 |
 |
|
News
Health System Honors Inspirational Attendings For more than a decade, the Department of Medicine has held an Annual Inspirational Attendings Dinner. This event recognizes several stand-out physicians in the department who represent the passion and dedication of many across the health system. This year’s honorees were Ellen Gaynor, MD, Thomas McKiernan, MD, Greg Ozark, MD and Anita Varkey, MD. [ Click to Read Full Article ] New Diabetes Clinic Offers One-Visit, Comprehensive Care in Hickory Hills The Comprehensive Diabetes Care Clinic is a multidisciplinary program that offers diabetic patients access to all of the medical specialists and services they require during a single visit. The clinic is staffed by board-certified endocrinologists, a board-certified podiatrist and ophthalmologist, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes nurse educators. [ Click to Read Full Article ] Loyola Center for Health at Burr Ridge now open The Loyola Center for Health at Burr Ridge, opening March 7, is the largest academic medical center outpatient facility in the Chicago suburbs. It will be anchored by Loyola's musculoskeletal and neurosciences service lines, rehabilitation facilities and full-service imaging. Loyola physicians will work in close partnership with referring physicians, who can refer patients to Burr Ridge for consultations. Patients can receive rehabilitation services and obtain test results and imaging services in the same location. [ Click to Read Full Article ] Loyola giving older patients with leukemia, lymphoma a fighting chance As the first baby boomers turn 65, Loyola University Hospital has begun offering stem cell transplants to leukemia and lymphoma patients who previously were too old to qualify. [ Click to Read Full Article ] Harry Messmore, MD, Receives Legion of Honor Award From France Before he became an internationally known researcher and clinician, Dr. Messmore, now 87 years old, was a war hero. In 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the United States Armed Forces, in recognition of his heroism during an important mission in France. Now, 66 years later, France has named him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his valor during World War II. [ Click to Read Full Article ] LAM Clinic Established A diverse team of specialists has been selected by The LAM Foundation to operate as a LAM Clinic at the Loyola University Medical Center. This clinic will provide an array of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM is a progressive and frequently fatal lung disease that affects almost exclusively women, usually during their childbearing years. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough, collapsed lung, chest pains and/or fatigue. The Loyola University Medical Center LAM Clinic is one of 16 sites in the nation designated by The LAM Foundation. The Foundation’s criteria for recognition mandate that LAM Clinic sites have the capacity to accurately diagnose and treat the disease as well as manage its many complications. These include pulmonary dysfunction, pneumothoraces, chylous pleural effusions, and urologic, neurologic and dermatological manifestations. To meet these criteria, the infrastructure of the Loyola University Medical Center’s LAM Clinic includes pulmonologists, radiologists, and pathologists with expertise in LAM diagnosis; interventional radiologists with expertise in AML tumor embolization; and cardiothoracic surgeons specializing in performance of pleurodesis and lung transplantation. These specialists are supported by respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and physical therapists, who provide a full range of services to patients with LAM. The LAM Foundation’s designated LAM Clinic may also be asked to serve as a clinical trial site. For more information about LAM, visit www.thelamfoundation.org or call (513) 777-6889. Loyola Launches Health Services Research Program Research at Loyola University Health System (LUHS) took an important step forward last month with the establishment of the Program in Health Services Research. This program will study how doctors and nurses can provide better health-care at lower costs to more people. Health services research is a burgeoning field that examines such topics as access to health-care, costs, outcomes, patient safety and patient education. A Day in the Life of an Academic Researcher-Physician Ablation Superior to Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation Loyola Author: David Wilber, MD Findings: Treating a common heart rhythm disorder by burning heart tissue with a catheter works dramatically better than drug treatments. One year after undergoing a treatment called catheter ablation, 66 percent of patients with an irregular heartbeat were free of any recurrent irregular heartbeats or symptoms, compared with only 16 percent of those treated with drugs. Results were so convincing the trial was halted early. [ read PDF article from "Inside the System" ] Multigene Test Changing Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions Loyola Authors: Shelly Lo, MD, Patricia Mumby, PhD, Ellen Gaynor, MD, and Kathy Albain, MD Findings: A multigene test that predicts whether early-stage breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy is having a big impact on treatment decisions by patients and doctors alike. The test caused doctors to change their treatment recommendations in 31.5 percent of cases, while 27 percent of patients changed their treatment decisions. In most such cases, the change was to avoid chemotherapy. The test examines 21 genes from a tumor sample to determine how active they are. A test score between 0 and 100 predicts how likely the cancer is to recur. For women with low scores, chemotherapy is not recommended. |