Notebook: Pass rates, patient satisfaction make strides

According to recently released figures from the American Board of Internal Medicine, medicine residents at the University  of Louisville achieved a 95 percent pass rate, besting the national average of 91 percent.

U of L medicine residents also notched a three-year average pass rate of 94 percent.

Patient satisfaction rates make leap

Patient satisfaction with the U of L Department of Medicine Physicians practicing in the University of Louisville Health Care Outpatient Center took a huge leap forward in just-released  statistics from Press Ganey, a national firm that provides patient satisfaction surveys, management reports, and national comparative databases for the integrated health care delivery system.

The first-quarter 2010 satisfaction rate jumped to 69 percent, an improvement over the 47 percent rate registered in the last quarter of 2009.

Those numbers beat the national average of a 67 percent satisfaction rating, and put the Department of Medicine on track to achieve  its goal of a 75 percent rating.

Doctor garners honor from students

Yet another doctor has collected an award from her students.

Dr. Amy Holthouser was named the 2010 recipient of the Thomas Calhoun Award given by U of L medical students to an educator who has most significantly impacted their education over their four years in medical school.

Dr. Holthouser is the associate director of the Third-Fourth Year Medicine Clerkships program and an assistant professor for medicine and pediatrics.

According to Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Jesse Roman, the recent achievements show a positive trend forward for the department.

"The department continues on its quest to become the top academic department of medicine in the region," Roman said. "The advances noted are only a small example of the many improvements taking place, and reflect the commitment of our faculty and trainees towards excellence."