UPMC

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a vast interactive atlas that may eventually help doctors use #precisionmedicine to target treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Why this is important ➡ With 40-50 million new cases each year, the global incidence of TBI outstrips common neurological diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Effective treatments have remained elusive because each TBI is different, but treatments are not. University of Pittsburgh experts ⤵ - Patrick Kochanek, MD, distinguished professor, vice chair of critical care medicine, and director of the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research - Gary Kohanbash, Ph.D., assistant professor of the department of neurological surgery - Dhivyaa Rajasundaram, Ph.D., director of the bioinformatics core at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Learn more 🔗https://lnkd.in/eN-DX_TT

Rachal Clark, RN, forensic nursing coordinator, Emergency Department, UPMC Williamsport, has always been interested in helping people. Coming from a family of law enforcement, Rachal went to nursing school so she could have a positive impact on people’s lives. It was there during her clinical rotation in Ob-gyn that she learned about forensic nursing and sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE). Rachal oversees forensic nursing at UPMC Williamsport, UPMC Muncy, and UPMC Outpatient Emergency Department in Lock Haven. She’s seen the program grow in her four years with the department from two nurses being on-call 24/7 to a team of 21 forensic nurses with one almost always being on-site ready to do an exam. The department doesn’t just handle sexual assault cases, they also handle intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and physical assaults. The SAFE-T System recently launched at UPMC Cole and is better suited for less populated areas where the demand for on-call SANEs is low or resources are limited placing a high demand on the available nurses. When an individual presents to the emergency department at UPMC Cole after experiencing sexual violence, they have immediate access to a board-certified SANE through the TEAM SAFE telehealth model. UPMC Wellsboro, which Rachal and her team serve as back-ups, also has the SAFE-T System and a fully functioning forensic nursing team. Becoming a SANE is a serious endeavor for nurses. To obtain certification, clinical preceptorship is required plus a minimum of 300 case hours must be completed to sit for the exam; a 41-hour online course for adults and adolescents, a 43-hour online course for pediatrics, and the rest of the hours to be completed hands-on. “The best days that I've had as a forensic nurse have been helping get the convictions in court, knowing that my testimony made a difference,” Rachal said. “We were able to get justice for victims and that is the most rewarding feeling I've ever had.” “I just hope that within our community they know we're here as a resource, knowing that if they need us, we’re available. There are resources here and there's help. Programs like this, we don't want to be out in your face advertising it, but just making sure that people know if you need us, we’re here.”

We are pleased to announce that UPMC has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for excellence across many specialty areas of care in the newly released “Best Hospitals” rankings and ratings. Most notably, UPMC is the only hospital system in the region to be nationally ranked in 9 specialties: - UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside is the #1 hospital in the Pittsburgh metro area and is nationally ranked in 7 specialties and is high-performing in 3 specialties. - UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is ranked #24 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology. - UPMC Mercy is ranked #13 in the nation for rehabilitation. - UPMC Harrisburg is once again ranked among the top 10 hospitals in Pennsylvania. A sincere thank you to our doctors, nurses, clinicians, and staff for your commitment to providing life-changing medicine and quality care for each patient who walks through our doors. https://lnkd.in/g5DFd4Ap

UPMC Hamot recently celebrated their 500th successful implant of a WATCHMAN device. The WATCHMAN is a small device, implanted one-time, for people with atrial fibrillation (AFib). Typically, these patients cannot take blood thinners and need this procedure to prevent the risk of blood clots or stroke. Electrophysiologist, Jean Moubarak, MD, was the cardiologist that performed the 500th procedure. To learn more about UPMC’s expertise in heart and vascular care, visit https://lnkd.in/eb4AHRuv.

As a post-transplant coordinator at UPMC Harrisburg, Tabitha educates her patients and their care partners about care and responsibilities following a kidney transplant, including diet, medications, and follow-up care. She maintains open communication with kidney recipients throughout the life of their new kidney, assists with medication changes, and arranges post-transplant consultations and diagnostic testing that may be needed following a transplant. “My favorite part of my role is the relationships that I have built with my patients and the trust that we have built over time. It is truly rewarding to see how well patients do after transplant and how they can get their quality of life back. A kidney transplant is life changing. I truly love my job!”

Sharon Walters, RN, has been a UPMC nurse for more than four decades. Now working part time, she has spent much of her career on the fifth floor (5B) at UPMC St. Margaret, the hospital’s medical-surgical unit. It’s one of the hospital’s fastest-paced and highest-acuity areas. There, nurses care for patients recovering from surgery or “stepping down” from critical care. Sharon doesn’t remember exactly when she became a nurse preceptor for 5B — but she does remember why. A nurse preceptor’s role is critical and engages all of one’s nursing skills and leadership experience to coach and guide student nurses. It did the same for new nurses and other nurses who came to her floor. “It’s an invaluable process to fully orient newcomers so they can become full participants on our team,” she says. As a student nurse at Clarion University’s Department of Nursing, Allison Norris, BS, BSN, RN, completed a clinical internship on 5B as a preceptee of Sharon’s. She liked her experiences there so much that she initially accepted a job as a patient care technician on the floor. “Sharon agreed to be my preceptor when I became a patient care tech, as well as several other roles I took on when I became a nurse,” says Allison. “Having an experienced mentor to guide you makes all the difference.” In all, she completed nearly 19 weeks as a preceptee with Sharon. Sharon’s influence on Allison’s professional development inspired her so much that she decided to become a preceptor, too. https://lnkd.in/gPiRyz99

José-Alain Sahel, MD, director of the UPMC Vision Institute, distinguished professor and chairman of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology, founder of two UPMC Enterprises portfolio companies, has been awarded the Wolf Prize in Medicine alongside his colleague, Botond Roska, for their pioneering work surrounding restoring vision to blind patients using #optogenetic therapy. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/efAA-H-C

Taking care of our patients and communities begins by taking care of our team—and providing a workplace where our people can thrive. UPMC is proud to have been named to the list of 2024 Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces in North America. The Inspiring Workplaces awards judge organizations on six key elements: Culture & Purpose, Leadership, Wellbeing, Inclusion, Communication, and Experience. UPMC ranked #42 on the overall list, with a special recognition for Inclusion. Pictured is LaShana Stokes, staff associate, Diversity, Inclusion, and Talent Management, and Joe DiCianno, director, Talent Management & Organizational Development. Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/4cIIYiL

The UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute at UPMC Western Maryland recently celebrated the completion of the 100th Watchman case by inviting all 100 patients to a reception. Watchman is a one-time, minimally invasive procedure for people with atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem, also known as nonvalvular AFib, who also have a need for an alternative to blood thinners to lower their risk of stroke. The team began offering the procedure in December 2022. Pictured is Herbert Myers, the first patient, Thelma Cook, the 100th patient, and Hani Alkhatib, MD, director, Structural Heart Program, UPMC Western Maryland.

Paul West volunteers to lead church services at Haven Place every Sunday. His inspiration to volunteer came from visiting with his wife, a resident at Haven Place, and noticing a need for help with these services. Paul said he always opens his service on Sundays with celebrating birthdays, and then telling a joke to lighten the mood, hopefully provide some laughter. He and the residents worship in songs, sometimes while he plays the harmonica, and share in a short meditation and spiritual message. “It makes the residents happy to come to church services on Sundays. They love the music and enjoy getting together.” What Paul loves most about volunteering is helping the residents and interacting with them. “When you get to know them individually, you get to know them better, which makes the interaction more enjoyable and fulfilling. I am very thankful for this volunteer opportunity and to be used in this way.” Paul’s message to anyone considering volunteering is, “volunteering is getting to know not only yourself, but others. Volunteering is very rewarding and satisfying.” Learn more and apply now: https://lnkd.in/eAandi23