MUSC Psychiatry Chair Update | May 27, 2021
May 27, 2021
MUSC Psychiatry Chair Update
 
Thomas W. Uhde, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Institute of Psychiatry
ONGOING STUDIES & PUBLICATIONS
IN THE NEWS
As the temperature outside rises, the COVID case rate is falling in the Tri-county area. Between May 17 and May 22, it dropped more than 60% compared with the previous week.
 
“I think what we're likely to see across the country is a lot of optimism right now,” said Michael Sweat, Ph.D., leader of the COVID-19 tracking team at the Medical University of South Carolina.
 
It’s easy to see why. “The number of cases per day for every 100,000 people in the Tri-county area went down to six,” Sweat said.
 
“We’ve seen similar effects in Florence and Lancaster. Florence is at six per 100,000 a day and Lancaster's down to seven.” Sweat’s team focuses on those areas because MUSC Health has hospitals in them.
 
“Statewide, it's eight per 100,000. So it’s going down, down, down across the whole state.”
 
More and more people are getting vaccinated, including kids as young as 12. Clinical trials will test whether children younger than that should get vaccinated, too.
 
At this point, more than 40% of South Carolinians age 12 and up have had at least one vaccine. About 35% are fully vaccinated.
 
And Sweat noted a geographic trend in vaccinations. “Every county along the coast has the highest rate of vaccination in the state, literally any area that touches water.”
 
But he said about 34% of the people in South Carolina don’t have any immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. They haven’t been vaccinated at all, and haven’t had COVID - or got sick so long ago that it’s unclear if they’re still immune.
KUDOS & WINS
Congratulations to MUSC Weight Management Center on winning "Best Weight Loss Center" in Charleston City Paper's Best of Charleston 2021!
FACULTY MENTORSHIP AND
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Greetings from the Psychiatry Faculty Mentorship and Development Committee! This is our first post in the Chair Update; we would like to introduce the purpose of our committee, as well as its members. Our committee focuses on the development and implementation of a formalized mentorship program such that every Psychiatry faculty member who desires a mentor has one and that every faculty member who wishes to pursue promotion and tenure is knowledgeable about the process to do so. The Committee is chaired by Drs. Carla Kmett Danielson and Layton McCurdy and includes the following committee members, appointed by Dr. Uhde: 
 
Dr. Bernadette Cortese
Dr. Erin McClure
Dr. Kathy Magruder
Dr. Chanita Hughes-Halbert
Dr. Colleen Halliday
Dr. Aimee McRae-Clark
Dr. Kevin Gray
Dr. Lisa McTeague
Dr. Matt Carpenter
Dr. Julianne Flanagan
Dr. Michael deArellano
Dr. Sarah Book
Dr. Eva Serber
Dr. Lee Lewis
Dr. Bruce Lydiard
Dr. George Arana
 
Some of our primary activities include: 1) Oversight of the appointment of mentors to faculty at the Instructor, Assistant, and Associate level on both the tenure and non-tenure tracks at the time of hire and on an ongoing basis; 2) Annual meetings with Division Directors to review status of development and mentorship appointments and matches among faculty within each Division; 3) Evaluation of faculty mentorship activities; 4) Trouble-shooting with individual faculty members who request assistance with issues related to mentorship and/or development (within the scope of the committee goals); and 5) Identification of mentorship resources to share with faculty members.  
 
Related to this latter activity, we will share about mentorship and development resources on the MUSC campus and beyond in future Chair Updates. If you have any questions about the committee or if you are a faculty member seeking assistance with mentorship issues (as noted above), please contact Dr. Danielson at danielso@musc.edu.  
VALUE BONUS PROGRAM
MUSC has been working with the South Carolina Hospital Association on a provider wellbeing initiative, Thriving Workforce, to address clinician burnout with funding from the Duke Endowment and partnership with SE Health. Through this collaboration, MUSC is able to offer two free resources as part of a wellbeing initiative. While anyone can take part in these activities, the COM has asked that at least 80% of the Department faculty participate in one of these program by June 30th in order to qualify for the COM value bonus program – a financial incentive program.  

You are welcome to use these programs as much as you like, but the ‘participation requirement’ is actually very minimal. The links below provide more information about these programs and how to easily access them.
  1. SE Healthcare’s Enrichment Center: Requires you to create an account, complete a brief (3-4 question survey) watch at least 3 videos (approximately 6-8 min each). The program offers on-demand wellness modules related to physician burnout. While this is meant for all healthcare providers, it is very physician centric. More Information

  2. Kumanu’s Purposeful App: Requires you create an account and complete a brief survey (3-4 questions). The program offers a more general program for anyone and supports daily purposeful positive habits. 
    We hope you find these resources beneficial and appreciate your time taking part. More Information
NEUROSCIENCE DEPARTMENT
SEMINAR SERIES
OUT OF THE DARKNESS
CHARLESTON AREA WALK

Join the MUSC Psychiatry Team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Charleston Area Walk! This year’s department goal is 25 participants and $5,000 (that’s $200 fundraising each!).

 

Date: 10/24/2021
Location: Riverfront Park 
Registration: 1:00 pm
Event Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

 

To register for fundraising and participation: https://afsp.donordrive.com/team/270066

Questions? Email Meg Wallace at wallam@musc.edu

2020-2021 GRAND ROUNDS
SELF CARE SUPPORT SESSIONS
SMOKING CESSATION
COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC
CARE SPECIALISTS (CPCS)

The CPCS office is currently taking referrals for youth and adults for outpatient therapy and/or medication management. The CPCS office is located at 26 Bee Street and is seeing patients either virtually or in the office. All patients are self-pay at the time of the appointment and will be provided with the necessary paperwork to submit for reimbursement from their insurance companies. All department of psychiatry faculty members are eligible to see private patients in CPCS.

 

To make a referral or schedule an appointment, call 843-792-9396.

 

For more information about making a referral or joining the practice, feel free to contact Hilary Bernstein, LISW, DHA at bernsteh@musc.edu

 

Check out our website: Psychiatriccarespecialists.com

Like our Facebook page: Comprehensive Psychiatric Care Specialists

PRESIDENT'S VALUES IN ACTION AWARD
The Medical University of South Carolina's values are the heart of the institution and each day these values are exhibited by employees who help to fulfill MUSC's vision statement, leading Health Innovation for the Lives We Touch.
 
Each year, the President's Values in Action award recognizes five deserving employees who demonstrate MUSC's five values: compassion, respect, innovation, collaboration, and integrity.
 
Award Submission Process
  • Fill Out the Nomination Form
    • Nomination information must include:
      • Sponsor Name, Email, Department
      • Nominee Name, Email, Department
      • Value Demonstrated: Compassion / Respect / Innovation / Collaboration / Integrity
      • A letter of recommendation from the sponsor, addressed to President Cole, explaining why the nominee is worthy of the award.
  • The deadline for nominations is October 19, 2021.
  • Nominees will be notified upon receipt of nomination. Sponsors will be copied on this notification as well. All nominees receive a certificate of nomination; sponsors of the five individuals selected for awards will receive a separate notification and details about award presentations in early November 2021.
  • Winners will be chosen by President Cole based on the award criteria outlined below:
    • Nominations are submitted to recognize an individual who has demonstrated one of the five institutional values within the course of the current calendar year between February and September 2021. Only five winners will be chosen during this time; one winner per MUSC value.
    • Nominees can be submitted from any department across the MUSC enterprise, including the MUSC Regional Health Network.
    • Nominations for individuals will be accepted. Self-nominations and team nominations will not be accepted.
    • Diversity, equity and inclusion is a priority for the criteria of the Values in Action award, as the aim is to offer an award and recognition opportunity to all department and team members. This will provide an inclusive opportunity to recognize values that are demonstrated from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets.

Questions

 

For specific questions regarding the Values in Action award, please contact Heather Woolwine.

MANDATORY  MYQUEST MODULES
Beginning February 1, 2021, the annual mandatory online lessons for all employees/care team members in MyQuest were assigned. MyQuest reminder emails and this notification are the only confirmations you will receive pertaining your mandatory assignments.
  • Starting in 2021, a new Diversity mandatory was added for all MUSC employees.
  • This is the second year employees/care team members/contractors can provide feedback via a REDcap survey at the end of each mandatory. MUSC subject experts review all feedback to improve each mandatory to ensure an optimal learning experience.
2021 MUSC General Mandatories (Enterprise-wide)
  • Crime Prevention and Jeanne Clery Act Training
  • Code of Conduct and HIPAA
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment
  • Information Security
  • Active Shooter
  • OSHA Review
  • Tuberculosis (Charleston only)
  • Conflict of Interest training (hourly employees only)
2021 MUSC Health Mandatory Training (Charleston, Florence, Lancaster Divisions)
  • MUSC Health General Compliance (+ Billing)
  • Culture of Safety
  • Emergency Management Campus Security
  • Infection Control for All Employees
  • Stroke and Heart Early Recognition
  • Meeting the Unique Needs of Patients
  • Workplace Violence
  • MR Safety for Healthcare Workers
  • Interest training (hourly employees only)
2021 Medical Staff Office - MSO Mandatories
  • Adult Inpatient Diabetes
  • Pediatric Inpatient Diabetes
  • Pediatric Inpatient Anticoagulation Safety
  • Health Information Services
  • Transfusion Medicine
  • Patient Safety Initiative
  • Sleep and Fatigue/Clinical
  • Adult Impatient Anticoagulation Safety
NEW Diversity Mandatory
  • As a part of MUSC's ongoing commitment to leading and learning in the domains of equity and inclusion, you will notice a new 4-hour Diversity Equity and Inclusion DEI mandatory for all MUSC employees. When we join in the learning about one another as we become OneMUSC. Three types of offerings include: virtual curriculum, face to face &/or “professional development option of choice” approved by your leader.
2021 Annual Clinical Education (MUSC Health Clinical Care Teams Only)
  • Varies depending on your clinical role
2021 Conflict of Interest Training (Hourly Care Team Members only)
  • Hourly employees are now excluded from the annual COI disclosure process. To ensure they continue to receive conflict of interest policy training, a COI module has been developed.
  • Salaried employees of the MUSC enterprise receive annual COI training every April, in combination with their annual COI disclosure form; training modules precede the mandatory disclosure.

All of the annual mandatory training modules must be completed no later than June 30, 2021. Employees who fail to complete annual mandatory training requirements will be subject to disciplinary actions. If you have any questions, please email the MyQuest Administrators at myquesthelp@musc.edu.
ENTERPRISE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TRAINING SESSIONS - VIRTUAL

Please see the calendar below for a list of diversity & inclusion offerings from the Office of Training and Intercultural Education.

A form is now available within MyQuest to request credit for D&I credit that has been received outside of those listed within MyQuest (e.g., D&I training received through a national conference). Please note, credit for outside D&I training is not guaranteed, and requests for credit will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

The webpage for Training and Intercultural Education is updated and link to the Internal DEI Program/Training Credit Consideration form can be found on the webpage for the lecture mentioned below.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Addiction Sciences Division

 

*NEW* Grants Coordinator II (UNIV, Full-Time): Coordinates and implements the general fiscal, administrative, and research grant pre-award and post-award needs in support of the Addiction Sciences Division in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. The Addiction Sciences Division is supportive of employee growth, professional development/career development and performance evaluations on a yearly basis. This position is open from May 26, 2021 to June 3, 2021.

 

Open Rank/Assistant Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC. 

 

Open Rank/Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC.

 

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

 

Social Worker LISW/LPC or Therapist (MUSCP, Full-Time): This position is for a licensed independent social worker (LISW) or Therapist who will be working in a team environment in the Outpatient Clinic of the Child and Adolescent Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services at the Medical University of South Carolina. The Candidate will operate independently but part of an overall service team comprised of MDs, residents/fellows, and other social workers.

FENTANYL URINE TEST
CLINICAL NEUROBIOLOGY LAB

FENTANYL URINE TEST NOW OFFERED BY

THE CLINICAL NEUROBIOLOGY LAB (CNL)

 

The use of the powerful opiate drug, FENTANYL is on the rise, accounting for a large share of overdose deaths in SC, and the greater US.

 

Previously, urine drug testing at MUSC could not detect Fentanyl use. The Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory has recently completed an extensive validation of a qualitative (positive vs negative) urine test for the presence of Fentanyl which can be used to distinguish this drug from other commonly used/abused opiates such as oxycodone, buprenorphine and morphine. This test should aid clinicians in the evaluation of patients in multiple clinical settings, especially when illicit drug use is suspected.

 

Simply order: “Fentanyl, Urine, Qual (IOP LAB)” or “LAB9066”

COVID-19 VOUCHER PROGRAM

Program for Researchers Affected by Pandemic

 

COVID-19 Voucher Program

The College of Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, and South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) are pleased to offer a new funding opportunity open to all MUSC tenured and tenure track faculty members whose research has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of up to $2,000 is available to help investigators gather preliminary data for inclusion in a grant proposal by covering the cost of supplies and/or core and laboratory services; pay for publication costs; or develop a translational focus to their research. Vouchers cannot be used to fund computer purchases, PI or staff salary, or travel. These funds will be distributed through SCTR. A total of $200,000 is available to support these awards.

 

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to receive a voucher an individual must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member and serve as PI on an active research grant. A faculty member can receive only one COVID voucher.

 

Apply

To apply for a voucher, select the COVID-19 Voucher Program in SPARCRequest. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until all funds are expended.

COVID VACCINE CALL CENTER
Individuals needing to contact the MUSC COVID Vaccine Call Center can utilize the information below:
COVID-19 RESOURCES

The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will be posting updates on the COVID-19 Vaccine intranet site, including information about the vaccine safety and efficacy, so our care team members can make an informed decision.

 

**Updated University Directives (effective May 20, 2021) can be found here.** 

LAB & TESTING OPTIONS

 

The following resource provides MUSC Health lab and testing options pertaining to COVID-19. Included on this page is information regarding drive-thru and “pop-up” mobile COVID testing locations, antibody or serology tests, drive-in lab and nurse visits, and original/classic lab testing.

 

MUSC Health Lab & Testing Options

MANDATORY SELF-MONITORING

 

Due to the activity of COVID-19 within the hospital and community, all employees, residents, fellows and students within all MUSC entities are directed to begin daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. This applies regardless of whether you have been working remotely on a full-time or intermittent basis. You need to continue daily self-monitoring, even if symptoms are not present.

 

TRAVEL BAN
 
As a reminder, the MUSC travel ban is still in effect. The policy on this ban can be found here. This ban is in effect until further notice and includes all MUSC-sponsored travel in all forms of transportation (planes, trains, automobiles, boats/ships, etc.). 
VOLUNTEER BAN
 

Given the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice, all volunteers and observers are barred from participation in departmental and MH-ICCE based activities. If there are circumstances wherein this policy causes a significant and critical issue, it should be brought to my attention for consideration of a written waiver (on an individual basis) of this policy.

UPDATES VIA THE HORSESHOE

 

In addition to updates provided by MUSC Enterprise, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will also provide updates through our employee intranet, The Horseshoe. Updates will be provided regularly as new information becomes available. For your convenience, direct links are provided below.

 

NEUROCOVID RECOVERY & REHAB RESEARCH STUDY RECRUITMENT

Testing a Wearable Telemedicine-controllable

taVNS Device for NeuroCovid Recovery and Rehab

 

Researcher: Mark George, M.D.

PRO Number: pro00101270

 

The purpose of the research is to test out a new form of treatment where we stimulate a nerve in your ear. This is called transcutaneous (through the skin) auricular (ear) vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which means that you will receive stimulation through the ear. The taVNS device looks like an ear bud you would use with your smart phone or computer. We are investigating whether or not taVNS can treat neurologic symptoms of COVID-19 which are termed NEUROCOVID. Some symptoms you may experience are new onset anxiety, depression, vertigo, loss of smell, headaches, fatigue, irritability, etc. This study is entirely online and all assessments will be completed virtually.

 

Recruitment Contact

Sarah Huffman

843-876-5141

huffmans@musc.edu

COVID-19 RESILIENCY CLINIC
NAMI CONNECTION & NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT
UPDATED MOONLIGHTING POLICY
MUSC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
SUBMITTING CONTENT
If you would like to submit content to include in next week's Chair Update, please submit to Dr. Jamie Fisher by 12:00 pm on Monday. Thank you.
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