Medical facilities earn national recognition

The Ohio State University Medical Center is recognized as one of the nation's best hospitals in the July 23 issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine. The annual analysis of public and private hospitals is considered to be among the most comprehensive surveys of its type.

OSU Medical Center was recognized by the magazine for its expertise in the areas of gynecology, hormonal disorders, otolaryngology, physical rehabilitation and respiratory disease.

Kam Sigafoos, associate executive director at OSU Medical Center, said credit for the medical center's recognition in the magazine's rankings goes to the physicians and the work and dedication of the hospital staff. "Across the board and in every department it's our employees who enjoy their work and caring for patients who make OSU Medical Center excel in the health care field,"she said.

Hospitals selected for the magazine's rankings are institutions of varying sizes around the country. Measurements such as mortality data, staffing levels and technology are considered to compile the final lists.

In addition, The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute has been named one of the best hospitals in the country for the treatment of cancer by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year in the hospital's short, 11-year history. The James was the only central Ohio hospital recognized for cancer.

In addition, The James' specialized programs involving gynecologic and head and neck cancers were also recognized as among the best in the country.

David E. Schuller, director of The James, said national recognition of the James' programs is a reflection of the high quality of care and expertise available to people locally and throughout the Midwest.

"We are very proud of the care we provide to our patients at The James and teamwork among the staff that ensures our continuing success,"Schuller said. "While surveys and rankings bring attention to hospitals and medical centers, they are only one of several tools that the public should use to choose a medical facility that meets their own personal needs."

At OSU Medical Center, health and medical care is provided to patients by OSU Hospitals, The James Cancer Hospital, University Hospitals East, OSU & Harding Behavioral Healthcare and Medicine, and at more than 35 primary and specialty care sites throughout central Ohio.

Libraries rated among top 20

Ohio State's library system is among the top 20 in North America, according to recently compiled statistics from the 112 largest university research libraries in the United States and Canada.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) gathered and compiled the statistics, and ranked Ohio State Libraries as the 18th strongest. Libraries are ranked by an index that uses five data elements: number of volumes held, number of volumes added annually, number of current serials received, total operating expenditures and number of library staff.

The OSU Libraries, comprised of the University Library system and the Health Sciences and Law Libraries, have made steady advances in the ARL rankings since 1994, when OSU was ranked 26th. Joseph Branin, director of libraries at Ohio State, attributes this progress to two factors: The University made it a priority to keep current acquisitions of library materials strong over the last decade in the face of high inflation for scientific and scholarly journals and books, and the OSU library system is efficiently organized and has a talented and productive staff.

"With steady and healthy increases to our libraries' acquisitions budget every year,"Branin said, "we have been able to build a print and digital library collection in the humanities, social science and sciences that is the envy of many other research libraries."If staff size were the only criteria in the ranking, Ohio State would be ranked much lower. According to Branin, the OSU Libraries staff is much smaller in size, by 50 to 200 staff members, than almost all the top-20 libraries in the ranking.

"What we lack in numbers, we make up in talent and productivity in our exceptional library system,"Branin said.

The University's Academic Plan calls on the library "to transform itself into a 21st century Information-Age center"through the renovation of the Main Library facility and through its continued strong information acquisitions program.

"Our message to faculty, students and donors is that'A great university requires a great library,' and this message is taking hold,"Branin said.

Schoen Award recipients named

Two Ohio State staff members have the opportunity to gain enhanced professional growth and strengthened administrative skills as recipients of the University's 2001 Kathryn T. Schoen Awards.

Jean M. Piper, clinic manager in the College of Dentistry's Section of Orthodontics, and Hui-Ling Chan, residence education coordinator in the Office of Residence Life, were awarded grants of $2,500 and $1,500, respectively, and were recognized at a June 18 luncheon with a presentation by Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray.

Piper will apply the award toward tuition to attend the Quality Service Program for Healthcare Professionals hosted by the Disney Institute in December. Piper's specific areas of focus include a review of best practices in other industries to help set customer service goals in the clinic, customer loyalty approaches, and employee award and recognition programs.

Chan's award helped fund her participation in an international conference of the National Association of Student Personnel Administration held in Mexico City this month. The conference's purpose is for student personnel administrators to discuss higher education policies and practices in different countries and to glean new ideas for their own institutions.

The awards are presented, in alternate years, to women faculty members or administrative and professional staff at Ohio State and were made possible by an endowment from Schoen. A leader in higher education, Schoen, then a member of the faculties of the colleges of Education, Medicine, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, chaired the 1970 Universitywide study to assess the status of women at Ohio State. Now retired, she became the University's first woman vice president when she was appointed to lead educational services in 1978.

"Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Schoen has mentored and supported others, particularly women, to pursue professional growth and leadership opportunities,"Ray said.

The 2001 award proposals were reviewed and recipients selected by Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources, and Nancy Rudd, vice provost for academic policy and human resources.

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