Rounds

Detroit Emergency Medical Services team tops in the state

For the first time, the Detroit Emergency Medical Service (EMS) sent an Advanced Life Support Team to the statewide EMS life-saving competition. Trained by Dr. Jenny Atas, an emergency physician at Detroit Receiving Hospital, the four-member team earned first place ranking in the state, beating sixteen other teams. They competed for three days, performing two rescues and taking a written test.

Atas, who serves as associate director of the Detroit EMS, is responsible for the training and education of the more than 500 Detroit zone EMS technicians, many of whom have improved a great deal over the past five years and achieved the Advanced Life Support level. This is a major step up from the Basic Life Support level many held previously.

Henry Ford joins OHEP

The OHEP Center for Medical Education has admitted the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) as a full OHEP member, making the organization one of the largest consortia of community-based medical education programs in the country. Total accredited residency and fellowship programs increases from 96 to 136, which is nearly half of all accredited programs now available in the state.

With the inclusion of HFHS, OHEP grows to a membership of eight institutions, which enhances its ability to coordinate, facilitate and assist its member hospitals and educational institutions in conducting medical, dental and other health education programs.

“I expect this affiliation will greatly enhance and expand opportunities for medical students,” said John Crissman, MD, dean of the WSU School of Medicine.

“The addition of the Henry Ford Health System adds greatly to OHEP’s critical mass and increases its ability to support educational endeavors designed to produce the best possible young physicians for the state of Michigan,” said Ernest Hammel, PhD, OHEP executive director.

Differentiating retirement from disability

Chronic health problems play a fundamental role in individuals’ retirement decisions and serve as the impetus for health-mandated disability leaves. Still, little has been documented about the specific types of health conditions that prompt retirement and differentiate retirement from disability.

With a grant from the National Institute on Aging, Amy Pienta, PhD, assistant professor in gerontology and internal medicine, is studying chronic health problems and retirement. She is looking at the nature of disease conditions that interfere with older employees’ desire and ability to work. In addition, she is investigating how the work environment may accommodate or constrain the work ability of people with chronic health conditions.

Albert King elected to National Academy of Engineering

Albert King, PhD, distinguished professor and director of WSU’s Biomedical Engineering Research Center, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his contributions to automobile safety. Election to the academy is one of the highest professional distinctions for an engineer.

Dr. King was part of the first team to show the effects of impact on the human body, establishing standard human tolerance curves that are used worldwide. He is recognized for advancing research in structural mechanical properties and mechanisms of the spine, in analytical and experimental models of head injury, and in evaluating the efficacy of safety devices in automobiles and sports equipment.

Resident honored for academic achievements

Abhinav Chandra, MD, emergency and internal medicine resident at Wayne State University/Detroit Receiving Hospital, is the recipient of the 2000 Resident Academic Achievement Award from the Council of Residency Directors.

During his residency, Dr. Chandra has published three articles and currently has one publication pending. He had presented the findings of five research projects and delivered four oral presentations, plus, he has grant money for his ongoing research projects.

Dr. Chandra is also the driving force behind the Prescription Assistance Program, which he established in the emergency department at Detroit Receiving Hospital. The program provides some of the neediest patients with free medications to help them recover from illness and injuries.