e-Update
July 10, 2000
Weekly News Briefs
e-Update is distributed weekly to keep faculty and staff at the University
of Miami School of Medicine up-to-date on news at the University of Miami/Jackson
Memorial Medical Center. To submit news for publication, e-mail items to update@med.miami.edu.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
--Six Medical Center Programs recognized in U.S. News & World Report survey
--The Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel report on Human Genome "Town Meeting"
--Psychiatry Doctor Named to NIH National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
--Urology Doctor Cited in Herald on Female Sexual Dysfunction
--Tele-Care Highlighted in Herald Neighbors
--Recycling Program Looking to Reach Million-Pound Mark
--How Can You Increase Patient Satisfaction at the Medical Center?
--Upcoming Calendar Events
BASCOM PALMER EARNS NO. 2 SPOT IN U.S. NEWS SURVEY--
FIVE OTHER UM PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED
The University of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute ranks as one of the nation's best hospitals for ophthalmology in this year's U.S. News & World Report annual survey of America's Best Hospitals. Bascom Palmer, which was ranked number two, has been ranked either number one or two each year since the initial survey in 1990 -- running neck-and-neck with Johns Hopkins. Five other University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center programs were recognized in the survey. UM/Jackson's kidney program entered the survey for the first time at 27th. Other ranked programs include digestive disorders (41), ear, nose and throat (35); gynecology (35); and pediatrics (21). The issue hits newsstands today. See the rankings online at www.usnews.com.
MEDICAL FACULTY PONDERS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT IN HERALD AND SUN-SENTINEL
The School of Medicine's "town meeting" to discuss the first draft of the human genome sequence was featured in a Miami Herald article on July 6 and a Sun-Sentinel article on June 29. The Sun-Sentinel article reported on UM's plans to reassess its approach to teaching medicine, upgrade its technology and keep faculty up to speed on the latest developments in genetic research. The Herald article examined the bioethical implications of genetic research and subsequent clinical applications. View the Herald article at www.herald.com/content/thu/living/livart/digdocs/058486.htm. View the Sun-Sentinel article at www.sun-sentinel.com/news/daily/detail/0,1136,32000000000121034,00.html
Look for a full report of the meeting in the upcoming Summer 2000 issue of Medical Center Update.
UM DOCTOR NAMED TO NIH NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DRUG ABUSE
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, has named JosÈ Szapocznik, M.D., professor and director of the Center for Family Studies in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. Members of this council advise the Secretary on matters related to the development, support and conduct of comprehensive health, education, research, epidemiology, research training and planning programs for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse and for the rehabilitation of drug abusers. Dr. Szapocznik will serve a four-year term beginning December 1, 2000.
UROLOGY DOCTOR CITED IN HERALD ON PRODUCT FOR FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
Bruce Kava, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Urology, offered a word of caution about products claiming to be a tonic for women's fading sex drives in a Miami Herald story on July 3. In the article entitled "Invention Said to be Women's Answer to Viagra," Dr. Kava noted that not enough studies on the causes of female sexual dysfunction have been completed to presume that treatments that work for men will necessarily apply to women. To view the article in full, visit www.herald.com/content/mon/business/florida/digdocs/033411.htm.
UM CAREGIVER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED IN HERALD NEIGHBORS
Tele-Care, a UM program designed to help caregivers better cope with their responsibilities by remembering to care for themselves, was featured in Miami Herald Neighbors-East on July 6. Mark Rubert, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, touched on the isolation that caregivers often feel as they tend to ailing loved ones. To view the article in full, visit www.herald.com/content/today/news/dade/east/digdocs/086416.htm
RECYCLING PROGRAM LOOKING TO REACH MILLION-POUND MARK
Thanks to widespread participation among all campuses, last year, UM recycled 860,000 pounds of paper using the University's recycling program. With your help we can reach one million pounds this year! Recyclable items include computer print-outs, Post-It notes, all envelopes, white and colored paper, manila folders and ruled legal pad paper. You can even leave staples in your recyclable documents -- so there's no reason not to pitch in. If you don't have a recycling bin in your office, contact Alberto Ramon in the Office of Environmental Services/Property Surplus at 305-324-9696.
MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR "WORD ON THE STREET"
Quality patient care is an essential part of the School of Medicine's mission,
and we want to know what you can do to make each patient's experience a positive
one. The Summer issue of the employee newsletter will pose the question "What
can you personally do to enhance a patient's health care experience at the medical
center?" To respond, simply reply to this e-mail or send your comments
to update@med.miami.edu. Make your
voice heard!
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE BILLING?
CONTACT THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Address questions regarding Medicare billing and compliance to Third Party Reimbursement/Office of Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 1-877-415-HELP. For more information about the help line or training programs offered by the compliance office, contact Gemma Romillo at 305-243-5842.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY
The Miami Area Geriatric Education Center (MAGEC) will host the annual Intensive Geriatric Training Conference July 19 through 21 at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged, 5200 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami. The conference will address such topics as geriatric syndrome, HIV, and family violence, and will include participatory activities such as aging sensitivity training. This event is approved for 20 CEU/CME credit hours for up to 15 disciplines. For registration and information, call 305-243-6270.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERS FINANCIAL CONSULTATIONS WITH FIDELITY INVESTMENTS
Jason Friday, a representative from Fidelity Investments, will be at the Professional Development and Training Office, 155 Dominion Parking Garage, July 17, to conduct individual financial counseling sessions. He will answer financial questions and discuss retirement planning issues. To schedule an appointment, call 800-642-7131.
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