Mercer University and the Shepherd Center have launched a post-professional residency in neurologic physical therapy. The 13-month residency program, which is one of only 14 in the United States, helps physical therapists accelerate their expertise in evaluation, examination, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention and management of patients with neurologic dysfunction.
Developed for new professionals and physical therapists with one or more years of practice, the program combines contemporary, evidence-based coursework with highly individualized, advanced clinical mentoring under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Residents will be trained to manage adults with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, balance and vestibular disorders, and various neuromuscular diseases.
Residents will engage in 90 hours of self-directed learning, 30 hours of teaching and 30 hours of service learning. They also will be required to engage in a research project, case study or other scholarly pursuits.
The residency program, which began in August, is a collaborative effort by the Shepherd Center and the Department of Physical Therapy in Mercer’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The department was established last year to offer the doctor of physical therapy degree as well as post-professional residency and fellowship programs.
Director of Quality named: Eastside Medical Center in Snellville recently named Sharon Davies its Director of Quality. Davies was previously employed by the hospital as Director of Project Management.
Davies, who began her career at Eastside Medical Center in 1981, has also served as a nurse manager and Director of Women’s Services. Her nursing experience spans 33 years.
Nursing program wins accreditation: Gwinnett Technical College has won initial accreditation for its associate degree nursing program. The National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission granted the accreditation.
Gwinnett Tech launched the program in 2009. The school opened its new Life Sciences Center last month and has doubled the size of its nursing class to 60.
Nursing faculty grant: Mercer University received more than $430,000 in federal grants to produce more nursing faculty and support trainee positions for registered nurses in advanced nursing education programs, officials announced last month.
The faculty money is crucial. College leaders say they want to graduate more nurses to address shortages, but they struggle to hire enough faculty to teach the classes. Mercer runs the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which provides financial help to registered nurses completing graduate programs to become faculty.
3D screening: In July, Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta became the first health system in Georgia – and one of only a few in the nation – to screen patients for breast cancer using 3D breast tomosynthesis. Also known as 3D mammography, this technology promises to improve cancer detection and reduce false-positive results.
Approved by the FDA in February, breast tomosynthesis produces a three-dimensional image of the breast, providing a clearer view of breast tissue. The technology improves images by digitally combining multiple X-rays to reduce distortion created by tissue overlap or density.
Conventional 2D mammography captures the breast in one exposure, resulting in a flat picture in which features can be hidden. Tomosynthesis takes images from multiple angles and uses computer processing to build these slices into a 3D image that a radiologist can manipulate.
Primary Stroke Center designation: Gwinnett Medical Center's hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth have been designated as Primary Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission, the nation's predominant accrediting body in health care. The designation recognizes hospitals that make dramatic efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients.
GMC first received the designation more than six years ago and has maintained it ever since. The system’s program includes stroke research studies that offer investigational medications, education such as stroke screenings for the community and internal education including regular mock training, among other components.
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