TJC success, COVID-19 and other topics

Good morning!

Today we will cover a variety of topics. 

First, I want to thank all who contributed to a successful visit from The Joint Commission. A special shout out goes to Dr. Guy Giesecke, Britt Crewse, Jason Zimmerman, Dr. Alan Jones, Judy Flynt, Carmen Howard, Dr. Michael Henderson, Jeffrey Pinter, Ryan McMillan and the entire Chief Medical Officer’s office. We ended up with several things to correct and have a plan in place to do so in the next 30 days. Overall, it was our best Joint Commission survey (at least in the last 30 years). And Michael stated it was the best one he has ever been a part of. This was possible because of all of you – THANK YOU. 

Also this week,  Alan, Dr. Jonathan Wilson, Molly Brasfield, Dr. Mary Taylor, Dr. Marty Tucker and I hosted a campus-wide town hall meeting  to address some of the questions we have received since we announced the new COVID-19 vaccination policy. Mary and Marty responded to questions about best practices for pregnant women, women of childbearing age and children. Marty and Dr. Rachel Morris also produced an excellent YouTube video last week to address vaccine recommendations for ob-gyn patients.

In addition, we discussed the current statewide transfer system of care, gave a refresher on our remote working policy and talked about our current health system and statewide COVID-19 situation. We also provided specifics about employee/student vaccinations and employee/student testing. For those already vaccinated – thank you. Please continue your efforts to get others vaccinated. Vaccination is our path out of the pandemic.

The rising tide of COVID-19 infections is here. We have seen it in the daily case counts released by the Mississippi State Department of Health, and many of you are experiencing it as you care for seriously ill patients. The months-long battle against the effects of this deadly virus is again stressing our health care system.

However, from the moment these patients arrive to the day they leave, you continue to provide high-quality health care and support for them and their families. For that, I am grateful. We are on the frontlines of defense, and Mississippians look to us as a trusted source for care, leadership and information.

Without question, we have provided all of that.

I had hoped we would have been in a better position in keeping the virus at bay as a state by now, but we are still wrestling with its pervasive spread throughout our communities. It will take each of us doing what we know we should do to turn the tide.

Get vaccinated. Wear masks. Frequently wash hands. Socially distance. Even if vaccinated, we must take additional precautions to protect ourselves and those who haven't been vaccinated or who have weakened immune systems and cannot get full protection from the vaccine.

We know the Delta variant is more infectious. To maximize protection from the variant and to prevent possibly spreading it to others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that we wear a mask indoors in public if we are in an area of substantial or high transmission, regardless of our vaccination status. Mississippi is one of those areas.

The masking recommendation has been updated to ensure the vaccinated public will not unknowingly transmit the virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones. I cannot stress this enough: We must use every weapon at our disposal to lower the infection rate.

Each of us has a responsibility to make decisions that will advance a healthier work and learning environment and make our communities and state safer. This is our time, once again, to flatten the curve.

Yet even in the midst of a health care crisis, the Medical Center’s trifold mission of health care, research and education continues. I want to share several other items of note that touch on all areas of our unique role.

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There is no greater reminder of one of our core mission areas than seeing new students arrive on our campus. This week we welcome the return of many of our students and trainees to traditional on-campus learning environments. To keep the learning environment as safe as possible, all students must remain masked, stay vigilant about hand hygiene and respond quickly to any COVID-19-like symptoms.

As a reminder, students also must comply with the new COVID-19 vaccination policy on or before Monday, Nov. 1.

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In our Office of Patient Experience, Dr. Jasmine Kency, assistant professor of medicine, has been named OPE’s new medical director. She succeeds Dr. Lisa Didion, and in her new leadership role, Jasmine will work directly with hospital executive leaders, OPE staff, UMMC medical staff and other stakeholders to sustaine and grow advisory and improvement work that supports patient and family centered care and service excellence at UMMC’s Jackson campus and associated clinics.

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One way scientists advance knowledge is through writing. Sometimes, that means preparing an abstract or journal article to document their work. Other times, it takes a few more pages. Dr. Richard Summers, our associate vice chancellor for research, published a book last year, “Experiences in the Biocontinuum: A New Foundation for Living Systems.” This work combines his interests and expertise in biology, medicine, mathematics and information theory to propose a new framework for studying fundamental processes in biology. It also demonstrates his commitment to formulating new ideas, especially in the midst of new challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Earlier this year, Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, the international body that accredits institutions that conduct animal research, visited UMMC for an accreditation. AAALAC representatives walked through our facilities, met with our Center for Comparative Research staff and the scientists who use their services, and reviewed records to ensure that our animal program meets the highest ethical standards. In June, AAALAC informed us that we have received full accreditation for the next three years. I would like to thank Dr. Andrew Grady, our Center for Computational Research director and head veterinarian, for shepherding us through this process, and the whole CCR team for the work it does every day to care for these animals and advance our research mission area.

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I congratulate our faculty and staff on their recent accomplishments and I thank them for making us all proud to be a part of the UMMC community. It is because of your good work that we are progressing on our path to A Healthier Mississippi.