We're all about children!
 January 2007
This edition:
Letter From Our Chair
2006 was a very good year. We made changes that solidified our position as the premier Children's Hospital in the region. It is a good time to look at all the modern miracles that we have from computerized imaging, simulation labs, and electronic records. Against this mountain of mechanization, however, the healing touch, the open mind, and the attention to what the patient is feeling remain the tools that get things done. This means that we need to continually hone our minds to see, hear, process and direct the wealth of technological miracles. I would like to see medical education continuing to allow us to work with the patient as the main learning venue. My resolution this year is to try to help each student, resident, and practitioner to appreciate the need for judgment and processing the cues that are difficult to quantify mixed in with some good old common sense. [read more] Feature Story The Autism Queen
The developmental pediatrician is widely respected as an expert on the screening, diagnosis and management of autism. She is, among other things, director of MUSC's Carolina Autism Resource Evaluation, or CARE Center, one of three statewide that she helped to establish several years ago. "I worked together with the Autism division, the state agency that provides services to persons with autism, to develop a series of diagnostic clinics to serve three areas of the state - Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston," she explains. [read more] Update From Our Administrator
Every two years, Child magazine surveys children's hospitals across the country and ranks them based on clinical outcomes, research and programs available. MUSC Children's Hospital has always done well and this year is no different. On January 9, Child magazine will publish their rankings and our Children's Hospital will be listed in the top 40! This year's survey was a little different in that it was open to all full member hospitals in the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI). The rankings were more competitive than ever due to the objectivity of the new survey tool and the excellent care being provided by so many hospitals. There are several specialty areas that are evaluated in the NACHRI survey and I am excited to report that the MUSC Children's Hospital Emergency Department ranked ninth in the country. This honor is well deserved by a very dedicated staff that has developed a truly exceptional program. The community recognizes and appreciated the family centered care that is given to our patients and families and we will continue to plan for a new expanded emergency department. Thank you and congratulations to all! ` Darby Children's Research Institute News
Understanding translational research Defining translational research can be confusing because it's a broad-based definition of a process that applies to multiple disciplines and not a specific end point, says director of pediatric epidemiology Dr. Thomas C. Hulsey, ScD, MSPH. "It's a new discipline that describes the process by which two traditionally independent disciplines - basic and clinical science - now work collaboratively to improve human health," says Dr. Hulsey. Translational research is a dynamic cycle that reinforces the linkages between basic laboratory research, epidemiology studies, and clinical trials. It's the critical bridge between a better understanding of biological processes and the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and outcomes of specific health conditions. [read more] Evidence-Based Tip
In its book Guidelines for Clinical Practice, the Institute of Medicine defines practice guidelines as "systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances." They are sometimes called clinical guidelines or clinical practice guidelines, but their purpose it the same: to guide practitioners, patients, and health care administrators to the best possible care. [read more] A special thanks to the following individuals for their efforts in putting together Kids Connection each month. Editor: Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA Publisher: Jennifer Cherock (Trio Solutions Inc.) and Jessica Munday (Trio Solutions Inc.) Web design: Brian Dadin (Trio Solutions Inc.) Feature Writer: Mary Sue Lawrence, Trio Solutions Inc Contributing Writers: Lyndon Key, Bernard Maria, John Sanders, Inderjit Singh, Laura Cousineau |
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