September 13, 2018

The Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation has announced that it will award two of the eight 2018 Hillman Emergent Innovation grants to projects led by researchers from The Ohio State University College of Nursing. These grants support nursing-driven innovation for vulnerable populations.

Both projects innovate with collaboration between the College of Nursing and other Ohio State colleges. The projects are:

  • Turning Sick Care into Well Care for Homebound Older Adults and Their Pets
    Pets are highly valued companions and can be especially helpful in improving health outcomes in homebound elderly populations who may otherwise be isolated. POP (Pet Owner and Pet) Care creates an inter-professional team consisting of a nurse practitioner, a veterinarian and a social worker to address the healthcare needs of homebound older adults and their pets. The expectation is that the improved health of the person-pet dyad will correlate with better health and well-being outcomes for the pet owner.

Principal Investigator: Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Co-Is: Laurie Millward, DVM, MS, DACVP, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Social Work.

  • Peer Mentoring Middle School Youth in Appalachia to Improve Lifestyle Behaviors and Health Outcomes
    Young people in rural Appalachia suffer from worse health outcomes and practice fewer positive health behaviors than their counterparts elsewhere in the U.S. Leveraging the power of peer group dynamics and social networking, this nurse-designed initiative trains tenth-grade mentors to help guide middle school students towards lifelong healthy behaviors and improved health outcomes.

Principal Investigator: Laureen Smith, PhD, RN, FAAN, The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

Co-Is: Rick Petosa, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology and Abigail Shoben, PhD, The Ohio State University College of Public Health.

These projects were selected from an initial pool of over 140 applicants for the highly competitive grants. Read more about the program and projects selected.

June 27, 2018

On Sept. 13 and 14, 2018, the College of Nursing’s Office of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships will be hosting the fourth annual Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop. The event will take place at The Longaberger Alumni House at The Ohio State University, located at 2220 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio. All are welcome, and this event may be of special interest to Ohio State faculty and staff, College of Nursing alumni, the Wexner Medical Center staff, healthcare and business professionals and research and innovation peers. 

This two-day workshop will provide an overview of important business fundamentals and tips on how to integrate innovation and entrepreneurship principles into practice. Attendees will learn from experts on how to develop a business plan, start and manage a small business, pitch ideas, understand legal considerations for business ventures and more. There will also be a number of renowned speakers at the event, including College of Nursing Dean Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN. 

Registration for the event is now open. Fees paid in person before Sept. 1 are $325 and increase to $375 after Sept. 1. The price for past participants and Ohio State students is $125. Those with an osu.edu or osumc.edu email, or those who refer a colleague who registers at the full rate, will receive a $25 discount. The registration cost includes breakfast and lunch both days, parking fees, shuttle access from many local hotels and a happy-hour reception on the first day.

The deadline to register is Sept. 7, 2018. Send any questions to Tim Raderstorf, chief innovation officer, at raderstorf.3@osu.edu.

March 09, 2018

Plan to join the Office of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships from The Ohio State University College of Nursing for the Interprofessional Innovation Symposium on April 24 from 4–6 p.m. in The Blackwell Ballroom.

This event will feature an engaging conversation focused on innovation in healthcare. Matt Scantland, co-founder and CEO of CoverMyMeds, and his colleagues Pamela Rowan, director of prior authorization content, and Reena Brown, engineering manager, will discuss how interprofessional innovation served as a foundation for one of the most successful healthcare information technology companies in central Ohio history. The CoverMyMeds recruitment team will also be available to discuss employment opportunities with the company.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Our networking reception will include complimentary drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres. There will also be an opportunity to interact with teams from our Innovation Studio, who will be showcasing their projects.

Don’t miss this night of innovation, inspiration and networking. You must RSVP by April 17. 

This event is sponsored by the Ohio State Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Medicine, Engineering, Fisher College of Business and the Technology Commercialization Office.

December 14, 2017

The Center for Advancement of Science In Space (CASIS), which manages the International Space Station United States National Laboratory, will partner with the Innovation Studio to issue an innovation challenge on Jan. 8, 2018. This unique challenge, issued only to The Ohio State University, asks students, faculty and staff to pitch ideas to develop a product, service or solution with social impact that utilizes the International Space Station. Astronaut Greg Johnson, president and executive director of CASIS, will be in attendance to officially propose CASIS’s challenge at a reception on Jan. 8 at noon in the Dreese Laboratories building. The Innovation Studio will be in residence (Jan. 8–Feb. 21) at the College of Engineering in the Dreese Laboratories building. 

Submissions to the challenge need to be turned in by Feb. 14 to pitch on Feb. 21. “The Innovation Studio reviews submissions from across the innovation spectrum. From back-of-napkin concepts to working prototypes, we engage with interprofessional teams to help them turn their ideas into actions,” says Tim Raderstorf, MSN, RN, chief innovation officer of the College of Nursing, which created the Innovation Studio. Top teams may be eligible to send their innovations to the International Space Station for testing.

CASIS plans to present a webinar to discuss how research on the International Space Station can be used to search for new answers and solutions to problems facing our planet. Space research provides unique conditions not found on Earth including a microgravity environment, extreme conditions and a unique vantage point. Teams of two or more Ohio State students, faculty or staff from different disciplines may also be eligible for seed funding to further incubate their innovation.

The Innovation Studio is a moveable maker space that travels from college to college across campus, created by the College of Nursing to foster interprofessional collaboration and healthcare innovation. It houses an array of tools and provides project mentors, daily technical support and workshops on product development. For more information about the Innovation Studio and the CASIS challenge, see the Innovation Studio's webpage, or contact Tim Raderstorf at Raderstorf.3@osu.edu.

July 01, 2016

Registration is now open for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop for Health Professionals being held at the Ohio Union on The Ohio State University campus, Sept. 22 and 23. This is the second workshop for entrepreneurs hosted by the Ohio State College of Nursing’s Academy for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (AcCELL).

The two-day workshop provides an overview of important business fundamentals for anyone with an interest in starting a business, be it clinically-based or otherwise. Sessions include developing a business plan, pitching your ideas, raising capital and creating a marketing strategy, as well as practical methods for guarding patient data and complying with HIPPA regulations.

“This is a dynamic time in the delivery of healthcare, and innovative leaders will guide changes to benefit patients and other healthcare providers,” said Tim Raderstorf, MSN, RN, chief innovation officer at the College of Nursing. “We want to provide educational experiences that give nurses and other healthcare providers the confidence and tools to decide if starting their own business is the right choice for them.”

Raderstorf reports that at least four innovative companies have been directly influenced by leaders who participated in the inaugural Innovation Workshop held in 2015. Jen O’Brien, CNP, opened a unique internal medicine practice that provides personalized care in a spa-like setting.

“The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop was a fantastic learning and preparation opportunity for me,” said O’Brien. “The workshop enabled me to solidify my vision and work out the mechanics of my start-up.”

Two nursing students have developed a line of comfortable clothing and accessories for nurses called NursSwag, and provide a 10 percent give-back to charity. Two other participants now offer different types of business coaching. Amelia Roberts, BSN, RN, is now a successful social media coach, assisting small businesses with brand awareness.

Joyce Dillon, RN, MN, BCC, is a consultant and facilitator, who works with practitioners and entrepreneurs in the health and wellness industry to help them gain clarity for their business ventures.

“I think attending the entrepreneurial workshop helped me to refocus and rebrand my business and identify the niche of health and wellness,” said Dillon. “It jump-started my research in developing a holistic, sustainable model … and was very helpful in launching my business.”

November 09, 2015

Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) program has positive effects that last at least a year after completion

Schools can significantly improve the long-term physical and mental health of teens by implementing cognitive behavioral skills-building into already existing high-school health curriculums, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH/NINR) and published in the December issues of the Journal of School Health.

The article reports that 12 months after completing the COPE Healthy Lifestyles Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, Nutrition (TEEN) Program, students had markedly lower body mass index than students who received a more standard health curriculum. Additionally, COPE teens who began the program with extremely elevated depression had symptoms in the normal range after 12 months.

COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN teaches adolescents that how they think is directly related to how they feel and behave. It also teaches them how to turn negative beliefs triggered by “activating events” into positive beliefs so that they feel better emotionally and engage in healthy behaviors. The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with an emphasis on skills-building.

The lead author of the article is COPE creator Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, associate vice president for health promotion, chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. Melnyk is also a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Ohio State’s College of Medicine.

“CBT is the gold-standard treatment for depression and anxiety, but it has traditionally been used in one-on-one, hour-long therapy sessions,” said Melnyk, who began developing the program more than 20 years ago as a pediatric and psychiatric nurse practitioner. “With COPE, I’ve created a tool that can be used by any health professional or educator so they can teach cognitive behavior skills to adolescents. This is huge for schools or community centers. We can really make positive impacts on teens’ lives by teaching these skills to them.”

This study was aimed at evaluating the long-term efficacy of COPE. A total of 779 high-school students aged 14 to 16 in the southwestern United States participated in the study. Half attended a control class that covered standard health topics such as road safety, dental care and immunizations. The others were enrolled in the COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN program.

Health teachers were provided a full-day workshop on COPE and how to teach the program. The classroom curriculum blends cognitive-behavioral skills sessions with nutrition lessons and 20 minutes of physical activity, such as dancing, walking or kick-boxing movements.

The 12-month follow-up evaluation after the COPE program showed a significant decrease in the proportion of overweight and obese teens. Only 4.8 percent of COPE teens moved into the overweight category compared to 10 percent of the control group, Healthy Teens, who moved to either overweight or obese. None of the COPE teens moved to the obese category.  Further, COPE teens who were on public assistance had a significant decline in body mass percentile following the intervention than teens on public assistance who were on public assistance.

A particularly important finding, Melnyk said, was that COPE students who began the study with severely elevated depressive symptoms had significantly lower depressive scores that fell into the normal range than the Healthy Teens students at 12 months post-intervention.

“Because the majority of adolescents with depression do not receive treatment, and even fewer receive CBT, it is vital that we provide them the tools and ability to engage in positive thinking and employ effective coping,” she said. “The feedback from the teens during the open-ended evaluations included hundreds of comments specifically indicating that the COPE program helped them deal effectively with stress and anger as well as to feel better about themselves.”

This latest article reflects a continuation of positive results from COPE.

In 2013, Melnyk published an article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, examining immediate and six-month outcomes of COPE. Those results showed increased physical activity, decreased BMI, higher grades, better scores in cooperation, assertion and academic competence – as rated by teachers – and lower alcohol use.

Melnyk said next steps should include implementation of COPE into health curricula across the country. Because a variety of professionals can learn the program, she hopes to see widespread use in schools, community centers and youth organizations to help teens lead healthier, happier lives and perform better academically.

The NIH/NINR supported this research.

The article notes that overweight/obesity and mental health disorders are significant public health problems that threaten health outcomes and academic performance of United States teens. Approximately 17 percent of U.S. youth is obese and 15 percent is overweight, according to research cited by Melnyk.

Additionally, 15 million U.S. youth have a mental-health problem that interferes with functioning at home or school, but fewer than 25 percent receive treatment, and even fewer receive CBT.

June 02, 2015

The Ohio State University College of Nursing and medical device company Welch Allyn have joined forces on new research aimed at improving the delivery of patient care.

The project will examine how patient physical evaluations are conducted and how the process can be improved, given the changing healthcare landscape and its growing emphasis on primary care and prevention. As a supplier of diagnostic equipment to patient-care facilities and emergency departments, Welch Allyn is interested in understanding the physical assessment workflow, including the challenges and needs associated with this process in primary- and emergency-care settings. The ultimate goal will be to improve the healthcare delivery process for both providers and patients alike.

“Given our shared vision of transforming healthcare and improving health outcomes, it seemed natural to partner with Welch Allyn in this exciting endeavor,” said Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, university chief wellness officer, vice president for health promotion and dean of the College of Nursing at Ohio State. “This relationship serves as a leading example of our college’s commitment to improving patient care through innovative education, research and evidence-based clinical practice. And, because nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians are all on the frontlines of care, their input is crucial to the success of this project. Interprofessional teams delivering care result in improved health outcomes, so including each discipline makes for more valuable feedback overall.”

Research is being conducted on the Ohio State campus. The College of Nursing will also provide research expertise and evidence reviews on relevant topics, as well as secure clinicians for interviews to be conducted by the Welch Allyn team of engineers, usability and technology experts, and marketing executives. Once enough feedback is gathered, the teams will work together to develop new concepts to improve the physical-exam process.

“For 100 years Welch Allyn has been committed to delivering practical innovations that help doctors and nurses provide better care for their patients,” said Sal Strods, senior director of advanced technology and sensors. “As healthcare continues to undergo rapid transformations, we must be ready to provide clinicians with the right equipment to help meet further challenges. Our partnership with The Ohio State University College of Nursing will allow us to learn first-hand the challenges physicians, nurses and patients face in this changing industry. Unlike other partnerships, this agreement is extremely interactive, allowing clinicians to guide the Welch Allyn team on what they need most to help improve patient care. Basically, products will be modeled by clinicians for clinicians.”

“This relationship greatly supports our college’s goal of fostering collaborative entrepreneurial initiatives with local, national and international partners to improve healthcare and health outcomes, as well as enhancing the experience for both providers and their patients,” added Melnyk.

 

About The Ohio State University College of Nursing

The Ohio State University College of Nursing is the world’s preeminent college known for accomplishing what is considered impossible through its transformational leadership and innovation in nursing and health, evidence-based practice and unsurpassed wellness. As part of the largest health sciences campus in the United States, the College of Nursing offers seven innovative academic programs. The college’s graduate nursing programs are among the top five percent in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, while its online graduate program is ranked 6th and its RN to BSN program is ranked 8th as part of Ohio State’s ranking for online bachelor’s degree programs. Annual college enrollment is approximately 1,950 students. The college celebrated its centennial in 2014.

 

About Welch Allyn, Inc.

Since 1915, Welch Allyn has brought a unique perspective to developing diagnostic solutions by combining pragmatic knowledge with a visionary spirit of innovation and ongoing improvement. As a leading global manufacturer of physical examination instruments and accessories and EMR-connected vital signs and cardiac monitoring solutions, the company has a steadfast commitment to delivering superlative medical products, services and solutions that help healthcare professionals provide better care for their patients. Welch Allyn is headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, New York, and employs more than 2,600 people in 26 different countries. Visit welchallyn.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

April 20, 2015

Higher-education leaders and nationally recognized authorities in health and wellness will gather to highlight and share best practices in promoting and sustaining wellness at the 2015 Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) National Summit April 23-24 at the University of California, Irvine.

More than 80 colleges and universities from across the United States will be represented at the Summit, the second from BHAC. The first was held in 2013 at The Ohio State University.

“We know how vital it is to enhance health and wellness in the workplace—it leads to reduced healthcare costs, insurance premiums, and most importantly, healthier and more engaged employees,” said BHAC President Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, associate vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer, and dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. “However, very few academic institutions have implemented a comprehensive, integrated approach to health and wellness that addresses the entire academic population.”

Melnyk envisioned and led the founding of the National Consortium, a group of public and private academic institutions dedicated to crafting a comprehensive framework that enriches the health and wellness of students, faculty and staff. The consortium was founded after the 2013 BHAC National Summit.

“We in academia have a unique opportunity to improve population health and make a positive impact on the lives of our students, faculty and staff and surrounding communities,” Melnyk said. “The summit provides a national forum to share best practices and innovative ideas to bring the dream of creating a healthier nation to fruition.”

Featured speakers include:

David B. Agus, University of Southern California, is one of the world’s leading cancer doctors and pioneering biomedical researchers. Agus also serves as a CBS News contributor. His first book, The End of Illness, was published in 2012 and is a New York Times No. 1 and international bestseller, as well as the subject of a PBS special. His second book, New York Times bestselling A Short Guide to a Long Life was published in January 2014.

Dan M. Cooper, professor and chair of pediatrics at University of California, Irvine, serves as founding director of the UC Irvine Institute for Clinical and Translational Science and the UCI Pediatric Exercise Research Center.

Peter Jensen is president and CEO of the Resource for Advancing Children's Health (REACH) Institute. In December, he was appointed acting director for the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

Sonja Lyubomirsky is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want was published in 2008. Her most recent book is The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, But Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, But Does.

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk is currently the associate vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer, and professor and dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. She is also a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Ohio State’s College of Medicine. She is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in evidence-based practice, intervention research and child and adolescent mental health.

Marion Nestle of New York University is a consumer advocate, nutritionist, award-winning author and academic who specializes in the politics of food and dietary choice. She is the author of Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health, now in its third edition.

More information is available at healthyacademics.org.