Southern Research has developed an antiviral test that can be used by researchers around the world to detect the Zika virus in infected cell cultures. The test will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of potential vaccines aimed at stopping the further spread of the virus.
The Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of the Aedes species mosquito but can also be spread through infected blood and sex, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five people infected with the virus become ill with flu-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, the Alabama Department of Public Health has recently identified three state residents who have tested positive for the virus from the three-dozen samples that have been submitted for testing. The health department said results are pending for 17 samples.
Last month, UAB officials said the Zika virus is not expected to be a major problem in Alabama or the Southeast.
Medical West Retains Tier 1 Status with BCBS
Despite previous announcements, Medical West is pleased to announce that they have retained a Tier 1 status with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. A re-scoring was granted after additional information regarding cost, quality and patient experience was issued for review.
UAB Establishes Endowed Chair in Nephrology in Honor of Rutsky
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. has provided a gift in honor of Edwin Rutsky, MD to fund the DCI Edwin A. Rutsky, MD Distinguished Endowed Chair in Nephrology in the UAB School of Medicine.
Over the course of 45 years, Rutsky, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at UAB, has focused his career on the delivery of hemodialysis, a lifesaving procedure in which the toxins are filtered from the body when the kidneys can no longer function.
While Rutsky is celebrated for his extraordinary patient care and his landmark research, perhaps his greatest legacy is the mentorship he provided to more than 100 fellows in the University’s nephrology training program. Many of these physicians continue to seek his advice.
DCI is the nation’s largest nonprofit dialysis provider, operating more than 230 dialysis clinics with 5,000 employees. Since inception in 1971, DCI has provided over $200 million to support research, education and development that can improve treatment options for patients with kidney disease.
E. Lyle Cain, Jr, MD Honored
Dr. E. Lyle Cain, Jr. was recently presented with the 2016 Jack C. Hughston, M.D. Sports Medicine Person of the Year by the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA). The award was presented to Cain at the organization’s 41st annual meeting in Atlanta.
This award is given to the person that has contributed to SEATA and athletic training as a profession. Both medical and non-medical persons have been recipients of this award. This award is the highest award given to a person who may not be an athletic trainer and is designed to show the district’s appreciation for particular contributions to the field of athletic training in the southeast.
St. Vincent’s St. Clair Continues BCBS Tier 1 Status
St. Vincent’s St. Clair is continuing their Tier 1 hospital provider status with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. A Tier 1 ranking from Blue Cross Blue Shield takes into consideration quality, patient satisfaction and cost.
St. Vincent’s Opens Urgent Care at One Nineteen
St. Vincent’s Urgent Care is now open on the St. Vincent’s One Nineteen campus. The facility offers walk-in care for minor injury and illness, open after-hours, seven days a week, at a lower overall cost than an emergency room visit.
St. Vincent’s Urgent Care provides on-site diagnostics, minimal wait times, advanced technology, and experienced staff. The facility is accredited and certified by the Urgent Care Association of America.
Brookwood - Baptist Name Zelia Baugh as Vice President of Mental Health Services
Brookwood Medical Center & Baptist Health System has selected Zelia Baugh as the joint venture’s Vice President of Mental Health Services. In this new position, Baugh will oversee all psychiatric services at the united system’s five hospitals – Brookwood, Princeton, Shelby, Walker and Citizens Baptist Medical Centers.
Baugh has more than 20 years of experience in mental healthcare. For the last four years she served as executive director for Psychiatric Services at Baptist Health System where she was responsible for the operation of all psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services at Baptist’s four hospitals. Prior to her role at Baptist Health System, Baugh was the Commissioner of Mental Health for the state of Alabama and served in several leadership roles in Brookwood Medical Center’s psychiatry department.
“Zelia’s experience with both Baptist Health System and Brookwood Medical Center make her a natural fit to lead the united facilities,” Keith Parrott, CEO of Brookwood Baptist Health, said. “Her commitment to exceeding the expectations of patients will set a precedent as she oversees the operations of psychiatric services.”
Baugh is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama where she earned her master’s degree in social work.
U.S. News & World Report Ranks UAB Graduate and Professional Programs in Top 20
U.S. News & World Report ranks a number of UAB schools and programs among the nation’s best. The latest rankings were released in the 2017 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” guidebook, available online at www.usnews.com.
The Master of Science in Health Administration program in UAB’s School of Health Professions remains No. 2 in the nation. The school’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program ranked No. 20. The Occupational Therapy program tied for No. 25 and the Physician Assistant Studies program is tied for No. 16.
In the UAB School of Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing program was ranked No. 15. Its Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 18, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty program ranked No. 14, and Nursing Health Systems Administration specialty program tied for the No. 6 ranking. The UAB School of Public Health’s Master of Science in Public Health ranked No. 19. UAB’s School of Medicine tied for No. 35 for top schools of medicine for research and also tied for No. 21 for its Primary Care program.
Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, nursing and medicine. The rankings in these six areas are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. Indicator and opinion data come from statistical surveys of more than 1,900 graduate programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 18,400 academics and professionals in the ranked disciplines. The surveys were conducted during the fall of 2015 and in early 2016. In each field, rankings of programs in various specialty areas based on reputation data alone are also presented.