Pulse

Volume5/2005_July12UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER July 12, 2005 Last week's announcement included the unveiling of the new name and logo on the north tower of U Hospital. U Hospital Celebrates 40 Years; University Health Care Unveiled Staff and dignitaries gathered last week to celebrate U Hospital's 40 th anniversary with a nostalgic look at the past and a preview of the future, which includes a new name. U President Michael K. Young announced that all of the University's patient-care programs will be incorporated in a new, single identity known as University Health Care. The move is designed to help patients, and the community as a whole, more easily understand the wide range of health-care services provided by the University. Rick Fullmer, U Hospitals CEO, David Bjorkman, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine, and Kim Wirthlin, associate health sciences vice president for marketing and communications, also spoke at the event held near the hospital's front entrance. "University Health Care represents patient care that is delivered in an environment that is easy to navigate, that is responsive, and that offers a combination of comfort, personal care, and technical excellence. University Health Care is part of a continuing tradition led by highly skilled and devoted professionals who bring patients not just hope, but a solution," Young said. The change is based on extensive research into how the University is viewed by the community, according to Wirthlin. " When we asked people about health care at the University of Utah we learned that the University is well known, but that the health- care services we provide and our role in the community are not as well understood," she said. "We want people to know that University Health Care is the cornerstone of health care in Utah. We educate many of the state's health- care providers, we conduct research that benefits the entire health- care industry, and we serve as a resource to all health- care providers from across the region," she said. Continued on back University Health Care Named Among Americas Best Hospitals for 12th Time It's an even dozen for University Health Care- named again this year as one of America's best hospitals by U. S. News & World Report. The magazine's 2005 survey of leading U.S. hospitals, on newsstands yesterday, lists University Health Care among the top providers in cancer care and orthopedics, ranking those programs 30th and 45th, respectively. Just 176 of the country's 6,007 civilian medical centers offered the range and quality of services to be considered for selection in the magazine's 16th annual survey, according to U. S. News. This was the 12th year University Health Care made the list and U Hospitals CEO Rick Fullmer attributes that record of consistency to employees who make patient care their top priority. "This reflects years of dedication and commitment to excellence by our faculty and staff," Fullmer said, "and we're going to have more opportunities to develop centers of excellence and continue to provide the kind of care our patients deserve and expect. We're very proud of everyone who works here. In cancer care, the magazine cited research into the genetic causes of various cancers. University Health Care physicians at the U's Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute devote much research to investigating the genetic links to cancer. In orthopedics, the magazine noted that surgery Continued on back Winners Named for Presidential Award U President Michael K. Young honored six U employees at a lunch for winning the 2005 Presidential Staff Award. Selected from a group of more than 80 nominations throughout campus, the University of Utah Staff Advisory Council (UUSAC) Selection Committee selected three exempt and three non- exempt employees for the top award. Each received an honorarium of $3,000, a plaque, and will have their names added to a plaque, which is permanently displayed in the Human Resources office. Winners included: Denise Haynie, The Graduate School; Nancy Stroud, Academic Senate; Brenda Young, Student Development; Margo Bonnette, College of Health Dean's Office; Barbara Reeves, Purchasing Department; and Ken Verdoia, KUED. U Public Health Wins Informatics Grant The U Public Health program is one of four sites that will receive funding from a $3.68 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to further develop training in public health informatics. Other sites are Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the University of Washington. Students will receive training in basic information science and public health principles, focused preparation in applying informatics to public health problems, and on- site experience with public health agencies. All four universities currently host informatics training programs supported by National Library of Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans. America's Best Hospitals continued patients expect less cutting and a faster recovery. The U Orthopaedic Center, which opened last fall in Research Park, offers the latest surgical procedures, pain management techniques, and technology in a facility that is among the best in the country. To make the Best Hospitals list, a facility must meet one of three criteria: membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals; affiliation with a medical school; or offer at least nine of 18 service- related technologies deemed worthwhile, such as positron emission tomography (PET). Less than one- third of hospitals met these requirements. Hospitals also must have performed a minimum number of procedures in specialty areas, or be cited by at least one physician in the 2003, 2004 or 2005 surveys. The magazine then gave numerical assessments to the eligible hospitals based on reputation, death rate, and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The top 50 hospitals in each specialty were then ranked according to their numerical scores. U Hospital Anniversary Includes Unveiling of New Name continued Last week's announcement included the unveiling of the new name and logo on the north tower of U Hospital. "It's fitting that University Hospital, as the flagship for University Health Care, be the first location to debut our new identity," Wirthlin said. The new identity will replace more than 60 separate logos and names currently in use. U Hospitals CEO Rick Fullmer, left, and medical school dean David Bjorkman, M.D., unveiled the new brand. Rick Fullmer, right, introduced Grant Hunsaker at the event. Hunsaker was the medical center's first patient on July 10, 1965. uuhsc.utah.ed