BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER, SAFER
HOPKINS MEDICINE E-NEWS (March 2005)
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Rapid, more effective and safer treatment with the latest technologies, vaccines and facilities is our objective. Among this month's highlights read about new centers for uterine fibroids and pancreatic cancer, as well as research demonstrating the importance of earlier use of prostate cancer vaccines; better methods for lowering heart disease among African Americans, and the safety of MRI scans for men and women with implanted heart devices.
We've also included interesting commentaries on Medicare's looming disaster, the enormous potential of stem cell research and the need for more attention to Alzheimers disease as baby boomers reach retirement age. We welcome your suggestions and hope you enjoy reading these reports.
-- Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean of the Medical Faculty, CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine-- Ronald R. Peterson, President, Johns Hopkins Health System, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
THE BUSINESS OF MEDICINE
GOLDMAN TRUST CREATES PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
The Sol Goldman Charitable Trust donates $10 million for research into novel means of earlier diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, which kills 30,000 Americans a year with one of the lowest cancer survival rates.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO PATIENT SAFETY
Medical residents, graduate nursing students and administrative fellows take a four-week course to see if they can partner with senior hospital management to address patient care problems.
LATEST CT SCANNER MEANS FASTER CORNONARY DIAGNOSIS
Hopkins installs a cutting-edge CT scanner - one of only two in the U.S. - that provides precise images within 10 seconds for patients experiencing coronary symptoms. The scanner may replace many angiograms.
CHARITIES PLEDGE $20 MILLION TO BUILD CHILDREN'S AND MATERNAL HOSPITAL
The Garrett Fund for the Surgical Care of Children and the Hospital for Consumptives of Maryland, known as Eudowood, each commit $10 million to help Hopkins continue its pediatric mission in a brand-new clinical building.
NEW EVENING HOSPITAL BOSS
To help alleviate patient logjams in the Emergency Department, Hopkins Hospital names an evening administrator with the power to resolve issues great and small.
GOING FILMLESS IN RADIOLOGY
Digital radiology images are replacing traditional film at Hopkins, giving physicians fast, convenient access to online images and eliminating the cost and time to make and store 350,000 diagnostic studies each year.
SCIENCE REPORT
PEDIATRIC AIDS AWARD GOES TO HOPKINS INVESTIGATOR
Deborah Persaud receives a $700,000 grant from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to advance her work on the extent, effect and persistence of HIV drug resistance in children exposed as infants to antiretroviral drugs.
Hopkins opens a new center to treat and study uterine fibroids, which afflict millions of women. The center will specialize in state-of-the-art therapies and rapid application of new research.
EARLIER USE OF PROSTATE CANCER VACCINES URGED
Researchers find prompt use of specially tailored vaccines designed to reinvigorate the immune system are most effective against prostate cancer.
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR REDUCING HEART DISEASE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS
A Hopkins study finds nurse practitioners and community health workers are far more effective in helping African Americans lower their risk of heart disease than full-service physician care.
IMPLANTED HEART DEVICES SAFE FOR MRI SCANS
Scientists find modern implanted heart devices - such as pacemakers and defibrillators - are safe in magnetic resonance imaging machines, which had been off-limits for 2 million Americans with heart implants.
COMMENTARY
LOOMING DISASTER IN MEDICARE
University President Bill Brody warns that soaring Medicare costs, the graying of our population and a nurse and doctor shortage in geriatrics could lead to a crisis of tsunamic proportions.
STEM CELLS' HUGE POTENTIAL
JHU Trustee Michael Armstrong talks about his commitment to the Institute for Cell Engineering and the impressive results.
IS THE ALZHEIMERS SKY FALLING?
More and better treatment for Alzheimers patients will be needed as baby boomers reach their 60s and 70s, says Constantine Lyketsos, co-director of Hopkins geriatric and neuropsychiatry division.
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