckling up as both drivers and passengers.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for nearly 5,000 fatalities each year. About 40 percent of all teen motor vehicle occupant deaths involve passengers.

"Because seat belts can reduce the risk of injury and death in crashes by more than 50 percent, there is a critical need for interventions to increase seat belt use by teens as both drivers and passengers," said Nathaniel Briggs, MD, MSc, lead researcher on the study, published in the September 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

To address the issue, Briggs and his colleagues recommend a combination of approaches: • Upgrade state seat belt laws to uniformly require that teen motor vehicle occupants in the rear seat be secured in seat belts. Currently, the majority of state laws are limited to front seat coverage for some or all teens in the 16-19 age group. • Upgrade state seat belt laws from "secondary" (law enforcement officers can ticket motorists for seat belt law violations only after stopping them for another offense) to "primary" (law enforcement officers can stop and ticket motorists solely for seat belt law violations). • Enhance enforcement efforts directed toward teen motorists. • Develop comprehensive, community-based interventions including education, peer-to-peer persuasion, and parental monitoring.

The study population was comprised of more than 12,000 African American, white, and Hispanic public and private high school students ages 16 or older who participated in the 2001 and 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. The surveys are conducted every two years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track the leading causes of death and disability among U.S. teens.

Saint Thomas Heart Cardiologists at Baptist Among First in Nation to Use Latest Wireless ICD Technology

Saint Thomas Heart cardiologists who practice at Baptist Hospital are the first in the Tennessee and among the first in the United States to use the latest generation of implantable cardiac device technology to treat patients who suffer from irregular heart beats.

Electrophysiologist George Crossley, MD, implanted the new Vision 3D device in two patients at Baptist Hospital on September 2 … the first use of this device in the state. Other cardiologists in the group are now using the device at both Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospital.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) from the Medtronic Vision 3D portfolio to address the needs of patients with arrhythmias, heart failure and those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

"Patients with ICDs each have different needs and health requirements," said Crossley. "The advancements in technology and feature options now available allow me to better customize device treatments based on my patients' individual therapy needs with a goal of continuously improving their quality of life. This is not the first device to be able to transmit remotely, but it is the first to be able to automatically test all of its functions to ensure it is working properly and transmit data about both the patient and the device."

In addition to other Medtronic proprietary features, Vision 3D introduces "Complete Capture Management," which provides confidence in patients' safety by continuously and automatically adjusting to changing patient needs. It allows physicians to capture what's happening in the three chambers of the heart and then adjust the device's programming to better meet the body's physiologic needs. This data helps the physician better manage the patient's condition, rather than simply providing information on how the implanted device is operating.

Renwick Named Senior Development Officer & Major Gifts Director for STHS Fund

Saint Thomas Health Services (STHS), has named Jennie D. Renwick senior development officer and major gifts director for Saint Thomas Health Services Fund. Established in 2002, the STHS Fund provides needed dollars for patient care, technology, research, education, and charity programs. In addition to raising capital for the four main hospital foundations under the STHS umbrella, Renwick will also oversee fundraising for mission-oriented programs such as the Community Health Outreach Clinics, The Dan Rudy Cancer Center, The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baptist Hospital, Camp Bluebird – a program for adult cancer survivors, and the Irene and Melvin Lewis Fund for needy patients.

Renwick has a strong financial background and has served as vice president at First Tennessee Bank in Nashville since 1999. She currently sits on the board of directors for the Pencil Foundation and formerly served on the board of directors for the Junior League of Nashville.

WMC Now Offering Breast MRI

Women with an especially high risk of developing breast cancer now have access to breast MRI at Williamson Medical Center. The screening tool, which is more sensitive than traditional mammography, is not recommended for women considered to be at average risk. Breast MRI costs roughly 10 times that of traditional mammography and has resulted in an increase in biopsies of suspicious areas, often found to be non-cancerous, due to its heightened sensitivity.

The American Cancer Society last year launched new guidelines that recommend high-risk women undergo breast MRIs along with yearly mammograms at age 30. High-risk patients are defined as having at least one of the following conditions: known genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer or being a first-degree relative of someone with the genetic mutation; lifetime risk of breast cancer has been scored at 20-25 percent or greater based on accepted risk assessment tools; have had radiation to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30; have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or may have one of these syndromes based on the history in a first-degree relative.

Vanderbilt Hopes to Find Easier Method to Help Allergy Sufferers

Pollen counts measured at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program (ASAP) are skyrocketing. Injections are often recommended for those who can't find OTC or prescription relief from their allergies, which generally surface at the end of summer and last until the first hard frost. Unfortunately, the duration of immunotherapy (as much as five years) and frequency of shots during the build-up phase (as many as 40 injections) have resulted in very high dropout rates.

With an eye toward increased safety and convenience, Vanderbilt is one of 30 medical centers participating in a broad clinical trial of a new under-the-tongue allergy treatment. The trial hopes to determine the most effective dose of the extract for patients with moderate to severe allergies to ragweed, one of the worst allergens in Nashville. Studies suggest that sublingual immunotherapy will prove safer than standard allergy shots. This form of treatment will also let patients administer the drops themselves at home, eliminating the frequent trips to a doctor's office – as well as needle sticks.

Baptist Sports Medicine Adds New Women's Health Service Line

Baptist Sports Medicine recently announced the addition of Women's Health as a service line available at Maryland Farms, Spring Hill and Downtown Plaza Baptist Sports Medicine clinics. The new service will focus on incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. To evaluate and treat female patients, Baptist Sports Medicine has added three therapists with extensive experience in women's health issues: Sara Underhill, PhD, Cate Langley, PhD, and Trish King. The therapists will assess patients with a full postural examination, focusing on the spine, hips, and pelvic floor. Manual therapy, postural re-education and muscle retraining and strengthening will be utilized to treat patients. Issues related to the problem, such as lifestyle and behavior, will also be addressed.

Moore Named COO for Lee Medical

Franklin native Julia S. Moore has been named Chief Operating Officer for Williamson County-based Lee Medical, Inc. The 15-year-old company specializes in the placement, maintenance and electronic surveillance of Extended Dwell Peripheral Catheters for a variety of healthcare providers. Among her primary duties, Moore will oversee the company's day-to-day operations as well as grow the Information Technology department and the proprietary "VAST™" software platform. Moore comes to Lee Medical from where she managed a portion of that company's IT department for five years. Prior to joining HCA, Moore worked with the technology arm of Delta Airlines, as well as earlier roles with both Georgia Pacific and the Federal Reserve; all in Atlanta.

Nashville Health Care Council Announces Three New Hires

The Nashville Health Care Council recently announced three new additions to the organization.

Jamie Lee: Manager of Special Events with key responsibilities for the implementation of Council programs and member relations for the Leadership Health Care initiative. Prior to joining the Council staff, Lee was manager of Marketing and Public Relations at Cross Country Education.

Matt Lehigh: Director of Member Services is responsible for membership relations and recruitment and is liaison to the Leadership Health Care Board of Directors. Previously, Lehigh was the executive director of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office where he managed Dr. Frist's global humanitarian efforts and political affairs.

Mark Richard: Manager of Accounting and Research will be responsible for all financial transaction processing and monthly reporting for the Council. Richard previously worked as director of Accounting with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

7 Habits of Healthy People.

Tennessee-based Inspire Health and noted author Dr. Steven Covey have collaborated on a new nationwide employee wellness project to empower people to take charge of their health. Based on the principals outlined in the best-selling author's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People," the program was created to inspire companies and their employees to make the necessary lifestyle changes that lead to healthier, more productive lives, thereby reducing employee healthcare costs. Bill Bennett, President, FranklinCovey, said, "We are thrilled to have partnered with Inspire Health to develop this unique approach for improving health and wellness. This aligns with our continuing vision of seeing the customization of the 7 Habits as a solution to the problems which organizations and individuals deal with every day." Inspire Health is a wellness consulting company headquartered in Franklin.

Vanderbilt New Healthcare Provider of Nashville Predators

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has signed an agreement to be the new healthcare and emergency medical services provider for the NHL Nashville Predators. The multi-year partnership will include both a strategic business partnership, encompassing marketing and charitable involvement, and Vanderbilt assuming the role of official healthcare provider of the Predators and the Sommet Center, the team's home venue. Vanderbilt Sports Medicine will provide comprehensive medical coverage for the Predators, including a team of physicians, trainers, therapists and others responsible for medical care, injury prevention, medical management and rehabilitation of the team's players, coaches and team personnel.

Vanderbilt LifeFlight Event Medicine will provide emergency medical treatment for the Predators as well as first aid and emergency medical services at Sommet Center events.

Numnum Joins Tennessee Oncology at Centennial

Michael Numnum, MD, recently joined Tennessee Oncology at Centennial Medical Center, part of TriStar Health System®. Specializing in gynecologic oncology, Numnum received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He also completed his OB/GYN internship, residency and fellowship at the University of Alabama. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Gynecological Oncologists.

Breast Surgeons Join STHS, Form New Practice

Breast surgeons Laura L. Dunbar, MD, Ben T. Furman, MD, and Laura L. Lawson, MD have joined Saint Thomas Health Services and formed a new physician practice, Tennessee Breast Specialists, which opened its new office in the 20th Avenue Medical Office Building adjacent to Baptist Hospital last month.

The board-certified surgeons provide comprehensive breast care, including the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The practice is affiliated with STHS and the physicians are currently members of the Baptist Hospital medical staff. Drs. Furman and Lawson also serve as co-directors of the STHS Breast Cancer Program. All three are fellows of the American College of Surgeons and members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Dunbar received her medical degree from Southern Illinois University. She performed her internship and residency in general surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Furman received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and then a residency in surgery at Wake Forest. Subsequently, he completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa.

Lawson earned her medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and also performed her residency in general surgery and fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Vanderbilt. She also participates in research studies.

Purcell Joins Nashville Knee & Shoulder at Centennial

Derek Purcell, MD, has joined Nashville Knee and Shoulder Center at Centennial Medical Center, part of TriStar Health System®. Purcell received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. He completed his General Surgery internship and Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. At Washington University in St. Louis, he completed an Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine fellowship and served as an assistant physician for the St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues.

Allen Joins Center for Urological Treatment at Centennial

Tara Allen, MD, has joined The Center for Urological Treatment located on Centennial Medical Center's campus. Allen received her medical degree from the University of Mississippi in Jackson. She completed her General Surgery internship and Urology residency at the University of Arkansas. She is a member of the American Urological Association and American Medical Association.

Southern Hills Adds Two to Hospitalist Program

Kimberly Carter, MD, and Natalie Spradlin, MD, recently joined Southern Hills Medical Center as members of the hospitalist team.

Carter completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she served on the house staff advisory council and the physician wellness committee. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine.

Spradlin attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Memphis College of Medicine and completed her residency and fellowship in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

New Physicians Join Centennial's Hospitalist Program

Heather Bassett, MD, Olumuyiwa Esuruoso, MD, Karen Knowles, MD, and Robert Valet, MD, have joined the Hospitalist Program at Centennial Medical Center. The physicians are all members of several national societies including the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.

Bassett received her medical degree from University of Texas. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Esuruoso received his medical degree from Ogun State University/Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences in Nigeria. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and internship at Meharry Medical College and completed a teaching and research fellowship at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.

Knowles received her medical degree from East Tennessee State University College of Medicine in Johnson City. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of South Alabama.

Valet received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he also completed his Internal Medicine residency.

nTelagent Releases Bad Debt Study and Tool to Combat Problem

According to a just-released national study by nTelagent, Inc., the source of all that healthcare bad debt can't be blamed solely on the uninsured. nTelagent research shows that, in fact, approximately 65 percent of all bad debt is the result of insured patients … not uninsured ones. The issue arises from the frequent non-collection of upfront payments such as co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.

To help the healthcare industry combat bad debt, nTelagent has developed The Retail Application for the healthcare industry, called the Self-Pay Management System (SPMS). Similar to applications used in the retail industry at the point of sale, SPMS tells healthcare registrars and financial counselors exactly what to do and what to say to each patient at the point of service regarding financial responsibilities.

According to Earl T. Winter, nTelagent CEO: "Healthcare service providers must adapt to the fact that the industry has moved to a retail model, with consumers taking on more and more financial responsibility for their care."



PivotHealth Announces Four New Hires

Brentwood-based PivotHealth, a physician practice management company, has expanded their staff with the recent announcement of four hires.

Vice President of Consulting Michael Coppola: Coppola brings 20 years of experience in comprehensive business management, strategic planning, physician practice management, revenue cycle management, financial management and business development. Prior to joining PivotHealth, he served as Market Vice President of Physician Services for Vanguard Health Systems.

Senior Vice President of Financial Operations Thad Harvey: Harvey has more than 25 years of senior level healthcare finance and management experience, along with planning, projection, implementation and analytical support experience. Previously he served as Chief Financial Officer for Community Physicians of Indiana, Inc.

Operations Analyst Brandt Jewell: Jewell will be responsible for collecting, researching and analyzing data pertaining to physician operations and positioning physician practices for growth. He will also be responsible for enhancing business development and strengthening the overall practice management team, as well as developing strategies and decision-making processes for management teams.

Vice President Consultant Toni Metherall: In this role, Metherall assists clients in improving practice operations and productivity calling on her 25-year experience in working with employed physician groups in complex settings. Previously, Metherall served as Chief Administrative Office for a system-owned primary care medical group with more than 120 PCP physicians and 560 support staff, which included executive responsibility for all operations and financial performance.

GS&P Opens Representative Office in Shanghai, China

Nashville-headquartered Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading national architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm, recently announced it has formally established a representative office in Shanghai, China. Following more than seven years of project work in the country, the addition of a Shanghai office furthers GS&P's commitment to providing expert planning and architectural services within various markets to expanding urban communities and businesses throughout China. The announcement coincides with the construction completion of two projects in China designed by GS&P, Jasper Tower in Shanghai and the Shenzhen Eye Hospital in Shenzhen. The 45-story, 800,000-square-foot Jasper Tower features class A office space. The Shenzhen Eye Hospital features an 11-story inpatient tower that has a gently curved façade allowing required direct sunlight to reach each patient room. The four-story outpatient services facility is highlighted by a five-story cylindrical atrium denoting the main entrance. Underground parking structures and an elaborate outdoor environment completes the design and provides a contrast of state-of-the-art healthcare architecture resting in the healing comfort of nature.

Pruitt Announces Scholarship

Saint Thomas Hospital's Chief of Gastroenterology Ron E. Pruitt, MD, FACP, AGAF, has announced the "Pruitt Scholarship in Gastroenterology." Pruitt along with Ivars Tolmanis, MD of Digestive Diseases Center Gastro in Riga, Latvia, will present this award to Dr. Mairita Ergle-Moriz, a Gastroenterology fellow-in-training at Riga Austrumu Clinician University Hospital, Latvian University, who will work with Pruitt at Saint Thomas Hospital and at the Maria Nathanson Center of Excellence and spend time with other physicians throughout the Nashville community. This unique award is a result of a long-standing friendship between Pruitt and Tolmanis. Pruitt provided Tolmanis with the templates to build his practice following perestroika and the restructuring of the former Soviet Union (USSR). "This scholarship makes it possible for me to experience firsthand how Gastroenterology is practiced in the United States in a busy clinical setting with state-of-the-art facilities and resources," said Ergle-Moriz.

Cricket Helps Families of Seriously Ill Children Stay in Touch

Cricket Communications Inc, has made it easier for the families of seriously ill children to stay in touch with doctors and loved ones — at no cost to themselves. Cricket recently donated 20 phones to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt through Katie's Helping Hand, a charitable fund that provides meals and cell phones to families whose children are admitted to the hospital for prolonged periods of time. The Cricket phones will be used by families with children in every unit of the hospital, including the cancer, pediatric critical care, neonatal intensive care and all inpatient units. In addition to the phone donation, Cricket will also offer free "phantom mailboxes" which allow parents to record a voicemail message with updates about their child so they don't have to make individual calls and repeat the same update multiple times.

"Parents with a sick child rely on emotional support from their loved ones to get through traumatic hospital stays, but often times loved ones don't live close enough to visit. With free cell phones, parents can stay connected with friends and family and don't have to worry about the cost," said Jane Hutson, Cricket area general manager. "Cricket is grateful for the opportunity to help parents when they need it most."

SSI Announces Agreement with Siemens Healthcare

The SSI Group, Inc. announced last month that Siemens Healthcare has signed an agreement to offer a Claims Management Solutions through SSI's ClickON®, ClickON®'s LinX offering, and content partnership. The ClickON® LinX offering will enable Siemens Healthcare customers to take advantage of a wide range of SSI services including claims editing and transmission, claim status, secondary billing, audit tracking and note posting for bill date, confirmation notes, and those items identified in the audit tracking process. Through a comprehensive interface between SSI and Siemens Healthcare, LinX customers will be able to keep the Hospital Information System and Claims Management System in sync.

MTMC Opens Stroke Prevention & Recovery Center

Middle Tennessee Medical Center recently celebrated the opening of its Stroke Prevention and Recovery Center (SPARC) with a ribbon cutting and blessing by Father James Kallarackan of Saint Rose Catholic Church. The Center is focused on treating and preventing stroke and related cerebrovascular disorders.

Patients hospitalized at MTMC with stroke will be offered follow up treatment in the clinic approximately one month after discharge. The Stroke Center will assess the patient and prescribe diagnostic testing or therapy referrals.

In July, the MTMC Stroke Program received the American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award. In October 2007, MTMC became the first hospital in Rutherford County to earn the Gold Seal of ApprovalTM from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers.

Baptist Hospital Foundation Launches Community Fundraising Campaign to Benefit Childbirth Services

The Baptist Hospital Foundation has launched the community phase of its $5 million dollar fundraising campaign, "Caring for Thursday's Baby … and Every Baby" to help raise capital funds for Baptist Hospital's obstetrics expansion projects.

The majority of funds will be utilized for expanding the hospital's Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from 27 to 52 beds, which has an estimated project cost of $9.6 million. Baptist Hospital obtained Certificate of Need approval from Tennessee's Health Services and Development Agency in July 2007 to expand the NICU. Other projects include a renovated postpartum unit and new nurseries, which have already been completed, and an updated family waiting area and lactation area.

To celebrate the success stories of so many babies who have spent time in the NICU and overcome significant odds, the Baptist Hospital Foundation hosted its annual birthday celebration for former patients and their families. The theme of the event was "Building New Beginnings," which also ties into the launch of the community capital campaign.

Carell Family Announces $20 Million Gift to Campaign for Children & Mothers

Three generations of the family of the late Monroe Carell Jr. have pledged a gift of $20 million to the fundraising effort for a new facility to care for children and mothers. The Campaign for Children and Mothers, with a goal of $45 million, will support the building of a 400,000-square-foot facility, slated to open in 2012, adjacent to and connected with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The plans currently call for relocating and expanding Vanderbilt's obstetrics program, accommodating up to 5,000 deliveries when it opens. Construction will include 64 obstetrics-related beds: 48 rooms for pregnant women and new mothers (12 more than those currently housed at Vanderbilt University Hospital, 16 labor and delivery rooms (an increase of four), and three obstetric operating rooms. The plans include a large expansion for pediatrics, as well.

Ten new pediatric operating rooms are also designated for the nearly 400,000-square-foot project, which will roughly double the working accommodations for mothers and children at Vanderbilt.

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About!

Awards, Honors, Recognitions

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has been named one of only seven pediatric "Top Hospitals" in the nation for providing excellent patient safety in an annual survey by The Leapfrog Group, which provides consumers with scores and assessments for more than 1,200 adult and pediatric hospitals nationwide. "This recognition proves how hard our physicians, nurses and all our staff are working to provide the best possible care for children," said Kevin Churchwell, MD, chief executive officer for Children's Hospital. "Through this, we hope that our patients and families know that safety and quality care is of utmost importance to us and that the children we serve are as precious to us as our own." VCH was the only pediatric facility included from the Southeast.

Middle Tennessee Medical Center has received a $1.75 million grant from the Christy-Houston Foundation for the implementation of a robotic surgery program including the purchase of a daVinci Surgical System, which provides minimally invasive surgical instrumentation beyond the capabilities of the human hand. MTMC, which is the only hospital in Rutherford County to offer robotic surgery, expects its first daVinci procedure to occur before Thanksgiving.

Vanderbilt University is one of 18 universities and research organizations nationwide to receive additional funding for its Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program to train professionals across disciplines to identify, assess and provide services for children with autism spectrum and other developmental disorders. The grant, $600,000 over three years, is part of $14 million being distributed by the Health Resources and Services Administration to improve the health and well being of children and youth with ASD.

Local surgeon David Vanderpool, MD, has become the first and only board certified phlebologist in the Nashville area after taking the inaugural Board Certifying Exam offered by The American College of Phlebology, a relatively new specialty of medicine focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins and related problems. Vanderpool, who owns and operates Lavé MD in Brentwood, is also a board certified surgeon who specializes in the treatment of varicose veins.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center scientist, Joey Barnett, PhD, was honored with the Science Integration Award by the American Heart Association for his contributions to building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Fred DeWeese, who recently retired as vice president for facilities planning at development at VUMC, was recognized with the Golden Heart Outstanding Achievement Award, which is the highest award given annually to a volunteer by the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the AHA.

Cumberland Consulting Group, LLC, a national provider of technology consulting services for the healthcare industry headquartered in Nashville, has been named a 2008 Best Small Firm to Work For by Consulting magazine. Cumberland was ranked No. 5 based on more than 13,000 respondents from 205 firms. The firm was also a 2008 Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Future 50 Award winner for the second year in a row.

Brentwood-based PivotHealth, LLC announced their management team at Queens Long Island Medical Group recently completed a highly successful implementation of the Allscripts Enterprise electronic health record system and was awarded the "2008 Client Success 'Connect' Award" by Allscripts, a leading provider of software solutions used to improve patient care.

Tags:

None

Login and voice your opinion!