Researchers in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University ranked 19th among U.S. schools of nursing in 2004 in attracting funding from the National Institutes of Health, maintaining a top 20 ranking for the second year in a row.
The $2.32 million in NIH funding last year places the institution fifth among the nation's private schools of nursing. Including the NIH funding, Emory's School of Nursing received a total of $3.2 million in external funding for research and training last year.
"Maintaining our top 20 NIH ranking for two years in a row, up from 36th in 2002, clearly demonstrates the success and commitment of our research faculty and staff to improving patient care through nursing research," said Marla E. Salmon, ScD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. "These scholars are a shining example of our school's values of scholarship, leadership and social responsibility."
According to Salmon, this new and competitive award from the NIH further enhances an area where Emory's nursing school is already in a position of national leadership. The NIH funding includes approximately $1 million for a three-year renewal for the NHWSN's Center for Research on Symptoms, Symptom Interactions and Health Outcomes.
The school's research center focuses on research related to symptoms and their effect on the treatment of disease, and develops and tests interventions to reduce the negative effects of symptoms to improve health outcomes for patients.
TOP CUSTOMER SERVICE: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Emergency Services recently received one of the highest customer service awards any health care facility can achieve. It has been selected as a National Success Story Winner by Press Ganey and Associates Inc. The award recognizes organizations for their dedication to unique programs that improve the quality of care; including nurses committed to the patients they serve.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta was one of only six programs - out of more than 130 applicants - to receive the award. Key criteria included demonstrated leadership, implementation of organizational changes and increased customer satisfaction.
Linda Cole, RN, BSN, vice president of Emergent Services, and other members of her team of nurses, will make a presentation to more than 2,000 attendees at the Press Ganey National Client Conference in November.
GWINNETT TECH HONORED: Last year, Gwinnett Technical College launched a new clinical research professional program to train clinical research coordinators for drug trials. The program recently was named a strength of Georgia's life sciences development plan in a report to the Governor's Commission for a New Georgia.
The first 18 students (mostly nurses) will graduate in March, and Gwinnett Tech is accepting applications for a second class to begin in January 2006.
Anyone interested in applying should contact Robert E. Powers, director of bioscience at Gwinnett Tech, at 678-226-6372 or rpowers@gwinnetttech.edu.
NEW PET/CT SCANNER: DeKalb Medical Center has a new PET/CT scanner for advanced diagnostic cancer services, thanks to a $1.5 million gift to the DMC Foundation from longtime DeKalb resident, businesswoman and philanthropist M. Bobbie Bailey.
The PET/CT scanner will operate as part of the newly named M. Bobbie Bailey and Audrey B. Morgan Diagnostic Imaging Center.
"That machine is incredible. I'm very impressed with the technology," Bailey said. "There's a real need for this scanner, and it will make a tremendous difference in the early diagnosis of cancer patients."
NEW HOSPICE UNIT: VistaCare, the largest provider of hospice services in Georgia, has signed an agreement with Emory Healthcare to open a 28-bed inpatient hospice unit this fall. The hospice will be on the sixth floor of Budd Terrace, a skilled-nursing facility in Emory Healthcare's Wesley Woods Center.
Through a number of service agreements, VistaCare will serve hospice-eligible patients in Emory Crawford Long Hospital, Emory University Hospital and Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital, as well as residents living in the Budd Terrace nursing facility.
In 2004, only 40 percent of eligible patients in metro Atlanta received hospice care. "When you look at the region, the need for additional hospice and palliative care resources - especially in the inpatient setting - is clear," said David Elliott, president and CEO for VistaCare.