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

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

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.

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

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

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?

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.