Thursday, August 26, 2010

New Project Coordinator Appointed


Please welcome Amy Beasley as our Project Coordinator for Stroke/Accreditation. This position is a part of the Quality Management Department.


Amy Beasley, RN, MSN, CIC, joins USAMC from a hospital system in Indiana where she was the Infection Control Practioner for two hospitals for 4 years. She has been an RN for 15 years and has worked in the specialty areas of ED, Neuro-ICU, Trauma-ICU and General ICU. IN her new role she will be working with the medical and hospital staff to ensure complainace with external agency regulatory requirements and to prmote quality stroke patient care at USAMC.


submitted by Sharon Ezelle

Monday, May 10, 2010

Brumfield Named Commitment to Excellence Winner


Pictured to the left is Nancy Brumfield, Dietitian Supervisor, receiving an pin denoting her Commitment to Excellence award. Giving the pin is Food Services Director Steve Lancaster who nominated Brumfield for the award.

In his nomination Lancaster cites her professionalism as a trait most recognize in her and her performance. Brumfield recently was asked to help the Mitchell Cancer Institute in creating a nutrition program for their patients. She walked into an unknown situation and established a program that helps meet the needs of the patients. She has done this during a time when several staff members were out which stretched the department's staff rather thin. Nancy was able to pull this off due to her dedicated to the mission. Lancaster describes her as the "go to player" in the department who will do the job and do it right.

In addition to the pin, Nancy will receive a $50 gift certificate and a reserved parking space.

Patient First Award Winner Named







Rick Cooke, Chair of the Reward and Recognition committee has announced the most recent winners of the employee awards. Claude Loper, RN, of the 3rd Floor was named recipient of the Patient First award.

In nominating Loper for his award, Nurse Manager Angela Duffy wrote that Loper "consistently receives the highest priase from patients and family members that is possible." The common theme in comments are "Claude is wonderful, he goes above and beyond the call of duty." Loper has won this award in prior years. Pictured above is Loper and Nurse Manager Angela Duffy.

Patient First award winners are given a pin to wear indicating their award, a $50 gift certificate and a reserved parking place.



Thursday, May 6, 2010

USA College of Nursing Opens After-Hours Health Care Clinic at USAMC

The University of South Alabama’s College of Nursing has opened a new after-hours fast-track/urgent health care clinic on the third floor of USA Medical Center.

Managed and operated by certified nurse practitioners in collaboration with a USA physician, the clinic is open to the community, as well as University students, faculty and staff.
The fast-track/urgent care after-hours clinic, known as Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic, provides primary health care services for adults, including:
· acute illness management
· ear infections
· laboratory testing
· minor lacerations
· physical exams
· sinus infections
· sore throat
· sprains and strains
· swimmer’s ear, and
· urinary tract infections.

Located in Suite 301 of the USA Medical Center, the after-hours fast-track/urgent care clinic is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4-9 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-6 p.m.


The clinic is operated by faculty and students in USA’s College of Nursing. From the left are clinic clerk Debra Thomas, project coordinator Dr. Linda Roussel, certified nurse practitioner Lori Moore, and clinic nurse Julie McVay.

Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic is funded through a five-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In addition to care provided by certified nurse practitioners, the clinic also offers screenings, health education, illness prevention, and management of chronic illnesses.

The grant also supports community outreach programs for adults at Dumas Wesley Community Center and 15 Place in Mobile. These community outreach programs focus primarily on health promotion and self-management, including risk appraisals, screenings, patient teaching and care coordination.


Both the after-hours clinic and community outreach programs are operated by faculty and students in USA’s College of Nursing. Dr. Errol Crook, professor and chair of internal medicine at USA, serves as the clinic’s collaborating physician.


“We are privileged to have the opportunity to serve as health care partners in our community, supporting our mission of providing service to the public and the University,” said project director Dr. Linda Roussel, who is also a professor of community/mental health nursing at USA.
“This HRSA grant, Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic, makes it possible for the College of Nursing to provide quality, innovative evidence-based practice opportunities to a diverse student body. This practice opportunity promotes our mission of research and scholarly initiatives through direct care services and community outreach.”


Our Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic accepts cash, credit cards, or the following insurance: Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Health, Medicare and Medicaid. The clinic also provides services on a sliding scale.For appointments or more information, call (251) 471-7944. Learn more at www.southalabama.edu/nursing/onhc.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Scale Back Alabama Program Ends with Many Losers who are Winners!

The 2010 Scale Back Alabama program has ended at USAMC with many participants rejoycing in their success! In addition to winning by losing pounds, several participants were winners, either in the weekly prize drawing or in the overall prize. Those winners are listed below.

USAMC Scale Back Alabama 2010 Weekly Weigh-In Drawing Winners

Week 2 – Susan Havard
Week 3 – Deloris Key
Week 4 – Mattie Williams
Week 5 – Katherine Harrelson
Week 6 – Valenda Chappell
Week 7 – Karen White
Week 8 – Genny Staggs
Week 9 – Leticia Harris
Week 10 – Brenda Everette

USAMC Scale Back Alabama 2010 Top Ten Weight Loss Winners

1. John Paul Voelkel 32 lbs.
2. Robert Schwan 29 lbs
3. Reynaldo Rodriguez 20 lbs
4. Alan Maltbie 18 lbs
5. Rose Slay 21 lbs
6. Pat Dickerson 17.5 lbs
7. Glenda Turnbow 15 lbs
8. Tammy O’Haver 14 lbs
9. Catherine Manolakis 12 lbs Tied for 9th Place.
9. Cindy Pritchett 12 lbs Tied for 9th Place.

USAMC Teams That Reached the Team Goal

Delightful Sensations – Rose Slay, Karen White, Tiffany Edinburgh, & Valenda Chappell.
No Butts, No Glory – Herman Michael, John-Paul Voelkel, Alan Maltbie, & Reynaldo Rodriguez.
The Losers – Katherine Harrelson, Kelley McDonald, Catherine Manolakis, & Lisa Caten.

USAMC Team Achievement Winner

“No Butts, No Glory”

USAMC Individual Achievement Winner

Lisa Caten

Congratulations to all the winners and to all the losers!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Librarian Completes Course



Geneva Bush Staggs, Assistant Director for Hospital Library Services, has completed the Medical Library Association's Consumer Health Information Specialist program.
The Medical Library Assoication (MLA) defines consumer health information (CHI) as "information on health and
medical topics provided in response to requests from the general public, including patients and their families. In addition to information on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, CHI encompasses information on health promotion, preventive medicine, the determinants
of health, and accessing the health care system."
To achieve this specialization, Mrs. Staggs completed such continuing education courses as: Beyond an Apple a Day - Providing Health Information to the Public; Ethical Concerns for Health Sciences Librarians; and Easy-to-Read Health and Wellness Material for Consumers.

Completion of this program also contributes to Mrs. Staggs designation as a Distinguished Member of MLA's Academy of Health Information Professionals.

Mrs. Staggs recently participated with the Medical Library Association in the development of a health information literacy curriculum to be used with health care providers to raise awareness of literacy issues in clinical environments and the assistance offered by medical librarians to address these issues. Over the last year She has implemented a consumer information service in the hospital libraries.

Mrs. Staggs can be contacted at the Biomedical Library's Health Information Resource Center located on the 3rd floor of the USA Medical Center (251) 471-7855, gstaggs@bbl.southal.edu.

Friday, April 16, 2010

BOOT CAMP FOR THE NON-ATHLETE: Exercises to do at Home

For stroke survivors, staying physically active is crucial to improving their quality of life.

“Boot Camp for the Non-Athlete: Exercises to Do at Home” will be the topic of the next South Alabama Regional Stroke Support Group meeting at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. The popular stroke support group will meet from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 20 in the USA Medical Center’s 10th floor dining room. The stroke support group meets the third Tuesday of each month.

The guest speakers will be Mike Perry, a physical therapist at USA Medical Center, and Anthony “Deek” Cunningham, an occupational therapist at USA Medical Center. “We will discuss the importance of being physically active in the home environment and how one can incorporate general exercises and activities to improve their quality of life,” Cunningham said.

In addition to the talk from Perry and Cunningham, the meeting will feature a healthy meal and door prizes. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 471-7752, 471-7216 or e-mailing ccarrigan@usouthal.edu.
USA Medical Center is Mobile’s only Gold Performance Achievement Award recipient for stroke care, awarded by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Visit www.southalabama.edu/usamc/centers.html#stroke for more information.