Medical/dental staff newsbriefs [May 1996]

              MEDICAL/DENTAL STAFF
MAY 1996
Wesley Long
COMMUNITY HOSPITAL,,
ewsbriefs
Medical/Dental Staff Officers
Robert H. Foreman, M.D.
President
Medical/Dental Staff
David H. Newman, M.D.
President/Beet
Medical/Dental Staff
James P. Aplmgton, MJD.
Chief, Dept. of Surgery
David D. Grove, M.D.
Chief, Dept. of Medicine
Kenneth H. Winter, M.D.
Chief, Dept. of Radiology
It Preston Leatz, M.D.
Chief, Dept. uf Pediatrics
S. Dean McPhail M.D,
Chief, Dept. of OB/GYN
Executive Staff
Gary L. Park
Preskleat/CBO
Timothy J. Clontz:
Executive Vice-President
Al Stewart, VP,
Glenn A, Visbcen, VP
Jo P. Winchester, VP
Medical/Dental Staff
Newsbrief is published by
the Medical Staff Services
Department.
FROM THE MEDICAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Inpatient Physician Coverage Survey -
In March, a survey was sent to the Medical/Dental
Staff regarding Inpatient Physician Coverage.
Currently, one-hundred sixteen (116) surveys have
been returned; the results are evenly split between
those who support the concept of a Hospital-based,
primary-care physician who would be available to
respond to needs of physicians who are interested in
relinquishing the Hospital-based component of their
practices, and those who do not agree with the
concept. Presently, the results are being separated by
Department, and by Specialty within Departments.
A report will be forthcoming from the Medical
Executive Committee in the near future regarding this
data.
Medical/Dental Staff Survey Results -
Three hundred sixty-five (365) surveys were mailed
to all Associate and Active Staff Members regarding
physician satisfaction. Forty-two percent (42%) of
the surveys were returned and tabulated.
Improvement, relative to the March 1995 survey, was
noted in almost every category. Very favorable
results relative to the Emergency Department,
Radiology, Pathology, Social Work, and Critical
Care Stepdown were noted. Also noteworthy were
the favorable results relative to considerable
improvement relative to Anesthesiology. Eighty-nine
(89 %) of the physicians noted that they were satisfied
with the Hospital and care their patients received at
Wesley Long.
Illustration try Dave Harbaugh
'Gesundheii. So much for our report on infection control.'
Gary L. Park, President of Wesley Long
Community Hospital, elected Chairman
of District H of the North Carolina
Hospital Association
Gary L. Park, President of Wesley Long
Community Hospital, has been elected 1996
Chairman of District II of the North Carolina
Hospital Association (NCHA).
The NCHA is divided into six geographical
districts, and member hospitals of each district
meet regularly to discuss and generate
membership input regarding issues affecting
hospitals at the local, state, and federal levels.
As President, Mr. Park will preside over ail
district meetings and functions, provide leadership
for the district, appoint committees, and serve as
the contact on matters and inquiries pertaining to
District II.
*****************a**********
FROM THE WESLEY LONG PHARMACY
Please be advised of a possible serious adverse
effect that could arise in your patients taking
Glucophage (metformin) who undergo intravenous
iodinated contrast studies. Glucophage is a new
biguanide oral antihyperglycemic agent approved
for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus. Lactic acidosis is a rare, but serious,
matabolic complication that occurs in patients
taking Glucophage. The incidence of metformin-
associated lactic acidosis is approximately 3 per
100,000 patient-years, and when it develops, it is
fatal in 50% of cases. It occurs primarily in
patients with decreased renal function in whom
the drug accumulates. Because intravenous
iodinated contrast media can cause an acute
decline in renal function, patients on Glucophage
should have therapy withdrawn prior to the
procedure and reinstituted only when renal
function is reassessed and found to be normal.