Tag Archives: US News & World Report

Kidneys: Your body’s amazing filter

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Ted Shaikewitz, MD
Partner at Durham Nephrology Associates and head of nephrology at Durham Regional Hospital

The human body has a natural filter known as the kidney, which filters blood for toxins and extra fluids; those toxins and fluids then leave the body through urine. It’s a very efficient process, and kidneys can typically support a person’s needs just fine, even when only a little function is left. When kidneys are not working well, the team at Durham Regional works together to preserve kidney function and minimize complications.

DSC_5627Kidney specialists called nephrologists partner with nurses, pharmacists and other physicians and healthcare professionals at Durham Regional to prevent serious damage to the kidneys. For example, precautions are built into our computer systems to help identify and prevent many situations where kidney-related harm could occur, allowing our team to better individualize treatment.

If the kidneys do stop working, then Durham Regional is well equipped to start replacement therapy. Kidney replacement therapies are, in general, referred to as dialysis. We have access to all the standard forms of kidney replacement treatment, and are among the only hospitals in the area that can start longer term peritoneal dialysis acutely.

Whether a patient needs long- or short-term treatments, Durham Regional has access to educational resources that can help our patients and their loved ones make decisions when they are dealing with these difficult problems.

Durham Regional was recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2012-13 for nephrology care. To learn more about our kidney services, visit durhamregional.org.

Durham Regional named one of the Most Connected Hospitals in the U.S.

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Robert Lineberger, MD
Chief Medical Information Officer

Durham Regional Hospital has a long history of using technology to improve patient care and safety. Recently, the hospital was recognized as one of the Most Connected Hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Only 156 hospitals nationwide received this honor.

USNWR developed the list of Most Connected Hospitals to highlight institutions that are both  clinically excellent and advanced in using electronic health information technology. USNWR defines a hospital as Most Connected if that hospital has qualified for federal meaningful use funding, achieved Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytic’s top grades for electronic medical record (EMR) adoption and earned either a national Best Hospital or Best Children’s Hospital ranking or a high-performing designation in one or more medical specialties.

Durham Regional’s achievement is the result of successful collaboration between technical experts and clinicians from a wide variety of disciplines. We will continue to work to optimize the benefits of technology even as we plan for the transition to a single electronic health record across Duke University Health System.

HIMSS recognizes health care organizations that have effectively adopted electronic medical records. Stage 7 is the highest designation awarded by the HIMSS. Only hospitals at Stages 6 or 7 as of July 10 were eligible to appear on the Most Connected Hospitals list.

Durham Regional is currently at Stage 6, meaning physicians can enter medical orders into a computer system that goes directly to pharmacy, laboratory, radiology or another department to fulfill the order. Physicians can also electronically document their clinical interactions with patients and access and review images such as CT scans or mammograms from any secure workstation.

According to HIMSS, only about 1.2 percent of U.S. hospitals are considered Stage 7 and 5.2 percent at Stage 6. The complete rankings and methodology for the Most Connected Hospitals are available at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

USNWR also ranked Durham Regional fifth in North Carolina out of 147 hospitals, third out of 19 hospitals in the Raleigh-Durham metro area and a high performer in nine specialties.

What is diabetes education?

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Debby Nowack
Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator, Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education Center

What is diabetes education anyway? The American Diabetes Association and American Association of Diabetes Educators have established guidelines for information taught in diabetes education programs. 

Man on a bicycleLuckily, diabetes education is not about someone telling you what you can and can’t eat. Rather, diabetes education includes suggestions about how much of various foods is recommended, but you pick the food. Diabetes education also includes the knowledge and skills for daily routines such as when to take diabetes medication and how and when to check blood sugars as well as daily foot care and safety tips for physical activity. Diabetes education can help patients understand what to do when blood sugars run too low or too high, how to read food labels, how to improve cholesterol and blood pressure (very important for many people with diabetes) and when to call your doctor. 

Durham Regional offers diabetes and nutrition programs at our Outpatient Nutrition and Diabetes Education Center, located at 407 Crutchfield Street in Durham. For 2012-13, we have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in North Carolina. Our diabetes care received special recognition as a high-performing area. To learn more, visit our website.

These are some of the comments participants have made after attending our diabetes education classes:

“The instructors and classes were great and easy to understand. I really learned a lot of important information that will help me improve my diabetes and overall health.”

“Everyone who has diabetes needs this class. It helps give you confidence and accept the disease. It has helped me a lot.”

“I was very nervous at first because I was unfamiliar with diabetes. The more classes I attended the easier it got and the smarter my wife and I got.”

“Very excellent instructors and materials. Class is well worth the time. It helps you understand diabetes and how to deal with the stress and problems of the disease.”

“Very helpful. Comfortable setting! Calmed my fears and answered all my concerns and questions! What a blessing!”

“All the classes were helpful and presented in an understanding manner. There was always adequate time for questions and discussion.”

Durham Regional ranked among the best hospitals in NC

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Kerry Watson
President

I am pleased to announce U.S. News & World Report has recognized Durham Regional among the best hospitals in North Carolina’s Piedmont region. The survey by U.S. News & World Report takes into account patient survival rates, safety, reputation among physicians, nurse staffing, technology and other quality measures.

Durham Regional ranked fifth out of 145 hospitals in the state, and third out of 19 hospitals in the Raleigh-Durham metro area, which includes Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Our hospital was also named a high performer in the areas of cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, pulmonology and urology.

Nurse with patientPhysician and employee

In addition, our two sister hospitals ranked among the top hospitals in our region. Duke University Hospital was ranked first in the state and the Triangle, and Duke Raleigh Hospital was ranked fifteenth in the state and fifth in the Triangle.

We appreciate your support as we care for our patients and improve the health of the community we serve.

Visit http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals for the complete rankings and methodology.