UK Hospital gets below average marks on patient satisfaction, infections; data on your local hospital are available online

Despite $900 million being invested in expanding the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, its patients at do not seem all that happy with the care they receive there.

In an op-ed piece in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Dr. Kevin Kavanagh of Somerset highlights the results of a survey on patients' hospital experiences. That survey ranked UK's hospital below state and national averages in nine of 10 measures. "Especially disturbing, only 66 percent said they would definitely recommend the institution, and only 56 percent stated their room and bathroom were 'always clean'," writes Kavanagh, chairman of Health Watch USA.

The UK hospital also did not fare well when it came to its assessment by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on hospital-acquired conditions. "UK had the highest reported rate of deadly vascular catheter infections in the state," Kavanagh writes. "UK also had an unacceptably high rate of falls and deep bed ulcers. These latter conditions should be zero."

Kavanagh concluded, "If there are quality problems at UK, it is of paramount importance that they are corrected since not only current patients are at risk but also the quality of the training experience of our future clinicians, which can affect care for years to come." (Read more)

Newspapers can access information about their area hospitals by clicking here. Viewers can choose up to three hospitals and see how they compare to one another in categories like: how well nurses communicate with patients; how quiet the areas around patients are; if patients would recommend the hospital; and if patients always received help as soon as it was wanted.

Newspapers can also see the results of the CMS assessment on hospital-acquired conditions for their area hospitals by clicking here and downloading the Hospital-Acquired Condition Rates zip file (scroll down to Kentucky hospitals). The file contains data on eight hospital-acquired conditions reported between Oct. 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010. Among the conditions reported are air embolism; blood incompatibility; catheter-associated infections; falls and trauma; foreign objects left in the body after surgery; pressure ulcers; uncontrolled blood sugar levels; and urinary tract infections.

Seven UK docs-to-be off to Morehead to train in rural medicine

Learning how to practice in rural areas is the goal of seven University of Kentucky medical students, who are off to Rural Physician Leadership Program in Morehead. (From left: Shea Poynter, Lesley Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Nathan Hudson, Katrina Winkler, Crystal Norgren and Miranda Smith)

The program "trains physicians to become practitioners and leaders for rural areas," Julie Meador writes for UKNow, the university's news service. "It was created in response to the growing health care needs evident in rural areas of Kentucky and the rest of the nation."

The training is primarily done at St. Claire Regional Medical Center and with physicians with the Northeast Area Health Education Center, who are serving as preceptors. The students will also take courses at Morehead State University's Department of Business and Public Affairs on the medical use of information technology, financial issues and debt management and community engagement for health policy.

Combating childhood obesity reinvigorates Barren County Chamber of Commerce health committee

Combating childhood obesity has become the focus of the health-care committee of the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce, a panel that had otherwise lost its drive.

The committee has started using the "We Can" childhood obesity prevention program, which has already been adopted by more than 1,000 communities nationwide. Designed for children 8 to 13, the program "offers a curriculum that can be used to teach parents about healthy eating," reports Gina Kinslow of the Glasgow Daily Times. The committee has now partnered with various organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County, to get the word out and start educating parents.

"The 'We Can' education program provides parents and caregivers with tools, fun activities and more to help them encourage healthy eating, increased physical activity and reduced time sitting in from of the screen (TV or computer) in their entire family," said Kelly Lile Jenkins, director of the Boys and Girls Club. Nearly 1 in 6 American children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, an estimated to 12 million youth. Another 14.8 percent are overweight, committee chair Beverly Mortimer noted. (Read more)

Markey Cancer Center at UK says its patients have higher survival rates than those treated elsewhere in Ky. and the nation

"Patients at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center who have certain types of cancer have higher rates of survival than patients with the same cancers treated elsewhere in the state or even the nation according to new data released today," Business Lexington reports.

"Markey officials said the data shows that the center's patients have significantly better five-year survival rates than those Kentucky cancer patients who were treated elsewhere for brain, breast, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer, as well as for stage IV colorectal cancer." (Read more)

September is national Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September has been proclaimed national Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, with President Obama asking Americans to "take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our nation's children."

The U.S. childhood obesity rate has tripled since the 1970s, with 1 in 3 American children now either overweight or obese. As such, experts say one third of "children born in 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetime, with many others at risk of obesity-related illnesses including heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma," reports Julian Pecquet of congressional newspaper The Hill.

Childhood obesity is especially prevalent in Kentucky. The state has the the seventh highest obesity rate nationwide and the fourth highest rate of childhood obesity. Reporters can find by-county obesity rates by clicking here, but by-county childhood obesity rates are not available because counties are collecting data in different ways and at different ages, Sarah Walsh of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky said recently.

While the problem is a big one, there are initiatives underway to tackle it, including first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move," which helps communities make healthy food and exercise choices. It also includes a partnership with grocery stores to increase food choices in areas that do not have easy access to healthy foods. (Read more)

Free conference on Alzheimer's in Louisville Sept. 17

A Washington-based geriatric researcher will join University of Louisville researchers and clinicians a free conference examining Alzheimer’s disease from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, 830 Phillips Lane, near the state fairgrounds.

“The Journey: Alzheimer’s Disease and Caregiving” will provide information on the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, the reasons why certain populations are at greater risk for developing it, and current practices in caregiving. Admission, parking and lunch are free to participants at but pre-registration is required by Sept. 15 to info@alz.org or 1-800-272-3900.

Thomas Obisesan, M.D., chief of geriatrics at Howard University Hospital, will open the meeting. His research is focused on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and "disentangling the overlap of cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease risk," a U of L release says. The conference is supported with grants from Eisai Co. Ltd. and the Signature Research Institute. It is co-sponsored by the university and the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.