May 8 2013

In Celebration of Nurses

by Ora Pescovitz Comments (5)
Community Service, Education, Patient Care, Research & Technology

“You must never so much think as whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it.”  ― Clara Barton, Nurse & Founder of the American Red Cross

Each year for a week, in honor of Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12, we celebrate those individuals who have dedicated their lives to a profession that is among the most noble, demanding and rewarding: Nursing.

Nurses are important ambassadors of the patient and family experience because they are on the frontlines delivering care and comfort 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  They are in classrooms, labs and clinics training future generations of nursing professionals and discovering ways to improve care and care delivery. They are in the community working and volunteering at shelters and in schools.  And, across the country, nursing professionals are strong voices for innovation and change when it comes to shaping health care policy and influencing health care reform.

Under the steadfast leadership of Kate Potempa, Dean of the U-M School of Nursing, and Margaret Calarco, Chief Nurse at UMHHC, nursing at Michigan is thriving and our institution continues to be regarded as one of the country’s best academic nursing centers.  The School’s Master’s Program is the sixth best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, its research-focused Ph.D. programs rank in the National Research Council’s top 5 percent and it ranks sixth in NIH research funding. Additionally, it is a hub of groundbreaking innovation, as demonstrated by being the first U.S. nursing school to partner with the Peace Corps’ Masters International Program, achievement of a 5-year grant to fund the prestigious Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation, and, in partnership with the UMHS nursing community, establishing the Clinical Initiative for Excellence in Education, Practice and Scholarship to improve the quality and safety of nursing care practice and delivery. UMHS nurses have influenced the profession by publishing more than 50 manuscripts and book chapters this past year alone and presenting more than 70 paper and poster presentations to national and international audiences. Additionally, the Health System’s new Nursing governance model is enabling deeper partnerships with patients and families and establishing new models of nursing care.  As clinical mentors to the hundreds of nursing students we serve, our nurses join with nursing students and faculty to educate our next generation of nurses and create the future of health care delivery.

From care at the bedside to outpatient appointments to nursing education and research to professional and peer support and mentorship, there is no more committed community of nurses than the 4,000 plus nursing professionals at Michigan.

While it shouldn’t take a national event to remind us to thank the incredible nursing professionals who enable excellence across our Health System and University, there certainly is no better time for all of us to offer gratitude to the nursing heroes, teachers, mentors and leaders in our community. Thank you for all that you do!!

Jan 31 2013

VIDEOS: Demonstrating our Values; Achieving our Goals

by Ora Pescovitz Comments (3)
Patient Care, Video

STRATEGIC GOALS IN ACTION: PROMOTING DIVERSITY, CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND SATISFACTION & IPCE
Jane Miller conveys the importance of Interpreter Services in helping people get the right care, in the right way:

PATIENT- & FAMILY-CENTERED CARE
Laura Hurst, mother of twins Alex and Levi, shares how one thoughtful second made a world of difference. Hear her story:


Oct 12 2012

State of the Health System 2012

by admin Comments (0)
Community Service, Education, Future of Health Care, Global, Newsletter, Patient Care, Philanthropy, Research & Technology, Video

Below is a video recording of the 2012 State of the Health System Address delivered on Oct. 9, 2012.

Sep 27 2012

Art & Medicine

by Ora Pescovitz Comments (9)
Education, Newsletter, Patient Care

Employee Art Exhibition

This year, I was honored to participate in Gifts of Art’s 25th Anniversary Employee Art Exhibition in two meaningful ways. First, I was delighted to co-host the Sept. 11 awards presentation and second, since I am not an artist myself, I submitted one of my late husband’s photographs to the show. To see such exceptional creative work by UMHS faculty and staff was truly inspiring. If you have an opportunity to view this exhibit, which is on display in South Taubman Lobby, Floor 1, through October 8, I encourage you to do so.

I’ve always believed that art and medicine are interconnected, and that the practice of art and the practice of medicine are strikingly similar. Both start with the act of observation – reflecting on an existing idea, theory or problem – and then finding a way to express that existing notion in a novel way and with new vision. In art and in medicine, the process that takes you from what is to what can be is cerebral, creative and full of limitless possibilities. And this is one of the many reasons that a career in medicine and health care is one of the most rewarding, because there is no limit to what can be achieved or to the impact you can have on others. In the words of the early-twentieth century physician Dr. William Osler: “The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head.”

I was reminded of this quote recently when I read the August issue of the journal Academic Medicine. The issue features a perspective piece titled “Acts of Interpretation: A Philosophical Approach to Using Creative Arts in Medical Education” written by our very own Dr. Arno Kumagai, clinical professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Education. In the article, Dr. Kumagai shares insights from his experience as director of the UMMS Family Centered Experience (FCE) program, a required course that uses creative arts to teach first and second-year medical students. Of particular note, it is unique among medical schools to require a course that uses creative arts as part of its curriculum.

Two Worlds Apart
Artists: Sara Neill and Alex Donaghy, UMMS Class of 2014

As part of the FCE program, students spend time with patients who volunteer to share their experiences with the students to help them better understand that the person in the exam room is much more than his or her disease. Midway through the first year, the students work together in small teams to create a work of art – be it a poem, song, painting, dance, multimedia presentation or something else. The work of art must tell the story of the patient experience based on what the students learned from the patient-volunteers.

This concept of storytelling is a cornerstone of the FCE program. In the article, Dr. Kumagai explains how storytelling can enhance empathy, complement traditional learning strategies, deepen self-awareness and expression in students, and, ultimately, make better doctors who appreciate and understand the importance of patient-centered, relationship-based medical care.

The FCE program is a wonderful example of just how powerful the combination of art and medicine can be for learners, for patients and for the future of health care.  You can view some FCE interpretive projects here.

From paintings that adorn our walls to music that fills our patient rooms to sculptures that decorate our grounds to curricula that inspire our learners, the University of Michigan Health System is demonstrating the art of practicing medicine equally with our heads and with our hearts.

Aug 6 2012

New Translational Oncology Program Represents the U-M Health System’s Tradition of Visionary Cancer Research and Patient Care

by Ora Pescovitz Comments (0)
Future of Health Care, Patient Care, Research & Technology

Diane Simeone, M.D.

Today, we announced creation of a new UMHS Translational Oncology program to be housed at the North Campus Research Complex and led by Diane Simeone, M.D. This program will strengthen the bridge between our tremendous strength in basic science and our excellent clinical care.

I first heard the impressive vision for a UMHS Translational Oncology program from Cancer Center director Max Wicha within my first few months at Michigan. Since then, he, Diane and others in the Health System have worked diligently to bring this idea to fruition.

The new program will bring together scientists from diverse areas, as well as industry partners, thus promoting multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation. The program fulfills the mission and vision of the NCRC, which are to expand the University’s capabilities as one of the nation’s top translational research institutions and create a world of fast-paced scientific discovery that ignites improvements to humanity’s health and well-being.

At the same time, it is one of many efforts that will ‘move the needle’ on our cancer-related strategic goals and, thus, move us closer to achieving our institutional vision of creating the future of health care through discovery and establishing UMHS as a national leader in health care and biomedical innovation.

As Diane says, the new Translational Oncology program will provide an opportunity to “really make a difference in patients’ lives – which is the real reason we are all here.”

I can think of no one more suited to direct this new program and ensure its success than Diane. She has served as the director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the Cancer Center since 2005 and is a world-renowned leader in pancreatic cancer surgery. Her lab was the first to identify cancer stem cells in pancreatic tumors, and has translated this finding into clinical trials testing new treatments aimed at the cancer stem cells. Additionally, she is co-PI on the GI SPORE (Specialized Program in Research Excellence) grant and was part of the team responsible for the original work defining the genes important in pancreatic cancer development and progression. Nationally, she has served as president of the American Pancreatic Association.

This is an exciting initiative for our Health System and one that holds tremendous promise in the fight against cancer. Please join me in congratulating Diane and taking great pride in the exemplary science taking place in our Health System.

More about the new Translational Oncology program 

Jul 24 2012

My Visit to Michigan Dialysis

by Ora Pescovitz Comments (5)
Patient Care, Site Visit, Video

When you walk into the Michigan Dialysis outpatient clinic on South Industrial Highway in Ann Arbor, you get a strong sense of family.

Because patients visit routinely for ongoing care, the doctors, nurses, dieticians, social workers and other staff are able to get to know them on a deeper level than is typically possible in an inpatient hospital setting. And because the type of care required by patients is multifaceted, team members need to be coordinated and collaborative in order to successfully and appropriately meet patients’ needs.

I visited in April and met several members of this wonderful team. I was particularly impressed by the bonds that team members have formed with each other and with their patients – bonds that are rooted in demonstrable compassion (one of my 7Cs!).

The brief video below was taken during my visit. In addition to providing insight into what makes this group so special, the video demonstrates the team’s commitment to creating the ideal patient care experience. For example, with FIGS funding, the program purchased iPads, iPods, laptops and a Kindle that they give to patients for use during treatment. Take a look:

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