Computerized Systems Increase Medication Safety Davis Regional, CMC-NorthEast Implement New Initiatives "Safety first" could be the new motto at two area hospitals that have recently implemented initiatives designed to increase patient and medication safety. Nurses at Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville now carry the key to preventing medication errors in the palms of their hands... ROBYN JACKSON

County Health Department, Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Battle HIV/AIDS In Mecklenburg County, approximately 6,074 people have been diagnosed with HIV since the health department started tracking it in the 1980s. Of those, more than a third developed AIDS, which is more demanding of specific and prolonged care. As of December 31, 2007, there were 3,868 cases in the county, with 74 percent being male and 68 percent being African American. African Americans comprise only 28 percent of the total population. MARGUERITE O. WILLIAMS

Prepare Now for Tax Season Wading through business taxes can be tricky enough for a seasoned CPA, and seemingly impossible for those without the proper financial training. Despite the years of education necessary for those in the healthcare field, many medical practitioners find themselves inadequately prepared to handle taxes. As a result, they may either miss out on opportunities to save on taxes, or they may fall prey to scam artists who target busy practices that don't have a lot of time to spend on financial matters... JENNIFER MONTAGUE

New Survey Explores Impact of Insulin Injections When she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15, Brenning Johnston was terrified. "I didn't even know there were two types of diabetes," said Johnston, now 25 and outreach manager for the Charlotte chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "I think I adjusted well. I decided from the beginning I wanted to learn to do everything for myself." That included giving herself daily insulin injections... ROBYN JACKSON - 1 opinion posted

Ben Vereen Shines a Spotlight on Diabetes Iconic Entertainer Launches National Awareness Campaign Ben Vereen, star of stage and screen, was just another frightened patient a year ago. According to the Tony Award-winning actor, "I was feeling off for quite awhile. I was tired all the time. I couldn't focus. I was thirsty all the time. … everything was off … my whole system was off." Hospitalized at the end of 2007, the lab report on his blood work uncovered a reason for his growing malaise. Like someone every 30 seconds around the country, Ben Vereen was diagnosed diabetic... CINDY SANDERS

Mark R. Vanderwel, MD Mark R. Vanderwel, MD, hails from the upper Midwest, but has found a new sense of place in Charlotte. After completing his undergraduate education at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., he received his MD from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. "I spent the first 25 years of my life where the winters were too long and the summers too short. In the latter part of medical school, I looked for rotations in different areas of the country. When I visited the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC), it felt like home... MARGUERITE O. WILLIAMS