Teaching Hospitals

BALTIMOREFor more Baltimore convention information, call the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association at (410) 659-7300 within Maryland or (800) 343-3468 outside Maryland.March 20-22: American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Convention Center. Expected attendance: 2,500.March 24-26: Mary Kay Cosmetics, Convention Center. Contact: Rosemary Hall. Expected attendance: 2,000.March 29-31: Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Contact: Lisa Wilkinson, 1 SME Drive, Box 930, Dearborn, Mich.

Mercy Medical Center of Baltimore is the only Maryland hospital on the annual "Top 100" list issued yesterday by HCIA Inc., the Baltimore health data company, and William M. Mercer Inc., a national consulting firm.The rankings are based on statistics including death and complication rates, average lengths of stay, profitability and financial reserves, and shifting from inpatient to outpatient care.Hospitals are grouped into categories -- small rural hospitals and large teaching hospitals, for example -- and compared with their peers.

Therapist in Carroll gets certificationDiana W. Sirken, an occupational therapist with Carroll County Physical Therapy and Carroll County General Hospital, recently passed the Hand Certification Examination, qualifying her as a certified hand therapist, by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.The HTCC's mission is to support a high level of competence in the practice of hand therapy through formal testing and recertification programs. It was organized and incorporated in 1989.Hand therapy is a subspecialty of both occupational therapy and physical therapy, and deals with recovery of function following hand injuries.

Sinai Hospital said yesterday that it is looking for outside vendors to take over professional billing services it now provides. The move would eliminate up to 45 jobs in the billing office.It also could reduce the amount it costs to bill patients. Like many teaching hospitals, Sinai sends out bills for its staff physicians for a fee.But the size of its staff -- 130 doctors -- means that the effort costs more than that of its competitors.The professional billing department handles fees for radiology, surgery and other medical procedures performed by doctors who are hired by the hospital.

The General Assembly is poised to pass legislation that would make Maryland the 19th state to legalize marijuana use for medical reasons - though how quickly the state's cancer patients and others might benefit remains in question. The state Senate gave the legislation preliminary approval Friday evening without debate. The bill, which has passed the House, would allow the legal distribution of marijuana by doctors and nurses through academic medical centers. A commission would be set up to spell out the terms under which it would be grown and dispensed.

Despite widespread acknowledgement of its effectiveness, a drug that counteracts heroin cravings has had limited availability. But there's a national push for greater use of the drug, and Maryland health officials are prudently on the bandwagon - and may offer some leadership as well. The drug is buprenorphine, a synthetic opiate that has proven to be an effective antidote to heroin as well as prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin. Prescribing the drug and managing its use can be done through individual doctors, teaching hospitals, community health centers and group practices.

BALTIMOREFor more information, call the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association at (410) 659-7300 within Maryland or (800) 343-3468 outside Maryland.* April 9-13 NETWORK, annual meeting, Radisson Lord Baltimore. Contact: Nancy Renner, Catonsville Community College. Estimated attendance: 200.* April 20-22 ONCOR International, annual sales meeting, Hyatt Regency. Contact: Marlyn Horsley, c/o Suite 1440, 300 E. Lombard St., Baltimore, Md. 21202. Estimated attendance: 400.* May 4-6: Association of American Medical Colleges, teaching hospitals conference, Hyatt Regency.