Michigan Educators Receive Research Awards from Blue Cross Blue Shield |
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Written by U.S. Insurance News
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
Dr. Andrew Haig is a groundbreaking researcher, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation has taken notice.
An associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Haig has conducted clinical research on electromyography and back pain. Through his study of spinal stenosis-a condition caused by the narrowing of the spinal cord that leads to pinched nerves-he found that EMG can accurately diagnose debilitating and serious spinal disorders. So important is Dr. Haig's research that the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine has described his finding in the field as the "dawn of a new era."
As a result of his research, Dr. Haig has been awarded one of four McDevitt Excellence in Research Awards for Michigan-based physicians and doctoral-level researchers from the BCBSM Foundation.
"The McDevitt award is named in honor of our late chairman and visionary health care leader, Frank J. McDevitt," explained Ira Strumwasser, executive director and CEO of the BCBSM Foundation. "We honor Michigan researchers with this award for their contributions to improving health and medical care."
The foundation awards four McDevitt awards of $10,000 each annually in the areas of clinical, health policy, or health services research. The awards are to be used for more research.
In addition to Dr. Haig, this year's award recipients are:
• Mei-Wei Chang, R.N., an assistant professor in the College of Nursing Research Center at Michigan State University, for her research on nutrition. Chang studied a specific population of people who are at risk for poor nutrition and obesity-young, lower income mothers who also have low education levels. She discovered different behaviors regarding high-fat food intake among normal weight mothers and obese mothers, and from that research created a set of strategies that encourage weight loss for the entire population.
• Scott Compton, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wayne State University, for his clinical research on the experience of emergency medics with family members during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The American Heart Association recommends that family members should have the option to remain with their loved ones during CPR, when possible. Compton's research concluded paramedic training should include bereavement support and death notification skills, and medical facilities should have support services for family members of CPR patients.
• Allison B. Rosen, M.D., assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health, for her policy research on medications. Rosen found that if medicines that help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure are offered without out-of-pocket costs to elderly diabetic patients, their quality of life and life expectancy improves. In addition, providing medication without out-of-pocket costs also helps elderly diabetic patients avoid hospital stays and medical treatment, resulting in significant savings for Medicare. This research has helped policymakers develop cost- effective strategies for treating diabetes as well as other chronic conditions facing the elderly.
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