New year brings efficient changes

Changes in the Clinical Center's organizational structure Jan. 1 are aimed at providing more efficient management of some key CC services.

Information Systems has been divided into two new departments: the Department of Clinical Research Informatics, with Dr. Stephen Rosenfeld as chief, and the Department of Networks and Applications, headed by Richard Gordon, CC chief information officer.

"The Clinical Research Information System project is clearly an NIH-wide program," noted Dr. John I. Gallin, CC director, in making the announcement. The new departments reflect a natural division of information technology skills and responsibilities, he added, and both departmental teams will work closely together.

More effective support for nursing care activities and preparations for the move into the new Clinical Research Center in 2003 are goals of changes in the CC Department of Nursing and Patient Care Services. The changes, also to take effect this month, primarily affect professional practice support services within the department. Two new divisions have been created: research and outcomes management and professional practice development.

The reorganization was partially in response to a shift within the leadership team for nursing and patient care services. Carol Romano, formerly chief of nursing's clinical informatics services, has been named deputy chief for the new Department of Clinical Research Informatics. Steve Groban, former chief of the Outpatient Department, is now program manager in the Department of Networks and Applications. Karen Kaczorowski has been named acting chief of the Outpatient Department.

"These changes not only prepare us for the intensive work needed to move into the new hospital, but also acknowledge the support needed to fulfill both our clinical care and research missions," said Clare Hastings, nursing and patient care services chief.

The research outcomes and management division will address the need for expanded involvement by nurses in clinical research. "This division will provide a focus for collecting and analyzing information to improve patient outcomes," said Hastings. "This will set the stage for expanded research involvement and make multiple career paths available to nurses."

Hastings will conduct a search for a director of this division with experience in developing research and evaluation programs in a hospital setting. Jacques Bolle, former acting nursing chief, will head the professional practice development division. It will include staff education and development, recruitment and retention, and workforce diversity programs. "Jacques is ideal for this role," said Hastings. "He has an acknowledged track record with developing programs to support collaboration and customer service." In addition, Bolle will be developing a clinical consultant role for himself with the new pain and palliative care service.

The three clinical services in nursing, which include all the nursing units, ambulatory care areas, and day hospitals, have been renamed. Adults and pediatrics (formerly adult and pediatric nursing services) will continue to be led by Tannia Cartledge. Laura Chisholm has been named chief for acute and clinical care (formerly critical and acute care nursing service). Jeanne Radcliffe will continue in her dual role as acting chief of behavioral health (formerly mental health, alcoholism, aging and liaison services) and manager of the 3 West nursing unit.

"I don't expect this new organizational structure to stay static," said Hastings. "It will change as we expand programs and move into the new setting. This is an initial attempt to create an infrastructure to address key priorities right now."

-by Colleen Henrichsen

Steve Case, CEO of America Online (center), held a press conference at the Childrens Inn to announce a joint effort to bring Starbright into the homes of sick children. Participating in the press conference (btm left to right) Whitney Wyland, Justen Smitt, Patricia Washington, Lori Wiener, NCI, and Charles Fletcher. (top left to right) Bob Steinberg, Bonnie Daland and Kristi Manning, all of Starbright.

Starbright comes home to "brave kids"

Seriously ill children at the Clinical Center will now have the opportunity to take their friends and in some cases, their nurses home with them.

America Online and Dell Computers have teamed up with Starbright Foundation, a organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children face medical and emotional challenges, in an effort to bring computers into the homes of these children.

During a press conference last month, Steve Case, CEO of America Online, sat with several young patients at the Children's Inn while broadcasting via videoconference to Los Angeles where Starbright Foundation Chairmen Steven Spielberg and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf announced the joint effort.

"These children have the support while they are at the hospital, but when they go home, they are cut off," said Schwarzkopf. "But not any more. Now it doesn't have to end when they come home."

Starbright is computer software that is given to a select number of hospitals and allows children to access the private Starbright cyberworld and meet children who are being treated for the same illness, ask nurses about different procedures and share stories. Through the Starbright world, children are able to chat online, email their buddies and compete in games.

"There are kids who are not here for a very long time. Those kids are the ones who will benefit from this partnership," said Lori Wiener, coordinator of NCI's pediatric HIV psyco-social support and research program at the Clinical Center.

The Clinical Center is one of 80 hospitals nationwide that has Starbright.

"It's a place where you can meet people and find out that you are not the only person who has this disease," said Whitney Wyland, 14, of Altoona, Pa. Wyland was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, and travels to the Clinical Center for treatment every six weeks."If you have a stressful day, Starbright takes your mind off of the stress," he said.

The first phase of Starbright's expansion to reach children at home begins this month with an upgrade of each hospital's software to communicate with the Starbright home version. Once the hospitals have been updated, all eligible children and their families will be provided with free internet accounts from AOL and computers from Dell.

"We are just proud to play a small role in the lives of some very brave kids," said Spielberg. "We want to give them back their childhood by creating a private world just for them, so for awhile they are free to be kids again."

-by Tanya C. Brown

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NIH employees bring holiday cheer

Nearly 30 children in the pediatric wards of the CC received portions of the 500 toys donated by employees for the fifth annual Toys to Share program sponsored by the NIH Police and Fire Department. Children were greeted by Santa Clause and several members of the Redskins Cheerleaders who signed autographs and took pictures. "We just saw there was a need and we coordinate with the health care workers," said Capt. Lawrence Brown, coordinator of the Toys to Share program. "It's rewarding to see the smiles on the kids faces, but this couldn't have happened without the help of the NIH employees."

Dr. Goldspiel was awarded a plaque by Dr. Thomas L. Garthwaite, president of AMSUS, during a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Goldspiel awarded for excellence in pharmacy

Dr. Barry Goldspiel, projects coordinator pharmacist in the pharmacy department, was recently awarded the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) award for excellence in clinical pharmacy practice.

The award recognizes the leadership role of federal pharmacists in the transformation of pharmacy practice by working closely with other health-care providers to enhance various therapies in a safe and cost-effective manner.

Dr. Goldspiel was cited for being instrumental in improving cancer patient outcomes, promoting cost-effective medication therapy in cancer patients and enhancing pharmacy systems for cancer patient care.

"I'm honored to receive this award and grateful for the opportunity to work in an environment where I am able to excel," said Dr. Goldspiel.

"He is an extremely valuable member of our clinical staff and an excellent role model for the federal pharmacy program," said Dr. Robert DeChristoforo, deputy chief of the pharmacy department. "His status as an internationally known resource for the oncology pharmacy practitioner community makes him worthy of the award."

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Free concert

Join the Manchester String Quartet on January 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the Masur Auditorium for a free concert. For additional information or accommodations for other disabilities, email Sharon Greenwell at sg115f@nih.gov. or call 301-496-4713.

Register now

Registration for the 2001 "Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research" has started. Classes will be held on the NIH campus on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (some sessions will last until 7:00 p.m.). The deadline for registering is January 19, 2001. For information or to register, visit the course website at http://www.cc.nih.gov/od/core

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Ovarian function

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is seeking healthy women, ages 18-55, 60 and above for an ovarian function study. Compensation will be provided. For further information call 1-800-411-1222.

Eye study

The National Eye Institute is looking for men and women with age-related macular degeneration for a three-year research study of a new potential treatment. All study related examinations and treatments are provided at no cost to the participant. For further information or to volunteer for the study, please call 1-800-411-1222.

Weight loss study

Overweight children and teens between the ages of 6 and 17 are needed for a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Development to test potential weight-loss medicine. Parents who are interested in enrolling their child should call 1-800-411-1222.

Speech disorders

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke seeks families with stuttering or speech articulation disorders to participate in an experimental study to help find the cause of these speech disorders. Compensation will be provided. For more information call 1-800-411-1222.

Women needed

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is testing to find if the drug Raloxifene reduces pain in women with endometriosis. Surgical treatment is combined with either Raloxifene or a placebo. The study is free. For more information call 1-800-411-1222.

Blood draw

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking adults with hypertension for a blood draw. Participants are needed for one hour and will be compensated $50. Appointments will be scheduled at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. only. For more information call Tereza at 301-496-1115.

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