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UTMG Doctor Remembers
Hurricane Katrina
 Five years ago, Dr. Edward Lazarus was caring for patients in a flooded New Orleans hospital during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This weekend, the UT Medical Group OB/GYN shared his thoughts with WREG-TV News Channel 3 on the anniversary of the hurricane. Click here to view the story.
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UTMG Physicians Named
Health Care Hero Finalists
UT Medical Group is pleased to recognize five of our physicians who have been honored by the Memphis Business Journal's 2010 Health Care Hero awards.
 Rheumatologist Dr. Andrew Kang was named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award, which honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the health care field over the course of a long career. He was selected for his research into connective tissues disorders, such as arthritis, and his service to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Four other UTMG doctors were named finalists for Health Care Hero awards in the following categories:
- Health Care Provider - Physician
Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Keith English was nominated for his leadership in the H1N1-virus outbreak and his commitment to Mid-South children.
- Health Care Innovation
Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig was nominated for his work in developing new heart surgery techniques, including Simplified Aortic Cannulation (SAC). The procedure allows doctors to place an infant on heart-lung bypass while they repair the child's heart defect. He is a pediatric cardio-thoracic surgeon.
- Community Outreach
Ophthalmologist Dr. Sarwat Salim was nominated for her extensive outreach work in the Memphis community as well as outside the U.S. Dr. Salim frequently travels abroad to perform eye surgeries in disadvantaged countries and has also helped to train new eye surgeons to improve the level of care in those communities.
- Administrative Excellence
Internist Dr. Lacey Smith was nominated for his leadership as UT Medical Group's Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. He was also cited for his contributions to the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine, where he served as Interim Dean while maintaining his UTMG responsibilities.
Dr. Kang and all of the Health Care Hero finalists will be honored at an awards banquet on September 2. The winner in each finalist category will be announced at that time.
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 UT Medical Group Expands Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Services in Memphis and Germantown
Memphis, Tennessee (August 16, 2010) -- UT Medical Group, Inc. has added board certified otolaryngologist Dr. Jennifer D. McLevy to its medical staff in Germantown and the Medical Center. She specializes in the care of children with ear, nose and throat problems.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Dr. McLevy’s expertise,” said Dr. Jerome Thompson, professor and chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “She brings a wealth of experience in airway management and is a valuable addition to our ENT team.”
McLevy earned her medical degree from New York Medical College. She completed her otolaryngology residency at the University of California, Davis and pediatric otolaryngology fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh.
She cares for patients at UTMG offices located at 777 Washington Street at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and at 7945 Wolf River Boulevard in Germantown.
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 Obesity Rise Threatens Health
Tennessee & other Mid-South states among heaviest Americans
Tennessee is the third most obese state in the nation, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The growth in obesity is part of a national trend that the CDC calls a “major public health problem” that contributes to billions of dollars in medical costs for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other conditions.
The CDC Vital Signs report included data from 2009 that showed 33 states with obesity rates of more than 25 percent, including the following nine states whose rates were 30 percent and above:
1. Mississippi - 34.4%
2. Louisiana - 33%
3. Tennessee - 32.3%
4. Kentucky - 31.5%
5. Oklahoma - 31.4% |
6. West Virginia - 31.1%
7. Alabama - 31%
8. Arkansas - 30.5%
9. Missouri - 30% |
If you think you are overweight, take this easy self-test to determine your Body Mass Index (BMI). To learn more about the report and tips on what you can do to lose weight, visit our Health Library, SmallStep.Gov or Get Fit Tennessee.
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It’s Time for Back-to-School Checkups!
It’s not too early to schedule your child’s back-to-school physical examination for the 2010-2011 term.
Tennessee residents should be aware that the state Department of Health has added some new immunization requirements this year. Changes include a required tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (Tdap) and two doses of the chicken pox vaccine for entering seventh graders. The state also now requires that every child starting pre-school, kindergarten, and seventh grade have a new official Tennessee Certificate of Immunization. The certificates can be obtained from your health care provider or county health department.
Under current Tennessee law, every child who enters school for the first time must have a physical examination. Students must also show proof of certain immunizations. In addition, children of all ages who participate in school athletics must have an annual sports physical exam.
UT Medical Group’s Department of Pediatrics has many board certified doctors ready to care for your child. To schedule a back-to-school physical examination with one of our pediatricians, call 1-866-278-4966.
Click here for a complete list of required immunizations for the 2010-2011 school year.
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 More Older Women Have Babies
In 2008, the U.S. birth rate among women age 40 to 44 increased to its highest rate since 1967.
Women who are over the age of 35 when they have a baby are said to be of “Advanced Maternal Age.” That does not mean they cannot have a healthy baby. However, it does mean these women may need to get additional tests and be monitored by their doctor more closely during pregnancy and at childbirth because they have a greater risk of developing complications.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), certain conditions are more likely to occur in women who are older than 35 when they become pregnant. These may include:
If you are over the age of 35 and considering pregnancy, discuss your plans and your health with your doctor. Your provider may suggest a consultation with a high risk pregnancy specialist to evaluate any potential risks to your health or that of your baby. To make an appointment to see one of the board-certified physicians at UT Medical Group’s Center for High Risk Pregnancies, call 901-866-8085.
To learn more about the study on 2008 birth rates, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
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Testicular Cancer: Curing the Most Common Young Men's Cancer
Testicular cancer is one of the most dreaded-yet curable-cancers in men. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men ages 15-34. We'll show you how to spot potential danger signs.
Click here for the full article
Click here to go to the UTMG Urology page
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 Snoring: It May Be More Serious Than It Sounds
Do you snore? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by sleepiness during the day? Wake up-you may have a common disorder called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is not harmless; if left untreated, it could put you at risk for some serious conditions. The good news is that it is very treatable.
Click here for the full article
Click here to go to the UTMG Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine page
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Protect Your
Health:
Get Tested
for HIV
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that someone in America is infected with HIV every 49 seconds. In Tennessee alone, more than 1,000 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in 2008.
Many people are not even aware that they have been infected with the virus. That’s why all sexually active individuals, regardless of age, should be tested for HIV.
Tennessee residents can obtain free, confidential HIV testing at their local county health department. Health department clinics across the state also offer counseling with a trained health care provider on ways to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. A list of local county health departments is available online at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.
Information on other sites that offer HIV testing can be found online at http://www.HIVtest.org. Mobile phone users can send a text message with their ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948), and within seconds will receive a reply via text message identifying nearby testing sites.
If you have questions about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, visit the CDC’s HIV webpage or call the HIV/AIDS/STD Hotline at 1-800-525-2437.
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 Taking Your Baby Home: Caring for Your Newborn
You may feel both excited and scared about bringing your baby home from the hospital. It is normal to feel this way. Being prepared can go a long way in making you feel more confident.
What will your newborn need? Your baby will need the essentials—food, clothes, diapers, and a quiet and safe place to sleep. Of course, your baby will also rely on you for love and attention. UTMG Medical Group's Family Medicine and OB/GYN departments have specialists who can help you with your newborn.
Click here for the full article
Click here to go to the UTMG Family Medicine page
Click here to go to the UTMG OB/GYN page
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 Ultrasound Faculty Development Workshop
The UT Health Science Center Department of Family Medicine presents the annual Faculty Development Workshop in Obstetric Ultrasound conference on August 26 – 28, 2010.
This conference is designed to train family physicians and faculty to safely and correctly perform obstetrical ultrasound examinations on their patients. Family physicians, emergency physicians, OB/GYN physicians, residents, and midwives who want to do obstetrical ultrasound procedures in their practice are invited to register.
The three day workshop provides an intensive introduction for physicians who want to provide this service to their patients. For registration information, contact Kassi Fox at 901-448-0240 or email at kfox12@uthsc.edu.
Please click here for a conference brochure.
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Information and links found on the UT Medical Group, Inc. web site are neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency call your healthcare provider immediately.
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June 21, 2010
Statement on Improper Disposal of Patient Information |
On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, our Vascular Surgery clinic at Eastmoreland Avenue prepared some old patient files for shredding. These files were placed in designated bins prior to shredding. The files contained patient health information.
That evening, our cleaning service mistakenly gathered the files out of the bins. The cleaning staff then placed the files in an on-site dumpster.
UT Medical Group employees discovered the problem the next day. They promptly notified the UT Medical Group Privacy Office about the improper removal and disposal of the files.
About 170 people might have been affected by the incident. Patient names, dates of birth, telephone and medical record numbers, clinical notes and lab results could have been in the files. There is no evidence that the files were accessed or used inappropriately, but we cannot rule out the possibility. As a precaution, we are notifying people who might have been affected.
Our priority is to protect the privacy of our patients. Our policy is to dispose all items with patient health information in a secure and confidential receptacle for shredding. We are also reminding our staff about this important policy.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call Carvin Vaughn, our privacy officer, at (901) 866-8384. You can also email him at carvin.vaughn@utmg.org.
Sincerely,
UT MEDICAL GROUP, INC.
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UTMG announces New Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Scholarships for Selected Neonatal RN’s accepted to the UT Health Science Center
Click here for more information.
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