Announcement Archive
Features "The Transformation of America’s Hospitals" by Kenneth Kaufman, chief executive officer, Kaufman, Hall & Associates. Mr. Kaufman will be available after his presentation for an informal question & answer session. If attending, please RSVP by Dec. 22 to Casey Harrison, charrison@seton.org, (512) 324-8202. Drinks and appetizers will be provided. Please note this year’s new location. (1-3-12)
2011 Seton Medical Staff Annual Meetings Scheduled
Mark your calendars for the upcoming annual medical staff meetings. For more information and to RSVP, contact the representative listed for each meeting. If your site isn’t listed, please check back here for updated information. (11/8/11)
Obtaining Consent for Non-Medical Observers
MEDICAID NEWBORN DELIVERIES: Modifier Codes Required for Reimbursement
Effective Oct. 1, 2011, Texas Medicaid will require physicians to include newly developed modifiers for specific newborn delivery procedure codes. Failure to include the required modifiers on the physician bill will result in the denial or recoupment of payment from both the physician and the hospital. (9-6-11)
Basal Insulin Interchange: Insulin glargine (Lantus) to Insulin detemir (Levemir)
IS Service Desk Changes Implemented Aug. 23
To better support Seton's clinical community and IT initiatives, Dell changed its delivery of IT and infrastructure support services to the Seton Healthcare Family. (8-26-11)
SMCW Sr. Mary Rose McPhee Lecture and Workshop on Leadership and Spirituality, Oct. 6-7
Celebrating 10 years of excellence, this year’s Sr. Mary Rose McPhee, DC, Lecture & Workshop on Leadership and Spirituality will feature Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF. A senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, Sr. Ilia is a nationally known speaker and an expert in the area of science and religion. The lecture series and workshops are open to the public and will be held at Ragsdale Center on the campus of St. Edward’s University in South Austin. For more information and to register, go to the Seton Cove website. (8-17-11)
SMCW MEC Approves SCIP Physician Action Plan
Improving collective performance in SCIP measures has been identified as a priority by the Seton Healthcare Family and the Network Medical Executive Committee. At its Aug. 3, 2011, meeting, the SMCW MEC approved a detailed action plan to ensure compliance with SCIP measures. This plan includes the distribution of education materials to active SMCW surgeons as well as hospitalists, intensivists and select APNs/PAs, and the required use of pre-op and post-op SCIP order sets. (8-9-11)
Parking Like You Should Keeps a Tank Off Your Hood
Seton security has been authorized to begin a more strict enforcement of the towing policy. Please remind your staff, visitors and vendors that towing may occur if a vehicle is found violating Seton’s parking rules. (8-5-11)
Save the Date: Central Texas Dental Symposium – Sept. 17
The Pediatric Dental Medicine program at Dell Children's Medical Center invites you to the Second Annual Central Texas Dental Symposium on Pediatric Medical Updates. This full-day lecture series will provide a unique continuing dental education experience presented by medical subspecialists on their area of expertise and how it relates to the practice of dentistry. (7-25-11)
UT Southwestern Names First Regional Dean for Austin Area
To further its partnership with the Seton Healthcare Family, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas has named Dr. Susan M. Cox, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, the first regional dean who will oversee Austin-area medical education programs.
In 2009, Seton signed an affiliation agreement with UT Southwestern to significantly increase the number and types of residents who practice at Seton facilities. The agreement also provides for creation of the Seton/UT Southwestern Clinical Research Institute. (7-18-11)
COMPASS CPOE Enhancements Launched July 13
For physicians utilizing COMPASS Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE), four new enhancements are now available:
- "Initiate" button relocated
- Auto-check when selecting the ellipses
- Sub-phase hyperlink
- Sub-phase opens when selected
Please read the Powerplan Enhancements PDF for more information. (7-13-11)
The New ‘Seton Family Access’ Offers Faster Speed, Fewer Log Ons
Beginning July 13, Seton Family Access, the network’s free wireless service, will expand to provide faster Internet connections for associates, physician partners, nursing students and vendors. Plus, it will remember your credentials for 30 days, so you won’t need to keep logging back in. Read more on how to take advantage of these enhancements. (7-5-11)
Based on the FDA's review of the Study of the Effectiveness of Additional Reductions in Cholesterol and Homocysteine (SEARCH), new changes to the drug labels for simvastatin-containing medications were made. (6-27-11)Video Testimonial Highlights Work of UMCB Trauma Team
As part of its outreach program to help the public understand what’s happening with the Texas budget, the Texas Hospital Association recently posted a video featuring the mom of a University Medical Center Brackenridge patient whose life was saved by the Level I trauma team.
The video is available on the THA website. The link is in the lower right-hand corner of the page. (6-16-11)
Deep Brain Stimulation provides new hope for patient and his family
Freddy Montellano was born with several neurological issues that as he aged progressed into self-abusive behavior that became increasingly violent and difficult for the family to manage. The family consulted countless doctors and finally was connected with ‘Specially for Children neurologist, Karen Keough, MD. After exhausting all efforts, Dr. Keough reached out to her colleague, Robert Buchanan, MD, of the Seton Brain and Spine Institute. To control Freddy’s violent behavior, Dr. Buchanan recommended Deep Brain Stimulation, a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.
The surgery was a success bringing new hope to Freddy and his family. The story was recently featured on KXAN, Univision and FOX 7. (6-13-11)
ATTENTION UMCB Medical Staff: Verbal Orders Authentication Required Daily
A message from Thomas Caven, vice president of Medical Affairs for University Medical Center Brackenridge (6-2-11)
UMCB has been singled out by The Joint Commission, and later by the Texas Department of State Health Services, for physicians failing to sign verbal orders within 48 hours, as required by The Joint Commission. This is a serious issue that could jeopardize our accreditation.
The good news is, now that COMPASS is our documentation method, physicians and other providers can authenticate orders electronically by computer. What we need from you:
- Go to Message Center daily and authenticate any orders in your inbox.
- Use verbal orders RARELY.
Based on feedback from physicians and nurses, duplicate therapy checking for medication orders in COMPASS was turned off Wednesday, May 25, and no longer displays decision support alerts for duplicate therapy to physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. Drug-drug interaction/DDI alerts and allergy alerts are not affected. (5-26-11)
Seton Hosts Site-Specific Multidisciplinary Conferences for Oncology Patients
Seton Network Oncology Services is pleased to announce the start of Multidisciplinary Cancer Conferences (MDCs) to provide a prospective expert review of cases to assist Central Texas physicians in providing and planning excellence in care for newly diagnosed cancer patients.
The MDCs meet regularly for the following cancers: breast, hepato-biliary-pancreatic, gastrointestinal, skin, soft tissue, sarcoma, brain and spine. This consultative service is free of charge, and every effort will be made to have a care recommendation summary to referring physicians within two business days. To refer a patient, please call (512) 324-1015. For more information about the MDCs, contact Alyssa Monacelli, MDC coordinator, at (512) 324-9999, ext. 11041. (5-23-11)
Health Care Ministry for the Future Requires Organizational Change
As the health care field braces for drastic change, Seton is restructuring in a way that enables us to deliver care in new and more effective ways, both in and out of hospitals
Hospital care remains one of Seton’s fundamental services to the community. At the same time – as we seek to provide a true “system” of care – it is time to increase the presence of Seton’s other clinical, business, educational and research offerings. In recognition of our commitment to provide a comprehensive and integrated range of health care and services, our ministry will now be known as the Seton Healthcare Family (SHF). At the Seton Healthcare Family, we will focus on providing operational support, coordination, advocacy and innovation. (5-17-11)
NFCA Offers Free Celiac CME for Primary Care
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has launched a fascinating and free continuing medical education (CME) activity for the primary care community. Celiac disease affects 3 million Americans, but 95 percent remain undiagnosed. Training primary care providers on how to identify, test for and diagnose celiac disease is crucial to the health of patients living with this common autoimmune condition. Once thought to affect only the digestive system, it is now well-established that celiac impacts multiple systems of the body and patients present with symptoms beyond the scope of gastroenterology. (4-29-11)
Seton Adds Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Taking advantage of a $2 million donation from Emergency Service Partners (ESP), Seton is creating an emergency medicine residency program. The first of its kind in Central Texas, the residency is part of a broader effort to enhance the quality and availability of medical care in Central Texas through medical research and education. Read more. (4-21-11)
Watch for New Contact Precautions Sign for C. difficile.
Please note that a neon yellow sign will now be used for rule-out or known C. difficile (+) patients. The new sign highlights the need for hand washing with soap and water instead of using alcohol-based hand gel, which is not considered reliably sporicidal, when leaving the room of a patient in contact precautions for C. difficile. (4-13-11)
Recognize your Peers
Do you have a physician colleague you’d like to recognize for a job well-done? Has a Seton medical staff member made a difference in the way you work or interact with each other or your patients? Did someone go out of their way to help with a patient's care?
Send in your comments to SetonListens@seton.org. The Seton Family of Hospitals would like to share them with the Austin medical community. (4/11/11)
Celebrating Your Dedication to Others
The Catholic Physicians Guild of Central Texas would like to send a message of appreciation to all physicians this Doctor's Day. Thank you for your continued commitment to the health of our community. (3-30-11)
Did you know?
Seton has 302 APNs and 85 PAs who are credentialed and practicing throughout the network. That’s a total of 387 - and growing. It takes teamwork to provide patient care in the largest health system in Central Texas. Around a third of these advanced practitioners are employed not only by Seton, but also by a physician or physician group. Their skills will be crucial in fulfilling Seton's mission to care for the health needs of 1 million Central Texans by 2015. (2/28/11)
Join the Austin Business Journal for discussions about the future of health care in Central Texas and how the economic opportunities rising from reform and innovation will impact you. Moderator: David Hilgers. Tuesday, April 26, 7:30-9 a.m.; AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., Austin, 78705. (4-5-11)
Physicians, Nurses Invited to Evidence-Based Diabetes Continuing Education, April 30
The number of Central Texans with type 2 diabetes is soaring. Evidence-based diabetes treatment modalities are rapidly and continuously changing. Keep up-to-date by attending “Patient-Centered Best Practices for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes” on Saturday, April 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Seton Administrative Offices, St. Vincent de Paul Auditorium, 1345 Philomena St., Austin. Registration and additional information available online. (2/28/11)
CyberKnife Shuts Down for Major Upgrade
On Feb. 1, the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System in the Clinical Education Center at Brackenridge was temporarily shut down to perform a major upgrade that will expand the clinical applications of this technology. Following this upgrade, CyberKnife will offer cancer patients the most advanced technology currently available.
The closure will last about a month as the necessary improvements are made. Watch for a re-opening announcement around the end of February. During this time, the center will continue to accept phone calls for referrals and consults at (512) 324-8060. (2/3/11)
CEC to Host Mock Surgery, Feb. 5
The public is invited to learn what happens behind OR doors during Seton’s 20th Annual Mock Surgery & More on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This kid-friendly event features hands-on demos with surgical equipment and medical procedures explained by Seton physicians and staff. Parking is free in the Clinical Education Center garage, 1400 N. I-35, Austin, 78701. (1/6/11)
Current Announcements Archive | 2010 Annoucements | 2009 Annoucements | 2008 Annoucements | 2007 Announcements | 2006 Announcements