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by Vanessa Clark
Cystic Fibrosis Center
The MUSC Cystic
Fibrosis (CF) Center was recently awarded
the 2011-2012 Quality Care Award at the
North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference,
held in Orlando, Fla.
Along with three other
centers – Children's Hospital at Oakland,
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central
Texas and University of Texas
Southwestern, Austin, and the University
of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler –
MUSC's CF Center was commended for ongoing
dedication to developing and implementing
quality improvement projects that use
clinical outcomes data to improve patient
care.
 Members of the
MUSC Cystic Fibrosis Center accept the
2011-12 Quality Care Award. Back row
from left are: Michael Bowman, Jessica
Webb, Meredith Rhame, Mary Lester,
Cheryl Kerrigan and Vanessa Clark. Front
row from left are: Sara Wienke, Nina
Keegan, Isabel Virella-Lowell, Sarah
Bishop and Julie Ostrye. Not pictured:
Patrick Flume, Sue Gray, Wendy
Bullington, Brandi Taylor, Antine
Stenbit and Katherine Lewis.
Cystic fibrosis is a
genetic disorder that primarily affects
the lungs but can also affect the
pancreas, liver, and gastrointestinal
tract. During the past five years, MUSC's
interdisciplinary CF team has been
involved in a variety of projects. These
have examined such diverse areas as
pulmonary exacerbations and lung function,
nutrition education efficacy, cystic
fibrosis related diabetes identification
and treatment, the pediatric-to-adult care
team transition program, inpatient
Tobramycin monitoring, and, most recently,
reeducation of airway clearance as a means
to improve adherence.
Robert J. Beall, Ph.D.,
president and CEO of the CF Foundation,
commended the four award winners at the
conference: "We're fortunate to have such
amazing partners in our care centers who
live and breathe our CF mission and work
tirelessly to improve the quality of life
for those living with CF."
Patrick Flume, M.D.,
program director and adult center
director, and Isabel Virella-Lowell, M.D,
pediatric center director, ensure their
patients receive the highest level of care
by staying on the cutting edge of new drug
trials, emerging therapies, and research
initiatives. It is thanks to this type of
commitment to patient care that more than
30,000 people in the United States
diagnosed with this chronic disease can
now expect to live into their 30s, 40s,
50s, and further
CF team members don't abandon their fight
against the disease after working hours.
Many take the fight off of MUSC's campus
by promoting and participating in
community events and activities that raise
both awareness of the disease and
much-needed funds for new and ongoing
research.
Flume spoke at the
DeBordieu Celebrity Pro-Am golf tournament
recently to educate participants about the
disease, its complications and ongoing
research trials. Proceeds from the
tournament go to benefit the South
Carolina chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. Last year, the event raised
more than $135,000.
Mary Lester, the
respiratory therapist for the team, makes
it a priority to educate future
practitioners about CF and the role
respiratory therapy plays in maximizing
lung function throughout life. For two
years, Lester has presented these topics
to students at the Healthcare Occupations
Student Association meeting at the
Charleston County School of Math and
Science.
Sue Gray, the nurse
coordinator for the adult CF team,
demonstrated her commitment to ending CF
by participating in the Cycle for Life
bike ride held in October. The team was
led by Jason Gregg, a patient at the MUSC
CF Center and an avid cyclist. Gregg's
team raised more than $2,000, and the ride
raised more than $42,000.
If you're still in a
giving mood after the holiday season,
consider participating in the Great
Strides walk. Held May 4, 2013 in
Charleston, this walk is the CF
Foundation's largest national fundraising
event of the year.
Friday, Nov.
23, 2012
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