Methodist Hospice Plans to Build a Hospice Residence

Methodist Hospice plans to build a $9 million dollar, 30-bed free-standing hospice residence. Several locations are currently under consideration.

As one of the first hospices in the country to receive Medicare certification, Methodist Hospice works to help ease the end-of-life transition for over 225 families in the Mid-South every day. Methodist Hospice leaders believe a hospice residence is the next step in providing outstanding care for patients, both adults and children, who are facing their final days and their families.

The Methodist Hospice Residence will provide acute care for those who require symptom management and short-term residential beds for those who cannot be cared for in their homes. The residence will also contain office space to accommodate interdisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, home health aides, chaplains, social workers, volunteers and support staff. The hospice residence will serve as a community asset, offering educational rooms, a library and a bereavement center open to all adults and children throughout the region.

St. Jude Names New Chief Pharmaceutical Officer

William Greene, Pharm.D., has joined the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital faculty as its new chief pharmaceutical officer and a full member in the Pharmaceutical department.

Formerly Clinical Pharmacy Services corporate director at Methodist Healthcare in Memphis, Greene brings more than 20 years of pharmacy leadership and knowledge to St. Jude. Educated at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Greene completed his postdoctoral training at Duke University Medical Center/Hospital in Durham, N.C. and received his doctor of pharmacy at the University of Tennessee , Memphis. Greene is also a professor in the Clinical Pharmacy department at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.

Will Acker Joins Shoemaker Financial

Will Acker has joined Shoemaker Financial as a financial advisor. He will focus on providing advisory services for the healthcare industry and working with young families in the Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville areas.

Memphis Heart Clinic Attains NCQA Recognition For Excellence In Cardiac Care

Memphis Heart Clinic ( MHC) is pleased to announce that 7 of its cardiologists practicing in TN and MS were recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Physician Recognition Program for Heart/Stroke Care. This 3-year recognition was awarded for excellence in cardiac care. The NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program was created in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in an effort to improve the quality care for patients with cardiovascular disease and/or stroke.

NCQA’s Heart/Stroke Recognition Program was established to recognize the quality of physician care for persons with cardiovascular disease or who have experienced a stroke. These measurements are based on five criteria:

• Blood Pressure Control - having a systolic BP of less than 140mmHg

• Smoking Cessation and Education on Treatment

• Complete lipid profile

• LDL Cholesterol Control- Less than 100mg\dl

• Use of aspirin or another antithrombotic

Dr. Van Middlesworth Honored as University Distinguished Professor

Lester Van Middlesworth, MD, PhD, has been named University Distinguished Professor by The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

In addition to his teaching and research activities in the Department of Physiology, Dr. Van Middlesworth will now counsel and assist the chancellor on regional and national issues within his area of expertise, which broadly includes physiology, medicine and biophysics.

Assisted by his wife, Rue, in his groundbreaking thyroid research, Dr. Van Middlesworth has dedicated his entire 55-year career to the UT Health Science Center.

Campbell Foundation Receives Gift From Baptist

The Campbell Foundation recently received a $20,000 gift in support of their orthopaedic resident education programs. Bestowed by the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation, the two entities have partnered in a mutual commitment to educate the finest orthopaedic surgeons and to deliver the highest level of patient care.

The gift is given as scholarships to the senior residents to enable them to participate in a review course for the national orthopaedic board examination, sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

UT Health Science Center Professor Rao Lands Fourth NIH Grant

Gadiparthi N. Rao, PhD, professor of Physiology at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), was recently awarded his fourth National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The four grants, totaling more than $5 million, mark a rare achievement.

Dr. Rao received his doctorate degree in life sciences at Gujarat University in India. Entering his eighth year at UTHSC, his research focuses on cardiovascular complications common after angioplasty — a problem prevalent in western countries. All four grants focus on unique methods for attacking different aspects of cardiovascular problems.

Methodist South Names Administrative Director of Nursing

Gail Taylor, RN, MPH, CCRN, a nurse leader and healthcare professional with more than 27 years of nursing leadership, performance improvement and emergency preparedness experience has joined the team at Methodist South Hospital as administrative director of nursing.

Taylor has a clinical background in emergency and critical care nursing. Prior to joining Methodist South, she served as director of clinical support at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis.

Taylor received a master’s degree in public health from Tulane University in New Orleans, a bachelor of science degree from the University of St. Francis in Joliet. Ill. And her nursing degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark.



September 2007