Carilion Clinic

NOTICE: Carilion's blog has moved; update your RSS feed

2009-08-27T11:14:00.003-04:00

If you subscribe to an RSS feed for the Carilion Clinic blog, please note the new URL for our RSS feed: http://newsblog.carilionclinic.org/feed/. Please update accordingly. Thank you!

Dallas Morning News Column: Carilion Working to Solve Health Care Crisis Without Waiting for the Federal Government

2009-08-25T12:44:00.013-04:00

Dallas Morning News columnist Jim Landers posted a column today headlined "Local debates may shape the direction of health care"

Quoting the first line: "In Dallas, In Roanoke, VA, and in communities from California to Maine, health care debates are underway that might improve things without waiting for the federal government.

The column references Carilion's work with Brookings and Dartmouth to pilot an "Accountable Care Organization" next year.
Click the picture for a link to the full article.
(Interesting note, Landers is originally from Fairfax, VA)

Nancy Howell Agee Appointed to Joint Commission Board of Commissioners

2009-08-20T17:47:00.003-04:00

Carilion Clinic Chief Operating Officer's term begins in 2010

ROANOKE, Va. (August 20, 2009) Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion Clinic’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed to the board of the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest health care accreditation agency. The board is the Joint Commission’s governing body and consists of 29 voting members, including physicians, administrators, nurses, employers, a labor representative, health plan leaders, quality experts, ethicists, a consumer advocate and educators. Agee was appointed to the board by the American Hospital Association.

“They could not have made a more appropriate choice,” said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, MD. “We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of Nancy’s inspiring spirit, tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to our patients. It is not surprising that her leadership is recognized on a national level.”

In addition to the new position on the Joint Commission board, Agee serves on the Radford University Board of Visitors, and currently chairs the Board of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and the Foundation of Roanoke Valley.

The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 16,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States and is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality. Commissioners serve three-year terms that are renewable for up to three terms. The Board’s composition includes representatives from each of The Joint Commission’s corporate members: American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, and American Dental Association, six public members, one at-large representative of the nursing profession, and, as an ex-officio member, Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president of The Joint Commission.

Going... Going... Gone.

2009-08-20T13:34:00.004-04:00

The last structure on the old Roanoke City Mill property came down yesterday. Once the debris is removed, the property will be clear.
Scroll down for progressive panoramas of the demolition process.

Hokie Stone set into Virginia Tech Carilion building facade

2009-08-14T11:35:00.005-04:00

ROANOKE, Va., August 14, 2009 -- The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute (VTC) passed a symbolic milestone recently with the placing of the first batch of Hokie Stones in the facade of the new VTC building.

Hokie Stone, a type of dolomite limestone, is the traditional building material used on Virginia Tech buildings. Most of the stones come from a 40-acre quarry located near the Virginia Tech central campus in Blacksburg, Va.

“This milestone is exciting because it is something that you can actually see – and in many ways it represents the partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic,” states Dennis Dean, acting director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. “We are carefully putting the pieces together to make VTC a reality. The partnership is impressive – people have already begun to collaborate on many levels.”

Workers are hand cutting the stones on the VTC construction site in Roanoke. Approximately 170 tons of Hokie Stone will be used to cover about 5,570 square feet along the entrance to the VTC building.

“Virginia Tech is my alma mater, so this project is especially important to me. Hokie Stone is a wonderful complement to the building, the visual appeal is obvious -- but it is the emotional appeal that really makes a strong statement. The Hokie Stone serves as a foundation to the main entrance of the building, which reflects the academic foundation that Virginia Tech envisions for the new institution.” states Daniel DiMarco, project architect at AECOM.

Research conducted at VTC creates a bridge between basic science research at Virginia Tech and clinical expertise at Carilion Clinic. Research conducted by scientists at the institute is aimed at understanding the molecular basis for health and disease, and development of diagnostic tools, treatments, and therapies that will contribute to the prevention and solution of existing and emerging problems in contemporary medicine.

In early June of this year, VTC’s four-year doctorate of medicine program received preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and in July the school received certification by Virginia’s State Council of Higher Education. Later this fall VTC will be seeking approval from the State Association of Colleges.

The school’s first class of 42 aspiring physicians will begin their studies in the fall of 2010 and graduate with an M.D. degree in the spring of 2014.

With an innovative patient-centered curriculum, VTC addresses the increasing need for research-competent physicians who can translate research from the bench to the bedside and into the community. The curriculum provides an exemplary education in basic sciences and clinical sciences and skills, but transcends the traditional medical education model by providing a solid foundation in, and opportunities to explore the disciplines of research and interprofessionalism.

The VTC physician will be well prepared to enter any area of medicine and will possess the skills needed to become part of an interdisciplinary team. VTC graduates will be thought leaders in their chosen field, whether it is community or academic medicine, research, health policy and reform, or health information technology.

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute comprise a unique partnership to establish a new generation of health care professionals and leaders in their chosen fields. Originating from the Carilion Clinic, one of Virginia's largest health care providers, and Virginia Tech, the commonwealth's leading research university, the school and institute will occupy the nexus of modern results-driven medical training with applications-oriented research.

VTC Construction Continues - Time-lapse Video Shows Progress

2009-08-07T13:44:00.004-04:00

With the bricks and Hokie Stone going up on the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute - the building is really taking shape. Enjoy this collection of still images taken from our construction webcam, assembled into a time-lapse video.

Hip Replacement Surgery - Walk the NEXT DAY?

2009-08-06T16:13:00.006-04:00

With the "Anterior Approach" minimally invasive hip replacement technique, along with computer-guided navigation available at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Dr. Joe Moskal's patients are walking the next day, and back to normal activities in a few short weeks.
(Golfer Tom Watson had the procedure last year in California, walked out of the hospital with a cane the next day, and 6 months later tied for the lead in the 2009 British Open!)
Watch WDBJ's story about the procedure, including interviews with local patients who talk about the experience.

Infant Mortality Drops in Virginia

2009-08-05T10:41:00.002-04:00

Governor Tim Kaine announced yesterday that infant mortality has hit the lowest level in State history. Read the governor's news release. Watch WDBJ's coverage below, including interviews with Neonatologist Manual Peregrino, Barbara Pack with the Southwest Virginia Perinatal Council, and parents in Carilion's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Camp Carilion Prepares Tomorrow's Health Professionals

2009-08-04T09:17:00.004-04:00

What did you do at camp? If you attended Carilion Clinic's Heart Camp this week, you performed simulated microsurgery, learned CPR, and toured a medical helicopter, just for starters!
Check out WDBJ's coverage below.

Carilion Clinic Westlake Center Opens With Strong Community Support

2009-07-29T16:16:00.012-04:00

Before we could pack up the tents and clean up the ribbon fragments, the waiting room at the Urgent Care Center at Carilion Clinic Westlake was nearly full.
Watch WLSL's coverage of the event with anchor and Health Reporter Karen McNew below.

Watch the ribbon cutting below, and hear comments from community leaders. Scroll down for the image gallery and news release.

Image Gallery

CARILION CLINIC’S NEW WESTLAKE CENTER OPENS

Now offering urgent care, imaging services, rotating physician specialists, and emergency helicopter and ambulance service at the lake

ROANOKE, Va. (July 29, 2009) – Carilion Clinic’s new state-of-the-art outpatient medical complex at Smith Mountain Lake has officially opened. Located at Westlake Towne Center, Carilion Clinic’s Westlake center represents an investment in the future health of the community at the lake. The center is a 10,000 square foot medical complex offering urgent care, imaging services, rotating physician specialists, and emergency helicopter and ambulance service.

“We are an integral part of this community, and our patients are also our neighbors and friends,” says Bill Jacobsen, chief executive officer and vice president of Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. “Our goal is to create a quality health care center at the lake. With our advanced medical facilities we are offering services that will improve lake residents’ comfort, security and quality of life.”

Carilion Clinic’s nationally accredited Sleep Center and Carilion Clinic Urgent Care, previously located nearby, have also moved to the new center. A helipad has been built for Carilion’s Life-Guard helicopters to land next to the center, and emergency medical transport personnel are located on-site. Carilion earlier donated two acres of land at its Westlake site to Franklin County to develop an EMS/fire station intended to be staffed around-the-clock.

The rotating physician specialists include surgeons, cardiologists and gynecologists. As the needs of the community grow, other types of specialists may be added to offer lake residents services they need that are close to home. Several medical practices have already expressed an interest in opening satellite services at the center.

The new complex is the result of many hours of consultation with members of the community, and Franklin County officials. As a result, the center has been tailored to meet the particular needs of the growing lake community. The 21-acre site allows considerable room for expansion as the community’s needs grow, and the center has been specifically designed to accommodate such expansion on two sides.

Read the Roanoke Times Sunday article about progress at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute

2009-07-27T11:11:00.003-04:00

Leaders of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute say lessons learned during its evolution ensure its success as economic development driver.

By Sarah Bruyn Jones
The Roanoke Times

(link to the original article)

The same hopes for new jobs and a vibrant research park once tied to the success of the Carilion Biomedical Institute now rest on the shoulders of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.
As workers shape the structure that will house the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and the research institute, leaders within the two groups are already planning for future construction.

"This is not going to be the last building," said Dennis Dean, acting director of the research institute. "I think this is going to end up being a biomedical research park that's an economic boon for the area."

The idea of a biomedical research park is not new to Roanoke. The joint vision of Carilion Clinic and the city was to establish one in the South Jefferson Redevelopment Area.
When Carilion Biomedical Institute was first unveiled a decade ago, its supporters contended it would attract promising biomedical businesses that would help to jump start the local economy.
Carilion Clinic gave $20 million as initial seed money to CBI and then several million more to help the organization build up its war chest of intellectual property and fund research ventures. CBI was supposed to become self-sufficient, and new businesses were expected to flock to the biomedical park.

Neither happened.

"We didn't regulate our money well," said Dr. Andre Muelenaer, who among several other positions is still the medical director for CBI. "We did a better job with entrepreneurs than with research labs, but it was a lesson learned."

While there are some CBI-backed companies still operating in the region and showing promise, to date Luna Innovations Inc. remains the only company to call the redevelopment area home. Luna, which develops and manufacturers products for the health care, telecommunications, defense and energy markets, filed for bankruptcy July 17.

Others, however, are located in downtown Roanoke and looking to grow. The biomedical park-- now called Riverside Center -- is being filled with a clinic building for Carilion physicians, a hotel, and the building that will house the VTC research institute and medical school.
Meanwhile, CBI has all but closed its doors.

Because the company still holds intellectual property it will not disappear entirely. Also, it still is incorporated with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Still, those who had leadership roles within CBI said the focus has shifted to the coming research institute.

"And now here we are almost 10 years later. Who cares in a sense what it ended up being?" said Dennis Fisher, the former president and CEO of CBI, a few weeks ago. "The final result is it occurred and brought an increased number of jobs and economic development."
It's just that the jobs and economic development are coming with Carilion recruiting doctors, and the medical school and research institute instead of new biomedical businesses, Fisher said.
Carilion officials maintain that CBI was the catalyst for VTC.

"It really is picking up the ball where CBI left it and having the research institute run with it," said Eric Earnhart, spokesman for Carilion. "And I don't think the ball was ever dropped."

New project made debut with promise of jobs

When the city and Carilion first unveiled the plans for a 75-acre biomedical business park in 2000, they estimated it could bring 2,500 high paying jobs. At the same time Carilion pledged to create 200 jobs within five years after buying the redevelopment land from the city.
CBI claims to have brought a dozen new companies to the Roanoke and New River valleys, bringing more than $100 million in economic impact and more than 100 new jobs since 2003. By the end of 2006, CBI says it helped facilitate $17 million in laboratory research, which has resulted in 100 discoveries, 68 inventions and 22 patents, according to the organization's Web site.

In the past three years, Carilion has hired more than 200 physicians, many of whom will see patients in the new clinic building set to open in September at the corner of South Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue. The research institute seeks to employ more than 200 researchers by 2013. And so far, nearly 300 people have been given faculty appointments to the medical school, although many of those people also hold other jobs in the area.

Muelenaer said future partnerships beyond the initial VTC research institute could still be on the horizon. "A lot of seeds were planted and the trees are slowly growing," he said.

Dean said there are lessons that were learned from CBI that will allow the research institute to be more successful in bringing about economic development. "The first time was sort of an experiment, and then we realized the relationship between Virginia Tech and Carilion had not been developed," he said. "It [CBI] was not a failure because we learned a heck of a lot from that."

Seed money grows into research collaboration

The lessons are being applied in multiple ways, including in setting up the infrastructure for having people from Carilion and Virginia Tech collaborate on research.
While many of the details such as ownership of intellectual property are still being hammered out, Dean said both Virginia Tech and Carilion have learned a great deal on how to better keep collaborative efforts running.

In some instances it's meant intentionally pairing researchers from Virginia Tech with someone from Carilion. Previously those involved had thought that these pairings would happen organically, but Dean said it quickly became obvious that someone needed to match people who had similar interests.

That's how Shashank Priya, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, and Sonya Ranson, manager of the Center for Experiential Learning at Carilion, found each other. Ranson said her boss suggested she meet with Priya.

Priya is known for his research in energy harvesting, artificial muscles, humanoid skin and face, actuators and sensors, according to a Virginia Tech news release.
Ranson is in charge of running the robotic human simulator at Carilion to help clinicians practice and develop their clinical skills.

Together the two are working on a prototype of a human-like robotic patient. While current simulators can mimic some internal human functions, such as having a pulse, they do not exhibit external human features. So the simulator can't cry or reach for its neck when choking.
Using Priya's robotic skills and Ranson's understanding of the educational needs, the two are hoping to make the human simulators more realistic. "We're a nice team in that I have certain skills and background, and he has other skills that I don't," Ranson said. "I feel very fortunate."
To facilitate the partnership the research institute recently awarded the duo a $30,000 grant. In all, the research institute distributed six of these seed grants to get collaborative research off the ground.

Priya was out of town and unavailable for comment but said in a news release, "With this grant, we will develop a human-like patient and study specific disease states. This seed fund will significantly strengthen our efforts and allow us to achieve important milestones in order to secure funding from federal agencies."

Dean said the seed grants will be given out annually.

Besides supporting research that may one day be commercially viable, the seed grants are also allowing the research institute to work out some very technical details of how the collaboration between two separate entities will play out, Dean said. For example, one of the objectives of the grants is to gain an understanding of the expectations of both research partners.

Recruiting and construction ongoing

Dean and others leading the research institute are still focused on getting the building's doors open by August 2010. Construction is on time and on budget, Dean said.
While the state has put up $59 million to construct the building, it only covers the medical school side and two floors of the research institute. The third floor of the research institute will be a shell.

To finish the building, Virginia Tech has applied for a $10 million federal grant through the National Institutes of Health. The money is tied to the stimulus package signed by President Obama earlier this year and would allow the research institute to build its animal testing labs. In all, the third floor would likely cost $15 million, Dean said, meaning that they are also looking for philanthropic donations. "We need to get this done in the next year," he said.

The hunt is also under way for a founding director, with the hopes that the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will have someone in place by January."We've had tremendous response to our ad," Dean said. "The quality of candidates is absolutely spectacular."

While the hiring determination ultimately rests with Virginia Tech, two subcommittees consisting of a dozen people from Virginia Tech and a dozen from Carilion are on the selection committee.

The committee has fielded 41 applications from all over the world and narrowed it down to a group of 10 candidates, Dean said. The hope is once that person is in place he or she will bring a team of researchers to fill senior research positions.

On the Net: http://www.vtc.vt.edu/

Hokie Stone Arrives at VTC!

2009-07-24T16:36:00.003-04:00

Virginia Tech's distinctive Hokie Stone has arrived at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. According to Virginia Tech, the distinctive stone blocks are Chepultepec and Kingsport Formation dolomite—a variety of limestone especially rich in calcium and magnesium - creating its distinctive colors.

Hokie Stone sets Virginia Tech facilities apart, and is incorporated into all new buildings. We're proud to see it here in Roanoke at VTC. (you can also see Hokie Stone in Roanoke at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center).

Watch our real-time progress on the VTC construction webcam.

Can Genetic Testing Lower Your Cancer Risk?

2009-07-22T15:28:00.003-04:00

Genetic testing can help some people take steps to reduce their cancer risk. Is genetic testing appropriate for you? Click below to hear from Kara Bui, Carilion Clinic's Certified Genetic Counselor, interviewed recently by Joy Sutton on WDBJ's Saturday morning newscast.

Kara will be speaking at Carilion's Women's Health University August 6th at 11:30 a.m. at the Jefferson Center's Fitzpatrick Hall.

Her topics include: the causes of hereditary cancer, the rule of genetic testing and counseling, insurance issues and new legislation designed to protect patients from discrimination.

The cost is $15, lunch is included. Registration is required - to register call 540-266-6000.

Carilion Clinic is Recruiting Volunteers

2009-07-22T10:17:00.002-04:00

New volunteers sought to work in new outpatient facility opening at the Riverside Center in September

Volunteers play a vital role in Carilion Clinic's mission, working more than 32,000 hours last year. We're hoping to recruit 180 additional volunteers by the end of August.

Click below to watch WDBJ's Joy Sutton interview Volunteer Manager Shanna Flowers about the new initiative.

To learn more about the volunteer opportunities call 540-981-7819 in Roanoke or 540-731-2428 for the New River Valley.

CARILION CLINIC CONVERSION ENTERS NEW PHASE, WILL PILOT NEW PAYMENT STRUCTURE FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE AND MEDICARE

2009-07-21T09:46:00.003-04:00

Programs move away from fee-for-service model, supporting prevention, wellness, quality and technology

ROANOKE, Va. (July 21, 2009) Carilion’s conversion from a traditional, hospital-centric health care organization to a multi-specialty, patient-centered clinic is entering a new phase. The conversion began three years ago with a commitment to improve patient care, improve service and eventually decrease health care costs.

“We’ve made remarkable progress in building the organization and infrastructure necessary to fulfill our promise, “said Carilion Clinic president and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. “We’ve added more than 200 doctors, a physician leadership structure and a comprehensive electronic medical record. At the same time we’ve improved our academic profile by developing a new medical school and research institute with Virginia Tech.”

According to Murphy, Carilion is now turning its attention to problems inherent in the current medical payment system, which rewards over-treatment while providing no incentive to keep people well. Two new pilot programs aimed and improving patient care, efficiency and wellness while lowering costs will begin in 2010.

Carilion Pilots Brookings-Dartmouth Model

A new and innovative, nationally-recognized health care model that rewards providers for improving patient outcomes while lowering cost growth will soon be pilot tested in Roanoke through a cooperative effort by the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, and Carilion Clinic. The “Accountable Care Organization” (ACO) model encourages physicians, hospitals, insurance companies, and the government to work together to coordinate care, improve quality, and reduce costs.

The Engelberg Center and the Dartmouth Institute have selected Carilion Clinic to be a pilot site to implement the model through the Brookings-Dartmouth ACO Pilot Project. In an ACO, providers assume greater responsibility for the quality and cost of the care they deliver –supporting providers when they take steps to keep their patients healthy, deliver high-quality care, and avoid costly medications and procedures. It makes it financially feasible for doctors to practice preventive care and to provide enhanced disease management for patients with chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

“The Brookings-Dartmouth ACO Pilot Project and Carilion Clinic are on similar paths,” said Murphy, “We understand that rising health care costs are not sustainable and that provider leadership is essential to reforms that reduce costs, improve efficiency, and are accountable for clinical outcomes. As providers, we are best equipped to develop solutions that keep patient care and quality at the center of the discussion.”

“Carilion’s work in developing an integrated multi-specialty physician group provides a strong foundation from which to pilot the payment reforms central to ACOs,” said Elliott Fisher, director of the Center for Population Health at Dartmouth.

“Accountable Care Organizations are a model for delivery reform that can help transform our nation’s health care system from one that rewards overuse to one that delivers high-quality care at lower costs,” said Mark McClellan, director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform and Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair in Health Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution. “We look forward to working with the partners in Roanoke and with other sites around the country to test this promising new model.”

Carilion Clinic will receive technical assistance in setting up, implementing and testing the ACO concept, and will develop a pilot process for payment and delivery system reform based on accountability for quality improvement and cost reduction. Brookings and Dartmouth will assist with various components of the pilot to ensure the success of the multi-year effort, with the ultimate goal of generating a structure that can be easily replicated across the country.

Several insurance payers including Anthem, CIGNA, United Healthcare and Southern Health have expressed interest in participating with Carilion Clinic in the ACO pilot and are in discussions with Carilion, Brookings, and Dartmouth.

Medicare Health Plan

Carilion Clinic has received conditional federal approval to operate a Medicare Advantage Plan. The new organization, called Carilion Clinic Medicare Health Plan, will offer a variety of plan designs with no or low member premiums, affordable co-payments, prescription drug benefits, and wellness care.

Medicare Advantage Plans are paid a flat monthly fee, which makes it possible for participating doctors to provide wellness and preventative care. Quality, outcomes and patient satisfaction measures will be monitored to ensure patients are happier and healthier as a result.

Enrollment in the Carilion Clinic Medicare Advantage Plan for 2010 is expected to begin on November 15, 2009.

###

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Appoints Founding Chair of Family Medicine

2009-07-16T09:29:00.004-04:00

"Any sustainable health care reform will include strong primary care as a foundation..." Mark Greenawald, M.D.

ROANOKE, Va. (July 15, 2009) – The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute (VTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Greenawald, M.D., associate professor, as the founding chair of the Department of Family Medicine for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. This new academic department within VTC is being developed under Carilion Clinic’s Department of Primary Care and Regional Medicine. As part of his new role, Greenawald will also serve as associate chair for undergraduate medical education within the Department of Primary Care and Regional Medicine.

“Mark is a physician thought leader of the caliber we expect to graduate from VTC. His mentorship through the AAFP Chief Resident Leadership Development Program to residency directors at the front-line in teaching the next generation of physicians is critical to keeping the practice of family medicine vital,” states Cynda Ann Johnson, M.D., M.B.A., president and dean, VTC.

Greenawald is a graduate of Bucknell University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. After five years as a naval medical officer, he joined Carilion in 1995, and since then has made a substantial impact on the family medicine community locally, regionally and nationally. Locally, he is the education director for the Carilion Clinic Family Medicine Residency and is current president of the Blue Ridge Academy of Family Physicians. This year he was named the family medicine residency inpatient attending of the year.

Regionally, Greenawald is on the board of directors for the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and has been a pioneer in the development of a group self-assessment process, which has helped hundreds of family physicians with the new maintenance of certification process. He is a regular speaker at state academy meetings, particularly in the area of men’s health care. Greenawald has been very active in the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) initiative for primary care and serves on the executive committee for the tri-state PCMH residency collaborative. He has also held creative and leadership roles in the TO GOAL and IMPACT quality improvement programs sponsored by the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation for primary care practices.

Nationally, Greenawald is on the faculty for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Chief Resident Leadership Development Program where he has been involved in the leadership development of over 2,000 emerging leaders in family medicine and is the author of two monthly e-newsletters, Leaders Digest and Coaches Corner. He has also been part of a small group of faculty who have developed and implemented leadership development workshops for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Through this leadership development work, Greenawald has become known for his innovation in teaching the skills of feedback, negotiation, conflict management and leadership coaching. Greenawald is also a regular presenter at the AAFP national meeting on the topic of rejuvenation in medical practice.

"Any sustainable health care reform will include strong primary care as a foundation, and family medicine will be an important building block of this foundation. We anticipate that the thought leaders who graduate from VTC will help lead the way to an even better American health care system,” states Greenawald.

About Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute is a public-private partnership that leverages Virginia Tech’s world-class strength in basic sciences, bioinformatics and engineering with Carilion Clinic’s highly experienced medical staff and rich history in medical education. Virginia Tech Carilion will improve human health and quality of life by providing leadership in medical education and biomedical and clinical research. More information at vtc.vt.edu

Carilion's Roanoke Hospitals and Rehab Center Awarded Electroencephalograph Laboratory (EEG) Accreditation

2009-07-13T16:06:00.006-04:00

Accreditation granted to less than 50 hospitals nationwide

ROANOKE, Va. – The Laboratory Accreditation Board of the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET) has recently granted the Electroencephalographic (EEG) laboratory at Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center a five year accreditation. Having received this approval, Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke campus joins an elite group of only four hospitals in the state of Virginia to receive this accreditation.

ABRET’s lab accreditation process evaluates technical standards, the quality of the laboratory’s performance and management. Accredited labs demonstrate the ability to produce high quality EEG recordings that conform to current American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS) guidelines.

“We are extremely proud to be accredited as this is not a common accomplishment. Less than 50 hospitals in the U.S. have approved EEG laboratories and it is an honor to be named among those institutions,” says Dr. Tom Wilson, medical director at Carilion Clinic. “Our motivated staff has worked very hard to achieve this prominent certificate, and it is our hope that patients and families will feel even more confident with our level of service, training and care.”

Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke campus has met strict standards and is to be recognized as a place where patients and physicians can have confidence they are receiving quality diagnostics. For more information, please visit http://abret.org/.

Mill Demolition Enters New Phase as Large Silos Come Down

2009-07-13T10:52:00.006-04:00

Over the weekend demolition began on the large silos on the former Roanoke City Mill property, across the street from Carilion's Riverside Center and the future Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
Jefferson Street was closed over the weekend as workers built a temporary protective screen in the middle of the road to protect the buildings from possible flying debris.

The panorama of the mill site below was taken today (7/13).
Hat-tip to the folks at S.B. Cox for their professional, well-organized and remarkably fast work!

(Reminds me of a cell phone commercial)

Carilion Clinic Named One of Nation's "Most Wired" Hospital Systems

2009-07-07T14:30:00.004-04:00

Third Information Technology Achievement Recognition in Three Months

ROANOKE, Va. (July 7, 2009) – Carilion Clinic has been selected as a 2009 “100 Most Wired” hospital system according to the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. This is the third time in three months Carilion Clinic has received national recognition for IT achievement.

"I think recognition as 100 Most Wired is a testament both to Carilion Clinic's commitment to technology as a key tool for patient care, and to the skill of our Technology Services Group,” says Daniel Barchi, chief information officer at Carilion Clinic. “Our talented Technology Services Group has been able to deliver an integrated electronic medical record (EMR) and other technology to seven hospitals and 110 physician practices that truly is as wired as a patient could expect anywhere."

Hospitals are named to the list based on a detailed scoring process. The survey asks hospitals to report on how they use information technology in regard to safety and quality, customer service, business processes, workforce, and public health and safety.

As more health care organizations implement IT projects, the bar is continually raised for achieving the “100 Most Wired” list. Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, has published this list annually since 1998. Previously, Carilion Clinic has been named on the “100 Most Wired” list six times. Carilion’s strong commitment to investing in technology that improves care, quality and efficiency keeps the organization at the forefront of health care IT. In 2008, Carilion began rolling out a fully integrated electronic medical record (EMR), and is currently on the leading edge of hospital systems moving toward paperless patient records.

Earlier this year, Carilion Clinic was included in CIO magazine’s “CIO 100” list, recognized among the top organizations in the country using IT to enable growth. Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics recognized Carilion as one of only 42 hospitals nation-wide to achieve “Stage 6” implementation of its electronic medical record.

For more information about Hospitals & Health Networks “100 Most Wired”, please visit www.hhnmostwired.com .

President Obama Advocates Clinic Model as Key Part of Health Reform

2009-07-02T12:09:00.011-04:00

Carilion Clinic began conversion to clinic model of care in 2006

In a meeting with health reporters and a Town Hall Q&A session in suburban Washington, President Obama praised the clinic model of care for coordination, quality and cost efficiency, stating "that coordinated care drives down costs tremendously, that's the kind of common sense approach we're going to have to take".

The President is calling for health care providers to coordinate care in a way that the Roanoke Times says is "similar to what Carilion Clinic is attempting".

Click below for an excerpt of the President' s town hall meeting, in which he talks about coordinated care, and the need to provide incentives to reduce unnecessary care.

FDA Considers Changing Rules for Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin, Vocodin, Percocet) to Prevent Accidental Overdose

2009-07-02T10:55:00.008-04:00

Carilion Clinic's Pharmacy has already made changes to protect patients.

400 people die every year and thousands are hospitalized according to the Washington Post. People are often unaware of the amount of acetaminophen they're taking when they combine medications.

Click below to watch a WSLS report on the issue, including an interview with Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Pharmacy Director Karen Lowdon.

Six new Virginia Tech Carilion research projects address infectious disease, develop medical technology

2009-06-29T09:15:00.002-04:00

Six $30,000 seed grants have been awarded to advance Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) School of Medicine and Research Institute research to address falling risks, prevention and treatment of infectious disease, and development of a patient simulator.

The projects include "Prototyping a Human-like Patient". Virginia Tech associate professor Shashank Priya and VTC Associate Professor Sonya L. Ranson are developing human patient simulators as part of a larger project to create a full-scale patient simulation training facility.

Full details are available on the VT News web site.

UPDATE: CNRV Phone Issues Resolved

2009-06-26T09:46:00.002-04:00

Verizon recently experienced phone service interruption throughout areas in the New River Valley. Because of that interruption, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center was without direct phone and fax services. Currently this issue has been resolved and direct phone and fax services restored.

Should patients, family members and friends have any trouble with the phone system, they may still contact Carilion New River Valley Medical Center by calling 540-981-7000 and be connected internally through our switchboard to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

CRNV Experiencing Phone Issues

2009-06-26T09:11:00.000-04:00

Verizon is currently experiencing phone service interruption throughout areas in the New River Valley. Because of that interruption, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center is currently without direct phone and fax services. We are actively working with Verizon and other appropriate individuals/groups to restore service. We currently estimate that we will be restored by early afternoon.

Patients, families and friends can contact Carilion New River Valley Medical Center by calling 540-981-7000 and being connected internally through our switchboard to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. We apologize for the inconvenience will keep you posted on our progress and thank you, in advance, for your patience and understanding.

Mill Demolition Making Progress

2009-06-19T13:13:00.006-04:00

Demolition of the Roanoke City Mills property across from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine construction site picked up the pace this week with the arrival of the wrecking ball.

CARILION ROANOKE MEMORIAL AND COMMUNITY HOSPITALS AND REHABILITATION CENTER RECEIVE JOINT COMMISSION APPROVAL

2009-06-19T12:14:00.002-04:00

Accreditation granted through March 2012

ROANOKE, Va. (June 19, 2009) – Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center received notification from the Joint Commission that accreditation has been approved through March 2012. The Joint Commission conducted an on-site survey this past March on Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke campus.

The Joint Commission certifies and accredits more than 16,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S. Accredited organizations must demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality health care and meet stringent safety and performance standards.

“We are proud to once again receive accreditation from the Joint Commission,” says Nancy Agee, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Carilion Clinic. “Accreditation confirms the dedication of our staff and their commitment to patient care and safety.”

In addition to receiving the Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal”, Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke campus is also certified by the Joint Commission for quality and safety in hip and knee replacement surgery.
For more information about the Joint Commission accreditation programs, please visit the Joint Commission's web site.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Receives Preliminary Accreditation and Begins Recruiting First Class

2009-06-10T10:29:00.004-04:00

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine now has preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

The school is recruiting students to join the first class, which will begin in the fall of 2010. Applications are being accepted through the American Medical College Application Service. The application deadline is December 1, 2009.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Live Construction Webcam

2009-06-10T10:13:00.010-04:00

Reload the page for a fresh image

Rendering of competed building

Roanoke City Mills Demolition Underway

2009-06-04T15:08:00.003-04:00

Property located across the street from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Anyone who drives down the South Jefferson Street corridor has asked the question - "When are the silos coming down" and "how are they going to do it?" Contractors began preparing the site for demolition this week. The mill, seen behind Carilion's Riverside 1 office building above, will come down piece by piece over the next four months.

The demolition supervisor says there will be no dramatic implosion or explosion. A wrecking ball and backhoes will slowly turn the structure into an estimated 2000 truckloads of concrete and bricks.

One lane of Jefferson Street, adjacent to the site, will likely be closed during most of the time the work is underway. The tallest structures, the block house on the left (above) and the large silos on the right, will be taken down on weekends, allowing workers to completely close Jefferson Street.

Another Tech Award for Carilion Clinic - the "CIO 100" Ranks Carilion Along Side AT&T, Dell and GE, Showcasing IT Excellence

2009-06-04T13:31:00.002-04:00

ROANOKE, Va. (June 1, 2009) – CIO magazine named Carilion Clinic a CIO 100 organization for excellence and achievement in IT, honoring Carilion Clinic’s Technology Services Group for their work creating and supporting IT infrastructure. This award recognizes Carilion Clinic’s electronic medical record (EMR) system implementation as one of the 100 most effective uses of information technology.

The CIO 100 awards honor 100 organizations that use IT in innovative ways to deliver competitive advantage to the enterprise and enable growth. Other 2009 CIO 100 recipients include AT&T, Dell and GE Energy, establishing Carilion Clinic as a national technology leader, not just among health care organizations but among businesses globally.

"I am very proud of the work that the Carilion Clinic EMR team has accomplished in the past 24 months. The physician leadership, clinical work and technical experience that we brought together allowed us to achieve one of the fastest and largest EMR and CPOE roll-outs in the U.S.,” says Daniel Barchi, chief information officer at Carilion Clinic. “Additionally, we have been able to begin to see the patient safety, quality improvement and clinical informatics goals we sought to achieve."

Carilion Clinic's EMR is an integrated system which allows physicians anywhere in the system or the world with Internet and security access to see a patient's full medical history, current medications, allergies, and conditions. It is significant in the world of online health care in that Carilion Clinic's IT team has moved all clinical operations from many disparate processes and databases into a single system and database, thus providing lifesaving technology to improve patient care.

The speed and success of Carilion Clinic's EMR roll out sets it apart from all other major hospital EMR “go-lives” to-date. Carilion Clinic replaced 11 different independent electronic and paper medical and billing systems with a single integrated medical record, converted 780,000 patient records from old systems into the new record which is the largest patient medical record conversion ever, and conducted the most aggressive roll out in the history of its vendor.

Carilion Clinic will officially be recognized at the CIO 100 Symposium and Awards Ceremony on Aug. 25. Information about the awards will be featured in CIO magazine and available online at www.cio.com.

CARILION CLINIC LEADING NATION IN ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD TRANSITION

2009-05-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

Advanced implementation could qualify Carilion for Federal stimulus funding

ROANOKE, Va. (May 28, 2009) – Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital was recently named a “Stage 6” hospital by Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics, joining an elite group of only 42 hospitals nationwide designated at least the Stage 6 level. HIMSS Analytics has created an eight stage model, called the “Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model” (EMRAM), to help hospitals develop a paperless environment in regards to patient records.

The EMRAM categorizes hospitals from Stage 0 through Stage 7. The seventh stage is the highest, meaning that the medical records are completely electronic. The Stage 6 title given to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is defined as having implemented physician documentation, decision support, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), closed loop medication administration, and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), among other requirements.

"Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital's recognition as a Stage 6 hospital highlights the investment Carilion Clinic has made in using IT to deliver quality patient care,” says Daniel Barchi, chief information officer at Carilion Clinic. “At this level, the care our clinicians deliver is tied together in an integrated way so that our nursing units, operating rooms, emergency department and pharmacy work from a common picture. This ensures care is coordinated and safety is checked against allergies, conditions and current medications.”

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more commonly known as the Federal Stimulus Package. Within this legislation, $19 billion are directed for health information technology. To qualify to receive money from this act, health providers must demonstrate “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records.

Carilion Clinic has made the commitment to implement the same integrated, networked EMR in every physician practice and every hospital, from the 880-bed Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital to the new 25-bed Carilion Giles Community Hospital. All Carilion Clinic hospitals and physician practices are likely to qualify for federal stimulus funds as the current EMR rollout plan will have all hospitals live on the new integrated system by July 2010 and the final physician practice live by October 2010.

For more information on the EMRAM, please visit www.himssanalytics.org.

NEW LIFE-GUARD 1O HELICOPTER NOW IN SERVICE

2009-05-19T13:31:00.005-04:00

EC-145 aircraft joins Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation air ambulance team

Carilion Clinic recently retired the Bell 412 helicopter, flown as “Life-Guard 10” from air ambulance service. After 19 years in service, the decision was made to retire the Bell 412 aircraft and replace it with a more technologically-advanced helicopter. The new Life-Guard 10 is an EC-145 and leverages the latest technology to deliver high quality performance, operational reliability and improvements in safety.

The EC-145 has a number of safety features to help the flight crew and improve patient transport.

Some benefits of the new Life-Guard 10 include:

Communication center that can contact pilots directly concerning weather

Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (H-TAWS) gives pilots advanced warning about terrain for faster reaction times

Capabilities of night vision goggles

Easy loading of patients and equipment via the large rear doors

Meets all NTSB recommendations

"We are happy to have the ability to serve patients in the area with the EC-145, just as we have been but with better capabilities and technologies than the Bell 412," says Susan Smith, program director for Carilion Clinic Life-Guard. “The EC-145 is a modern aircraft that will allow our team to transport patients in a safer, more efficient manner.”

Up to two patients can be treated aboard the new aircraft. Life-Guard 10 typically makes two to three flights per day, with more flights in the summer months. The new EC-145 started servicing patients on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, 2009 and made three flights on its first day in operation.

For more information on CCPT, please visit their web site.

Blast From the Past - Public Service Announcements From the 1976 Swine Flu Outbreak

2009-04-28T12:45:00.004-04:00

(Note - there is no vaccine for the current swine flu virus)

Being Proactive - Health Care Providers Prepare for the Possibility of Swine Flu Updated With Local Media Coverage

2009-04-28T11:15:00.000-04:00

Click below to watch media coverage of local Swine Flu preparations.

Carilion Clinic is tracking the flu and broadcasting regular updates on Twitter. Visit our Twitter page to check out the latest information. Follow us to keep up-to-date as the situation develops.

Members of the media listen to Dr. Stephanie Harper, Director of the Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts, addresses the media at a briefing Monday afternoon at the Roanoke City Health Department. Below, Carilion Clinic Section Chief for Infectious Disease speaks with WDBJ's Susan Bahorich

Carilion Clinic In-Patient Rehabilitation Moves to Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital

2009-04-27T17:51:00.005-04:00

Carilion Clinic Rehabilitation successfully moved all its patients to the new in-patient rehabilitation unit at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. The patients were safely moved yesterday, and the new unit is up and running.
Click below for WDBJ's coverage of the unit's open house last Friday, including an interview with Unit Director Stimis Smith, who talks about why this change is important for patients.

Sneak Peak! More To Come!

2009-04-22T16:26:00.001-04:00

Working Mother Magazine Names Carilion Clinic Employee “Working Mother of the Year”

2009-04-21T08:57:00.003-04:00

Working Mother magazine celebrated its 30th birthday by honoring 30 “Working Mothers of the Year.” Winners of this award are examples of extraordinary mothers who balance career, motherhood and self development with grace and determination. Recipients were nominated by their spouses, employers, children and friends, and selected by the Working Mother editorial team. Carilion Clinic is proud to announce that Larissa Sellers, a pediatric nurse from Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital, was among the 30 winners of this impressive award (along with First Lady Michelle Obama!). Larissa works full-time as a nurse while also attending school full-time. Additionally, she is the president of her class and the room mother for her daughter’s class.

Life-Guard 10, Bell 412 Farewell Media Coverage

2009-04-20T09:48:00.015-04:00

Wow, what a great response from the public and the media last Friday and Saturday as we celebrated the last 19 years of flying in our Bell 412 helicopter. Thanks to all who participated and gave the helicopter an appropriate send-off!

Check out the 360-degree panorama photography that Roanoke Times Multimedia Editor Seth Gitner posted online (click to visit the site). You can see Seth at work in the photo below.

Here is a compilation of Friday's television news coverage of the the event and the Bell 412's retirement. Below that, click to watch one of the Bell 412's last take-offs.

Here's what it's all about - look at the smile on this little guy!

A Fond Farewell to the Bell 412 - UPDATE - Video of Event Posted

2009-04-17T14:09:00.012-04:00

For the past 19 years, the white and blue, twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter has been an icon in Western Virginia skies, transporting nearly 10,000 patients as Carilion Life-Guard 10. later this month, the Bell 412 will be replaced with a new helicopter.

The new helicopter brings significant upgrades in flight safety technology, and we're excited about that - but its still bittersweet because we'll miss the 412 and her distinctive "whomp-whomp-whomp" rotor sounds.

Today (Friday April 17th) and tomorrow, we'll hold a public retirement send for the Bell 412, which will be refurbished by its owner, Air Methods, and continue serving as a civilian transport helicopter.

More about the new helicopter coming next week!

2009-04-16T11:14:00.003-04:00

Hard Time Swallowing? Relatively New Disease on the Rise in the Region

2009-04-14T09:43:00.005-04:00

Eosinophilic Esophogatis is hard to say, and hard to swallow, literally.
The disease, also called "EE", is an allergic reaction that occurs in the esophagus, The disease makes it difficult to swallow, and can have serious, long-term consequences.

While it affects people of all ages, in recent years, the condition has been diagnosed in more than a hundred children in our region. Click below for recent coverage of the condition by WDBJ health reporter Joy Sutton, including an interview with Carillon Clinic Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Hart and one of his patients.

Panoramic View of Riverside Center Development

2009-04-06T14:47:00.004-04:00

I was taking pictures from the top of the Riverside Center parking garage the other day and thought I'd experiment with the "panorama" feature of my digital camera. Click the image above to enlarge. The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is under construction on the left. Riverside 1, Home of Luna Innovations, Virginia Tech Riverside and VTC's temporary offices, is at the center. On the right, the Carilion Clinic outpatient facility - medical specialists will begin moving in by the fall. This facility features the largest "Green roof" in the Roanoke region.

Heart Attack Patient in the Right Place at the Right Time

2009-04-03T15:54:00.004-04:00

If there's a "right place" to have a heart attack, Ed McCurdy found it.
He was exercising at the Botetourt Athletic Club when it happened. Click below for the story that aired on WSLS. Its also a great reminder to pay attention to the warning signs of a heart attack!

Rainy Weather Gives Green Roof a Healthy Start

2009-03-27T16:20:00.010-04:00

It's not much fun for the rest of us, but the rainy March weather will help the new, "green" roof at Carilion Clinic's new outpatient facility on Reserve Avenue get off to a good start. Crews began lifing platforms of roofing plants onto the top of the building this week.

Green roofs retain rainwater,
minimizing stormwater runoff. They also reduce the surface temperature of the roof by as much as 40 degreees.

The plants, usually species of Sedum, Delosperma, grasses and mosses, also absorb airborn toxins and release oxygen.

When completed later this year, Carilion's outpatient facility will be the largest green building in the Roanoke Valley.

Salem Red Sox (and Mugsy) Visit Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital

2009-03-27T16:15:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to the Salem Red Sox for visiting the Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital this week, bringing the 2007 World Series trophy and Mugsy with them. The sports fans loved the trophy, and the rest were wide-eyed when the "giant puppy" walked into the room.

Carilion Clinic Partners with Healing Strides of VA for Pilot Hippotherapy Program

2009-03-25T09:52:00.014-04:00

Program supported by grant from Foundation of the Roanoke Valley

Carilion Clinic has partnered with Healing Strides of VA to secure a grant from the Foundation of the Roanoke Valley to provide four pediatric patients with Hippotherapy treatment this spring and four additional patients in the fall as a pilot program.

“This shared treatment opportunity with Healing Strides of VA is extremely exciting for us,” says Lisa Belderes, certified physical therapist at Carilion Clinic. “Hippotherapy has been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development and emotional well-being, all of which is important for our patients.”

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational and speech-language therapy treatment that uses the equine movement as part of a program to achieve functional outcomes. The movement of the horse provides a multi-dimensional movement that has an effect on postural control, sensory systems and motor planning that is used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills, and attention skills.

Children and adults with mild to severe neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction are candidates for hippotherapy as part of a rehabilitation program. Patients typically respond enthusiastically to this enjoyable rehabilitative experience because it exists in a natural setting.

“We are thrilled to partner with Carilion pediatric therapies to offer hippotherapy as an innovative treatment tool starting this spring,” says Lynda Gray, Healing Strides of VA president. “For over 15 years, our primary goal as a therapeutic riding center has been to provide the community with therapeutic benefits offered by using horses. To now be capable of doing this in partnership with the medical community is very exciting. Our hope is that this is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship where each organization can offer their experience and knowledge to better serve the community.”

Click below for video of a hippotherapy session, a discription of hippotherapy by Carilion Pediatric Physician Therapist Lisa Belderes, and news media coverage of our recent Hippotherapy demonstration

New Issue of Verve Hitting the Stands!

2009-03-24T16:34:00.011-04:00

Look for a new issue of Verve hitting the newsstands in the next few days, with an eye-catching green logo and a photograph of Meredith Vieira. The cover story profiles the popular network anchor and game show host, including the challenges she and her husband face in dealing with his MS and colon cancer

This is the first Verve issue produced completely "in house", thanks to our new Publications Editor, Maureen Robb. As Maureen opened the first box, we celebrated with our first Verve cake ( kudos to the Cave Spring Kroger bakery for a near perfect color match on the image and icing!)

Leadership Roanoke Valley visits Carilion Clinic

2009-03-23T13:18:00.006-04:00

A "thank you" to the folks at Leadership Roanoke Valley for including Carilion Clinic in their Economic Development curriculum last week. LRV participants came to the hospital for a presentation from Carilion President and CEO Ed Murphy MD, and a virtual tour of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, currently under construction.

LVA was established in 1983 to encourage community leadership in the region. The interactive 10 month program is designed to help participants better understand the issues facing the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. It was an excellent session, with great questions from participants. Thanks again for letting be part of this year's program!

Carilion Physician Leadership Academy Graduates First Class

2009-03-09T16:45:00.005-04:00

Doctors already Making an Impact on Health Care in the Region

Last week, 22 Carilion Clinic physicians graduated from our first Physician Leadership Academy.

The Academy is a 10 month program aimed at helping doctors develop leadership skills as Carilion continues transforming itself into a physician-led organization. Areas of study include; the business of medicine, applied finance, using technology to lead, business planning and mentoring.

Each doctor develops and implements a project as part of the program.

On Sunday, March 8, the Roanoke Times published a feature article about the Academy, and profiled some of the graduates and their projects, including Dr. Amanda Murchison and her Hispanic OB Clinic, and Dr's Tony Stavola and Michael Jeremiah, who developed a program to proactively improve the health of asthma patients using the Clinic's new electronic medical record.

The Academy is expanding as it begins its second year, offering classes to physicians in Roanoke and the New River Valley.

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute Launches New Projects

2009-03-05T18:14:00.006-05:00

UPDATE - Read the Roanoke Times article about the research project announcement.

Interesting projects, and exciting progress as this new relationship develops! Read the release below, written by Virginia Tech Research Division Communications Manager Susan Trulove.

Virginia Tech Carilion launches five new research projects
By Susan Trulove

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 5, 2009 -- The Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute has awarded five $30,000 seed grants to support collaborative research between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic researchers on medical challenges that include heart care, cancer, infectious disease, obesity, and technology.

"As the Virginia Tech Carilion enterprise grows, these joint efforts will become very important to the success of our educational and research efforts," said Tom Campbell, assistant director for research and operations for the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute.

"This is a great time to support the Virginia Tech Carilion partnership," said Daniel Harrington M.D., vice president for academic affairs for Carilion Clinic and associate dean for clinic and regional integration for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Carilion Clinic also provides Research Acceleration Project grants and Harrington reports there have been several where Virginia Tech faculty members were partners. "We are starting to see increased interest and activity, with both Carilion physicians and Virginia Tech researchers seeing value in the Virginia Tech Carilion enterprise," said Harrington.
The projects and research teams are:

"Back to the Future: Using the mouse to model the molecules and physiological impacts of medical supervised water-only fasting in hypertensive, obese adults," Deborah Good, associate professor of human nutrition, food, and exercise in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Roderick Jensen, professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech; and Richard Seidel, director of research and education at Carilion Clinic.

"Screening for, and intervening to, reduce cardiovascular and material obstetrical care risk during pregnancy," Paul Estabrooks, human nutrition, food, and exercise associate professor at Virginia Tech, and L. Wayne Hess M.D., OB/GYN department chair at Carilion Clinic.

"Characterization of Early Defects in Immunosurveillance Mechanisms during Ovarian Cancer Progression," P. Chris Roberts, associate professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Eva Schmelz, human nutrition, food, and exercise associate professor at Virginia Tech; and Dennis Scribner M.D, gynecological oncology section chief, Carilion Clinic.

"Development of nanoscale optical fiber biosensor assays to detect and differentiate Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA)," Thomas Inzana, the Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Chair of Bacteriology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Tom Kerkering M.D, infectious disease section chief, Carilion Clinic; J.R. Heflin, professor of physics in the College of Science, Virginia Tech; and A.B. Bandara, research assistant professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Applying and Validating Sophisticated Industrial Technology to Improve Healthcare Quality in the ER," Tony Slonim M.D., vice president of medical affairs, Carilion Clinic; and Ebru Bish, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.

During the recent round of funding 14 projects were submitted for consideration.

Learn more about the research by some of the individuals who received seed grants.
Paul Estabrooks, “Healthy Behaviors Translate into a Healthy Workplace”
Thomas J. Inzana, “Veterinary College Researcher Awarded $1 Million Military Grant To Develop Bioterror Vaccine”

Contact Susan Trulove at strulove@vt.edu or (540) 231-5646.

Miss Virginia Helps Carilion Clinic Say "Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!"

2009-03-04T14:09:00.006-05:00

A big thanks to Tara Wheeler, Miss Virginia 2008, who came to the Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital pediatric clinic on March 3rd to read to patients waiting for their doctor's appointments. The Dr. Suess birthday event is one of the ways Carilion participates in the Reach Out and Read program, a year-round effort to promote literacy by connecting children with books and reading during their time with the doctor.

Several clinic employees got into the act, and we had some excellent guest readers from the library. Click below to watch WSLS's coverage of the event.

MEDIA ADVISORY - All Services Open at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Following Early Morning Water Main Break

2009-03-03T08:46:00.006-05:00

Between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. a water main break on Hamilton Terrace interrupted water service to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The hospital experienced significantly reduced water pressure. Hospital personnel were advised to conserve water.

At approximately 8 a.m., we were advised that the break had been bypassed and water pressure in the hospital would begin returning to normal.

All hospital services are open and fully functional. No surgeries or other procedures were canceled due to the outage.

We appreciate the quick response from the Western Virginia Water Authority

While the break is being repaired, Hamilton Terrace will be closed near the intersection with Belleview. Visitors wishing to park in the Belleview Parking Garage should turn on Hamilton Terrace from Walnut Avenue. (See map below)

Media Advisory - Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday With Read-a-thon March 3rd

2009-03-02T12:35:00.003-05:00

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital (CCCH) will host a read-a-thon celebration and book giveaway to all children with appointments at the pediatric clinics on Jefferson St. and First St. This event is part of Carilion Clinic’s “Reach Out and Read” program promoting literacy awareness. The read-a-thon will be highlighted by “celebrity” readers including Miss Virginia, and members of the CCCH nursing staff and Roanoke City Library staff.

The event will take place:

Date: Tuesday, March 3rd
Time: 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Where: 902 S. Jefferson St. and 1101 First St., Roanoke, VA (CCCH pediatric clinic locations)

Interview and photo opportunities will be available. Miss Virginia will read at 3 p.m. at the Jefferson St. location.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center Receive Magnet Recertification

2009-03-02T12:30:00.001-05:00

Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center (Carilion Medical Center) received Magnet recertification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations that provide excellence in nursing.

Magnet designation is the highest level of recognition that nurses can obtain for their health care organization. It was created to promote quality in an environment that supports professional practice, to recognize excellence in the delivery of nursing services to patients, and to provide a mechanism for the dissemination of best practices in nursing.

“We are so proud of our nursing staff for embodying what the Magnet Recognition Program stands for,” said Nancy Howell Agee, chief operating officer for the hospital. “The magnet process is a complete and rigorous evaluation of our professional nursing environment. We’re delighted and honored to achieve the highest nursing benchmark in the country.”

There are 14 qualitative factors, referred to as the “Forces of Magnetism,” that are evaluated during the Magnet designation process. Each force represents an outcome that exemplifies nursing excellence. The forces include quality of nursing leadership, organizational structure, management style, personnel policies and programs, professional models of care, quality of care, quality improvement, consultation and resources, autonomy, community and the health care organization, nurses as teachers, image of nursing, interdisciplinary relationships and professional development.

For more information about Magnet, please visit www.carilionclinic.org/Carilion/Magnet.

Carilion Clinic Ranked 18th Most Integrated Healthcare Network in the U.S.

2009-02-26T13:27:00.004-05:00

Modern Healthcare releases the 2009 SDI IHN 100 list

Roanoke, VA - February 26, 2009 - Carilion Clinic is ranked 18th in the 2009 list of the country’s most integrated health networks, one of its highest rankings to date. In addition, Carilion ranked 5th on the list of the top ten health organizations in the south. The list is developed by health care analytics firm SDI and published by Modern Healthcare magazine. SDI’s report is regarded as the nation’s premiere ranking system and evaluates health systems on their degree of integration and overall performance.

With 570 non-specialty, local and regional healthcare networks in the United States, being ranked among the top 20 is a significant accomplishment for Carilion employees, indicating success in several key areas. SDI evaluates the health care networks’ ability to function as a unified organization in eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization and physicians. Health systems receive an overall score between 0 and 100. This year the top hospital scored 92.03. Carilion Clinic scored 84.43.

Areas where integrated health networks performed better in 2009 than in previous years included outpatient utilization and physician participation. Additionally, the implementation of information technology – specifically electronic medical records – played an important role in coordinating care across health systems, allowing for better integration.

To view the entire list of top integrated health networks, visit the IHN information page at http://www.sdihealth.com/.

Carilion, Roanoke Mentioned in USA Today Article About Places That Still Have Stable Economies

2009-02-26T13:00:00.003-05:00

Great coverage for Roanoke and Carilion in the February 25th issue of USA Today. The article, "In Arkansas and elsewhere, economy stable" focused on that state as an example of Midwest and Southern areas that are faring better better than others in the current economy,, Roanoke and Carilion were mentioned in this three paragraph section:

• In Roanoke, Va., a city of 93,000, the largest employer is Carilion Clinic, a health care company of more than 10,000 workers. Mortgage delinquencies are below the national average.

"We're kind of a steady player," says Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "We don't have dramatic ups and, consequently, don't have any dramatic lows."

A $60 million art museum just opened, and Carilion is building a medical school with Virginia Tech, whose main campus is in nearby Blacksburg. "The only sectors adding jobs are health care and education," Doughty says, "and we're strong in both."

Thanks to Beth Doughty for mentioning Carilion, and for representing the Roanoke region in the article.

America's Most Wanted Visits Officer Bryan Lawrence During His Rehab Session at the Botetourt Athletic Club

2009-02-24T17:41:00.011-05:00

Officer Lawrence Is the First Finalist in AMW's 2009 All-Star Award Program

Producer Joey Popp interviews Officer Lawrence after his physicial therapy session at the BAC

The Carilion Clinic Rehabilitation Program at the Botetourt Athletic Club received a visit from a video crew from the America's Most Wanted television program. AMW is honoring Officer Bryan Lawrence, who was paralyzed when he was attacked while arresting a suspect. Officer Lawrence is AMW's first finalist in their All-Star award program.

AMW producer Joey Popp interviewed Lawrence. Afterward they video-taped his physical therapy session during which he was able to stand, unassisted, for the first time.

Check out AMW's website to learn more about his story and the AMW All-Star progr am. The story will be broadcast on AMW in the next few days.

Roanoke Times Prints Article Updating Changes at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital

2009-02-23T11:54:00.004-05:00

Nice story in Sunday's Roanoke Times. A comprehensive look at many of the changes going on at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. Some may surprise you, such as the 2,000-square-foot state of the art research laboratory.
The article also updates the status of Carilion's Jefferson College of Health Sciences in the building, the success of the new Urgent Care Center, and the new inpatient rehabilitation unit that will open later this year.

Community Hospital continues it's legacy of health care service to the community that helped build it in the 60's.

In one of the photos from the article, Frances Philp, the manager of the new research lab at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital, works with blood samples

CARILION CLINIC RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

2009-02-20T08:31:00.009-05:00

Carilion Clinic and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. are one of three health care organizations to receive the 2009 CEO-IT Achievement Award from Modern Healthcare magazine

ROANOKE, Va. (February 19, 2009) Crediting Carilion Clinic and its Information Technology staff with orchestrating one of the “largest patient-data conversions ever conducted by a health system”, Modern Healthcare presented Carilion CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. with one of three 2009 CEO-IT Achievement Awards in the February 16th issue of the magazine.

The magazine commends Carilion and its information technology staff for “bucking the trend” of slow IT investment across the industry. Carilion is engaged in a multi-million dollar initiative to convert the entire organization to single integrated electronic health record.
“This is a critical part of our effort to coordinate care around the patient and build a clinical support system for nurses, doctors and hospitals,” Murphy said. “This award belongs to Carilion’s staff and IT team, who have worked long hours and committed themselves to a successful transition. “

Dr. Murphy visits Carilion's Transfer Center, a health care "air traffic control tower" of sorts, where nurses track and coordinate patient traffic at Carilion hospitals, working to improve efficiency.

Modern Healthcare publisher Fawn Lopez writes that all three winners of the award demonstrate a strong commitment to collaboration. “We applaud their willingness to put aside competition in favor of patient-care improvement.” Lopez says. “Instead of using IT to gain a competitive edge, they use their expertise to help others…”Murphy and Carilion share the 2009 award with Michal Green, CEO of Concord (N.H.) Hospital, and Anthony Spezia, CEO of Covenant Health in Knoxville

CARILION CLINIC HOSPITALS RECEIVE “CONSUMER CHOICE” AWARD

2009-02-18T11:42:00.008-05:00

Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals ranked “most- preferred” in the Roanoke Valley by health care consumers

Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke Hospitals earned the National Research Corporation’s 2008/2009 Consumer Choice Award, recognizing them among the top hospitals in the country. The award is base on a national NRC survey of more than 200,000 households. Health care consumers were asked to rate the quality and image of their local hospitals. Of the 3200 hospitals named by consumers, Carilion’s Roanoke hospitals were among 239 that received NRC’s Consumer Choice Award for ranking highest in their market.

“We are honored to receive this award, because it ultimately comes from the patients we serve,” said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, MD. “It also honors the Carilion employees who are dedicated to raising the bar on quality, service and efficiency. "

"Consumers continue to be empowered to make decisions for themselves and their families when selecting their health care facilities and services," says Ginny Martin, President of NRC’s Healthcare Market Guide Division. "As care options multiply and consumer perception of quality grows in importance, dedication to providing a high level of quality health care becomes essential for hospitals. These Consumer Choice award winners exemplify the dedication it takes to provide quality health care to their communities, and we are please to honor them through the eyes of their patients."

More information about the Consumer Choice Award, including a list of 2008/2009 recipients, is available on the web at hcmg.nationalresearch.com

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital part of Amazing Survival Story on Dateline NBC

2009-02-16T13:00:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, February 15th, Dateline NBC broadcast "Escape From Brushy Mountain", the story of Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer's fight to survive after being shot by infamous Appalachian Trail killer Randall Lee Smith last year.
Scott and Sean were treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Click below for a clip from the broadcast, including Scott's reunion with some of the Neurotrauma Intensive Care nurses who treated him.

(One note about the story's mention of the victim's unpaid medical bills - all of Carilion's hospital charges relating to the incident were written off. )

Our best wishes to Scott and Sean!

Medical School Construction Update

2009-02-11T13:14:00.003-05:00

If you drive along the South Jefferson Street corridor, then you've probably noticed that a crane is now assembling the steel frame of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Carilion Clinic Patient Featured in Roanoke Times Article

2009-02-09T08:42:00.006-05:00

If you haven't read it yet, check out Courtney Cutright's article in the Roanoke Times about 8-year-old Allyson McClellan - Allyson and her family are an inspiration. Click the photo below to read the online version on the RT web site.

The article mentioned the "last chemo song" serenade to celebrate Allyson's last chemo treatment - click below to watch.

Carilion Clinic Goes Red for Women's Health

2009-02-06T14:33:00.016-05:00

Update:
Watch WSLS's coverage of Carilion's Go Red For Women day.
Click below.

Carilion Clinic employees showed their committment to Women's health for this year's annual Go Red for Women day. This year event coordinators at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital held a health fair in one of the hospital's 6th floor waiting rooms. Click on the pictures in the photo gallery below.

Thank You Panera!Panera Bread Raises $4700 for Free Cancer Screenings

2009-02-04T14:36:00.010-05:00

CARILION CLINIC AND PANERA BREAD CO. WORK TO IMPROVE WOMEN ’S HEALTH
ROANOKE, Va. (Feb. 4, 2009) – Carilion Clinic was presented with a check for $4,700 from Panera Bread Co. to provide much needed screenings for women in the area through the Every Woman’s Life (EWL) program. EWL, a federally funded program through the Virginia Department of Health, helps women who are low-income and uninsured or underinsured to be screened for breast and cervical cancer.

"With the current difficult economic situation, more and more women are in need of services EWL provides. In order to continue providing these valuable services, additional money is needed," said Kathy Womack, Oncology Community Services Specialist with Carilion and coordinator of the EWL program.

Carilion Clinic and Panera Bread Co. began a partnership in the fall with the Positively Pink Parade – a celebration of life for breast cancer survivors, their families and supporters. As the administrative provider of EWL in the area, Carilion Clinic looked to their partnership with Panera to continue their cause to improve women’s health. I

Funds for EWL were raised through the sales of Pink Ribbon bagels, "fight like a girl" awareness rings and personal donations matched by Panera Bread Co. during Breast Cancer Awareness month. The money raised will allow Carilion Clinic to provide more screening services for women who qualify for the EWL program.

For more information about the EWL program, please visit www.vahealth.org/breastcancer.

Click below to watch Lauren Perpetua and jenny McCombs present the check to Kathy Womack and participants in the EWL program.

Training for Health Care Jobs in a Weak Economy

2009-02-04T09:33:00.008-05:00

Health care jobs are hot as the economy cools - Click below to watch WSLS's coverage of Carilion's Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Burn Awareness Week - February 1-7 Safe Kids Southwest VA Cautions Parents - It Doesn't Take Fire to Burn a Child

2009-02-04T09:12:00.003-05:00

ROANOKE, Va (February 2, 2009) — During National Burn Awareness Week (February 1-7), Safe Kids Southwest VA reminds parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries — children can also be seriously injured by hot foods and beverages, heating appliances, hot pots and pans, electrical currents and chemicals.
Among all accidental injuries, fire and burns are the number five cause of death in children ages 14 and under — in part because young children cannot recognize heat-related hazards quickly enough to react appropriately.

Children’s skin burns at lower temperatures and more deeply than that of older children and adults. A child exposed to 140-degree Fahrenheit liquid for five seconds will sustain a third-degree burn.

Each year, approximately 113,600 children ages 14 and under are treated for fire/burn injuries and 518 children die due to unintentional fire- and burn-related injury. Scald burns, caused by hot liquids or steam, are more common types of burn-related injuries among young children, compared to contact burns, caused by direct contact with fire, which is more prevalent among older children. Hot tap water can cause very severe burns and accounts for many deaths and hospitalizations. “Kids are also at risk around hot foods and beverages, space heaters, steam irons and curling irons,” says Jill Lucas, Safe Kids Roanoke coordinator. “There’s a lot you can do around the home to minimize the risk of burn injuries in everyday life.”
Safe Kids Southwest VA urges caregivers to:

Reduce water temperature. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Consider putting anti-scald devices (about $40) on each water faucet and shower head. Check the bathwater with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in it.

Prevent spills. If possible, cook with pots and pans on back burners and turn handles away from the front. Avoid wearing long sleeves or baggy clothes in the kitchen. Don’t place containers of hot food or liquid near the edge of a counter or table and remove tablecloths.

Establish a “kid-free zone.” Make the stove area a “kid-free zone” (3 feet is a good distance). Mark it on the floor with bright tape. Never leave your child alone in the kitchen. Don’t hold children while cooking or while carrying hot foods and beverages.

Test food and drink temperature. Taste cooked foods and heated liquids to make sure they’re not too hot for children. Never microwave a baby’s bottle. Drinks heated in a microwave may be much hotter than their containers. Instead, heat bottles with warm water and test them before feeding your child.

Keep electrical cords out of reach — especially extension cords and cords connected to heating appliances such as coffee pots and deep fryers. Make sure electrical cords can’t be pulled or snagged into a bathtub or sink. Don’t leave a hot iron sitting on an ironing board unattended.

Childproof your home. Cover open electrical outlets so children can’t insert metal objects into outlets, which can cause electrical burns. Lock matches, lighters and flammable materials out of a child’s reach. Keep children away from candles and other open flames.

Actively supervise. Simply being in the same room with a child is not necessarily supervising. Safety precautions are important, but there is no substitute for active supervision.

Don’t let children play with or ignite fireworks. Fireworks injured more than 2,304 children in 2006 and are illegal in Virginia. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces with plenty of active supervision for every child present.

The theme of this year’s Burn Awareness Week is preventing gasoline burns. “If you buy gasoline cans, get the ones with child resistant gas caps. Remember to keep all flammable liquids out of sight and reach of children and don’t let children play with matches or gasoline, says Lucas.
It is still important to take precautions against fire, too. “You need a smoke alarm on each level of your home and in every sleeping area. Make sure each alarm actually works,” says Lucas.. Test your smoke alarms once a month and replace the batteries once a year (except for lithium batteries that last for 10 years according to manufacturer’s instructions). A working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a fire by nearly half.

For more information about burn prevention, call 800-422-8482 or visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/.

Safe Kids Southwest VA works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. .Safe Kids Southwest VA is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Southwest VA is led by Carilion Clinic.

Carilion Clinic Home Care Makes Elite List in Radford and Tazewell

2009-01-30T13:22:00.005-05:00

RADFORD, Va. (January 30, 2009) Carilion Clinic Home Care today announced that its Radford and Tazewell operations have been named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. The annual review honors providers in the top 25 percent, ranked by quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. Carilion Clinic Home Care in Radford and Tazewell are included in this elite list.

“The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level,” said Nancy Buller, senior Director of Marketing Communications at OCS, Inc. “We congratulate Carilion Clinic Home Care on being one of the Top home care agencies in the country.”

“Carilion Clinic Home Care Radford has made the top 25% for the past three years, and we’re proud of our Tazewell County team, ranking in the top 25% in their first year with us,” said Carilion Clinic Home Care Director, Lisa Sprinkel. “We credit their success to the hard work and efforts of the entire home care team.”

The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at www.ocsys.com/HCE

Who Counts on Carilion?

2009-01-26T12:10:00.007-05:00

Do you count on us?

Found out more about people who Count on Carilion by visiting http://www.countoncarilion.org/, and hear from employees and volunteers who say you can count on them.

Protecting Children During a Disaster

2009-01-12T17:11:00.006-05:00

Carilion Clinic Hosts Conference to Improve Planning, Readiness

Carilion Clinic hosted a regional conference at the Hotel Roanoke today aimed at improving Virginia's ability to meet the needs of children during a disaster situation. Protecting children during a natural or man-made disaster can be challenging, particularly if the event occurs while children are at school or on school buses, separated from their families.

Conference speakers included Terry Adirim, MD, MPH, acting Associate Chief Medical Officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Alice Ackerman, MD, Chair of Pediatrics for Carilion Clinic, Joan E. Shook, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine with Texas Children's Hospital and Lisa Uherick, MD, Medical Director for Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Carilion Clinic.

The day-long conference ended with work groups addressing the roles of; community hospitals, EMS/first responders and schools/daycare centers. Organizers hope the conference will lead to improved coordination between all agencies involved and ensure that future disaster plans take the needs of children into account.

Welcome to 2009!

2009-01-01T14:44:00.009-05:00

Happy New Year to Carrie Vanesa DelCid, the first baby born at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in 2009! Carrie was born at 2:11 a.m. and tipped the scale at 7 pounds, 14.5 ounces.

Mom and dad, Deisy and Jose' of Roanoke, are also doing well.

_________________

In the New River Valley, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center welcomed Gracie Earley, daughter of Deana and Walter Earley of Christiansburg. Gracie was born at 5:51 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

VTC Construction Continues

2008-12-15T09:43:00.004-05:00

Construction on the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine continues moving forward, though much of the progress isn't visible above ground. You may have noticed what appears to be a large funnel appearing in various places on the site. Workers are creating "Geopiers" - drilling holes and filling them with a stone aggregate material to create solid foundation columns that go down through loose soil to rest on firmer layers.

The other buildings in the Riverside Center, Riverside 1 and the Carilion Clinic outpatient facility, also rest on Geopiers.

Carilion Clinic Publishes Community Benefit Report

2008-12-11T09:31:00.005-05:00

Carilion Clinic has published its first "Community Benefit Report". The report was distributed as in insert in the December 11 edition of the Roanoke Times. It is also available online. You can download the report as a PDF file here.

The Internal Revenue Service has defined "community benefit" for not-for-profit hospitals to include

Charity Care (the actual cost of providing the service)
Health professions education - training doctors, nurses and other health professionals who will provide care in our communities
Critical Community Services - what the health care organization spends to underwrite vital health services that lose money, and would not otherwise be available. Examples include trauma care, medical helicopters, pediatric cancer care, etc.
Grants and Contributions to support health-related initiatives in the community.
Community Outreach - educational programs, health fairs, free health screenings, etc. provided to the public.

Dr. Jeffrey George and his daughter, Hannah

2008-12-04T15:49:00.011-05:00

Dr. Jeffrey George and his daughter Hannah, died in a traffic accident on the afternoon of December 3rd. Dr. George joined Carilion Clinic as a cardiothoracic surgeon almost two years ago. We are stunned and devastated by this loss and share the sorrow of their family and friends.

Dr. George's co-workers remember his love for his family, his commitment to his patients and the community, his humor and his friendship.

Dr. Joseph Rowe, who works with Dr. George at Carilion Cardiothoracic Surgery said, "If I were to make a list of a handful of people that I thought were really living their life as the best person that they could possibly be, from a spiritual standpoint, from a family standpoint, from a community standpoint, from an intellectual standpoint, Jeff would be on the short list of people that I would name and I think that he was a guy who could honestly say that he had no regrets about anything that he'd ever done or said.... there aren't that many people you could say that about."

Family, friends and colleagues can express their condolences here.

Star Line Trolley Starts November 13th!

2008-11-12T17:48:00.003-05:00

The Star Line Trolley begins a regular route between Downtown Roanoke and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Thursday, November 13th.
The Trolley was unveiled for the media today - pictures and Valley Metro's news release are below.

HELLO, TROLLEY!

The Star Line to Debut Nov. 13
New trolley network to connect downtown Roanoke with Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

ROANOKE, Va. (Nov. 12, 2008) – Hop aboard! There’s a new – and free – way to get around.
The Star Line, a new trolley bus with a nostalgic design, debuts Nov. 13 with a weekday loop connecting downtown Roanoke with Carilion Memorial Hospital and stops in between.
With its nostalgic red-and-beige paint to vintage wooden seats, the Star Line, operated by Valley Metro, will run every 10 minutes Mondays through Fridays – and seven minutes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to serve the lunch crowd.
The downtown trolley network aims to provide hospital employees, patients and their families, downtown workers and visitors a convenient alternative to get around without having to drive and find parking.
Carilion employees, for example, will be able to shuttle back and forth between the hospital and other locations such as the downtown Carilion Administrative Services Building, Jefferson College of Health Sciences and the Community Hospital parking garage. They’ll also have a convenient way to visit downtown restaurants and shops.
People who work or live downtown, meanwhile, can be dropped off right at the hospital entrance. “The Star Line fulfills the vision of city leaders and downtown businesses who wanted to increase pedestrian traffic downtown while connecting the downtown core to a growing Carilion campus that will include new offices and Virginia Tech-Carilion Medical School and Research Institute,” says Dave Morgan, general manager of Valley Metro, the bus company that will operate the Star Line.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Star Line as a unique, fun and free transportation alternative,” added Bill Carder, executive director of Downtown Roanoke, Inc. “The trolley will make it much easier to visit and get around downtown, stimulating business at shops, restaurants and vendors in and around the City Market.”
The Star Line is made possible through a partnership that includes Downtown Roanoke, Inc., Carilion Clinic, the City of Roanoke and Valley Metro.
Each of the trolleys features wooden seats with perimeter seating for 31 passengers. This seating style will help to encourage conversation, as people are more inclined to talk to someone sitting across from them than in front or behind.
The trolleys, manufactured by Double K Inc. of Wisconsin, are wheelchair accessible. Inside will be television monitors to promote local events and tourist information.
The continuous loop begins at the downtown Market, heading west on Campbell Avenue before turning south on Jefferson Street, with stops at Kirk and Jefferson, Church and Jefferson, Highland and Jefferson, and Reserve and Jefferson before stopping at the hospital.
The return route goes from the hospital northbound on Jefferson with stops at Reserve and Jefferson, Jefferson College, and Franklin and Jefferson before turning onto Franklin, down Williamson and onto Campbell back to the Market.
Trolley stops are marked by red and yellow signs accented with a star. The Star Line name and logo was developed by tba Public Relations and Advertising of Roanoke.
For more information and to see a route map, please visit www.valleymetro.com or call (540) 982-2222.
# # #

Carilion COO Nancy Agee Elected Chair of Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

2008-11-06T15:56:00.011-05:00

Calls for providers to improve care, safety and efficiency

RICHMOND, VA (November 6, 2008) Members of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
(VHHA) today elected Nancy Howell Agee, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, chair of the association. Ms. Agee was honored earlier this morning during the association's 82nd Annual Meeting of the Membership at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. She succeeds Michael J. Schwartz, president and chief executive officer, Prince William Health System in Manassas, who remains on the VHHA Board of Directors as immediate past chairman.
In remarks to the membership, Ms. Agee stated, "Our mission and vision are clear: to improve the health status of the communities we serve and to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. We will face obstacles in the coming year that will make our goals more challenging.
But together, we can and will make improvements to the care we provide, making it more efficient and safe...and we can weather any storm so long
as we are unified."

(Here is the entire text of her address to the VHHA membership this morning)

2008 Annual Meeting of the Membership
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

Remarks by Nancy Howell Agee, Chairman

It is an honor to stand here today as your new chair of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Our membership is characterized by a healthy diversity, and we each have our own set of unique issues with which we grapple. But, as an association we come together unified by a common purpose to care for patients.

I want to thank my Family. And, I also want to recognize my fellow Carilion Clinic attendees who are here today. Thank you for the work you do every day to make Carilion Clinic what it is today. As Mike mentioned earlier, as an Association, we have done much to further health care in Virginia and collectively we take pride in our accomplishments.

And, yet, we have much more work to do.

As a field, we must make changes to become a stronger, more efficient system of care and be ever more vigilant in protecting our patients and our communities.
There are winds of change all about us, not the least of which is a new political climate. Regardless, our principles and values must remain steadfast.

Our work together is important. In my opinion, there are four compelling issues which should shape our work over the next few years.

First, we need long-term, viable solutions for growing our healthcare workforce. We all know the statistics – and we all know it’s not just nurses. Though, we are making some progress. Just two weeks ago, the Virginia Community College System reported a 67% increase in the number of nurse graduates in their 23 programs across the State. The increase is attributed to implementing several recommendations from our 2005 Task Force. Many of you or your staff provided comments and participated in the Task Force’s hearings on Nursing education.

In addition, several innovative programs have been initiated such as the one announced last Friday between Shenandoah University and Inova Health System to expand the accelerated second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.

Workforce shortages from Nurses to Pharmacists and Therapists to Physicians are a national topic of discussion. Yet, we need to do more than talk. While we can’t solve these perplexing problems on our own, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that more solutions are forthcoming.

We need to continue educating the public and our Federal and State policymakers on how workforce shortages affect patient care. We need to find ways to fund education and innovative approaches to staffing. From health career camps to raise enthusiasm for health care careers among young people to the recently announced efforts to create the VTC School of Medicine, we must find new ways to assure a viable workforce.

Creating a stronger, more diversified workforce is important, but even the best qualified, mostly highly trained staff won’t enjoy meaningful work if we don’t improve the care we provide.

Our second important issue is assuring patient safety and high quality of care. These efforts lie directly in our hands. As Mike stated previously, work has already begun on three separate initiatives to improve patient safety in Virginia, and they will continue in 2009 and beyond. The VHHA has asked nursing homes, physicians and nurses to join us in these efforts. To truly be successful, all of VHHA members must participate as well. The buck should stop here. Ultimately, we are the ones responsible. Our patients come to us at times of great need and when they are most vulnerable. They trust us to give the appropriate and necessary care they need. They should expect and receive high quality care free of errors.

Ensuring the highest quality of care and keeping our patients safe should not be obtained at the cost of over treatment. My third issue. Our society has the ability to cook dinner by pushing a button. Little wonder, that our society both questions most of what we do and expects us to provide comprehensive services at low costs and nearly instantaneously. That said, it’s our responsibility to assure that safe, high quality care is provided efficiently.

A litigious environment and fear of not covering every base if someone comes in complaining of a headache, however, should not compel us to provide more services than a patient really needs. Additionally, efficiency should not prevent us from listening intently to what our patients are trying to say. When a patient navigates our fragmented system of care obtaining a CT Scan, multiple lab work and MRI, seeing specialist after specialist all at a high cost and possibly low value, are we truly providing a safe and caring environment? Are we truly advocating for our patients. We must work at improving efficiencies and taking the time to listen to our patients because sometimes a headache is just a headache and aspirin might be the best medicine.

In the October 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Henry Aaron authors an article entitled, “Waste, We Know You Are Out There.” Aaron quotes Peter Orszag, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in his August 2008 notice that “a variety of credible evidence suggests that health care contains the largest inefficiencies in our economy. As much as $700 billion a year in health care services are delivered in the U.S. that does not improve health outcomes.

The challenges to reduce waste are monumental. As Aaron himself points out, unfortunately the U.S. health care system could not be better structured to frustrate the elimination of waste than if it was designed to do so; commercial payors lack leverage; Medicare, by law, cannot exercise supervision or control over the practice of Medicine; patients have little knowledge or financial incentive to avoid waste. And, doctors – whose ethics and training enjoin them to do what is best for patients and whose financial interest may cause them to interpret what is best, perhaps over broadly, have few incentives to root out waste.

And sadly as we may know but much of the public doesn’t realize, scientific evidence to support medical practice is frankly scarce.

Senator, now President-Elect Obama has suggested as part of his health care reform that we earmark 1% of Medicare revenues and a similar amount from private insurers and others to evaluate treatments and to establish a national electronic database on medical outcomes.

This leads to my last point. As an association, we have the opportunity and the challenge to aid the Commonwealth and, indeed the nation, in making material advancements towards reducing health care costs. The U.S. spends two times as much per capita on health care as the average of the ten other richest countries in the world. The U.S. healthcare system is as large as the entire economy of France. Yet, more than one person in six younger than 65 is uninsured. And, while other countries spend less per person than we do, they notably achieve equal or superior results.

To continue following our same processes, ever begging the Government to not cut one more time, is the classic definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. I am reminded of Charlie Brown’s innocent faith that this time Lucy will not yank the football away.

Let’s face it; both business and labor leaders alike are convinced that employer financed health care is undermining U.S. competitiveness. Many business executives, long opposed to healthcare reform by the Government are now clamoring for Government involvement. Ted Kennedy is working feverishly to draft one big bill to achieve universal health insurance coverage and reform the U.S. health care system. Most authorities suggest that a complete overhaul is unlikely. I would agree with them but for the confluence of Ted Kennedy’s own illness and the respect that he holds by fellow Senators along with a clear message that the American public is fed up with business as usual. Increasing outlays for Medicare and Medicaid threaten a fiscal meltdown. Add to that, the potential for expanded S-Chip and other expenses lead to only one conclusion. There will be less money and more requests for services. Approaching the burgeoning issues in health care like we have always done is just like Charlie Brown’s approach to the football that Lucy held – heedless of experience, hopeful without a strategy and flat on his back.

In summary, we are challenged on to be united in our dedication to health care reform. We must act with thoughtfulness yet dispatch, confidence coupled with wisdom, pledged to face down naysayer’s and meet the challenges ahead.

Together, we can and will make improvements to care delivery, find ways for efficiency and safety and develop sustainable workforce. We can drive out waste and develop health care reform we can all believe in and that Americans can afford.

I look forward to working with all of you as we move forward.

Thank you.

Carilion New River Valley Medical Center participates in Full Scale Disaster Exercise with Radford City and Radford University

2008-10-22T12:28:00.007-04:00

CNRV joined the City of Radford and Radford University in a full scale disaster exercise aimed at testing the region's ability to respond to a large scale incident with multiple victims.

The simulated chemical spill involved several Radford University students posing as victims, complete with make-up to simulate injuries.

CNRV received 27 simulated patients, and set up a hazardous materials decontamination tent outside the hospital Emergency Department.

Photographs at right from top to bottom: hospital staff set up the decontamination tent outside the Emergency Department; RU students posing as victims walk to the cafeteria after the exercise; CNRV P.R. representatives Debbie Sydnor and Tanya Ferraro staff the media area outside the hospital.

Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic Join Governor Tim Kaine to Break Ground for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute

2008-10-15T16:42:00.010-04:00

More than 300 people, representing Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute and Roanoke Community leaders gathered on the parking lot between the Carilion Clinic outpatient facility and the future home of VTC to ceremonially break ground.

The project itself is already underway as bulldozers worked in the background, preparing the site for the building, which will greet the first class of medical students in the fall of 2010.

Click below to watch the groundbreaking, and hear the comments from founding Dean Cynda Johnson, MD, Carilion President and CEO Ed Murphy, MD and Governor Tim Kaine.

Media Advisory - Groundbreaking for Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School and Research Institute Today - 2:30 p.m.

2008-10-15T10:09:00.008-04:00

The official groundbreaking for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute will take place today (Wednesday - October 15) at 2:30 p.m.

Featured speakers include Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger and Carilion President Dr. Ed Murphy.

The speakers and audience will be under a large tent. A mult-box will be provided for audio.

For background information, details of state funding for construction of the school and research institute, click here.

For more information about the medical school itself, click here.

Here is a direct link to a fact sheet.

First Look Inside Carilion Clinic Outpatient Facility

2008-10-08T09:17:00.010-04:00

If you've been following the construction of the Carilion Clinic outpatient facility at the corner of Jefferson and Reserve Avenue, you've seen the progress on the outside - here's a look at what's going on inside.

Drywall finishing and painting is already underway on the lower floors.

This is the scene on the top floor, where the metal studs are up and ready for drywall.

Here's a second floor reception desk/nurses's station

Large windows along the exterior hallways provide great views of the Riverside Center and Carilion's medical campus.

New, expanded Gift Shop open at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

2008-10-06T12:33:00.011-04:00

CRMH opened a new expanded gift shop on the first floor this morning. The entrance is right between the two main entrances, off the glass lobby. The shop moved into the space formerly occupied by the first floor food court (which moved to new, expanded space on the 4th floor). It will be more of a "one stop" shop for visitors, patients and employees.
Here are some highlights:
At left is a view of one side of the shop from the back, looking toward the front entrance. The shop is too big to capture with just one photograph.

Here's the pink ribbon, breast cancer
awareness corner

And of course the Hokie corner. Hopefully in a couple of years we'll be able to add a new line of Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School sweatshirts to the lineup!

Pink Parade 2008!

2008-10-02T12:42:00.013-04:00

Fantastic, colorful and enthusiastic turnout at the 2008 Positively Pink Parade at Valley View Mall on September 27th. Proceeds from the event went to support the Every Woman's Life program, providing free mammograms to women in need.
Thanks to all who participated!

Photo Gallery
(click to view larger picture)

Construction Continues on New Carilion Giles Community Hospital

2008-10-01T15:33:00.007-04:00

Work continues on the new Carilion Giles Community Hospital.
Check out the progress reports and a photo gallery by clicking on the picture or going to:

newgileshospital.blogspot.com.

CONSULTANTS IN CARDIOLOGY JOINING CARILION CLINIC Will bring expanded service, streamlined care

2008-08-25T14:05:00.001-04:00

ROANOKE, Va. (August 25, 2008) Consultants in Cardiology (CIC), the largest cardiology practice in Southwest Virginia, will join Carilion Clinic on January 1, 2009.

“We have a 35-year history of providing excellent patient care, and a long and successful relationship with Carilion,” said CIC Cardiologist Jeffrey Todd, MD. “We’ve evaluated the option of joining the Clinic for the past two years and determined it is the best choice for our patients and our practice. This new relationship will open up opportunities for expanded patient services and enhance our ability to continue to improve patient care in the year’s to come”.

“This is an important milestone in Carilion Clinic’s ongoing initiative to provide patient-centered, streamlined care to the region,” said Ralph Whatley, MD, Chair of Medicine for Carilion Clinic. “We’re extremely pleased these excellent physicians have chosen to join us, and look forward to a long and successful collaboration for excellent patient care.”

In addition to cardiology services already offered by the group, such as angioplasty and pacemaker, stent and defibrillator implants, the new Carilion Clinic cardiology group will also participate in developing a Congestive Heart Failure Clinic with the Department of Medicine, an atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) treatment center, expanded imaging services, health screenings, and an expanded Regional Heart Alert Program.

Patients of Carilion Clinic cardiologists will experience the benefits of being on the system-wide electronic medical record (called EPIC, recently launched by Carilion). Cardiologists will be part the Clinic’s interdisciplinary approach to develop clinical protocols and programs that improve care. Carilion’s ability to recruit more cardiologists to meet the future needs of the community will also be enhanced.

CIC’s 100-member team, including physicians, mid-level practitioners and support staff will all join Carilion Clinic. The practice will remain in its current location at 127 McClanahan Street in Roanoke.

The move will be transparent for CIC patients, who will receive more information by mail in the next few weeks.

Patient Safety - An Inside Look at What Hospitals do to Prevent Medical Mistakes

2008-07-14T12:09:00.004-04:00

Recent tragic situations involving the blood-thinning medication Heparin is spotlighting the issue of medication errors in hospitals. Recently 14 infants in Texas received overdoses of the drug. The problem has been identified as a "mixing error in the hospital pharmacy" Actor Dennis Quaid's twins received overdoses of Heparin, reportedly do to similarities in the labels on drugs of different strengths.

Click below for an inside look into the pharmacy of Carilion Clinic's Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Pharmacy VP and Hospital Medical Director Anthony Slonim, MD, shows reporter Lindsey Ward the procedures and technology in place to help prevent errors such as this from occurring.

Helicopter Retrieval Mission Successful

2008-06-28T13:49:00.010-04:00

About about 12:30 Saturday afternoon, an National Guard Blackhawk helicopter successfully used a sling to transport a disabled Virginia State Police helicopter from the a rooftop helipad 15 stories above the ground to a nearby hangar for repair.

The operation want exactly as planned - with crews attaching a tether to the disabled aircraft, flying a short distance and setting it gently down on the ground pad. The Blackhawk then made a second trip to the rooftop to retrieve the helicopter's rotor blades, which had been removed for the transport.

Click below for video. (sorry its a bit shaky)

Complicating the delicate operation, Saturday afternoon turned out to be one of the busiest Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation's Air Medical program has seen in recent memory. With the disabled helicopter occupying the rooftop pad and the Blackhawk on the ground pad, Carilion LifeGuard's two helicopters made four trauma flights. Another helicopter program also brougt in a patient bringing the total number of flights to5.

Right - Carilion Lifeguard lifts off for another trama call, with the National Guard Blackhawk in the foreground.

Carilion was able to land LifeGuard 10 on the pad next to the Blackhawk, with LifeGuard 11 and the third helicopter landing in a nearby soccer field. The patients were transported to the Emergency Department by ambulance.

The rooftop pad is now clear and open for air traffic. The disabled State Police helicopter is being repaired in the Carilion LifeGuard hangar.

Many thanks to the National Guard, Virginia State Police, and the Carilion Clinic team that participated in this successful operation!

The mission has been successfully completed

2008-06-28T12:54:00.000-04:00

The operation is underway

2008-06-28T12:31:00.001-04:00

Media Update - Helicopter Retrieval

2008-06-28T11:44:00.001-04:00

The helicopter retrieval operation is planned for around noon.

National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter Arrives at Carilion Ground Helipad Preparations underway to remove disabled helicopter from hospital roof

2008-06-28T10:24:00.005-04:00

A National Guard Blackhelicopter landed on the Carilion Clinic Patient Transportatio ground pad this morning shortly after 10:00 a.m.

The helicopter and crew will lift a disabled Virginia State Police helicopter of the rooftop pad at Carilio Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where it has been stranded by a mechanical problem since Wednesday.

Click below for video of the Blackhawk's approach to the ground pad.

Media Update - Blackhawk Transport of Disabled Helicopter Scheduled For Saturday

2008-06-27T22:06:00.004-04:00

A National Guard Blackhawk helicopter is scheduled to arrive at the Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation ground helipad at 10:20 a.m. Saturday morning (June 28th)

Friday afternoon the rotors were removed from the disabled medevac helicopter that has been sitting on the rooftop helipad at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital since Wednesday, when a mechanical problem prevented the helicopter from taking off following a patient transport.

After the National Guard helicopter lands at the ground helipad, the disabled helicopter will be fitted with a sling, and carried to the Carilion LifeGuard 10 hanger for repair.

Members of the media who wish to photograph the Blackhawk landing at the ground helipad should report to the Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation office between McClanahan at the railroad tracks. You will be directed to a safe area to photograph the landing.

Updates to the transport schedule will be posted here.

Media Update - Blackhawk delayed until tomorrow - other possibilities being considered

2008-06-27T15:55:00.001-04:00

We learned this afternoon that the National Guard Blackhawk helicopter will not be able to fly to Roanoke until about 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at the earliest.

In addition, the option of using a crane to move the helicopter off the building and onto a tractor trailer is being considered.

No decision has been made yet, will update as soon as more is available.

Media Update - Blackhawk Delayed

2008-06-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

There has been a delay in the arrival of the Blackhawk - could be a couple of hours or more. When we have an updated ETA, it will be posted here.

Media Alert - [updated info] National Guard to Retrieve Disabled Helicopter from Rooftop Helipad

2008-06-27T10:21:00.004-04:00

A National Guard helicopter is enroute to Roanoke to retrieve a disabled helicopter from the rooftop helipad at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

The helicopter is scheduled to arrive at the Carilion LifeGuard 10 hangar off McClanahan between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Media arriving at the Carilion LifeGuard 10 hangar will be advised on the designated area to photograph the landing. Please ask for Allie Buth - she will be the media liason on the ground.

Additional info:

The Virginia State Police Helicopter landed on the rooftop pad last Wednesday with a patient. When they prepared to leave, the crew was alerted of a possible mechanical problem. It was determined that the safest course of action was to bring in a second helicopter to lift the disabled helicopter to the ground.

The disabled helicopter will be moved the Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation(CCPT) ground hangar, where it will be repaired.

During this time, Carilion Clinic's LifeGuard 10 and LifeGuard 11 helicopters will use the National Guard Amory Helipad - patients will be transported from the Armory to the hospital via ambulance.

Carilion Clinic in the NewsInsight into brain tumors and the medical school officially has a name

2008-05-23T15:08:00.008-04:00

Carilion Clinic Neurosurgeon, Zev Elias, MD, provides commentary on brain tumors to WDBJ, following the announcement of Sen. Ted Kennedy's diagnosis.

WSLS updates the status of the joint medical school being developed by Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech, including the official new name: the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine or VTC.

World Record Attempt Reveals Interesting Stats - Is your Blood Pressure Medication Working?

2008-05-23T14:23:00.009-04:00

A review of the numbers revealed that Carilion Clinic did unofficially break the current Guinness World Record for most blood pressures taken in a 24-hour period, but by a smaller margin than originally thought. The confirmed number of blood pressures recorded during last week's event is 2,329, beating the old record (set in March) of 2302. We are submitting our documentation to Guinness for review.

As we reviewed the numbers, some other interesting statistics emerged. 30% of the people tested had high readings (above 140/90). That matches the national average pretty well. According to the American Heart Association, 1 in three Americans have high blood pressure. The AHA also says that 71.8 % of people with high blood pressure know they have it. In our group, only 53% of people with high readings had been previously told they have high blood pressure. 47% were unaware.

Another area of concern - 537 people tested during the event said they were taking medication for high blood pressure, but half of them still had high readings (above 140/90).

The take home message - know your numbers - even if you're taking medication for high blood pressure, have it checked regularly and if your numbers are too high, see your doctor!

WE DID IT!! (unofficially)

2008-05-17T15:35:00.006-04:00

We needed to take 2303 blood pressures in 24 hours to break the previous record of 2302. According to our preliminary count, we recorded 2359!

We will now go back and audit our count and prepare our submission to Guinness. Keep your fingers crossed! A huge thanks to everyone who helped out - our staff, our volunteers, our adjudicators, and the 2359 people who came out to support us, and hopefully learn a little bit more about their health. We will be reviewing the anonymous data we collected and will have more information next week, including how many people learned for the first time they may have high blood pressure. We hope this event makes everyone a little more aware of the importance of controlling high blood pressure.

Its Over!

2008-05-17T15:04:00.001-04:00

We're currently counting and will post preliminary results soon!

2:30 Update

2008-05-17T14:31:00.000-04:00

2125 at 2:30
30 minutes to go!!!
We're shooting for 2303!!

2:00 pm update - Its Going to be Close!

2008-05-17T13:56:00.002-04:00

1995 at 2 pm!