HJAR May/Jun 2020

62 MAY / JUN 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds patients with COVID-19, specifically items such as personal protective equipment like gloves, gowns and masks, as well as thermometers. As needs evolve to meet the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund will evolve to address those needs. “We are grateful to Bank of America for being among the first to step up and support our efforts in battling COVID-19,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, MD, MBA. “The COVID-19 pan- demic is a public health crisis on a scale rarely seen, and UAMS has risen to meet the challenge. Our doctors and healthcare professionals across the state are working around the clock to pre- vent the spread of this virus and treat those who have it.” “In Arkansas and around the world, we are com- mitted to helping our local communities meet the challenges they face during this public health cri- sis and after,” said Donnie Cook, Bank of Amer- ica Arkansas state president. “Bank of America is proud to support UAMS, especially during this unprecedented time when local resources are even more vitally important, ensuring essential services are available to those who need it most.” UAMS has set up a drive-thru triage screening area at the corner of Sheffield and Jack Stephens Drive (across from the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute). It is open daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. It is designed to screen, quickly and safely, people with cough, fever, shortness of breath, flu, or COVID-19. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is encour- aged to call the UAMS coronavirus hotline at (800) 632-4502. An online screening tool is available at uamshealth.com/healthnow. This service is avail- able 24/7 to Arkansans of all ages and is accessi- ble via smart phone, tablet, laptop, or video-capa- ble computer. UAMS Surgeon First in U.S. to PerformNew Hysterectomy Surgery Alexander Burnett, MD, a gynecologic sur- geon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is one of only a handful of sur- geons worldwide and the first in the United States at the cutting edge of a new scarless and almost painless technique for hysterectomy. The method is called Total Vaginal Natural Ori- fice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (V-NOTES) hysterectomy. Burnett trained directly with Jan Baekelandt, MD, a surgeon in Belgium who invented the approach and has completed over 1,000 cases. Burnett has completed over 100 V-NOTES procedures to date and all have been successful. “The biggest advantage for the patient is that there are no scars, and pain and downtime are minimal,” Burnett said. “For the healthcare sys- tem as a whole, there are also benefits--no patient hospital stay and no need for dangerous opioid pain medications.” Hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, is a com- mon surgery for reproductive-age women in the United States, second only to cesarean section. Traditionally, hysterectomies are performed via an incision to the abdomen, which requires a hos- pital stay of at least one or two days and a recov- ery period of a full six weeks before the patient can resume normal activities and physical exer- tion. In addition, the surgery leaves a scar. To avoid these issues, surgeons have long sought alternative methods. Hysterectomy can be performed laparoscopically, using small inci- sions in the abdomen and lighted cameras. Bur- nett said the V-NOTES approach takes that idea a step further. “With V-NOTES, the surgery is actually per- formed through the vaginal canal, so there are no incisions to the outside of the body that are vis- ible after the surgery,” Burnett said. “I use a device called a laparoscopic port that covers the vagina. I am able to inflate the abdominal cavity with air, then place my surgical instruments and a lighted camera through the port. Once that’s in place, I am able to see and do everything I would normally be able to do with a laparoscopic hysterectomy.” V-NOTES can also be used to remove the fallo- pian tubes and ovaries, if necessary. Burnett has even had cases where he discovered issues with a patient’s appendix during the hysterectomy and was able to remove it as well. Burnett said any patient who would have been a candidate for laparoscopic hysterectomy, with a few stipulations, is a good candidate for V-NOTES. “From my own perspective as a physician and from the feedback I’ve gotten from patients, I believe V-NOTES offers even more advantages over traditional hysterectomy than laparoscopy through the abdomen,” Burnett said. “I am glad to be able to offer this technique in Arkansas as we continue to look for the latest ways to bet- ter serve our patients, to advance research, and to teach the next generation of physicians to approach innovative options.” Conway Regional Health SystemAnnounces Four Family Medicine Residents Conway Regional Health System will welcome four family medicine residents to the inaugural class of their Family Medicine Residency Program, which will begin on July 1, 2020. Residents include Dylan Cruz, Olufadejimi “Jimmy” Kareem, MD, Ross Lenzen, and Clayton Preston. “Conway Regional is excited to welcome four fantastic residents to our Family Medicine Resi- dency Program,” said Matt Troup, president and CEO. “With this program, we will encourage inno- vation as we train a generation of physicians who are critical thinkers, compassionate providers, skilled clinicians, and future leaders in medicine. Dylan, Dr. Jimmy Kareem, Ross, and Clayton will be exceptional additions to our Conway Regional team, and we look forward to encouraging them in their practice, growing them as medical profes- sionals, and preparing each of them for a success- ful life as a family physician.” Conway Regional received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for their Family Medicine Res- idency program in January. “In 2019, we received Institutional Accredita- tion and have since been on a journey to establish our Family Medicine Residency program,” said Rebekah Fincher, chief administrative officer and designated institutional officer. “This year, we will Alexander Burnett, MD