USA MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEE RECEIVES "CITIZEN VALOR" AWARD

– Officials with Mobile Fire-Rescue recently presented a Citizen Valor Award to University of South Alabama Medical Center employee Travis Williams because of his actions in helping another citizen who was in medical distress.

On Sept. 2, Mobile Fire-Rescue firemedics responded to the report of “a man down” on board a Mobile WAVE transit bus at Bel Air Mall. Upon arrival, firemedics found an approximately 40-year-old male unconscious seated in the rear of the bus. There was a young man standing behind him, later identified as Williams, who was physically supporting the victim so that he would not fall over onto the bus floor.

Williams advised the firemedics that he recognized the man had something wrong with him and had the bus driver stop and call 911. Williams also told them he had a relative that was a diabetic and the victim showed signs of having the same problem.

Firemedics checked the victim's blood sugar and it turned out Williams was correct; he had low blood sugar. The victim was transported to the hospital, treated and released. The firemedics reported that Williams was “extremely helpful.”

Williams is employed as a Custodial Worker II at USAMC.

Pictured above is Williams, front row center, being presented with the award in ceremonies in front of the hospital. Flanking Williams are Warren Greene, director of Environmental Services and Beth Anderson, hospital administrator. Back row, from left, are Elmer Sellers, assistant administrator; Michael Peterson, associate director of environmental services; Billy Pappas, Mobile Fire-Rescue assistant chief; and Porsha Black, Mobile Fire-Rescue firemedic.

USAMC Employees Honored

USAMC employees Ruby Adams of Enviromental Services and Manuel X. Green, III, have received awards as a part of the University's annual Christie Miree USA National Alumni Association Outstanding Employee Service Awards. they are divisional nomimees for the awards.

Pictured at left is President V. Gordon Moulton presenting Manuel X. Green III with a certificate.

Hospital staff were asked to nominate employees for the six-categories of awards, Service, Technical, Clerical, Administrative, Crafts/Trades and Professional. These nominations are then reviewed by committees for each of the Univiersity's major divisions. These compirse the US"A" team. Each member receives a certificate and is recognized by President V. Gordon Moulton at the annual service awards ceremony at the Mitchell Center.

These nominees are then reviewed by a University committee which selects six-indiviuals, one from each catefory, as the outstanding employee. Each receives a plaque and a cash award.

Adams represented the Health Systems in the Service category while Green was in the Professional Category.Pictured at right is President Mouton and Ruby Adams.

While both are members of the US"A" team, Adams as selected as a recipient of the Christie Miree USA National Alumni Association Outstanding Employee Award.

Cancer Program Receives Accreditation with Commendation

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer of Program at University of South Alabama Medical Center.

A facility receives a Three-Year Accreditation with commendation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of complaince with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer cetner date management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and qulaity improvement). In addition a facility receives a complaine rating for all other standards.

Congratulations to all our staff involved in this program and thanks for the hard work that made this award possible!

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

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.

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.