Emergency Medicine

Quebec emergency room doctors warn conditions out of control due to surge of COVID and other respiratory infections – WSWS

With the onset of winter, Quebecs emergency rooms are overflowing, endangering the health and lives of Quebecers. A major driver of the increased burden on hospitals is a surge in COVID-19 cases.

This is a repeat of the situation experienced in November and December 2022. According to the governments Index Sant website, the provinces overall emergency-room (ER) occupancy rate has exceeded 100 percent on every single day since Nov. 12. On Tuesday, the average rate across the province was 131 percent. In Laval, Quebecs third-largest city, it was 182 percent and in the nearby Lanaudire region, 171 per cent.

ER doctors wrote to Health Minister Christian Dub last Friday to warn that conditions in emergency rooms across the province are out of control. Overcrowding in the emergency department leads to daily mortality, says the letter, which was written by Dr. Marie-Maud Couture, the president of the Regroupement des Chefs dUrgence du Qubec (Association of Emergency Rooms Chiefs), and supported by the hundreds of doctors and residents who comprise the Association des spcialistes en mdecine durgence du Qubec(Quebec Association of Specialists in Emergency Medicine).

Congestion in emergency departments leads to mortality, recently estimated at one excess death for every 82 patients admitted, wrote Dr. Couture. This statistic does not take into account indirect deaths, i.e. people who present late despite having an urgent medical condition, for fear of waiting more than 24 hours in a waiting room, and sometimes even for fear of being a nuisance.

The immediate cause of the current overcrowding crisis is the triple epidemic of respiratory viruses that is hitting the province. As in 2022, influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are infecting Quebecers en masse.

According to the Institut national de sant publique du Qubec (INSPQ), some 130,000 Quebecers contract a respiratory virus every day.

COVID-19 is believed to be responsible for a third of these infections, although official figures (4,987 new cases for the week ending November 26) continue to seriously underestimate the number of cases. This is because they are based on PCR tests, which are accessible to only a small minority of people. These incomplete official figures and voluntary declarations of positive rapid tests have been steadily increasing since the end of September.

As of last week, 2,200 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, a number that exceeds what was seen in 2020 and 2021 before the arrival of the Omicron wave. This shows that the policy of mass infection adopted by the ruling class at the time has allowed the disease to take hold permanently, with a very high baseline.

COVID-19 also continues to kill. The 70 people who died between November 26 and December 2 in Quebec brought the official count of COVID deaths since 2020 to 19,084. At the end of November, Statistics Canada published its annual report on life expectancy in Canada. For the third year in a row, life expectancy in the country has fallen, from 82.3 years in 2019 to 81.3 in 2022.

The Statscan report also revealed that COVID-19 caused more deaths in the country last year than in any other year of the pandemic. With over 19,700 deaths attributable to it in 2022, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the country, responsible for around 6 percent of all deaths. In Quebec and Ontario, the two most populous provinces, mortality caused by COVID-19 increased by 38 percent in 2022 as compared to 2021.

The right-wing Coalition avenir Qubec (CAQ) government, with the complicity of the corporate-controlled media outlets and the federal Liberal government, is doing everything in its power to prevent the public from becoming aware of the immense dangers it faces. Its aim is to continue pursuing a deliberate policy of mass infection.

The COVID-19 health emergency was lifted in Quebec on June 1, 2022, and all measures, including the mandatory wearing of masks in healthcare centers, were eliminated. Even tracking the evolution of COVID-19 has become almost impossible due to the lack of data.

In the most recent example, on December 6 the INSPQ discreetly announced on its website that data on hospitalizations linked to COVID had also become imprecise with the end of the obligation for hospitals to record specific information. In particular, it will no longer be possible to know the number of COVID patients hospitalized in intensive care units.

Government and media propaganda downplaying the dangers associated with COVID has also led to a collapse in the number of Quebecers keeping their COVID vaccinations up to date. As of the middle of December, barely 900,000 people, or around 14 percent of the population, had received a booster dose designed to combat the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant since the vaccination campaign began in October.

The data are just as alarming for the most vulnerable people, the only ones for whom the government and INSPQ officially recommend the vaccine. Vaccination rates are 39.1 percent for those over 60 and 45.8 percent for people aged 70-79. Of those 80 and over barely half, 50.5 percent, have received the latest booster.

Quebec Public Health Director Dr. Luc Boileau has warned of a cocktail of COVID-19 and flu for Christmas, even while downplaying the dangers. He is urging those over 70 to get vaccinated, and recommends that those with symptoms wash their hands and wear a mask. Quebec Premier Franois Legault appointed Boileau as the provinces interim public health director in Jan. 2022, as the government was moving to eliminate all mitigation measures amid the Omicron wave, and later made his posting permanent, precisely because of Boileaus readiness to implement the governments murderous profits-before-lives pandemic policy.

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According to Dr. Boileau, cases of influenzawhose main strain this year is H1N1, which is particularly dangerous for childrenare also rising sharply in Quebec. The test positivity rate has risen from 3.9 percent to almost 7.3 percent in the space of a week, and several adults with influenza are hospitalized in intensive care. Authorities fear that the situation will evolve in the same way as in Alberta, where the test positivity rate has risen from 3 percent to 33 percent in the space of a month.

The deeper causes of the ongoing crisis in emergency departments and, more generally, in the healthcare system, are also well known. They include the savage cuts made for decades by successive Parti Qubcois and Quebec Liberal Party governments, and the intensification of capitalist austerity by the CAQ, which announced in its March budget an increase in healthcare spending below inflation when non-recurring, COVID-19-related expenses are deducted.

Meanwhile, Dubs solutions to the ER crisis are collapsing miserably one after the other. At the end of November, the only two full-time nurses in the first Specialized Nurse Practitioner (SNP) clinic resigned, citing issues impacting the quality and safety of care, including a lack of equipment.

The clinic was opened with great fanfare at the suggestion of the crisis unit set up by Dub in December 2022, when emergency departments were in acute crisis. It was intended to relieve emergency departments and hospitals by treating less urgent cases.

Similarly, the Info-Sant line (811), where sick people are supposed to be able to talk to a professional and be directed to an alternative to ER care if their case is not too serious, is itself overwhelmed. People sometimes have to wait several hours to talk to someone.

In the first week of December, 42.3 percent of 811 callers hung up before getting any advice. Despite this, Dub reiterated on Tuesday that people should avoid the ER if at all possible, encouraging sick people to self-diagnose the severity of their illness and decide if they have the right to seek ER treatment.

The crisis in the healthcare system and the indifference of the ruling class are a serious threat to the lives of Quebecers. Recently, the media revealed that two people died in the emergency room of the Anna-Laberge hospital in Chteauguay, near Montreal, on November 29 and 30.

Although the authorities have refused to give details of these tragic incidents on the pretext that administrative investigations are underway, it appears that one person died after waiting 12 hours, although he was supposed to see a doctor within 30 minutes of arrival according to the preliminary examination carried out in triage. The stretcher occupancy rate at Anna-Laberge Hospital was 184 percent.

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Quebec emergency room doctors warn conditions out of control due to surge of COVID and other respiratory infections - WSWS

Emergency Medicine

Security at hospitals’ emergency departments get $5.7 million funding boost over summer – RNZ

The government is spending an extra $5.7 million on security in emergency departments across the country for summer. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

An emergency doctor says having more security guards over summer will make a difference to hospitals' waiting room safety.

The government is spending an extra $5.7 million on security in emergency departments across the country for summer, after an "increased frequency" of violent incidents at hospitals.

Auckland City Hospital will get five dedicated security guards for its emergency department, and emergency medicine specialist Dr Mark Friedericksen said it would make a difference.

"They're not a let's cause trouble presence, they're a calming presence to try and reduce people actually becoming aggressive, and aggressive to our staff. We value all our staff, all our patients and their whnau," he said.

"If you can de-escalate before there's any physical violence, you've won. Emergency departments survive on teamwork and our security officers are a big part of that teamwork."

Dr Friedericksen said the emergency department's waiting room was often an intense environment.

"One of our main pressures is within our waiting room area. It's not fit for purpose in 2023 and patients wait a long time and if you or I were sitting in the waiting room for a long time, you would be upset," he said.

"Physical assault luckily is rare, verbal assault happens on a daily basis."

Dr Mark Friedericksen said the five additional security guards for Auckland City Hospital would make a difference. Photo: Supplied

Te Whatu Ora said there were 1267 assaults at its hospitals between January and March this year alone - more than the total for 2021.

"The important thing to understand in [regard to] most of the patient or whnau violence interactions is they're vulnerable," Dr Friedericksen said.

"We see them at their most vulnerable when they're at their lowest, they're worried for their healthcare, under the influence of drugs, alcohol and they're just worried. There's a lot of verbal abuse, physical abuse, and we just don't condone that."

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the increased security needed to continue beyond summer.

"A lot of our EDs are very busy and they're quite crowded so having more support for the clinical staff to get on and do the work that they are trained to do is a really welcome development," she said.

"By the time we get through summer then we'll be starting to hit the winter surge. EDs are the front doors of our hospitals they are never really not busy so it's important that workforce supports are made longer term."

Dr Shane Reti said the additional 200 security guard roles would be funded until late February. Photo: Supplied

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said he was working on a longer-term plan to improve security in hospitals.

"We'll learn a lot from this period of time, have we got the numbers right for the eight high risk hospitals five FTE [full-time equivalent positions], is that the right number? It's my plan to bring up a proposal to have pervasive improved security across all of the emergency departments."

The extra 200 security guard roles would be funded till late February, he said.

"They'll have all of the training that an ED security guard might be expected to have," Reti said.

"They have all the tools that current security guards have, there's no new tools that we're giving them. They don't have the tools of police for example. In certain circumstances in a triaged way they do have the tools of restraint but a large part of the toolset is actually talking."

Reti said the rise in violence at hospital waiting rooms was concerning.

"The ED teams here and across the country are describing physical assaults on their person as well as verbal assaults and that is not acceptable and that is what we want to appropriately manage."

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Security at hospitals' emergency departments get $5.7 million funding boost over summer - RNZ

Organic Chemistry

Assistant or Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, Tenure-Track job with University of Louisville Chemistry … – American Chemical Society

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Louisville (UofL) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in organic chemistry. Applicants from all areas of organic chemistry are encouraged to apply. In particular, chemical synthesis, methods development, catalysis, green chemistry, and organic materials align well with departmental ambitions. The successful candidate is expected to establish a high quality research program involving Ph.D. and M.S. students, teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and engage in service activities. The University of Louisville strives to foster and sustain an environment of inclusiveness. We seek candidates with the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the success of our diverse student communities.

To apply, attach one document containing a cover letter (max. 2 pages), a curriculum vitae, a research statement (max. 7 pages), a teaching statement (1 page), and statement addressing past and future plans to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (1 page) and arrange for 3 reference letters to be submitted by email to deptchem@louisville.edu. Applicants are also required to provide additional information via https://uofl.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UofLCareerSite (job R103039). Review of applications will start on November 7, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is July 1, 2024.

The Department of Chemistry is located on the Belknap Campus of UofL, three miles from downtown Louisville. UofL is a state-supported research university located in Kentucky's largest metropolitan area. In addition to the departments in natural sciences, UofL has a highly research-focused School of Medicine and the J.B. Speed School of Engineering for potential collaborations and synergistic activities. UofL has exciting research centers including the Brown Cancer Center, the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, the Center for Regulatory and Environmental Analytical Metabolomics, the Micro/Nano Technology Center, and the Electrooptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center. UofL hosts teaching and learning resources for innovative teaching practices, including the Delphi Center and the Belknap Academic Building fitted with the latest active learning technology.

The university is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and actively encourages candidates who can impact this mission through their research, teaching, and/or service.

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Assistant or Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, Tenure-Track job with University of Louisville Chemistry ... - American Chemical Society

Family Medicine

Kathryn Buchanan joins PVCH Family Medicine team – GREAT BEND TRIBUNE – Great Bend Tribune

It didnt take long for Kathryn Buchanan to notice that the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) team is patient-oriented with a real sense of community spirit.

Buchanan is the new family nurse practitioner at PVCH Family Medicine, 713 W. 11th in Larned. She began seeing patients Dec. 11.

I specialize in family medicine and look forward to meeting my new patients in the coming weeks and months, Buchanan said. I will care for and treat patients with acute and chronic diseases and conditions from age 2 and older.

Buchanan, an Ellinwood resident, noted she is impressed with the wide variety of PVCH services and up-to-date equipment. This illustrates to me that one of the hospitals priorities is offering as much quality health care as possible close to home.

In addition, from day one, the environment here has been welcoming. There is a genuine sense of community among staff members who are always willing to help patients and their colleagues. This is important to me.

Buchanan, who is originally from Mississippi, earned an associates degree in nursing in 2019 and bachelors degree in nursing the following year. Both degrees were awarded by Mississippi University for Women.

Next came her masters in nursing/family nurse practitioner earlier this year at The University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Buchanans professional background includes serving the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department as a registered nurse at North Mississippi Medical Center; registered nurse at Mississippi HomeCare; and med-surg nurse at The University of Kansas Health System.

Melanie Urban, PVCH administrator, noted that in the brief time Kathryn has been here, she is already demonstrating her practitioner skills, as well as her compassion towards her patients. Kathryns talents mesh well with our mission to provide high-quality health care right here at home.

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Kathryn Buchanan joins PVCH Family Medicine team - GREAT BEND TRIBUNE - Great Bend Tribune

Family Medicine

Jump Simulation experts bring training to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Family Medicine medical residents – Newsroom OSF HealthCare

Resident Kynan (pronounced KEE-nun) Brown, MD, says he learns better by repetitive hands-on practice.

Ive had some exposure to some of these procedures in the past and it was helpful in the sense that I knew I felt very rusty and if someone just threw me in and said, Do this, I wouldnt know where to start. I couldnt list off whats in the kit but today brings it all back and they say thats how learning works.

Jillian Hanson, MD, who received her medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago says shes impressed OSF St. Joseph can bring in expertise and equipment from Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center in Peoria to help her gain confidence with complex but common procedures.

Being able to have these manikins with the ultrasound and multiple times to practice throughout the morning has definitely helped but we have lots left to go in residency.

The six first-year medical school graduates are furthering their training and using skills acquired in medical school to gain real-time experience with advanced medical treatments and mentoring from experienced physician faculty members at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria.

The experience includes placement in various clinical settings such as emergency departments, pediatric hospital units, nursing homes and hospital intensive care, among others. But, as part of a special collaboration, each medical resident also does regular office hours at the primary care clinic at Chestnut Health Systems Family Health Center in Bloomington, Illinois.

Associate Director for the Family Medicine Residency program, Rick Anderson, MD, says as a Federally Qualified Health Center, the Chestnut clinic serves Medicaid patients who have been challenged in finding a primary care provider.

Its just gonna open doors for all those patients and help emergency departments looking to refer patients they see in the ED. Its just fantastic. It was kind of a no brainer for both us and Chestnut.

Dr. Hanson, who grew up in LaSalle-Peru, Illinois and is married to a local orthopedic physician, plans to stay in the region part of the goal of the residency program to fill a gap in Family Medicine providers. Hanson has enjoyed seeing patients at Chestnut and likes that every day is different.

We get to see the breadth of everything from OB and pre-natal care all the way to the elderly and transitioning them into hospice. You have longitudinal patients that you follow and see on a regular basis that become sort of your family.

With special attention given to the social drivers of health non-medical factors that impact health and wellness such as financial constraints, housing and transportation Dr. Brown appreciates the more holistic, personal approach to caring for his patients at Chestnuts Family Health clinic.

As a doctor who received his medical degree in Grenada, West Indies and did medical rotations in Brooklyn, Dr. Brown says hes happy to be in Central Illinois and yes, he might just stay.

I like the Midwest. Its my first time living here and so far, Im happy with it so Im gonna feel it out over the next few years I guess.

Thats also the goal of the Family Medicine residency program a OSF St. Joseph to retain the most expertly trained Family Medicine doctors to help Bloomington-Normal area residents continue on their pathway to better health.

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Jump Simulation experts bring training to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Family Medicine medical residents - Newsroom OSF HealthCare

Family Medicine

How having a good relationship with your doctor can benefit your long-term health – UChicago Medicine

Along with staying physically active and eating a healthy diet, theres something else you can do to take care of your health: establish a strong, long-term relationship with your primary care physician.

Having a doctor who knows you can make a big difference in the quality of your care, said UChicago Medicine Medical Group family medicine physician Paulo Aranas, MD*. A physician who sees the bigger picture of your overall health can ensure better communication and treatment that's more personalized to your specific needs.

Meet our primary care doctors

As a regular provider for that patient, you know whats been going on, Aranas said. Its easy to miss some details when you dont see the patient all the time or theyre in an urgent care setting.

Aranas recalled seeing a woman in her 40s with numerous chronic conditions, some of which caused chest pain. The patient said that when she went to a different doctor, who was not her primary care physician, she felt that staff didnt take her symptoms seriously because of her age.

They may have been dismissive because they think shes too young for a heart attack or stroke, Aranas said. But when she comes to our clinic, because I know her, I know if the chest pains are different or not.

After examining her, he was able to reassure her that her symptoms were caused by her underlying conditions, not a heart attack.

Having a long-term relationship with your primary care physician can be particularly helpful for older patients, who often have many doctors and specialists on their care team.

In these situations, the primary care physician can help provide oversight, consolidating all the information the patient is receiving and helping to explain it in plain language.

Its especially important for managing chronic conditions, because theyre not going away anytime soon, Aranas said.

A provider who knows you and your condition can lead to better communication and compliance. Youre more likely to have been part of the discussion about the best approach, and thus have more trust in your doctors advice.

I think its easier for patients to understand and manage their disease if they are a part of the treatment plan rather than the target of the treatment plan, he said.

Aranas practices weight loss medicine in addition to being a primary care physician at UChicago Medicine Orland Parkand UChicago Medicine at Ingalls - Tinley Park. He says he likes building relationships with his patients because it helps him provide more personalized advice and treatment.

Maybe I know this person likes the bike but not the treadmill, and they like keto but not low carb, he said. Its easier to adjust management if somethings not working, and theyre not as resistant to suggestions, because they know you and they know that you know the situation.

That was the case with Shannon Martin, 40, a patient of Aranas who liked him so much that when he moved from her local hospital to UChicago Medicine at Ingalls - Tinley Park, she tracked him down and followed him, even though it meant a farther drive.

Its worth it, she said. Hes pretty awesome.

Aranas had initially been caring for Martin's mother; when Martin needed a new doctor, she became his patient as well. She had been seeing him for a few years when she began having stomach problems, including pain, heartburn and digestive issues. She had also gained some weight and noticed a dip in her energy.

Aranas suggested a medication for weight loss that boosts metabolism, as well as taking regular probiotic and fiber supplements. Because of their long relationship, Martin trusted him and did her best to follow the treatment plan.

The treatment worked, and Martin began seeing results within a few weeks, noticing an improvement in her digestion and energy, and losing the excess weight.

At our first follow-up appointment, he was like, Wow! she recalled. He said, If I was a teacher, Id give you an A-plus.

Martin felt that, because Aranas knew her and her health history, he was able to zero in on the treatment that would be most helpful to her. She also appreciated his open communication, including being able to message him through his patient portal when she had questions or wanted to share her success.

Even in his messages, hed be like, Good job! and use multiple exclamation points, she said. You can just tell he cares.

In fact, medicine has long been based around relationships, Aranas noted.

Doctors forget that in the olden days we didnt have all this technology and medication, he said. The doctor would go to your house, talk to you, reassure you, and kind of hold your hand. And that actually goes a long way in my practice.

Doctors can build rapport with patients by taking time to listen, not rushing appointments, and focusing on what's bothering the patient most, even if the doctor has more concerns about other symptoms or issues.

Its about starting the conversation, he said. We can move on to the other issues when the person comes back.

For patients, its important to be open and communicate your concerns.

Aranas noted that it can be common for patients to think of doctors as authority figures, and worry about being judged or scolded for things like not complying with the treatment plan or eating foods theyre not supposed to. In the worst case scenario, patients may even lie or hold back important information to avoid getting in trouble with their doctor.

Aranas said trust is a two-way street.

Youre not going to the principal more like the guidance counselor, he said. Were not here to judge. We want to help you figure out the issue, and then well try to solve it together.

*UChicago Medicine Medical Group is comprised of UCM Care Network Medical Group, Inc. and Primary Healthcare Associates, S.C. UChicago Medicine Medical Group providers are not employees or agents of The University of Chicago Medical Center, The University of Chicago, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, UChicago Medicine Orland Park, or UChicago Medicine at Ingalls - Tinley Park.

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How having a good relationship with your doctor can benefit your long-term health - UChicago Medicine

Family Medicine

McArdle’s, a Rare Disease That Every Family Doctor Can Manage: A Case Report – Cureus

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Please choose I'm not a medical professional. Allergy and Immunology Anatomy Anesthesiology Cardiac/Thoracic/Vascular Surgery Cardiology Critical Care Dentistry Dermatology Diabetes and Endocrinology Emergency Medicine Epidemiology and Public Health Family Medicine Forensic Medicine Gastroenterology General Practice Genetics Geriatrics Health Policy Hematology HIV/AIDS Hospital-based Medicine I'm not a medical professional. Infectious Disease Integrative/Complementary Medicine Internal Medicine Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Medical Education and Simulation Medical Physics Medical Student Nephrology Neurological Surgery Neurology Nuclear Medicine Nutrition Obstetrics and Gynecology Occupational Health Oncology Ophthalmology Optometry Oral Medicine Orthopaedics Osteopathic Medicine Otolaryngology Pain Management Palliative Care Pathology Pediatrics Pediatric Surgery Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Plastic Surgery Podiatry Preventive Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Pulmonology Radiation Oncology Radiology Rheumatology Substance Use and Addiction Surgery Therapeutics Trauma Urology Miscellaneous

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McArdle's, a Rare Disease That Every Family Doctor Can Manage: A Case Report - Cureus

Family Medicine

Bringing healthcare to the community: Gracie Landeck – The Coastland Times | The Coastland Times – The Coastland Times

Published 9:12 am Thursday, December 21, 2023

Gracie Landeck knew that she wanted to be in healthcare, but it was a report about coffee in a biology class that helped her decide on family medicine. The Beaufort County Early College High School student finished an associate in arts and an associate in science and stayed to take additional courses through December at Beaufort County Community College. She plans to earn a bachelor of science in biology before attending medical school. Landeck wants to make healthcare accessible to more people and explore holistic medicine.

I wanted to explore my options before I committed to a university, and I knew Beaufort had a variety of classes, so you could explore any of your interests before committing money and time to larger school, she says. Landeck chose to stay an extra semester to take more classes toward her major in a smaller setting.

Ive always had an interest in helping people, I just didnt know what field would be best, she says. I have a knack for teaching or tutoring, which is why Im in LEC right now, but I think I would be more helpful in the medical field based on my memorization skills. She works as a professional tutor on campus through the Learning Enhancement Center (LEC).

I like clear answers. This is where your heart is. This is where your liver is. Its not going to change. I just like that consistency, she says about her perception of biology.

She will start at a university in the fall of 2024. She is searching for an internship in a doctors office until then. She wants a reality check before committing to another six years of education.

After medical school, she plans to keep working in rural eastern North Carolina. I think itd be cool to bring some help back to the Beaufort County, because a lot of people prefer Pitt County or bigger cities, but I think rural areas need more medical care, she says.

In places like Hyde County, Pantego, or Belhaven, people travel far just to get medical help, and they dont have options when it comes to emergencies unless they travel say 40 miles to get to either Washington or Greenville. Getting airlifted costs so much money, and a lot of people in those areas cant afford that. Having some type of smaller, more practical medical facility close to them where they can call on you would be beneficial for like those smaller communities.

Her mother Bonnie Landeck, a respiratory therapist at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, has inspired her. She has worked at the hospital for over 20 years and through multiple changes in ownership.

I look up to her and her motivation helping people not necessarily for profit, she explains. Its always been about getting to know them and helping them, and I find that her most admirable character trait, and I want to reflect that in my practice.

Driven by purpose, entangling profit with healthcare is a big problem for Landeck. They will treat the symptoms, but not treat the overall cause because theyre trying to prolong it so long so they can get more money, and I honestly dont want to be a part of that practice. I want to do it because people need the help, not because I want to make money off them.

It was a presentation in Dr. Chad Smiths biology class that cemented her interest in family medicine.

I did my presentation on the positive effects of coffee and caffeine on the body, and I thought that maybe I want to do natural medicine or holistic medication, but I knew that you cant usually do that unless its family practice or a smaller practice, she says.

The presentation cracked her curiosity about herbal medicine and home remedies. Everythings so connected, and then private industries want to get your money, and then they kind of just like cut off that connection.

As this new curiosity about herbal medicine dovetails with her connection to her region and her passion for improving its residents health, rural healthcare will have an advocate and a practitioner in Gracie Landeck, noted BCCC.

Beaufort CCC is currently accepting applications for new students and regular registration for spring 2024 is taking place through December 13. To sign up for tutoring through the Learning Enhancement Center with Landeck, visitbeaufortccc.edu/lec.

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Bringing healthcare to the community: Gracie Landeck - The Coastland Times | The Coastland Times - The Coastland Times

Family Medicine

Dr. Stephen Petrany tapped to lead addiction science efforts at Marshall School of Medicine – Lootpress

HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has named Stephen M. Petrany, M.D., to the new role of vice dean of addiction sciences and recovery.

According to Marshall University, a board-certified family medicine physician, Petrany has served as professor and chair of the Department of Family & Community Health at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine since 2014.

Under his leadership, the department experienced unprecedented growth in outreach, health policy and rural medicine as well as the creation of a new Division of Addiction Sciences dedicated to leading the School of Medicine and Marshall Healths response to the addiction crisis.

In his new role, Petrany will work to integrate addiction science efforts across Marshall Health Network and facilitate collaboration throughout the university to best address the complexities of substance use disorder and recovery efforts.

Consistent with Marshall Universitys focus on addiction sciences and behavioral medicine, Dr. Petranys new role brings unique experience and dedicated leadership to an important field, said David Gozal, M.D., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hon), vice president of health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

His role will be vital in establishing Marshall University as a national and international beacon of hope and innovation in the field of addiction sciences while continuing to address the pressing needs of our communities in West Virginia.

Petrany joined the Marshall University faculty in 1988 after practicing six years in Ohio and Connecticut.

He served as the family medicine residency program director for 15 years before stepping into the role of associate chair for medical education and then chair of the department.

Petrany is committed to improving access to health care across West Virginia and Appalachia.

He has served as medical director of Ebenezer Medical Outreach, a free clinic that provides health care to uninsured and underinsured patients, and is a charter member of the board of directors for PROACT, the Provider Response Organization for Addiction Care and Treatment, a collaborative effort to provide assessment, education, intervention and treatment solutions for those suffering from addiction in a single accessible service hub.

In 2023, Petrany was recognized as the schools Honorary Alumnus during its graduation and investiture ceremony and was inducted into the Greater Huntington Area Wall of Fame by the City of Huntington Foundation.

Petrany earned his medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed his family practice residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Vienna, Virginia.

Petrany will begin his new position Jan. 1, 2024. Adam M. Franks, M.D., long-time family medicine professor and vice chair, has agreed to assume the role of interim chair at that time.

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Dr. Stephen Petrany tapped to lead addiction science efforts at Marshall School of Medicine - Lootpress