musc the catalyst

November 25, 2011 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 30, No. 15

Employee adds warmthto season in labor of love

If there’s one thing Glenda Behrensknows how to do well, it’s crochet ahat.

Fifty-one perfect pink ones to beexact, one for each year of her life.Behrens, administrative assistantin transportation, said she decidedfor her birthday this year that shedidn’t want it to be just about her.She wanted to give back in some way.She got the idea that she wanted tomake hats for Hollings Cancer Center(HCC) patients, a spot of cheer forcold days during the winter season.

People would see the hats andrequest one for a relative or friendwho had cancer, so she kept havingto make more. That even happenedon the day she came to deliver thehats, so Behrens frantically crochetedanother one during her lunch to getthe total back up to 51.

Behrens said she enjoyed the

project, crocheting relaxes her,and even pulled in her friendVeronica Champion, a bus driver intransportation, who contributed 12 ofthe hats.

Barbara Busby, HCC concierge,was on hand to receive the donation.They piled up the hats on a table inHCC’s serenity garden to take a look.Behrens said she was determined thatthey all be the vibrant “perfect pink”color. When Walmart sold out of theyarn, probably because of her, shewaited for the next batch.

Busby smiled at her determination,thanking her for the contribution.Some patients who have to havechemotherapy get the chills, and theyreally need the hats and blanketsto stay warm. “They are very caringto even think of doing this for thepatients. They are so grateful for thesetypes of things.”

GlendaBehrens,

above, had funmaking 51 hatsfor HCC cancer

patients.She presented

them toBarbara Busby,

HCC concierge,Nov. 16.

Holiday Hearts

Pharmacy students gobbleup chance for a good cause

Honestly, Andy Curtis, a SouthCarolina College of Pharmacy,MUSC campus third-year student, isa bit burned out. It’s not somethinga little turkey fry and Thanksgivingbreak can’t cure, though.

“We’re guys. We’re not the bestcooks, but we try,” he said, smiling aspeople pile in behind him to samplethe goods.

Curtis and some of his fellowKappa Psi fraternity mates rose at

6:30 a.m. to fry up 11 turkeys for theannual Turkey Fry. The fry raisesabout a 1,000 pounds in cannedgoods that goes to the LowcountryFood Bank, and it gives students achance to socialize before the break.

“We’re all burned out. It’s nice todo this and get a break before exams.”

Even better, in this economy, theycan meet a community need. “Welike to fill up their shelves before theholiday season.”

Andy Curtis, far left, watches his friends feast at the annual Turkey Fry. To viewthe video, visit http://bit.ly/MUSC_Turkey_Fry.

2 The CaTalysT, November 25, 2011

The Catalyst is published once a week.Paid adver tisements, which do notrepresent an endorsement by MUSCor the State of South Carolina, arehandled by Island Publications Inc. ,Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St. ,Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or843-958-7490. E-mail: [email protected].

Editorial of ficeMUSC Office of Public Relations135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C,Charleston, SC 29425.843-792-4107; Fax: 843-792-6723

Editor: Kim [email protected]

Catalyst staff:Cindy Abole, [email protected] Brazell, [email protected]

As part of an ongoing commitmentto help alleviate the nursing shortage inSouth Carolina, the Johnson & JohnsonCampaign for Nursing’s Future hosted agala to help ease the shortage throughoutthe region.

On Nov. 4, 40 MUHA nurses attendedthe Johnson & Johnson Promise ofNursing gala. One hundred percentof the $300,000 proceeds from theevent will support S.C. nursing schoolgrants, faculty fellowships and studentscholarships. This was the first time the

event has been held in the state.Marilyn J. Schaffener, Ph.D., R.N.,

chief nursing executive, said she wasproud that MUSC’s Neonatal IntensiveCare Unit (NNICU) video, “Leaving ona Jet Plane,” won first place in a videocontest that had several entries frommultiple organizations. MUHA had twoof the four final videos, including onefrom GI Endoscopy called “I Promise.”

“This gala was a wonderful tributeto our extraordinary nurses,” saidSchaffner.

From left: MUSC nurses Deborah Browning, Marilyn Schaffner, Kath-erine Chase, Sarah Gayle McConnell, Tara Lowry and Leonora Horton.McConnell and Lowry were responsible for the video. View the video athttps://www.musc.edu/medcenter/news/LeavingOnAJetPlane.htm.

NNICU video wins award

More than 120 patients and theirguests attended MUSC’s inauguralAnnual Lupus Patient EducationSeminar Oct. 15.

The MUSC Lupus ErythematosusResearch Group and its partnersorganized the educational event, thatwas sponsored by the Division ofRheumatology & Immunology.

The brainchild of RheumatologyFellow Melissa Cunningham, M.D.,Ph.D., the patient education seminarhelped to give patients the latestinformation about lupus to help themhave the best quality of life possible.

The seminar, “Everything You Needto Know About Lupus,” focused onsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),commonly referred to as lupus, anautoimmune disease in which the body’simmune system mistakenly attackshealthy tissues and organs.

The underlying cause of lupus is notfully understood but it is known to occur10 times more frequently among femalesthan males and presents most often inindividuals between the ages of 10 and50. In South Carolina, between 1996and 2003, there were 6,521 systemiclupus patients hospitalized. Lupus canaffect people of any race or ethnicity,although higher incidences of the diseaseare seen in African Americans, with noknown cure for the disease.

The seminar’s lead speaker, GaryGilkeson, M.D., vice chairman forresearch, Department of Medicine, saidawareness, early diagnosis and treatmentremain the best weapons in controllingand battling lupus. Lupus may affectmany different parts of the body such asthe skin, heart, lungs, brain and nervoussystem. Symptoms vary by individual;some of the most common include askin rash — a “butterfly” rash over thecheeks and bridge of the nose, fatigue,mouth sores, skin sensitivity to sunlight,hair loss, joint swelling, and other moresevere symptoms depending on whichpart of the body is affected.

“If you or anyone you know areexperiencing symptoms, seek medical

advice from your health care providerimmediately,” he said.

Information disseminated at theseminar included the latest knowledgein pathology, familial and geneticdisposition, medical treatmentoptions, the importance of diet andexercise, female reproductive health,clinical research trials and possibleenvironmental influences on the disease.The event also provided a forum wherepatients and family members could askquestions in a supportive environmentand have the opportunity to networkwith other patients and their families.

Diane Kamen, M.D., who wasinstrumental in organizing the event,shared information on clinical researchtrials with participants. After theseminar, she received an email fromShandora Drayton, an attendee whothanked her, adding that the experiencehelped her not to feel so isolated.

Sharon Wolf, program coordinatorwith S.C. Clinical & TranslationalResearch Institute Center forCommunity Health Partnerships,said the seminar was organized as acommunity engagement and outreachevent. “As a medical and academiccommunity, we acknowledge theimportance of engaging patients andtheir families in all aspects of theirhealth and medical care. As health is notstatic, we aim to empower patients byreaching beyond their average clinic orthe traditional model of health care,” shesaid.

For information, visit http://www.musc.edu/lupus, call 792-8997 or [email protected].

Patients, families withlupus receive support

MUSC Holistic Wellness Fair11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Nov. 29

MUSC Horseshoe

Come interact with local businesses and practitioners who offer naturalapproaches to health and specialize in a wide array of complementary health andwellness disciplines. Services scheduled to participate include hypnosis, healingtouch, acupuncture, reiki, herbs, therapeutic massage, chiropractic, rolfingtransformational breath work, organic foods and juices, Community SupportedAgriculture and qigong demonstrations.

“As a medical and academiccommunity, we acknowledgethe importance of engagingpatients and their families inall aspects of their health andmedical care.”

Sharon Wolf

The CaTalysT, November 25, 2011 3

James S. Krause, Ph.D., has had a few monthsof looking at his sleek 2011 Medtronic National

Courage Award to adjust to what it feels like to join theranks of former recipients such as Stephen Hawkingand Christopher Reeve.

Krause, who suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injurywhile diving when he was 16, now is a professor andassociate dean for research in the College of HealthProfessions and a leading national expert and researcherwho specializes in health and longevity following aspinal cord injury. He said the award has increased hisresolve to continue efforts in those areas.

The award is especially meaningful to Krause, sincehe was a patient from 1976-79 at Minneapolis’ CourageCenter’s Transitional Rehabilitation Program, knownthen as Courage Residence. A three-year inpatientstay at Courage Center was common in the 1970s and1980s. Today, the average length of stay for someonewith a spinal cord injury is 99 days.

“I am honored beyond anything that can easily be putinto words,” said Krause of his award. “I was a CourageCenter inpatient for more than three years and certainlywould not have been able to accomplish nearly as muchas I have without the benefit of the services I receivedthere. It gave me a foundation from which to build. The

friendships I developed there have lasted. Receiving thisaward will help me continue my work and to positivelyimpact the lives of people with disabilities.”

Ironically, in many respects, life is much morechallenging 40 years later.

“There has been some visible change in terms ofaccessibility, but there are other barriers that continue.Traveling has become more complicated. When I wasat Courage Center, things were simpler. People had theopportunity to use facilities for a much longer period oftime and the benefits are likely proportional to the timeallocated for preparing for life after disability. The timeI spent at Courage Center has had an immeasurablepositive effect on my life. Whereas I was there for overthree years while I was going to school, people now arethere for perhaps three months, just enough time toget some rehabilitative services. It would be much moredifficult under those circumstances.”

Krause said barriers often prevent people withdisabilities to be able to work, even for those who havethe intelligence and motivation. “I believe that creatingemployment opportunities and facilitating educationand socioeconomic status are the keys to improvingquality of life for people with disabling conditions.”

After leaving Courage Center, Krause received his

bachelor’s degree in 1980 and his Ph.D. in 1990 fromthe Department of Psychology at the University ofMinnesota. He worked at the Shepherd Center inAtlanta, a nationally-known rehabilitation facility,for 13 years. His career includes numerous publishedarticles in professional journals, as well as numerousawards. In 2008, Krause was inducted into the SpinalCord Injury Hall of Fame by the National Associationfor his research in quality of life.

Krause said the awards ceremony Sept. 24 at EarleBrown Heritage Center in Minnesota was wonderful,and he was able to share the moment with his wife,Laura, friends and colleagues.

It also is an opportunity to get out a message ofhope, he said. “People often focus on recovery andplace their hope for a good life on the extent of theirphysical recovery. I want people to know that, underany circumstance, disability or otherwise, there is hope.It’s important to develop goals and live with whatevercircumstance you have. Focus on the things that arewithin your control. Be concerned about the presentand the future, not about the past or lost opportunities.I truly believe that when one door closes, anotheropens. You have to look for, and sometimes make, thoseopportunities.”

Courageaward

James S. Krause


Hot turkey, mashed potatoes withgravy, cranberries and pumpkin pie withwhipped cream. Many of us can alreadytaste the delicious holiday fare. However,for the 48.8 million Americans wholive in food-insecure households, thevision of home-cooked meals during theholidays is more of a wish than a reality.

According to the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, food insecurity is definedas, “limited or uncertain availability ofnutritionally adequate and safe foods.”Of these 48.8 million Americans, onethird of them are children. Whilehunger is a serious issue no matter theage of those affected, the long-termconsequences of malnourished childrenare even more severe than in adults.According to a study at Tufts University,malnourished children have significantlydelayed brain development andcognitive function and perform lower onstandardized tests.

Children who are food insecure haveto eat what is available out of necessity,with that often being a high-calorie, low-nutrient-dense diet that is a major causeof obesity and can cause intellectualimpairment. These less expensive foodsare frequently the default option forthose shopping on a limited budget.

A survey by the University ofWashington found that per 1,000calories, high energy, low-nutrient-densefoods cost $1.76 whereas nutrient-densefoods, such as fruits and vegetables,cost $18.16. This means that a typical“junk-food” diet for one day would cost$3.52, which is more manageable fora financially-limited household thanspending $36.32 on healthier foods.

Fortunately, many agencies likeCrisis Ministries, Helping Hands ofGoose Creek, East Cooper CommunityOutreach and the Lowcountry FoodBank help decrease the amount ofhunger in the community. With theeconomic recession, more families arerelying on these programs.

From 2006 to 2010, the estimatednumber of people served by theLowcountry Food Bank alone increased25 percent, and now serves more than190,000 people annually. According tothe Hunger in America 2010 report,agencies that distribute food to patrons“who ‘sometimes or always’ had toreduce distribution due to lack of food”doubled from 11 percent in 2006 to 22percent in 2010. This increase in theneed for food translates into a needfor more people to donate to relieforganizations.

Helping out these causes is simple.You can volunteer on your own or gatheryour family, friends, and co-workers todonate money or food, coordinate fooddrives or attend events that raise moneyfor hunger programs.

For information on how toget involved, visit http://www.Crisisministries.org, http://www.Helpinghandsofgoosecreek.net, http://www.ECCOcharleston.org or http://www.Lowcountryfoodbank.org.

By MiChelle MCGinley

Dietetic Intern

Help less fortunate, get involvedMUSC Angel Tree organizers

are still looking for participantsto dance in a Flash Mob sequenceat the MUSC Annual HolidayLighting Event from 4 to 5 p.m.,Nov. 30 at the Horseshoe. There’sstill time to join in a final dancepractice starting at noon, Nov. 28at the Children’s Hospital Atrium(seventh floor). Participants areasked to contribute a $5 gift tobenefit the Angel Tree campaign.

The MUSC Angel Tree ToyParade and Toy Drop off event willstart at 11:45 a.m., Dec. 9 at AshleyRiver Tower and ending at theHorseshoe. Featured will be vehiclesfilled with toys, bikes donated byemployees, fire trucks, a horse andCinderella carriage, the BurkeHighsteppers Marching Band,parade marshall Jesse Dasinger andSanta Claus.

For information, visit http://www.musc.edu/catalyst/angel.html,call 792-8382 or email [email protected].

Employees still have timeto help Angel Tree

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MUSC, STEM collaboration brings stroke awareness

Little did Fort Dorchester High School seniorMichael Sweet realize that he would be asked tohyperventilate on a school visit to MUSC. Obeying theodd request, Sweet listens for the next instructions fromRobert Adams, M.D., who is interpreting the results ofthe transcranial doppler ultrasound that’s being done.

He lets Sweet know he’s in good shape with niceyoung elastic blood vessels. Given that Adams holds aSmartState Endowed Chair in Stroke and directs theSouth Carolina REACH (Remote Evaluation of AcuteIschemic Stroke) Network, this is good news indeed.

Sweet was one of 27 students from Fort DorchesterHigh School who visited MUSC’s BioengineeringBuilding and Center for Rehabilitation Research inNeurological Conditions on Nov. 2 to learn moreabout stroke as part of their term project for thebiotechnology class. This event followed up on theirteacher Ben Bertolet’s summer experience at MUSC aspart of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,and Mathematics) Program for high school scienceteachers. Bertolet was hosted for his summer visit by theClemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program.

Bertolet said the day was amazing.Many of the students have family members who

have suffered or died from a stroke. “Any time youcan establish connections between what is learned inthe classroom and the outside world, students derivesignificant meaning and understanding. The fieldtrip provided my students with a relevant learningexperience and shed insight into how engineers help tobetter mankind through the use of technology.”

Students learned about the biomedical basis andrisk factors for stroke and the latest in treatment andrehabilitation for victims.

“Knowledge is power. Experiences like these alsoprovide students with a spark for a future career inengineering. They might have a ‘I could do this’ or ‘Iwant to do this’ epiphany.”

Bertolet praised The Education Foundation,an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber ofCommerce, which received funding from Boeing towrite a curriculum for a “STEM in the Workplace”class. The class exposed around 100 math and scienceteachers to local industries and businesses that offerSTEM jobs. It emphasized project-based learning andthe benefits that educational style has for students.Bertolet’s particular project was on stroke awareness.

“Programs like ‘Project Lead The Way’ are tryingto carve the path for the innovation generation. Weare in a STEM crisis in this country, and the need forbright young minds in these fields is higher than everbefore.”

MUSC medical leaders agree.The day began with Adams and Lidia Yamada, M.D.,

describing medical aspects of stroke and its prevention.Adams and Judy Luden, the Neuroscience researchprogram coordinator, then demonstrated some ofthe latest technologies for stroke diagnosis. After anoverview of stroke rehabilitation research by StevenKautz, Ph.D., director of research for the Collegeof Health Professions, the students had interactivevisits at three laboratories in MUSC’s Center forRehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditionsincluding Locomotor Energetics and Assessment (JesseDean, Ph.D., and Cameron Nott, Ph.D.), LocomotorRehabilitation (Mark Bowden, Ph.D.), and Upper

Extremity Function (Michelle Woodbury, Ph.D.).Richard Swaja, Ph.D., director of the Clemson-

MUSC Bioengineering Program and coordinator forthis event, said the visit was successful by all measures.

“The students learned about stroke from clinicians atMUSC’s nationally-recognized Stroke Center and aboutstate-of-the-art rehabilitation research being conductedin the College of Health Professions. The MUSC staffpresentations and demonstrations were absolutely greatand maintained the students’ attention and enthusiasmthroughout the day. The MUSC clinicians andscientists also enjoyed interacting with the students.”

Having a facility like the bioengineering building forsuch functions helped immensely with regard to audio-visual and interactive meeting capabilities,” he said.

“It is fitting that much of the event was conductedin the new facility since stroke research is such a multi-disciplinary endeavor just like bioengineering.”

Swaja said this type of outreach is valuable in that itreflects the commitment and involvement of MUSC incommunity development and education at all levels.

“It provides students at a critical stage in theirdevelopment – high school juniors and seniors whoare thinking about college and careers – with realworld experience and exposure to opportunities inbiomedicine. Activities where high school students canmeet and interact with nationally-recognized scientistsand graduate students and experience vibrant andrelevant research and clinical environments can havedramatic impacts on career choices and directions.”

Fort Dorchester High School student Michael Sweet, left, volunteers to help demonstrate atranscranial doppler ultrasound. Judy Luden performs the procedure as Dr. Robert Adams, right,explains the procedure. Also pictured is Dr. Lidia Yamada.

Fort Dorchester High School students brokeinto three groups to tour the Center forRehabilitation Research in NeurologicalConditions.

By Dawn Brazell

Public Relations

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StudentreSearChday 2011

Congratulations Perry V. Halushka MUSC Student Research Day winners.

First place winners for poster presentationsUndergraduate I: Meghnin J. GilstrapUndergraduate II: Kimberly ArnoldClinical Prof/Masters I: Lisa M. JohnsonClinical Prof/Masters II: Chelsey BaldwinClinical Prof/Masters III: Christa BarrettClinical Prof/Masters IV: Kristina AndrijauskaitePhD I: Krystal L. DolePhD II: Kayla R. HillPhD III: Daniel GrassPhD IV: Lindsay McDonald – Kinard/Gadsden AwardPostdocs/Residents/Fellows I: Charles M. ButlerPostdocs/Residents/Fellows II: R. Parrish Waters

First place winners for oral presentationsUndergraduates III: Kyle T. BrownUndergraduate IV: Aaron M. Blackshaw

Clinical Prof/Masters V: Jason B. WheelerClinical Prof/Masters VI: Peter H. TangPhD V: Ludivine RenaudPhD VI: Aram Parsegian — Eric James AwardPhD VII: Haley B. Lindner — William & Betty PetersonAwardPostdocs/Residents/Fellows III: J. Matthew Rhett

Interprofessional AwardsFirst prize: Kathleen B. CartmellSecond prize: Caroline G. Tuttle

Health Disparities AwardsFirst prize poster: Sybil L. Prince NelsonSecond prize poster: Jenny S. WestFirst prize oral: Kathleen B. CartmellSecond prize poster: Jason B. Wheeler

Sigma Xi AwardsFirst place oral: Kyle StricklandFirst place poster: Brittney M. Cox

For a list of the Student Research Day winners visit http://tinyurl.com/6vlytnh.

MUSC’s Annual Holiday Lighting Event4 – 5 p.m., Nov. 30MUSC Horseshoe

All MUSC students, faculty and alumni are invited to the annual HolidayLighting Ceremony. In addition to the tree lighting, candles will be lit torecognize those who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. There will bestory telling, carol singing, and an appearance by a special visitor in a horse-drawncarriage.

This event is presented by the MUSC Gives Back Student Volunteer Program.For more information, call 792-4094 or 792-5138.

The Teddy Bear Gift Tag trees, locatedat the Colbert Education Center &Library Building, Basic Science Building,College of Health Professions lobby andthe Harper Student Center, contain thenames of children who could use a littleholiday cheer. The trees will be decoratedwith the tags through Dec. 1.

Carolina Youth Development Center(CYDC), an umbrella organization thatsupervises shelters for children, provided

a list of names and gift requests. CYDCalso included some needs for its shelters,such as socks, underwear, and sheet sets.

Choose a gift tag from one of the treesand purchase the child’s gift request.Gifts need to be returned (in gift bagsonly) to the MUSC Gives Back office,Room 213, Harper Student Center, bynoon, Dec. 2. The Teddy Bear Gift Tagneeds to be tied around the bag handle.

For information, call 792-4094.

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There’s a change in the air in the world of health careand medical coding.

The United Kingdom did it. So did France, Australia,Germany and most recently, Canada in 2001.

What’s happened in each of these countries, andsoon in the United States, is a change in the wayhospitals, physician practices and health systemsassign codes to report medical diagnoses and inpatientprocedures. It also will impact and improve the waythese entities measure health care processes andoutcomes. The new system goes into effect Oct. 1, 2013.

The World Health Organization initiated this change,replacing the older International Classification ofDiseases, 9th Edition (ICD-9) coding structure to anewer, more expanded ICD-10-Clinical Modificationcode sets. For the U.S., the Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services is guiding this change. The newcoding system supports diagnosis coding in most healthcare settings (ICD-10-CM) and within inpatient hospitalsettings (ICD-10-Proceedure Coding System).

To help MUHA and UMA’s team of codingprofessionals prepare for this change, MUSC teamed upwith Trident Technical College (TTC) this past fall toconduct a mandatory study course and review of relatedmaterials that would prepare certified coders for theICD-10 upgrades.

The new system will expand available codes from13,000 to 140,000 defined by seven alpha-numericcharacters in length. It will feature updates to medicalterminology and disease classifications and allowsfor the expansion of existing code sets, including theability to collect more data and clinical information.It also manages statistics and provides a better overallexpanded reimbursement system, according to MachelleMorningstar, Health Information Services ICD-10educator and trainer.

For eight weeks, MUHA’s Health InformationServices’ 43 code specialists spent Tuesday afternoonsreviewing medical terminology and learning abouthuman anatomy, physiology and pathology. The coursefeatured interactive learning and practice tests andended with a final exam. Students were able to takean online or hard copy exam, which consisted of 40multiple choice questions. They received a certificate ofcompletion and earned 16 continuing education unitstoward the renewal of their professional re-certificationswith either of the profession’s accrediting bodies, theAmerican Health Information Management or theAmerican Academy of Professional Coders.

Morningstar was recruited to manage the transitionand guide MUHA coding team’s training and readinessplans. She also serves on the hospital’s ICD-10steering committee, which is leading the change in herdepartments and with other users.

“Establishing this new certificate program gives our

medical coders the knowledge they need to preparefor the detailed changes associated with the ICD-10transition. Offering this course like we did helped ourcoding team to step outside their everyday jobs andactivities each week to concentrate on new informationand actions that will help them maintain their skillsand proficiencies. They all worked hard individuallyand as a team to achieve this.”

For convenience, the two-hour class was taught onMUSC's campus by Cathy Lowe, R.N., health caretraining manager and instructor, TTC’s Division ofContinuing Education and Economic Development.Lowe is part of a team that teaches medical codingthrough TTC’s online training program.

“MUSC coders already possess a good knowledgebase of medical terminology and anatomy. What thiscourse did was provide an opportunity to expand theirknowledge with new terms instead of outdated onesand align that with the institution’s current medicalpractice.”

Veronica Rivers, a 20-plus year medical codingveteran who codes Ambulatory Surgery cases, admittedshe was slightly nervous about returning to theclassroom. “Like others, I thought I knew enough, but Isoon realized that I really didn’t. Completing this classhas already made a big difference in my coding work

and what I need to know for my job.”Dawn Stewart began her coding career with MUSC

in 2008. She was excited to learn she was returningto the classroom as part of this training. She felt theclass was well organized and the course directors werepositive and supportive.

Both Lowe and Morningstar agree that what madethe classes work was the already established relationshipbetween MUSC and TTC through the school’sinternship program, which places its medical recordcoding students at MUSC to gain work experience.

Lowe said the existing partnership made it easy forMUSC to move forward in this direction. “TridentTech is already offering this training with otherpractices and organizations impacted by this codingsystem change. The early preparation and planning is awin for everyone,” she said.

Starting in January, the coding team will return tothe classroom to continue with the next step in theirtraining. The class, which will be led by Morningstar,will focus on coding rules and classifications thatpertain to procedures and diagnoses.

Meanwhile, the committee is collaborating withother hospital specialists involved in billing, electronicmedical records, software development and otherdepartments involved in the transition.

By CinDy aBole

Public Relations

TTC helps prepare certified coders for new upgrade

Health Information Services coder Veronica Rivers, left, reviews study material with Trident Techinstructor Cathy Lowe, center, and fellow medical coder and classmate Dawn Stewart. They joinedmore than 40 MUHA and UMA medical coders in an eight-week review course in preparation forthe new coding system changes set for October 2013.


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2011 InfinitiG37® Sedan

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2011 or 2012 InfinitiM37®

STARTING AT$47,700

8 in stock

1.9%AVAILABLE

musc the catalyst

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