University of Pittsburgh researchers receive more than $2 million

University of Pittsburgh researchers receive more than $2 million

PITTSBURGH

University of Pittsburgh researchers received $2.17 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study the prevention and early treatment of acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury is a deadly condition that causes the lung to fail in critically ill patients either directly through injury to the lung, such as pneumonia, or indirectly related to another illness.

Other collaborating and clinical Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung injury (PETAL) centers include Penn State University-Hershey Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and The Ohio State University.

Free ostomy meeting

BOARDMAN

Frank Quintieri, a nurse and patient advocacy liaison with NPS Pharma, will address the Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group at its meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center, 8401 Market St.

Quintieri will discuss short bowel syndrome and provide an overview of a therapy that improves absorption. The meeting is free and open to ostomy patients, families and friends. Refreshments are provided, and parking is free. For information, call 330-480-3440.

The Youngstown Area Ostomy Support Group, sponsored by Humility of Mary Health Partners, provides information and encouragement to individuals who have or will have ostomies. The group meets once a month March through December.

Trauma centers verified

WHEELING, W. VA.

The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons has reverified Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital as Level 2 and Level 3 trauma centers, respectively.

Hospital trauma centers that are ACS verified undergo a review to maintain verification status. OVMC and EORH achieved this with no quality or safety issues according to the criteria set by the ACS’ Committee on Trauma.

Trauma-center verification is an evaluation process done by the ACS’ Committee on Trauma to evaluate and improve trauma care every three years. This is a voluntary process to verify a hospital has a high level of commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, and performance improvement to treat patients with trauma. All ACS-verified trauma centers complete an on-site review by an experienced team who use the latest ACS guidelines.

Funds awarded

CLEVELAND

University Hospitals Case Medical Center is slated to receive up to $4.6 million through a Round Two Health Care Innovations Award to test a model to improve care for patients with complex cancer, including patients with late-stage disease, significant co-morbidities, or demonstrated need for high health care utilization, and to lower costs. University Hospitals is the lone recipient in Ohio.

Nationwide, 39 prospective recipients in 27 states and the District of Columbia may receive as much as a combined $360 million, ranging from $2 million to $23.8 million, over three years to test innovative models. These awards are made possible by the Affordable Care Act and round out the anticipated recipients for round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards program, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Examples include projects to promote better care for persons living with HIV/AIDS, reduce unnecessary use of emergency departments, improve pediatric dental care, promote prevention and management of cardiovascular disorders, and to improve care coordination in rural areas of the nation. Prospective recipients will receive their final Notice of Award later this summer.