Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt nationally ranked in 10 pediatric specialties, #1 in the Southeast, and #1 in Tennessee

To help patients decide where to receive care, U.S. News generates hospital rankings by evaluating data on nearly 5,000 hospitals. To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients. Learn more HERE. Pediatric Urology service ranked in top 10 nationally.

CLICK HERE for links to more Healthcare Appreciation info & Resources

Keep On Your Radar

New Physician Orientation

On August 17, 2021 at 6:30 a.m. there will be an orientation to the 3rd floor held virtually for all new physicians and proceduralists. Please send names to Sarah Mays to have them added to the event.

Quarterly OSIC Book Club took place on July 20th, 2021 @ 11:00AM via Zoom. This quarter, we discussed Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker & Jennifer Bagdonas. A sense of humor may increase engagement, memorability, and elevate social connections between colleagues. Click below to take the Humor Typology Quiz.

Simple Meals For Busy People

Create Simple Meals for Busy People with this month’s easy, informative, and delicious Nutrition Corner! Completing a Nutrition Corner also counts as a Wellness Action in Step 2 of the NEW Go for the Gold!

Speakers Wanted

Opportunity to increase referral base for physicians and network across the state.

Annual Update in Acute & Emergency Care Pediatrics Conference

April 21-22, 2022
Knoxville, TN

The Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center (CRPC) host for this year's conference is East Tennessee's Children Hospital

Want to present?

Click HERE to submit your topic idea.

Deadline to submit your application is August 31, 2021.

Joint Commission Corner

Please remember these Joint Commission common offenses:

No outside jackets in OR
No food or drinks in clinical areas
No bags or backpacks in OR
Beards must be covered

Dr. Roland Eavey reflects on 12 Years of Service

"I tell this to everybody - Dr. Balser, Dr. Pinson, to anyone who will listen - for my money, this is the best academic medical center in the United States. I sincerely believe that, and I have been to quite a few academic medical centers. One of the things that happens here, which is sort of symbolic of what is happening here [in this room] today is that instead of us being individual spools of thread, we are fabric [together]. When you look at fabric, you can't tell where one thread starts and another ends. At some point in the future, someone is going to look back and not see that there is a 'Ron Eavey thread.' What they are going to see is a beautiful piece of fabric. All of us have put our thread into this piece of cloth. All of you should reflect for a moment and think, how did you get here? Who has helped you in your career to help you put your thread into this piece of fabric?" Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Eavey's contributions during his tenure at VUMC.

PEOPLE: New Hires

Cyrus Adams, MD has joined the Pediatric Urology service.

Jordan Busing, MD, and Erika Cornell, MD begin Fellowships with the Gastrointestinal surgery service in July.

Jacob Anthony Kaslow, MD has joined the Pediatric Pulmonary service.

Michael Kuntz, MD begins a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship on August 6th, following a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Fiona Libsack, Associate Director for Market Development, will serve as the primary marketer for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Monica Lopez, MD, MS has joined the faculty of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. CHildren's Hospital. She has been appointed Vice-Chair of Surgical Quality and Evidence-based Programs.

Jason Park, MD, PhD clinician-scientist investigating lymphatic malformations.

Elizabeth Perkins, MD joins Pediatric Otology and Skull Base surgery.

Eugenia Walker is welcomed as Administrative Supervisor for the Orthopedic and Urology clinics.

SERVICE: Perioperative Services Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Seeks Volunteers to Lead

The Perioperative Services Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee is seeking volunteers to lead and organize diversity and inclusion efforts by faculty and staff. These efforts will complement those of the Racial Equity Task Force and expand to include our LGBTQ colleagues. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email Sarah Mays.

Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Scores

Q4 2021 Perioperative Top Box Scores Exceed VUMC Reach Goal!

OR 92%

Cardiac Cath 90%

Endo 87%

Click HERE for comments from families and opportunities for improvement.

Thank You ALL for your continued dedication to our patients and families!

Click HERE for a more detailed look at VCH OR Scorecards.

QUALITY: Patient Cohorting

After a year of planning with nursing, provider, and operational leaders, on May 25, 2021 Inpatient Cohorting went live across VCH. The goals of the project are to provide patients with even higher quality care coordination by increased nursing education for specific patient populations and to help continue to foster nursing and provider relationships. Each unit that has been identified for specific patient populations is a preferred unit; due to staffing or bed availability patients may go to a secondary unit. Click HERE for a graphic overview.

FINANCE: Volume

Perioperative services have maintained strong volume and financial performance in the midst of the pandemic. Please click HERE to review the fiscal year 2021 surgical volumes. Thank you to all of the services for showing great adaptability when presented with challenges for this fiscal and for continuing to serve our community.

Attention: The information transmitted with any links is intended solely for VUMC faculty and staff and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.

INNOVATION

Accelerating Progress in Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Care: A Virtual Workshop

The Committee on Accelerating Progress in Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Care is gathering input from the public and private experts and stakeholders to assess civilian and military health burdens of TBI; examine the landscape of TBI care and research, and consider gaps and opportunities for improving systems from acute care through rehabilitation and beyond. The workshop provided important input into the committee’s report, which will be released in early 2022.

(Link to videos and more HERE)

Wootten Investigates Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Laryngitis With VICTR Grant

The larynx serves as a crucial anatomic connection between the respiratory and digestive tracts. Host immune response to inhaled and swallowed antigens plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several aerodigestive diseases. Chronic, pathologic laryngeal inflammation is associated clinically with poorer outcomes from complex airway reconstruction—meaning patients remain tracheostomy-dependent. Click HERE to find out what The Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Vanderbilt's multidisciplinary teams are doing to advance care for patients with laryngotracheal stenosis.

SOCKs Update

Serving as a central hub for pediatric multi-disciplinary research collaboration has long been pivotal to the SOCKs mission. One excellent example of the success of this mission is reflected in the project ‘Advanced Neuroimaging to Improve Treatment & Development of Infants with Craniosynostosis’. Led by pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Golinko, this study brings together investigators from Pediatric Plastic Surgery, the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Pediatric Neurosurgery, & the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. This collaborative is utilizing new diagnostic tools, namely diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) MRI, and neurodevelopmental testing to better understand when and how to surgically treat pediatric craniosynostosis patients. Click HERE to learn more.

OR Renovations

Perioperative management is preparing for the eventual renovation work on the 3rd floor. Thanks to your feedback (HERE), operative rooms will be upgraded to meet the demands of our quality standards and caseload, so we can continue to deliver exceptional, state-of-the-art care. Needs assessments have been conducted and rooms are being prioritized as a result. Your service may be displaced for a time period while the renovation is underway. Please begin thinking about how your department will be able to successfully relocate appropriate cases to Murfreesboro. Please email Barb Shultz or Caroline Hale with any questions or if you would like to provide additional feedback on renovation needs.

Awards and Recognitions

Perioperative team members are continuously advancing in their chosen career path. Congratulations to the below-listed staff members on their advancement!

Ryan Belcher, MD elected to faculty Senate

Christy Crockett, MD appointed as VCH PACU Medical Director

Amber Greeno, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, CPN received the Advocate for Children Award

Sara Hightower, BSN, RN, CNOR promoted to Cath Lab Manager

Nathaniel Lempert, MD to rise from Fellow to Assistant Professor on August 15

Monica Lopez, MD, MS appointed Vice-Chair of Surgical Quality and Evidence-Based Practice Program

Jeffrey Martus, MD promoted to Professor of Ortho-Pediatrics

Molly Napier, RN promoted to CSL in the Holding Room/PACU
Yolanda Neal-Hosey promoted to Sr Patient Service Specialist for Pediatric Surgery/ENT

Filipina Schabel, MD completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice

Mao Shinoda, CerAT completed cell saver training and is now on our Liver Team

Jenna Sobey, MD selected for membership to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Academy for Excellence in Education

Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD appointed by the American Board of Surgery to the Pediatric Surgery Board

Sarah Sexton Walters, NP completed her Master of Management in Health Care

Amy Whigham, MD appointed Director of Fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

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