August 14, 2007

NEW PHYSICIAN RECEPTION 
Save the date please.  We will welcome new professional staff members who have joined us in the past year at a reception to be held at NCR Country Club on September 11, 2007, starting at 5:30 pm.  This is a great chance to meet some new staff members and connect with the rest of your colleagues who will be attending.  Questions? Call Judy Cruea at 937-641-3666.

POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) FOR HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV) IS NOW OFFERED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
One of the professional staff members asked if it would be possible to perform this PCR seven days a week.  Without seven-day a week availability, infants or other children started on acyclovir empirically, pending results of the test, were committed to several days of treatment, if started on a Friday, for example. Mike Brandon was prompt to respond to the request and the virology/infectious disease molecular laboratory is now offering the HSV PCR on CSF specimens seven days a week.  Specimens received in the laboratory by 10:00 am will be run and resulted the same day.  Questions? Call Mike Brandon at 937-641-3000, extension 8989.

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS REVISES REFERRAL POLICY
Thank you for your referrals to Dayton Children’s developmental pediatrics department. It is our goal to see your patients for diagnostic services as quickly as possible.  Since we can no longer see all patients within a reasonable length of time we are not accepting referrals until October 15.  When we begin seeing new patients again, we are limiting referrals to patients younger than 5 years of age. By doing this, we can provide more timely services to these young patients who have less access to diagnostic services. If you have any questions, please call Lisa Coffey at 937- 641-3374.

DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION JOINS DAYTON CHILDREN’S
Merrilee Cox, MD, assumed the position of director of medical education and inpatient generalist effective August 1, 2007.  Dr. Cox graduated from our integrated pediatric residency-training program, completed her service obligation to the United States Air Force and then joined a local pediatric group.  With her arrival at Dayton Children's, she will become responsible for the administrative coordination of all residents who rotate through Dayton Children's.  Currently there are over 500 residents in Dayton based training programs and at least 35 specific programs send residents to Dayton Children’s for training.  Dr. Cox will also be joining Drs. Toussaint and Velasco as an inpatient generalist.  If you have any questions, you can reach Dr. Cox at 937-641-3433.

EVENTS
- The WSUSOM Department of Surgery is hosting a symposium entitled "Update in the Management of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease" on September 14, 2007.  Interested in more information, contact Lorilei Weber at 937-208-2177.

- The Orthopedic Center will host their annual symposium on September 28, 2007 at NCR Country Club.  Interested in the details contact Amy Calcutta at 937-641-5070.