Dr. Bruce E. Dunn This is Me

Education

 View all 19 references Web References

1. 1. www.cap.org

   www.cap.org/apps/cap.portal?_n - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/25/2008   Last Visited: 6/12/2008

   Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12, a seven-hospital system headquartered in Chicago, is performing rapid PCR screening (Gene­Xpert) on all admissions with the exception of mental health patients, says Bruce Dunn, MD, chief pathologist of VISN 12.In addition, they just started MRSA screening of nursing home patients.
   
   Dr. Dunn says the Department of Veterans Affairs required all hospitals to implement a MRSA screening program by March 15, 2007 to assess all ICU patients."Then by Oct. 1, 2007, we phased in screening of all acute medicine and surgery patients" as part of a national mandate based on success at the Pittsburgh VA in particular, he says.
   
   The VA program also involves a strict hand-washing program for which VISN 12 hospitals are reporting 90 to 100 percent observed compliance.All patients who test positive for MRSA go on contact precautions.Decolonization is not done routinely, but clinicians have the option of ordering it for patients before selected types of surgery.
   
   The average TAT from specimen receipt in the lab and availability of results in the LIS in a typical VISN 12 lab is less than 100 minutes."Conventional cultures are performed on PCR-positive specimens so that isolates can be typed using molecular techniques if requested," Dr. Dunn says.
   
   The initiative isn't inexpensive: The annualized cost of reagents for the MRSA testing alone in the seven-hospital network is more than $1 million, Dr. Dunn says."Another challenge is that we do not have enough private rooms in which to house all of our MRSA-colonized patients," requiring the hospitals to group MRSA-colonized patients together.
   
   The VA rolled out a national database into which all sites are to report their MRSA data, beginning in October 2007.At this point, it's too early to draw general conclusions about how well the program is doing in VISN 12, Dr. Dunn says.

2. 2. Medical Laboratory World

   www.mlwmagazine.com/story.asp? - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/1/2005   Last Visited: 3/26/2008

   Bruce Dunn, chief pathologist of the Veterans Integrated Service Network has long pioneered the application of telepathology networks using the three Cs: computer, car and cell phone. Using these tools, Dunn said he is able to keep in constant touch with key pathology issues in a virtual department that extends over thousands of square miles - at the centre of which is computerised patient record systems. Dunn and his colleagues have virtually eliminated paperwork in their all-electronic healthcare system, improving clinical access to patient results and medical records. Dunn said that the NHS must follow this lead "sooner rather than later" if the much hoped-for National Programme for IT (NPfIT) is to succeed.

3. 3. Great Lakes News Article

   www.vagreatlakes.org/PUB/news. - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/1/2000   Last Visited: 5/29/2004

   Bruce Dunn, MD, received the Mark Wolcott Award for Clinical Excellence in Clinical Care Leadership. Bruce Dunn, MD, received the Mark Wolcott Award for Clinical Excellence in Clinical Care Leadership.
   ...
   Bruce E. Dunn, M.D., Chief Pathologist of the VISN 12 Pathology and Laboratory Medicine product line, recently received the Mark Wolcott Award for Clinical Excellence in Clinical Care Leadership.
   ...
   Dunn is a 15-year veteran of the VA's healthcare system. He is well aware of the continuing need to refine the delivery of healthcare. 'Making the best product' was his ambition when he arrived at Milwaukee VA Medical Center as Chief Pathologist for the laboratory service in 1992. He brought new life to a rather typical laboratory. He changed the traditional organization from a rigid hierarchy of competing sections to one that came to embrace a true team concept. He also set a single goal - to deliver the most cost-competitive and best quality care to our veterans in a timely fashion.
   
   As moves toward consolidation and standardization of the laboratories in the VISN evolved, Dunn emerged as one of the leaders. At about the same time, he became interested in the delivery of dynamic telepathology. His fascination grew and took shape with the establishment of telepathology links between Milwaukee VA and the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center, two facilities which are more than 200 miles distant. Coincidentally, the only pathologist at Iron Mountain at that time had just announced his retirement plans.
   
   Before long, telepathology between the two sites was a reality and represented a significant step toward the creation of a 'virtual laboratory.' Telepathology and telemedicine have blossomed, providing greater access and an increase in quality with substantial cost savings. Dunn was a member of the telepathology team that received a Hammer Award - for making government work better and cost less - in 1996 from Vice President Al Gore.
   ...
   Recently, Dunn and members of the VISN pathology product line walked away with the first Scissors Award in VISN 12 for a consolidated service. The VA Scissors Award recognizes teams that streamline operations and improve the quality and timeliness of services.
   
   In addition to his many duties, Dunn finds the time to conduct research. He is currently the recipient of two National Institute of Health grants for investigation of bacteria found to cause ulcers. He is on the faculty of the Medical College of Wisconsin. After only five years of teaching there, he was promoted to a full professor. Dunn continues as an enthusiastic practitioner. He is full of contagious energy. As for his ambition, he reports that it remains the same - 'making the best product.'