The Wright Stuff - April 7
Dear WVU Medicine colleagues,
I want to wish you a Happy Easter and thank you for all you do for the patients and families we serve. I hope you’ll get to spend some time this weekend, even if you have to work, with family, friends, and all your “peeps,” celebrating the holiday.
I’d like to give a special shout-out to those who will be holding down the fort this weekend at our hospitals and clinics. As you know, we’re a 24/7 operation; illness and injury can happen at any time. Our patients know that we are here for them – when they need us the most, including holidays, weekends, and evenings – to meet all of their healthcare needs. Again, thank you for all you do and the difference you make!
Looks like we’re in for some beautiful weather, especially on Sunday, so get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, if you can. Spending time in nature is good for the mind and spirit. My kids and I always enjoy taking a walk, playing a sport, or just sitting on the patio catching up when we’re together. It’s a special time, one that I cherish.
Wishing each of you some special moments this weekend, and a safe and blessed Easter.
WVU Medicine Named Among Most Innovative Companies for 2023
I have some exciting news to share today: WVU Medicine has been named among America’s most innovative companies!
On March 29, Fortune released its 2023 list of America's Most Innovative Companies, and it includes a number of hospitals and health systems, including WVU Medicine, which placed No. 90 on the list overall but at No. 8 when you look at just hospitals and health systems.
And we’re in good company; other health systems in the top eight include: Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.), Cleveland Clinic, Houston Methodist, Duke University Health System (Durham, NC), University of Kansas Health System (Kansas City), Cincinnati Children’s, and Intermountain Health (Salt Lake City). Read the article to learn more: 'Innovation is ingrained': Why these 6 health systems were named Fortune's most innovative.
We're a strong, progressive team and this recognition reflects that. Thank you for choosing to share your talents at WVU Medicine, and for always looking for new and creative ways to save and improve lives.
I will be on Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval on Monday (April 10) at 11:30 a.m. to discuss Fortune’s recognition. Tune in!
EASTER ‘EGG-CITEMENT’
Berkeley Shares Precious NICU Photos
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center celebrated Easter early with a photoshoot featuring some of its tiniest patients. The adorable bunny hats were hand-made by the mother of NICU Nursing Manager Shawnee Brindle. Just precious!
Easter Bunny Hops by Camden’s Case Management Department
The Case Management team at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center received a visit from the Easter Bunny this week. The bunny (aka, Myrna Roberts from Andy Boyd’s Home Medical) said she just “wanted to place a smile on everyone’s face” – and she did!
IN OTHER NEWS
Former College Athlete Survives COVID, ECMO
Mason Fox was used to battling on the lacrosse field for Davis and Elkins College. But his greatest battle came in October 2021, when he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and airlifted to the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
“Mason’s story is remarkable because it shows how serious COVID can be,” J.W. Awori Hayanga, MD, MPH, founding director of the ECMO Program at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, said. “He would have died if he had not received ECMO support. When Mason contracted the disease, vaccines were neither widely accessible nor widely accepted. But to have a young, healthy college athlete in his prime almost die from the virus shows how powerful COVID is and underscores how important vaccinations are.”
After severe symptoms and a diagnosis of COVID-19, Mason was admitted to WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon. There, physicians quickly realized he needed extended treatment emergently, and called WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital to have him flown to the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute’s cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) in Morgantown.
Gerald Brumley, an ECMO specialist at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, was one of many team members who cared for Fox. ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) is a life-support machine used in patients with life-threatening heart and/or breathing problems. When the heart does not pump enough blood or the lungs do not provide enough oxygen, ECMO can be used to assist the heart and/or lungs while giving the body a chance to rest. Gerald said Mason was intubated when he arrived in Morgantown and was put on ECMO after coming out of intubation.
“Mason had a severe case of COVID,” Gerald said. “At the time, we weren’t able to allow visitors, so the staff became very involved in not only the physical care of Mason but the mental care as well.”
Mason was on ECMO for weeks. During that time, Gerald and the rest of the staff became emotionally invested in his survival. Gerald said he started to see a turning point in Fox’s health about a week into his course on ECMO.
“At first, it was overwhelming for him,” Gerald said. “He couldn’t breathe, he had a tracheostomy, and he was hooked up to multiple machines. It was a lot, and it would have been easy for him, and other patients, to give up. But Mason was able to develop a positive outlook.”
Mason said he felt he started to get better when he saw how hard the staff was working to care for him. He said he had a different outlook on his situation because of the staff at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
“Jerry motivated me to get moving,” Mason said. “If he and the rest of the team were putting in the work, I needed to on my end. I saw the light. I knew I had to get better.”
Dr. Hayanga said when Mason first came into the CVICU, he had a minimal chance of survival. Mason was discharged from the hospital after just over a month.
“He was going to die,” Dr. Hayanga said. “ECMO saved his life.”
The adult ECMO program at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is the only one of its kind in the state and was recognized nationally with an ELSO Gold Center of Excellence Life Support Award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), which recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction, and ongoing clinical care.
The ECMO staff at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute pride themselves on continuity of care of patients, having the same staff members with them through their stay in the hospital. With that care, Dr. Hayanga said the program initiated a survivorship clinic to provide continuity of care post-discharge, particularly for patients with long COVID.
“We have the model of following patients post-discharge who were on ECMO,” Dr. Hayanga said. “It can be traumatic for patients, and we provide them with support groups, psychological care, and physical therapy. We have formed a community of ECMO COVID survivors who can talk about their experience and learn how to handle the after effects of their experience.”
Recently, the ECMO team received a Best Poster Award at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in San Diego, where they showcased their post-discharge model of care.
Hospitals Recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month
Several hospitals across the WVU Health System have organized events or activities this month as they observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is recognized each April.
The events kicked off earlier this week in Morgantown, where WVU Medicine employees gathered for a Pinwheels for Prevention ceremony. Participants received pinwheels and pinwheel pins, as the pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse prevention.
A little farther south, WVU Medicine United Hospital Center pediatricians “planted” pinwheels at Bridgeport Pediatrics in an effort to help raise awareness about child abuse and neglect.
Employees at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center and WVU Medicine Jefferson Medical Center are also using pinwheels in their recognition of the month, with the blue spinners spotted around both facilities.
As the Prevent Child Abuse America organization reminds us, “child abuse and neglect are preventable, and all communities benefit when children and families are well supported.” That’s something we should all take to heart, and it’s true no matter what month it is.
The photos below show Child Abuse Prevention Month events across the Health System.
Children’s Hospitals Week Celebrated
It’s been a week of celebrating at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, and for good reason — it’s Children’s Hospitals Week!
This is a time to celebrate all the miracles that happen within the Hospital, but it’s also another great opportunity to recognize the hard work of the Hospital’s dedicated medical team and support staff. The week has included a special luncheon (with ice cream!) and photo opportunities as employees – along with the Hospital’s patients, donors, and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partners – continue their mission of changing kids’ health and changing the future.
WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital celebrates Children’s Hospitals Week.
More Flag-raising Ceremonies Held to Observe Donate Life Month
WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH), and Bluefield Emergency (part of PCH) held flag-raising ceremonies earlier this week to recognize Donate Life Month, which is observed in April.
The recognition month is held 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.
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.
Below are photos from flag-raising ceremonies held at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Princeton Community Hospital, and Bluefield Emergency.
Rural Trauma Team Development Course Offered in Princeton
Physicians and nurses from WVU Medicine visited the Karen Preservati Center in Princeton on April 3 to teach a Rural Trauma Team Development Course, a class focused on obstacles encountered by rural trauma centers and ways to improve local trauma systems to better facilitate timely and quality care. Instructors included Alison Wilson, MD; Scott Findley, MD; Frank Lucente, MD; Conley Coleman, DO; and Eric Small, RN, trauma outreach and injury preventionist.
The course was attended by emergency department providers and nurses from WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) and Bluefield Emergency (part of PCH), and by EMS personnel from the Princeton and Bluefield Rescue Squads.
Below are some photos from the course.
President Gee Visits Faculty, Staff at Sinus and Allergy Center
E. Gordon Gee, WVU president and chair of the WVU Health System board of directors, stopped by Morgantown’s WVU Medicine Sinus and Allergy Center earlier this week to visit with faculty and staff. The facility provides comprehensive care for patients with sinus and allergy complaints.
President Gee is pictured below with Hassan Ramadan, MD, professor and chair, WVU Medicine Otolaryngology, and members of the center staff.
Dr. Kochupura Receives Uniontown’s Inaugural Gold Stethoscope Award
WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital has recognized Peter Kochupura, MD, clinical director of pulmonology and critical care, as the inaugural recipient of the hospital's Golden Stethoscope Award. Congratulations!
More than 220 nominations were submitted – naming 40 different providers – for the award, which “honors and recognizes a physician who is a collaborative leader across the continuum of care, demonstrating a consistent focus on patient satisfaction and a commitment to the highest standards of quality care.”
Dr. Kochupura received 48 nominations that repeatedly underscored his exceptional commitment and care.
At last week’s Uniontown Hospital board meeting, Peter Kochupura, MD, was presented with the Gold Stethoscope Award by Chief Medical Officer Brandon Ball, MD.
St. Joseph’s Nurse Receives VIP Award
WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital recently honored Sara Deffet, RN, with the Values Inspired Person (VIP) Award.
Sara, who serves as a night house supervisor for Nursing Services, is always going the extra mile for the hospital’s employees. Her co-workers say she assists them in many ways, ensuring they have what they need to do their jobs safely, including necessary immunizations and follow-up after incidents. She also makes sure any incidents are recorded correctly and efficiently and communicates with Employee Health regularly regarding employee needs. Sara offers to vaccinate night shift and weekend employees so they don’t have to go to Employee Health when they are not scheduled to work.
Sara is a caring and compassionate employee who will do anything for her co-workers and patients. Congratulations on an award well-deserved!
Sister Francesca Lowis (left), vice president of Mission Integration, and Skip Gjolberg (right), president and CEO of WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, present Sara Deffet, RN, with the VIP Award.
Wheeling Mammography Tech Donates to Oncology Patients
WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital recently received a thoughtful donation from one of its own.
Jessica Lilley, a mammography tech at the hospital, donated 113 gift cards totaling $3,625 to benefit oncology patients. Her fundraising efforts were part of a capstone service learning project for her bachelor’s degree in medical imaging from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.
Thank you, Jessica, for your generous donation and caring for patients in the community!
Jessica Lilley (center) is pictured with Melissa Mealy (left), oncology patient navigator at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, and Katie Hughes, oncology social worker.
Annual SIDS Awareness 5K a Success in Princeton
Despite rain and high winds, the WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) Volunteers’ annual Macey Whittaker SIDS Awareness 5K Walk/Run was a great success. Held on April 1 on the Princeton campus and the nearby city park, the 5K raised $7,622 from 98 registered participants and the event sponsors. Proceeds will be used by the volunteers to purchase safe sleep sacks that are presented to all newborns upon discharge from the PCH Women’s Center.
Macey Whittaker was born May 19, 2010, at the Women’s Center at PCH. Three months later, she was a tragic victim of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). To honor Macey’s memory and to celebrate the lives of all children who are lost to SIDS and other infant deaths, Macey’s parents, Emilie and Garret Whittaker, along with the PCH Auxiliary, proudly support the annual Macey Whittaker SIDS Awareness 5K Walk/Run.
Grand Rounds Schedule for Week of April 10 Announced
To receive free CME credit:
- Please ensure your full name is on your Zoom login so that you can easily be identified.
- If you have not participated and received credit for Grand Rounds via Zoom, please complete the Credit Request Form located in the chat box during the Zoom lecture. You will only need to complete this form one time. This ensures that appropriate information is on file to match your login name and that the correct person is receiving credit.
Mark your calendar:
- Internal Medicine Research Day: Friday, April 21, Erickson Alumni Center, Morgantown
- Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Symposium: Friday, Aug. 25, Waterfront Marriott, Morgantown
- DiBartolomeo Internal Medicine Conference: Friday, Sept. 1, Waterfront Marriott, Morgantown
To view previously recorded Grand Rounds, visit the archive.
A FINAL THOUGHT…
We’re all familiar with the notion of a traveling nurse, but WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital has its very own singing nurse! Cody Bragg, RN, works in the hospital’s Critical Care Unit, but he’s also a musician who writes and performs his own songs. His latest song, “Gunslingin’ Cowboy,” is a catchy tune that might just keep you toe-tapping right into the weekend. 😊
