The Wright Stuff - April 4
Dear WVU Medicine colleagues,
National Donate Life Month is observed each April to raise awareness about organ, cornea, and tissue donation; to encourage everyone to register as a donor; and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. It’s an important month with an important message.
On March 31, we held a Donate Life Month flag-raising ceremony at United Hospital Center to recognize the month. We held similar ceremonies yesterday, April 3, at Berkeley Medical Center, Jefferson Medical Center, and Wheeling Hospital, and there are two more events planned for this week – one at Princeton Community Hospital today and one at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Thursday. More WVU Medicine hospitals will hold events in the coming weeks to spread the message of the power of donation to save and heal lives.
More than 400,000 Americans are alive today thanks to organ donors; however, there are more than 100,000 people in the United States waiting for an organ transplant, including 2,500 in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, according to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education. At least 20 of those people will die each day without receiving the transplant they so desperately need. And someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
Consider this: A donor can save the lives of eight people through solid organ donation, and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through cornea and tissue donation.
If you are not registered as a donor, please consider making this life-saving choice and visit: RegisterMe.org/WVUMedicine. Anyone can be a potential donor, regardless of age, race, or medical history.
Finally, mark your calendar for National Donate Life Blue and Green Day, which is Friday, April 14. By wearing blue and green that day (be sure to follow dress code guidelines), you’ll help share the Donate Life message and promote the importance of registering as an organ, cornea, and tissue donor.
Let’s share our life with others.
Below are some photos from the flag-raising ceremonies held at United Hospital Center, Berkeley Medical Center, Jefferson Medical Center, and Wheeling Hospital.
IN OTHER NEWS
Mandatory Annual Education Courses for WVU Medicine Employees Available
The 2023 Mandatory Annual Education courses for WVU Medicine employees are now available in Workday.
The elearning courses are required to ensure that all employees perform at the highest level, and that they provide safe and effective patient care and services. The courses also satisfy requirements from numerous regulatory agencies. The deadline to complete the mandatory courses is Friday, June 30.
Employees at the following WVU Medicine facilities and entities are required to complete the courses: Allied Health Solutions, Barnesville Hospital, Berkeley Medical Center, Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Camden Clark Medical Center, Camden Clark Physician Corporation, Harrison Community Hospital, Jackson General Hospital, Jefferson Medical Center, Peak Health, Potomac Valley Hospital, Princeton Community Hospital, Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Summersville Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph's Hospital, Uniontown Hospital, United Hospital Center, United Summit Center, University Health Associates, West Virginia University Dental Corporation, West Virginia University Hospitals, Wetzel County Hospital, Wheeling Hospital, WVUHS Medical Group, and WVUHS Home Care.
Employees at Garrett Regional Medical Center, Grant Memorial Hospital, Thomas Hospitals, Welch Community Hospital, and MonEMS do not have to complete the Annual Education process this year.
Employees who need Workday login support can contact the IT Help Desk at helpdesk@WVUMedicine.org or 304-598-HELP (4357). For questions regarding mandatory elearning assignments, contact HROneSource at 833-599-2100 or enter an HR Help Case in Workday. For frequently asked questions, visit the Workday Help Center and click on the “2023 Annual Education” knowledge article.
Thomas Hospitals First in Region to Use Robotic Technology for Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Physicians at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals have begun using a new robotic-assisted technology to biopsy potential lung cancer tumors earlier than traditional diagnostic tests allow.
Using the Ion® by Intuitive (Ion) allows specialists to see inside the lungs, collect a tissue sample for biopsy, and enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis of small and difficult-to-reach areas in the periphery of the lung. Guided by the physician, the robot uses a pre-planned navigation path to help guide an ultra-thin catheter to a growth in the lung that appears on a CT scan.
Many patients currently require multiple biopsies prior to lung cancer diagnosis, which can add months to a patient’s journey to care. The Ion will help shorten the time to diagnosis and treatment by making it possible to biopsy difficult-to-reach nodules in the peripheral lung, where more than 70 percent of cancerous lung nodules are located.
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States,” said Greg Rosencrance, MD, FACP, president and CEO of Thomas Hospitals. “We know that to be true in West Virginia, and this new technology will allow physicians to detect cancer sooner, which will benefit patients and potentially save lives.”
The first procedures using this technology at Thomas Hospitals were performed by Phillip Cox, DO, and Tom Takubo, DO, of Pulmonary Associates of Charleston.
Thomas Hospitals is the first hospital in the region to use this system for minimally invasive lung biopsy.
Physicians are pictured using the Ion® by Intuitive to perform a lung biopsy.
More Pics From Doctors’ Day Celebrations
From delicious breakfast events to swag bags filled with goodies, doctors across the WVU Health System were celebrated last Thursday in honor of National Doctors’ Day. Here are a few more photos from the festivities, because even though the annual observance of National Doctors’ Day may have passed, we are grateful each and every day for the work they are doing. We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to each one!
Celebrating National Cancer Registrars Week
It’s National Cancer Registrars Week (April 3-7), a great time to thank the cancer registrars across the WVU Health System for all they do and the difference they make!
Have you ever wondered how cancer statistics are collected? How doctors determine which cancer treatments are most effective? How public health officials learn where clusters of cancer diagnoses are located?
Cancer registrars are data information specialists who capture a complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status for every cancer patient in the U.S. This curated data provides essential information to researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials to better monitor and advance cancer treatments, conduct research, and improve cancer prevention and screening programs.
Most cancer registrars work at hospitals, medical facilities, and state-run central registries, and the information collected is reported, by law, to the state and federal government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute.
Cancer registrars work to achieve the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) credential that signifies professional excellence in the cancer registry field, and they’re often members of National Cancer Registrar Association (NCRA), which represents more than 6,500 cancer registry professionals and certified tumor registrars.
Please take some time this week to recognize these highly skilled team members who work behind the scenes. Advances in cancer care simply cannot be made without the data that cancer registrars provide.
Autism Awareness Highlighted in April
The month of April has arrived, and that means so has National Autism Awareness Month. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that 1 in 36 children in the United States are affected by autism, there’s a good chance you know someone who is on the autism spectrum.
The month is sure to be full of events, activities, and special programs. For example, you’re probably familiar with Autism Speaks’ “Light It Up Blue” campaign, which encourages people and groups to help spread awareness and acceptance by lighting homes, buildings, and landmarks in blue – a color chosen because of its association with calmness and acceptance.
April 2 in particular was World Autism Awareness Day. The special day was designated by the United Nations in an effort to “highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.” People around the globe wore blue on Sunday in support of this important cause.
Closer to home, facilities like the WVU Medicine Children’s Neurodevelopmental Center and the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute offer treatment for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, focusing on treating the whole person and meeting their individual needs. To help kick off the special month, the Neurodevelopmental Center hosted an Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day event over the weekend, where prizes, games, food trucks, and more were available.
Whether you wear blue, attend an awareness event, volunteer with an autism group, or show your support in another way, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the month to promote acceptance and awareness.
The photo below is from the Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day event.
1,000th Baby Delivered at Reynolds Memorial Since Department Reopening
It was a day of celebration at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital on Sunday as the Labor and Delivery Department marked a significant milestone.
One thousand babies have been born at Reynolds Memorial Hospital since the Labor and Delivery Department reopened in 2018. The special honor of being “one in a thousand” went to baby Nolan, who was born at 2:18 a.m. Sunday. He is the son of Casandra and Chris Kinsey.
Hospital staff said they were happy and honored to be part of the Kinseys’ special day.
Nolan Kinsey is the 1,000th baby born at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital since the Labor and Delivery Department’s reopening.
Camden Clark Launches School Health Education Series with New Partners in Education
WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center kicked off in-school programming last week at its new Partners in Education in South Parkersburg communities, including Fairplains Elementary School, Gihon Elementary School, and Blennerhassett Middle School.
On Tuesday, nurses from the hospital spoke with students at Fairplains Elementary about preventing illness with proper hand hygiene techniques. The students at Fairplains enjoyed engaging with the nurses during their visit and were able to ask questions about other methods to prevent the spread of germs.
On Wednesday, Michael Cheshire, DO, FACOI, FACP, and Camden Clark Medical Center residents visited Gihon Elementary to discuss the importance of hand-washing with an interactive display of hands, soap, water, and germ puppets. They concluded their presentation with questions from the students, along with an explanation of the roles of residents within the hospital.
The week’s events wrapped up Friday at Blennerhassett Middle School, where Kristina Brooks, director of Cardiovascular Services at Camden Clark Medical Center, and Cardiovascular Services staff gave a presentation to eighth-grade students about the immediate dangers of vaping in relation to heart and overall physical and mental health.
Staff at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center show off some of their hand-washing props during a visit to Gihon Elementary School.
Over $50,000 Raised for WVU Medicine Children’s Through Annual MountaineerTHON
It was another successful year for the MountaineerTHON!
This annual dance marathon took place Saturday at the Student Rec Center at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Each year, students at WVU participate in the Children’s Miracle Network initiative to raise funds and awareness for patients at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.
This year’s MountaineerTHON raised $53,416.99. The eight-hour celebration featured grateful patient stories, live entertainment, and more than 200 students fundraising to help support some of Children’s Hospital’s greatest needs.
Participants reveal the grand total raised during the annual MountaineerTHON.
Respecting and accepting one another more readily begins with an understanding that we’re all unique, and that we should first and foremost respect qualities, experiences, and traditions that are different from our own. My goal is to nurture and sustain a culture where people feel safe, regardless of their unique dimensions, and to create a caring work environment built on mutual respect, acceptance, and inclusivity. Healthcare is a team sport, and having a unified team with members who support, respect, and care for one another is essential as we continue to care for our patients. So, with that, I want to share our next profile.
Name: Maria BaMaung, DNP, RN, MBA, APHN
Job: Director of Nursing, Women’s and Children’s Services and Nursing Resource Team, WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and WVU Medicine Jefferson Medical Center
Years of Service: Three
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Superpower: “Positivity. It gives hope and purpose to others when they need it most, and it can lead a team to the highest level of accomplishment.”
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: “My most recent accomplishment that I am proud of is attaining my doctorate degree in nursing practice just this past year. At this age, I never thought I would still be in school. It was not easy, but I did it, and it was definitely worth it.”
Q: What one word would your friends use to describe you?
A: “Adviser.”
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: “I would like to be remembered as someone who had an impact on someone’s life. I’d like to know that I was able to help someone at whatever stage they were in their life.”
Q: What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
A: “Diversity and inclusion to me means having equal and fair opportunities for everyone regardless of age, sex, race/ethnicity, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and family structure. It means being included based on your qualifications, knowledge, and experience. It means being treated fairly, a sense of belonging and value within an organization. It also means being able to take yourself out of your own comfort zone and learning about others who may have different ideas and beliefs from you. I’m very proud to work for an organization that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
A FINAL THOUGHT…
Jessica Scritchfield Wooten, DNP, FNP-BC, who works in primary care at the WVU Medicine Mid-Ohio Valley Medical Group, shared a heartwarming story with me last week about her family’s recent experience with the Go Baby Go project.
This free service project, offered by the WVU School of Medicine’s Division of Occupational Therapy, provides modified, battery-powered, ride-on vehicles for children who have limited ability to use a traditional ride-on vehicle. Occupational therapy students and staff customize a ride-on vehicle for the child, modifying things like seating support, activation controls, and steering.
Last month, Jessica’s son, Jack, who is 5 years old and has Down syndrome, received one of these customized vehicles, and now he is able to drive a toy vehicle just like his peers! As a WVU alumna and current WVU Medicine employee, Jessica said she is so proud of this collaboration – and it looks like Jack is, too!
