Posted 10:56 pm Sunday, December 16, 2012
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UT science center nabs award CF care
The Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler is one of only four centers in the United States to be awarded the 2011-12 Quality Care Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, officials announced.
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to make thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and causes serious lung infections. Cystic fibrosis also affects other organs of the body.
This award recognizes sustained improvement in the quality of care leading to better outcomes for patients with the disease.
The UTHSCT clinic takes a team approach to treating both adults and children with CF. It is accredited by the CF Foundation and follows the foundation's stringent standards. The clinic also participates in clinical research and educates health care professionals about CF and the care people with this disease require.
Members of the CF Clinic's team are Dr. Rodolfo Amaro-Galvez, director and a pediatric pulmonologist; Dr. Taskar; Tracy Drake, RN, program/clinic coordinator; Lara Flores, RN; Jennifer Harper, RN; Lisbeth Estrada, medical assistant; Cindy Broadway, case manager and social worker; Chad Johnson, dietitian; Mona Crow, physical therapy assistant; Christiana Guthrie, respiratory therapist; Rebekah Hibbard and Jay Shoemaker, clinical research; and Donna Waters, administrative assistant.
UTHSCT received the award at the CF Foundation's North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, which was held in Orlando, Fla., in October. The three other winners are Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Children's Hospital at Oakland.
This award recognizes sustained improvement in the quality of care leading to better outcomes for patients with the disease.
The UTHSCT clinic takes a team approach to treating both adults and children with CF. It is accredited by the CF Foundation and follows the foundation's stringent standards. The clinic also participates in clinical research and educates health care professionals about CF and the care people with this disease require.
Members of the CF Clinic's team are Dr. Rodolfo Amaro-Galvez, director and a pediatric pulmonologist; Dr. Taskar; Tracy Drake, RN, program/clinic coordinator; Lara Flores, RN; Jennifer Harper, RN; Lisbeth Estrada, medical assistant; Cindy Broadway, case manager and social worker; Chad Johnson, dietitian; Mona Crow, physical therapy assistant; Christiana Guthrie, respiratory therapist; Rebekah Hibbard and Jay Shoemaker, clinical research; and Donna Waters, administrative assistant.
UTHSCT received the award at the CF Foundation's North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, which was held in Orlando, Fla., in October. The three other winners are Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Children's Hospital at Oakland.
Mycobacteria lab gets reaccreditation
The Mycobacteria/Nocardia Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has been reaccredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
The Mycobacteria/Nocardia Laboratory is supervised by Barbara Brown-Elliott, research assistant professor in microbiology, and directed by Dr. Richard Wallace, an infectious disease specialist.
The lab specializes in identifying types of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and Nocardia, microorganisms that are often found in the soil and tap water. They can cause diseases similar to tuberculosis, as well as other acute or chronic infections that are difficult to treat.
The lab also tests the microorganisms to see if they are susceptible to specific antibiotics. Individuals with weakened immune systems or who have chronic lung disease often have a higher risk of mycobacterial or Nocardia infections.
A team of CAP inspectors gave the lab a perfect score during the routine inspection, which is conducted every two years. They examined the lab's records, including staff qualifications, equipment and lab testing procedures, safety, quality issues and overall management.
To be accredited by CAP, a lab must meet the highest standards of excellence in laboratory medicine. The 18,000 members of CAP are board-certified pathologists and pathologists-in-training from around the world. More than 7,500 laboratories are accredited by CAP, and about 22,000 laboratories are enrolled in CAP's proficiency testing programs.
The Mycobacteria/Nocardia Laboratory is supervised by Barbara Brown-Elliott, research assistant professor in microbiology, and directed by Dr. Richard Wallace, an infectious disease specialist.
The lab specializes in identifying types of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and Nocardia, microorganisms that are often found in the soil and tap water. They can cause diseases similar to tuberculosis, as well as other acute or chronic infections that are difficult to treat.
The lab also tests the microorganisms to see if they are susceptible to specific antibiotics. Individuals with weakened immune systems or who have chronic lung disease often have a higher risk of mycobacterial or Nocardia infections.
A team of CAP inspectors gave the lab a perfect score during the routine inspection, which is conducted every two years. They examined the lab's records, including staff qualifications, equipment and lab testing procedures, safety, quality issues and overall management.
To be accredited by CAP, a lab must meet the highest standards of excellence in laboratory medicine. The 18,000 members of CAP are board-certified pathologists and pathologists-in-training from around the world. More than 7,500 laboratories are accredited by CAP, and about 22,000 laboratories are enrolled in CAP's proficiency testing programs.
