March 2003 A periodic round-up of news from Johns Hopkins Medicine designed to give busy executives easy-to-read reports and useful information from one of the region's largest private employers.
In just a few short weeks, important changes take place that will impact everyone who visits a doctor, is treated at a hospital or who works at a health-care facility. You can read about the new patient privacy rules below.
You also may be interested in plans for a second cancer research building and our effort to “go paperless” by computerizing millions of pages of hospital financial reports.You’ll find articles as well on a potential blood test for identifying people at high risk for colon cancer, a follow-up study on a six-shot hayfever regimen, second opinions for overseas patients, and plans for reshaping surgical training. Plus, University President Bill Brody writes about the 41 million Americans who lack health insurance. All of this makes for good reading. Please let us know if you have questions or comments about any of these topics. We welcome your suggestions. Comments and questions may be sent to: jhmedicine@jhmi.edu
Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean/CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Ronald R. Peterson, President, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
HOPKINS BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW CANCER RESEARCH BUILDING
Just three years after dedicating a building devoted solely to cancer research, Johns Hopkins Medicine broke ground for a second cancer research facility. The $80 million structure is expected to be completed in 2005.AS HIPAA ARRIVES, ARE YOU READY?
On April 14, a federal law with the acronym of HIPAA puts control of medical information squarely into patients' hands. The new set of sweeping regulations represents a sea change in how institutions like Hopkins operate. GOING PAPERLESS
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is computerizing all its financial reports, with the majority of its 800 cost centers trained and online by July. This will eliminate 41 million pages of printed purchases, payments and payroll expenses.
PLACING DEFIBRILLATORS EVERYWHERE
Johns Hopkins University is the first in the country with a comprehensive program designed to save the lives of cardiac arrest victims by placing portable, automated external defibrillators at 60 non-hospital locations on the East Baltimore and Homewood campuses. NEW MEDICAL CENTERS IN HOWARD COUNTY
For people with breast cancer, diabetes, poor circulation or long-term immobilization, two new coordinated centers have opened at Howard County General Hospital – the Center for Wound Healing and the Breast Health Center. HOPKINS INSTITUTIONS CREATING 1,000 MARYLAND JOBS A YEAR
The Johns Hopkins Institutions added 3,000 Maryland jobs in the past three years, according to a new study, with 41,028 people employed in teaching, research, patient care and administrative or support jobs. That total is expected to grow to more than 45,500 by 2007. http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/univ03/mar03/economic.html
POTENTIAL BLOOD TEST FOR COLON CANCER RISK
Johns Hopkins scientists have found a way to predict, with a simple blood test, which people may be at higher risk for the most common form of colon cancer. This could give doctors the ability to identify these people, follow them closely and prevent disease or at least catch it early.SIX-WEEK, SIX-SHOT REGIMEN FIGHTS HAYFEVER FOR MORE THAN ONE SEASON
A follow-up study shows that an initial six-shot regimen of an experimental treatment for severe ragweed allergy is effective – and safe — for more than one allergy season. RESHAPING SURGICAL TRAINING
Julie Freischlag, Hopkins' recently arrived surgery chief, intends to find new ways to attact the best and brightest to her program by limiting duty hours and shortening surgical training. LONG-DISTANCE SECOND OPINIONS FOR OVERSEAS PATIENTS
International patients can get additional therapeutic options without traveling to Baltimore through a program in which specialists evaluate medical records, lab results and imaging studies sent to Hopkins, for a fee.
NO CARDS, PLEASE
University President Bill Brody writes about the 41.2 million Americans – 14 percent of the population – who lack health insurance. Maybe it's time, he suggests, for mandatory coverage.
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