Chief’s message:
Small distractions. The Duke – UNC this weekend with many in attendance or watching the yearly rival on TV provided just such a distraction from the ongoing changing world. We will need more of these to provide respite as we continue to work on ways to stay focused on the ever changing world around us with clinical care and possible viral pandemic. Find photos from the game this weekend – including some with colleagues and friends as we found Carlos Boozer and Chris Duhon (both ex players and NCAA champions). Hopefully more good games to come in March.
Another week of COVID-19 preparations by the health system and all of our faculty and fellows. We know that keeping social distances, washing hands, screening for travel right now, and working with our hospital and PDC leadership to ensure we follow plans will be our main way forward. Below you will find the updates from the Duke Health System
Updates from the week:
COVID-19 Updates
Centralized resources and information regarding Duke University Health System preparedness for COVID-19 is available on the Duke Health intranet site (NET ID required). Consistency in messaging is imperative, so please refer to these resources for the latest official information and policy updates.
Information for patients has been posted to DukeHealth.org (note the COVID-19 button under “What’s New” on the home page) and will be updated regularly; alerts and updates for patients are being shared via Duke MyChart and emails are being sent directly to patients considered most at risk. Information specific to Duke University’s coronavirus response can be found here.
U.S. News/Best Hospitals Voting is Open
Voting is open in Doximity for U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals”. Please visit your Doximity account and enter your vote. Thank you!
Owensby, Fitzhugh Earn ACS Designation
The Duke Heart Cardiac Diagnostic Unit is proud to announce that two of our sonographers, Jon Owensby and Robert “Curtis” Fitzhugh, successfully passed the Advanced Cardiac Sonographer (ACS) examination. ACS sonographers practice at an advanced level in the echocardiography laboratory improving lab quality and efficiency; performing advanced echocardiograms and mentoring fellows, students, residents and staff; developing and implementing educational plans; facilitating continuous quality improvement, and coordinating cardiac ultrasound research.
Jon and Curtis join the ranks of Danny Rivera, Jian Zhang, Alicia Armour, Hillary Hrabak, Batina Kight, Mike Foster, Ashlee Davis, Josh Lander, John Toptine and David Adams as sonographers who have all achieved the ACS certification during their time at Duke.
The regular advancement in learning and achievement demonstrated by our sonography team is one of the reasons Duke is able to provide the highest levels of care to our patients.
Great job and congratulations!
Purposeful Rounding Pilot Go Live: Unit 3300
Duke Heart Unit 3300 was selected to participate in the second cohort of the Duke University Hospital Responsiveness- Purposeful Hourly Rounding Project. Key components of the project focused on hardwiring standard work related to purposeful hourly rounding of HUC’s, RN’s, and NCA’s. This involved a multidisciplinary team consisting of Performance Improvement team members, unit champions, and Tracy Gosselin. Goals of the initiative are for staff to proactively manage and control their day, positive patient outcomes, decrease call bell use, increase quality time with patients, decrease harm, and increase patient education and charting time.
Staff were coached on utilization of proactive communication and bundling of care during purposeful hourly rounds as well as establishing patient expectations. The initiative kicked off on February 26. Dedicated time will be spent monitoring weekly Press Ganey responsiveness data, staff observations of purposeful rounding, and assessing the need for additional support.
Good Catch, Sowinski!
Many thanks to Katelyn Sowinski, one of our amazing nurses on Unit 3300. She noticed that a patient did not have a central line for their prescribed medication. Our Duke Heart Leadership team wrote: It is an honor for the Duke Heart leadership team to recognize and thank you personally for your “Good Catch” award for identification of a medication safety issue for a Duke Heart patient. Your dedication and commitment to your team and Duke Heart patients and families enables us as an organization to deliver on our Core Value and strive towards Zero Harm. Please take time to celebrate your personal and professional accomplishments today.”
Thank you again for all you do each and every day to make Duke Heart a great place for our patients, their loved ones, and each of our staff!
Triangle Heart Ball 2020
The American Heart Association’s 35th Triangle Heart Ball was held on Feb. 28 at the Raleigh Convention Center. It’s one of the largest fundraisers of the year for our local AHA affiliate. The event raised over $1 million for research, public education and more. The impact was felt in the room when a 23-year-old stroke survivor shared his story. His stroke at age 18 left him with aphasia, but he continues to work towards his goal of getting his college degree. Shown here, L-R are: Kasey Williams, Elizabeth Watts, Laura Dickerson, Charlotte Reikofski and Amanda Rooney.
Upcoming Opportunities/Save the Date:
Cardiology Grand Rounds
This week we welcome Arun Ganesh, Albert Sun, and Marat Fudim. The title of their talk is Management of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia in the Critically Ill Patient. Please join us on Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m., DN 2002.
Upcoming Grand Rounds:
- March 17: Mark Lindsay, Massachusetts General Hospital
- March 24: Carolyn Lam, Duke-NUS
- March 31: Cardiology Faculty Meeting
- April 14: Ryan Tedford, MUSC
- May 12: Michelle Kittleson, Cedars Sinai
Duke-J&J Nurse Leadership Program Accepting Applications
The Duke-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 program year. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) and their team members–committed to collaborating together on a health improvement initiative–are invited to participate in this program. The 10-month leadership development program trains APNs and their team members to be better equipped to meet the challenges of the evolving health care environment. Up to 35 health care teams will be selected to participate for the 2020-21 program year.
The application period will close May 11. Read more about the application process.
Informational webinars about the program will be held 12-1 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 10 and 12-1 p.m. ET Thursday April 16.
Update: ACC DCRI/Duke Heart Annual Reception
We are looking forward to seeing the Duke team at the upcoming ACC Scientific Sessions in Chicago! The location of the DCRI/Duke Heart annual reception has changed. It will be held in the Regency A Ballroom. Please make sure you update your calendar! Also, gentle reminder, this is a Duke-only event.
Have news to share?
If you have news to share with the Pulse readership, please contact Tracey Koepke, director of communications for Duke Heart at tracey.koepke@duke.edu. We would love to hear about your latest accomplishments, professional news, cool happenings, and any events or opportunities that may be of interest to our Duke Heart family. Please call with any questions: 919-681-2868. Feedback on Pulse is welcome and encouraged.
Duke Heart in the News:
March 4 — Chris Granger, Robert Califf and Manesh Patel
MDmag.com
Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Transition to NOACs
http://bit.ly/39uN8up
March 5 – Chris Granger and Jonathan Piccini
Reuters Health
Even with atrial fibrillation, exercise linked to longer life
https://reut.rs/32TK5JN
This story also appeared in The New York Times, London Free Press and KFGO (Fargo, ND)
Recent Comments