Pulse

Volume5/2004_July27July 27, 2004 PULSE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER Walter Stevens, Longtime Med School Leader, Dies Walter Stevens, Ph.D., former dean of the medical school and vice president for health sciences at the University of Utah, died Thursday, July 15, at his home in Salt Lake City, of Alzheimer's disease. He was 70. A memorial service was held last week in the Huntsman Cancer Institute Walter Stevens Auditorium. Stevens held top leadership posts at the Health Sciences Center for more than 15 years. He was named dean of the medical school in 1993, stepping down in 1996 to return to full-time teaching and research in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, where he remained active until his health declined. He also served twice as interim dean (1988-1991 and January-February 1993). He was associate dean for research in the medical school from 1981- 1993 and acting vice president for health sciences from 1991- 1992. Stevens joined the U faculty in 1962, the same year he earned his doctorate at the University. He had a prolific research career, which most recently had focused in the area of neuroendocrinology. He was well-known regionally and nationally as principal investi-gator on a 10-year, $7 million study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute to determine if fallout from nuclear testing in Nevada during the 1950s was a causal factor in the incidence of leukemia and thyroid cancer among residents of southwest Utah, who lived downwind of the test site. "For nearly 40 years Walt Stevens gave selflessly to the University and played a major role- as both administrator and investigator- in our advancement as a research institution," said A. Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D., interim president of the U of U and senior vice president for health sciences. "His keen mind and wise counsel contributed greatly to the growth of the medical school." In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the School of Medicine, U Brain Institute or the Utah Alzheimer's Association. UH Among Nations Most Wired- Again Services such as the U's telemedicine program, datawarehousing, medical and clinical informatics, and expanding wireless capabilities have earned University Hospitals & Clinics a position among the nation's 100 Most Wired health-care systems for the fifth year. Hospitals & Health Networks, a journal of the American Hospital Association, which published the list in its July issue, recognized U Hospital for using Internet technologies that improve health- care quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes, and workforce issues. "Technologies help physicians and patients at University Hospital access the latest resources and services available for the best care possible," said Rick Fullmer, UH executive director. " In addition, rural areas can have similar support by connecting to our specialists and capabilities." The University supports interactive video and data transmission sites for the Utah Telehealth Network, with 21 locations from St. George to Logan and Monument Valley to Vernal, said Pierre S. Pincetl, M.D., UH chief information officer and assistant vice president for health sciences information technology services. Innovative computer systems help physicians select the most effective drugs and treatments from numerous Continued on back Annual Employee Golf Tourney Set A hole in one wins a car at this year's employee Tee Time Golf Scramble on Aug. 11 at the U Golf Course. Teams for the annual event must consist of two men and two women for the scramble format. The cost is $10 per player and includes refreshments, a golf ball, fanny pack, and a UH cafeteria meal ticket, with the round of golf. Prizes also will be given for the longest drive and closest to the hole for men and women. For tee times, call Jeanne or Al, x1-2180. $3,000 Gift to Buy Car Seats U Hospital's Teen Mother and Child Program received a grant of more than $3,000 recently from the Allstate Foundation. The gift will buy child car seats and educational material on car-seat safety for adolescents in the program, according to Harriett Gesteland, director of the Teen Mother and Child Program. Gesteland expects the donation to buy about 50 car seats. Physical Therapist Rob Shingleton, right, works with Jerry Hugentobler in one of the 5N areas convertedfor exercise. Rehab Moves, Waits for New Home Where's Rehab? Staff and patients from Rehab's inpatient unit relocated to a new temporary home last week on 5 North, which was vacated when the Huntsman Cancer Hospital opened. Rehab was temporarily in SICU after its home area on SOM's second floor underwent remodeling. In the meantime, employees have given their unit nicknames, according to Karyn Douglas, R.N., a Rehab charge nurse. "Mobile Rehab" and "Rehab Refugees" are some of the favorites. Douglas said everyone has worked together and the move has gone well. It's expected that Rehab will return to its original, but newly remodeled home in September. U Research Exceeds $300 Million The University of Utah set a new record for collecting research grants, fellowships, and financial aid by crossing the $ 300 million threshold during the 2003-2004 fiscal year that ended June 30. Research funding from the School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Vice President/ Health Sciences, College of Nursing, and College of Health accounted for approximately 60 percent of $309,301,309 total. More than three-fourths of the amount came from the federal government, and most went into Utah's economy. This year's total represents almost an 8 percent increase over last year's amount collected and is more than twice the amount the University received a decade earlier, according to the U's Office of Sponsored Projects. In 2003, the U ranked 27th nationally overall and 27th in total federal research funds among 119 major public research universities. Tell Us What's Up Doc The World Class U Physician Satisfaction Team has set up a new e-mail account for physicians to give suggestions about how U Hospital can move from good to great as a place for physicians to practice medicine, conduct research, and teach. The 12-member Physician Satisfaction Team, consisting of staff, a physician, and nurses from various UH areas, is working to respond to physician ideas. E-mail suggestions to physician. satisfaction@hsc.utah.edu. Pulse Takes Break, Returns August 16 Pulse will not be published for the weeks of Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Information may be submitted for the August 16 issue and following weeks by contacting Jason Burgess in the Office of Public Affairs, xl- 3102. Information must be received by the Wednesday before f- r » /= » l\ / I r \ n n o i r r \ i i K i r o t - i r \ n r\ i t -^ UH Named ' Most Wired' continued possible options, according to Jennifer Leiser, M.D., medical director for the U's Sugar House Health Center. Family physicians at the Sugar House clinic carry hand- held devices and use computer terminals in the patient room to access databases and treatment protocol. "We can't carry everything in our heads anymore, but we can carry it in our pockets," said Leiser, assistant professor of family and preventive medicine. Also, the U's computerized medical records system allows physicians in the community clinics or in the hospital to securely access a patient's specialty records from any consultant in the University system. Wireless laptops also allow rounding clinicians to access patient-specific data in real-time, which facilitates rapid and accurate decision making, according to Edward J. Kimball, M.D., assistant professor of surgery. Kimball said his wireless laptop is the " most important tool used while rounding," in the SICU because it gives minute-by-minute patient information, access to infectious disease information, lab results, and radiology reports. The University provides medical and clinical informatics programs to educate and support medical professionals. The U supports a secure " warehouse" of clinical health and research information with more than 300 million data records- one of the most comprehensive resources in the academic health-care industry. uuhsc.utah.edu PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPE