Accolades, Print, Podium

TIRR Memorial Hermann was featured as an ROI Case Study in the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Pathway to Excellence™ e-Newsletter distributed on October 10, 2013. The hospital’s outcomes were cited as “continually exceeding expectations” with a below-average fall rate, a five-year track record of no cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), fewer catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), fewer pressure ulcers and an increase in CRRN (certified rehabilitation registered nurse) certifications. “Our nurses are driving process change for the good of patients and staff, and gaining recognition for their outstanding work,” says Mary Ann Euliarte, RN, CRRN, COO/CNO.

Meilani Mapa, MD, assistant professor and vice chair of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, represented TIRR Memorial Hermann and UTHealth PM&R at The University of Texas System Clinical Safety and Effectiveness Conference and Recognition Event held in September 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio. The conference, entitled “Building the Bridge: Public Policy and Public Health Effect Health Care Reform,” brought together doctors, clinicians and students from across the UT System. Dr. Mapa presented her quality improvement project “Reducing Acquired Urinary Tract Infections on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit” with Viola Hysa, MD, who will complete her residency at the Baylor College of Medicine/UTHealth Alliance for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2014.

Staff of the Brain Injury Research Center won two of three awards presented for posters at the 90th annual meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine held in Orlando, Florida, in November 2013. “A preliminary model of social integration and emotional functioning for persons with TBI,” the second place winner, was authored by Monique Pappadis, CHES, CCRP, Margaret Struchen, PhD, Angelle Sander, PhD, and Diana Mazzei, LPC. Authors Lynne Davis, PhD, Angelle Sander, PhD, Jay Bogaards, CCRP, and Monique Pappadis, won third place for “MPAI-4 discrepancy ratings of abilities predict memory and executive functioning performance after traumatic brain injury.”

The TIRR Memorial Hermann Pharmacy was one of only nine sites in the United States selected by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists to participate in the 2014-15 Antimicrobial Stewardship Impact Program. Led by Carolyn Alessi, the project will involve an interdisciplinary team: Susan Loughlin, PharmD, BCPS, Terree Funesti, ADN, WCC, CRRN, Lindsay Toenges, CIC, Lisa Wenzel, MD, Ben Portnoy, MD, Audrey Wanger, PhD, and Lourdes Cuellar, RPh.

Rhonda Abbott, PT, administrative director and director of therapy services and clinical programs, has been elected delegate-at-large to the Texas Physical Therapy Association. Heather Taylor, MD, and Glendaliz Bosques, MD, are co-investigators of a new study under way at TIRR Memorial Hermann and McGovern Medical School. Entitled Pediatric Multicenter Evaluation of Notable SCI Outcome Instruments, the three-year study is funded by the Craig Neilsen Foundation.

In Print

Park WH, Li S. Responses of finger flexors and extensors to TMS during isometric contraction. Muscle Nerve, Nov 2013;48(5):739-44.

On the Podium

Adair C, Phillips D. Seven Meaningful Days. Educational session presented at the Texas Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Sugar Land, Texas, November 2013.

Cooper Hay C, Scully T, Sieber R, Vanlandingham C. Using the iPad in Occupational Therapy Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Educational session presented at the Mountain Central Conference of the Texas Occupational Therapy Association, Sugar Land, Texas, November 2013.

Gutierrez A, Thayer B. Educational Classes for Spanish-speaking Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries. Educational session presented at the 39th Annual Association of Rehabilitation (ARN) National Education Conference, Charlotte, N.C., October 2013.

Gutierrez A, Reimers A. Target Zero for Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs). Educational session presented at the 39th Annual Association of Rehabilitation (ARN) National Education Conference, Charlotte, N.C., October 2013.

Hartman L. Neuro-IFRAH Certification Course in the Treatment and Management of Adults with Hemiplegia from a Stroke or Brain Injury. A 14-day educational session presented at TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, October and November 2013.

Jennings J. Advancing Rehabilitation of the Upper Extremity after SCI: Innovation and Stimulation. Presented at the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) Educational Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., September 2013.

Martin L, Shields C. Vestibular Assessment and Treatment in Individuals with Concussion. Course presented at the Texas Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference Student Conclave, Arlington, Texas, October 2013.

Sander AM. A systematic approach to treating family caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury. Invited lecture presented at the Contemporary Forums conference, Brain Injuries: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation, Washington, D.C., October 2013.

Sander AM. Addressing sexual functioning in rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury. Invited lecture presented at the Contemporary Forums conference, Brain Injuries: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation, Washington, D.C., October 2013.

Taylor HB, Robinson-Whelen S, Hughes RB, Wenzel L, Nosek MA. Examining the MHI-5 as a Depression Screening Measure. Invited presentation at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine 90th Annual Conference, Orlando, Fla., November 2013.

Taylor HB, Robinson-Whelen S, Hughes RB, Wenzel L, Nosek MA. Depression and Depression Treatment of Women with Spinal Cord Injury: Are We Doing Enough? Invited presentation at the American Spinal Cord Injury Association 40th Anniversary Meeting, Chicago, Ill., May 2013.

Thomas H. Development and Validation Process for the Spiritual Wellness Assessment. Educational session presented at the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., September 2013.

Young K, Davis K, Euliarte MA. Management of Breastfeeding with Spinal Cord Injury: China’s Story. Educational session presented at the 39th Annual Association of Rehabilitation (ARN) National Education Conference, Charlotte, N.C., October 2013.

Poster Presentations

Davis LC, Sander AM, Bogaards JA, Pappadis MR. MPAI-4 discrepancy ratings of abilities predict memory and executive functioning performance after traumatic brain injury. Presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orlando, Fla., November 2013.

De Joya A, Taylor K. The Effect of Circuit Training in a Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Program. Presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orlando, Fla., November 2013.

Giardina M. Altering Shank Kinematics in Midstance via AFO Design to Improve Gait Speed and Endurance in An Individual with TBI. Presented at the Texas Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference, Arlington, Texas, October 2013.

Pappadis MR, Struchen MA, Sander AM, Mazzei D. A preliminary model of social integration and emotional functioning for persons with TBI. Presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orlando, Fla., November 2013.

Martin L, Shields C. Vestibular Assessment and Treatment in Individuals with Concussions for the Student Conclave.

Taylor K, De Joya A. The Effect of Circuit Training in a Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy Program. Presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orlando, Fla., November 2013.

Thomas H. Development, Pilot, and Validation Process of a Spiritual Wellness Assessment. Poster presentation at the George Washington Institute of Spirituality and Health, Washington D.C., July 2013.