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Grand Rounds August
Sept. 15-16 • TMGMA Fall Conference • Embassy Suites – Nashville South • Franklin “How Healthy is Your Practice?” is the theme for the Tennessee Medical Group Management Association’s fall meeting. For a complete agenda or to register online, go to www.tmgma.com.
Sept. 28-29 • HiMSS Summit of the Southeast • Opryland Hotel The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HiMSS) is hosting the annual two-day conference for chapters in six southeastern states focusing on the pressing issues in healthcare information technology. Early bird registration is available through Aug. 15 at www.summitofthesoutheast.org
Among the Best When the annual U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list for 2011-12 came out last month, three Nashville facilities made the cut. The list features 720 top facilities out of approximately 5,000 nationwide hospitals. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Saint Thomas Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt were each recognized for clinical excellence. VUMC, which ranked 14th overall on the prestigious national “Honor Roll’ and first in the Nashville metro area, was recognized as high performing in 11 out of a possible 16 medical specialties including ‘top 20’ expertise in urology (9), nephrology (12), diabetes and endocrinology (14), ENT (14), pulmonology (15) and gastroenterology (17). Saint Thomas, ranked second in the metro area, was recognized for high performance in cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology, geriatrics, orthopedics and pulmonology. The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital was honored in 10 pediatric specialties including ‘top 20’ national performance in urology (5), neonatology (11) and cardiology & heart surgery (20).
Vanderbilt Study Links Mid East Service with Lung Disorder In late July, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a Vanderbilt study of U.S. soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with severe respiratory issues — likely due to prolonged exposures to sulfur fires and burn pits. Robert Miller, MD, associate professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt, and his former colleague, Matt King, MD, now assistant professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Meharry Medical College, compiled a descriptive series of 38 cases of constrictive bronchiolitis in soldiers since 2005. The authors say they hope the study will add to a national push to examine respiratory complaints in returning veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It has been a long journey on many fronts, but I think this publication confirms this pulmonary disease is associated with service in the Middle East,” Miller said. “You can look at a biopsy under a microscope and identify the issue, and we’re getting confirmation from around the country that we’re not the only ones seeing it.” Of 49 soldiers who underwent surgical lung biopsy at Vanderbilt, 38 were shown to have a rare disease called constrictive bronchiolitis, which causes permanent shortness of breath during exercise. Miller and King say the article should serve to alert other physicians to this aspect of respiratory illness in this population.
Campbell Named CMO of Centennial Medical Center Recently, Centennial Medical Center announced the addition of F.J. Campbell, MD, as the hospital’s new chief medical officer. Prior to joining Centennial Medical Center, Campbell served as medical director of Operations at Voorhees Hospital, a Virtua Health hospital in Voorhees, N.J. In his new role in Nashville, Campbell is responsible for overseeing the medical affairs of Centennial Medical Center and for the supervision of staff operations of the Medical Staff Office and the Center for Research and Education. Campbell received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in emergency medicine at Cooper Hospital in Camden, N.J. He also received his MBA from the Fox Business School at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Health Care Council Announces 2011-2012 Board of Directors Last month, the Nashville Health Care Council announced the appointment of its 2011-2012 board of directors. Ben R. Leedle, Jr., president and CEO of Healthways, is the new chairman. Leedle succeeds Joey Jacobs, chairman and CEO, Acadia Healthcare, who served as 2009-2011 Council chairman, and who remains on the board as a director. William F. Carpenter III, chairman and CEO of LifePoint Hospitals, is the new vice-chairman. Four new members joined the board on July 1 for three-year terms. They are Bill Gracey, president & COO, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs & CEO, Vanderbilt Health System; Mike Schatzlein, MD, president & CEO, Saint Thomas Health; and Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president & CEO, Community Health Systems. Additionally, Leedle; Victor L. Campbell, senior vice president, HCA; and Thomas G. Cigarran, chairman emeritus, Healthways; were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the board. Eight new members representing healthcare companies and professional services organizations that support the industry joined the 2011-2012 board for one-year terms. They are Kevin Campbell, Kell Holland, Jim Horrar, Tom Klaritch, George Lazenby, Rock Morphis, Kirk Porter, and Brian Wiese. In addition, Melissa Waddey, senior director of Strategic Planning at LifePoint Hospitals was elected to serve another one-year term as chairman of the Council’s Leadership Health Care group.
Post-Flood Renovations Completed at The Women’s Hospital at Centennial Although the rising water of the 2010 flood did not affect the care delivered at The Women’s Hospital at Centennial, it did bring about a number of complications. Rather than focus on the negative, however, Joann Ettien, administrator and COO for the freestanding facility, said she and her staff chose to use it as an opportunity to update and relocate various hospital spaces. Calling on Inner Design Studio, a leading healthcare interior design firm based in Nashville, the team quickly began work on an accelerated time schedule to complete the priority project. Within the renovation process, Inner Design Studio’s main task was relocating the OB/GYN emergency department to the first floor for ease of access. While revamping the flood-damaged first floor, the designers updated the main lobby, added a new lactation area with consultation rooms, enlarged the IT area, and created an improved workflow and environment. On the second floor, the designers located physician sleep areas on the second floor to allow Centennial to have OB/GYN staff available 24 hours a day.
Lipscomb University Launches Healthcare Informatics Program Responding to growing demand in the workplace, Lipscomb University announced the addition of a new Master of Health Care Informatics (MHCI) program last month. By 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is mandating a national healthcare information infrastructure, yet few programs nationally are preparing students to become leaders in this emerging field. The Lipscomb MHCI program combines the study of information security, data management and the clinical management and analysis of data and is offered through a collaboration of Lipscomb’s College of Business, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering Department of Information Technology. Currently accepting applications for a late fall class, the new master’s degree program is offered on alternating weekends for 13 months with an additional two months of individual capstone project work. The program is designed to prepare students for jobs in a broad range of healthcare facilities, agencies and allied businesses. For more information, visit technology.lipscomb.edu.
Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About! Awards, Honors, Recognitions Sumner Regional Medical Center was recently listed as a “Most Beautiful Hospital” in Soliant Health’s third annual contest to recognize the nation’s top 20, aesthetically pleasing hospitals. The Gallatin facility came in 17th on the list, which started with 250 nominations. A five-year, $20 million federal grant has been given to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to coordinate a national consortium aimed at advancing biomedical research nationwide. Gordon Bernard, MD, director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research will serve as principal investigator of the new Clinical and Translational Science Awards Coordinating Center. Saint Thomas Health Foundation is the recipient of the LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project Award. The financial gift will be used to implement the Cancer Transition Program, which is designed to support, educate and empower people with cancer in the transitional period after treatment is over. Avondale director and senior research analyst Kevin Campbell was named the #1 stock picker in the Healthcare Providers and Services Industry by FT | StarMine, an annual ranking of Wall Street’s best brokerage analysts. He was also named “Best on the Street” for his work in the healthcare industry in the Wall Street Journal’s annual ranking. The Tennessee Justice Center has honored Nashville law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis PLLC as Pro Bono Firm of the Year for the firm’s efforts in representing families in need. For the third consecutive year, HCA (NYSE:HCA) has earned national recognition as one of the best workplaces in the United States for information technology professionals. The company ranked No. 32 on Computerworld’s 2011 “Best Places to Work in IT” list of 100 companies, moving up from its 2010 rank as No. 42. Neurologist and headache specialist Jan Lewis Brandes, MD, who practices with Nashville Neuroscience Group, has been named to the 2010-2011 board of directors for the National Headache Foundation. Brandes, who specializes in the treatment of headaches, has served as the principal or co-principal researcher of more than 80 studies, primarily examining the issues of acute treatment of migraines, prophylaxis and menstrual migraines. United Neighborhood Health Services has received a two-year, $300,000 grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to help address type 2 diabetes among African-American women. In other news, UNHS will establish health clinics in four Nashville Metro public schools thanks to a $500,000 capital grant received from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration. The school-based clinics at Hunters Lane High School, McGavock High School, Haynes Middle School and Rose Park Middle School will provide health screenings, health promotion and disease prevention activities, and care for acute or chronic illnesses. The school clinics will see all students without a fee. Pat Whitworth, MD, a breast surgeon at Baptist Hospital who practices with Nashville Breast Center, was recently honored by the American Cancer Society as a Visionary of Hope award recipient. Dollar General Corporation has announced the company is giving more than $1 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in support of the hospital’s expansion project. Dollar General’s funds will directly benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Sy.Med, a leading provider of credentialing software in the healthcare industry, was ranked the No. 5 small business in the Nashville area as part of Business Leader’s “Top 300 Small Businesses in the South.” Belmont University professor of Physical Therapy, Michael Voight, DHSc, was recently selected as a 2011 Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the most prestigious recognition granted by the organization. Fewer than 150 of the association’s 77,000 members serve as Worthingham Fellows. Vanderbilt University Medical Center's technological savvy continues to garner national acclaim, as evidenced by the institution once again being named among the nation's 100 “Most Wired” hospitals and health systems by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine, Accenture, McKesson, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. This is the seventh consecutive year that Vanderbilt has been included in the list. The American Health Assistance Foundation recently announced 22 new grants totaling nearly $2.2 million to scientists worldwide who are studying glaucoma and macular degeneration. Jonathan L. Haines, PhD, director of the Center for Human Genetics Research at Vanderbilt University, was awarded one of the grants to look for risk genes by comparing the DNA of African Americans with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to that of unrelated African Americans without AMD with the hope of being able to see whether or not AMD progresses differently in African Americans than in other populations. Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) is one of six hospitals to receive the Premier healthcare alliance’s inaugural QUEST Award for High Value Healthcare for reaching the top performance thresholds in Premier’s QUEST®: High Performing Hospitals collaborative in five areas: mortality, cost of care, evidence-based care, preventing harm, and patient experience. This is the third consecutive year that MRMC has received a quality award from Premier and comes on the heels of the medical center and its affiliates being named among the 10 Top Health Systems by Thomson Reuters.
Recent Certifications, Accreditations & Commendations The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) recently announced Craneware, Inc. has once again met the “Peer Reviewed by HFMA®” standard. HFMA recently reviewed Craneware as part of the annual evaluation process necessary to maintain Craneware’s Chargemaster Toolkit®, Chargemaster Corporate Toolkit®, Bill Analyzer, Online Reference Toolkit® and Interface Scripting Module HFMA Peer Reviewed designation. Craneware was the first company to participate in the Peer Reviewed process. The Clinical Sciences Institute of OptumHealth has re-certified the Metabolic Surgery Center at Baptist Hospital as an OptumHealth Bariatric Center of Excellence.
MGMA, ACMPE Name Turney President & CEO In mid-July, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and its credentialing and standard-setting body, American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE), named Susan Turney, MD, MS, FACP, FACMPE as their new president and chief executive officer after a year-long national search. Turney, an internist, will take the helm at the associations in early October. She succeeds William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, who will retire in September after 12 years at the associations. Turney will oversee the strategy and operations of MGMA, ACMPE and their affiliated organizations. With 22,500 members, MGMA is the largest national professional association representing medical practice managers and executives. Turney has broad experience with both practice management and association management and has served as the CEO and executive vice president of the Wisconsin Medical Society since 2004. She served as the 2005-06 MGMA Board chair as well as in other Board and committee positions and has been an ACMPE Fellow since 2005.
Nurture® by Steelcase to Open Nashville Showroom In the continued leasing of the proposed Nashville Medical Trade Center (NMTC), Market Center Management Company announced in June that Nurture® by Steelcase, a leading manufacturer of furniture for healthcare environments, signed a multi-year lease agreement for space in the NMTC. Nurture will create a custom showroom on the 6th floor of the NMTC that will anchor the healthcare furnishings neighborhood. The showroom is expected to highlight Nurture’s new approach toward the total healthcare environment, which goes well beyond furniture. Nurture’s portfolio of research driven, evidence-based products will be applied throughout a variety of healthcare environments, including: caregiver hubs, exam, infusion and patient rooms, family waiting areas, lobby spaces and many more.
Interfaith Dental Clinic Moves Forward on Expansion Interfaith Dental Clinic’s Advisory Council leadership closed on the purchase of a portion of a building in Murfreesboro on June 30. That space is being renovated into a dental clinic that will serve low-income, uninsured individuals and their families in the area. Renovation plans are already underway, and the intent is to have the clinic open to patients in late fall. The new space is in addition to the clinic’s Nashville facility on Patterson Street.
Alana Healthcare Expands Staff, Opens New Nashville Pharmacy Alana HealthCare, LLC, a Nashville-based health solutions company providing services to individuals with chronic and complex life conditions, has added a new pharmacy within its recently opened Alana HealthCare Infusion Center in Nashville (AIC). The AIC, which opened in late April, is an infusion care and support center that streamlines disease management for patients in Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Paul Carter, MD, has been named medical director for AIC. Carter, an allergist and immunologist, helped develop the center’s protocols. He received his medical degree from University of Tennessee and his master’s from Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Jeff Black has been promoted to director of Pharmacy Operations of Alana HealthCare, LLC. He began with the company as a patient services representative. He also now directs the new closed-door pharmacy at AIC.
Cogent HMG Names Exec Team Newly Merged Company At the end of June, Cogent HMG announced its new executive team and outside directors, setting the stage for the newly merged company to move into the next phase of its growth as the nation’s largest private hospitalist provider. Gene Fleming, formerly president and CEO of Cogent Healthcare, will serve as executive chairman, assisting CEO Stephen Houff, MD, who was founder and CEO of Hospitalists Management Group (HMG). Ron Greeno MD, a founder of Cogent Healthcare, will serve as chief medical officer of Cogent HMG and will drive the consulting business and serve as an advisor to the board. Antoine Agassi, formerly Cogent COO, will serve as president and oversee day-to-day business operations. Linda Ellis, formerly COO of HMG, will serve in the same role with Cogent HMG, directing all regional and site operations. Other key executives will be: Rusty Holman MD, chief clinical officer; Susan Brownie, chief financial officer; Doug Mefford, chief legal officer; Anna-Gene O’Neal, senior vice president of Quality; and Cheryl Slack, senior vice president of Human Resources.
Horizon Medical Center Welcomes Yu Recently, Horizon Medical Center welcomed Ling Yu, MD, of Nephrologists Associates to the staff, joining Ashish Soni, MD, and Douglas Linfert, MD, in the Dickson office. Yu received his medical degree from Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, P.R. China. He then completed his residency in internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and his nephrology fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Yu is board certified in internal medicine.
Willis Joins Nashville Medical Group Cool Springs Practice Nashville Medical Group, an affiliate of Baptist Hospital and Saint Thomas Health, recently announced the addition of Angela Willis, MD to its medical practice. Willis, who specializes in family medicine with particular interests in women’s care, pediatrics and chronic disease management, began practicing at the Cool Springs on Aug. 1. Willis has an extensive background in family medicine and previously held a practice office in the Lenox Village area and has served as the medical director for Willowbrook Hospice. She received her medical degree from East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine after graduating from David Lipscomb University with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
Skyline Medical Center Welcomes New Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician Skyline Spine and Rehab Associates recently welcomed Janaki Natarajan, MD, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She received her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School and then completed her residency at the University of Kansas. Natarajan is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Bartels Named Parthenon Pavilion Administrator, COO Recently, Centennial Medical Center announced the addition of Allen Bartels to the hospital’s administrative team in the role of administrator and chief operating officer for Parthenon Pavilion, which has just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Bartels, a licensed nurse, earned a master’s in Health Care Administration at Bellevue University and his undergraduate nursing degree from Midland Lutheran College, both in Nebraska. He has contributed to multiple publications and has served on numerous boards and committees including Behavioral Health Resources, the State of Nebraska Advisory Committee on Mental Health Services and Nebraska Psychiatric Hospital Group. Prior to joining Parthenon Pavilion at Centennial Medical Center, Bartels served as interim director of Psychiatric Services at Sparrow Health System in East Lansing, Mich.
Cumberland Heights Names Medical Director for Healthcare Professionals Program Cumberland Heights, one of the Southeast’s oldest and largest alcohol and drug treatment facilities, recently named Terrence L. Alley, MD, AAFP, FASAM, medical director of the its Healthcare Professionals Program. Board certified in family practice and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, Alley has limited his practice to the addiction field since 1985. He is certified in addiction medicine and is a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and also serves as a diplomat of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. Most recently, Alley was medical director of The Right Step, a rehab facility in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine.
Summit Medical Center Welcomes New Specialists Summit Medical Center recently welcomed several board certified specialists to its medical staff. Interventional Cardiologist Todd Dorfman, MD, received his medical degree from St. George’s University, completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, his cardiology fellowship at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and his interventional cardiology fellowship at John Hopkins University. Interventional Cardiologist Ben Starnes, MD, received his medical degree and completed his residency in internal medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his cardiology fellowship and interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of North Carolina. Rheumatologist Sujana Reddy, MD, who is with TriStar Medical Group’s Arthritis Specialists of Nashville, received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She then completed her residency and fellowship at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Endocrinologist Megan McCauley, MD, who is with Summit Endocrinology, received her medical degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga. She then completed her residency in internal medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta followed by an endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism fellowship at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.
Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, Inc. Announces New Staff David Green, nationally recognized journalist and former managing editor of The Tennessean, recently joined healthcare public affairs firm Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, which has been ranked among the top healthcare communications firms in the nation. A graduate of Cornell University, Green spent 11 years as managing editor of The Tennessean, has overseen a Pulitzer Prize-winning team of investigative journalists at The Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky, and served as a supervising editor for The Associated Press. Most recently, he founded the website content marketing agency Alphanumeric – in which he continues to hold an interest. The firm also recently welcomed Emily Walling, a former Certified Nursing Assistant and a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a degree in Communication Studies. After completing an internship at Jarrard Inc., she joined the firm as a client services associate. Ian Petty, founder of Proud Lion LLC and experienced graphic and web designer for the healthcare industry, joined the firm as senior advisor for visual communications. His experience includes the development of websites, advertising and collateral pieces for hospitals and healthcare organizations.
Cumberland Consulting Hires Poteet Cumberland Consulting Group recently announced Jason Poteet has joined the firm as director of Business Development. Poteet brings more than a decade of healthcare operations and development experience to his new position. Prior to joining Cumberland, Poteet served as vice president of development for Centerre Healthcare, vice president of healthcare services for Genpact and vice president of market operations for Aegis Health Group. He holds an undergraduate degree from Tennessee Technological University.
GS&P Adds Senior Leadership to Healthcare Staff Gresham, Smith and Partners, a multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm for the built environment, recently announced Constance Nestor, FACHE, has joined the firm as a senior vice president of healthcare and practice leader for GS&P's Strategic Advisory Consulting Services (SACS) practice. The SACS group is committed to time sensitive, customized services and advice developed specifically to address current challenges facing healthcare providers. With more than 20 years experience, Nestor is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), was a member of the ACHE Reagent's Advisory Council from 2007-2009 and has served as committee chair for Standards Development for the International Health Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Health Care Council since 2007.
Southern Hills Welcomes Coggeshall Jack W. Coggeshall, MD, a doubled board certified pulmonary medicine physician has joined the medical staff at Southern Hills Medical Center. Coggeshall received his medical degree from Indiana University and completed his chief residency in Internal Medicine at Indiana Medical Center and a pulmonary fellowship at Vanderbilt. Most recently, Coggeshall served as chief of Critical Care and director of Cardio Pulmonary Services at Williamson Medical Center.
Capella Healthcare Finalizes Partnership with Cannon County Hospital, LLC Early last month, Capella Healthcare announced the completion of its acquisition of 60 percent ownership interest in Cannon County Hospital, LLC (CCH). CCH owns DeKalb Community Hospital, a 71-bed hospital in Smithville, and Stones River Hospital, a 60-bed hospital in Woodbury. Specifically, the transaction involved a subsidiary that owns a majority interest in Capella’s White County Community Hospital, LLC, in Sparta acquiring the majority interest in the CCH hospitals, which are now all three combined to form a new entity. Physician investors own the balance of equity in the new entity. Capella Healthcare now manages all three hospitals pursuant to management agreements. Bill Little, who has served as CEO for the two CCH facilities since July 2009, assumes responsibility for all three hospitals as market CEO while current Sarah Clark, current CCH chief financial officer, becomes market CFO for the new entity. The addition of these facilities expands Capella’s presence in its home state of Tennessee to five hospitals
LifePoint Promotes Six to Senior Positions Brentwood-based LifePoint Hospitals® (NASDAQ: LPNT) recently promoted six employees to senior positions in the corporate office.
AHA Names New Nashville Board Members The American Heart Association has named Keith Wolken, CEO of SMS Holdings Corporation as chairman and John Riddick, MD, of Centennial Heart Cardiovascular Consultants as president of the Greater Nashville board of directors for fiscal year 2011-12. The following new members were also named to the Board:
Avondale Hires Close, Expands Equity Research At the end of June, Avondale Partners, a national investment banking firm headquartered in Nashville, announced the continued expansion of its equity research department in Nashville with the addition of Richard Close as a director and senior research analyst focused on the Healthcare Technology and Services Sector. Close has received multiple national recognitions for his work covering various sectors during his 12 years as a senior equity analyst. Prior to joining Avondale, Close served seven years at Jefferies covering Healthcare Technology & Distribution Services and Education & Business Services. He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Gold Skin Care Names New Marketing Director Jessica Roberts has been named director of marketing and public relations for Gold Skin Care Center and its subsidiaries Advance Aesthetics Medical Spa, The Laser and Rejuvenation Center and Tennessee Clinical Research Center. The appointment is a return to Gold Skin Care for Roberts, who served as marketing director from 2007-2009.
PointClear Launches New Physicians Research and Advisory Panel PointClear Solutions, Inc. – a leader specializing in health information technology product development services – recently announced the creation of a new Physicians Research and Advisory Panel. PointClear’s leadership team has spent the last several months creating and staffing this new resource designed to provide valuable advice to benefit its clients and partners. This panel has been selected based on their deep understanding and practical experience within the healthcare industry including insight into new evolving opportunities for disruption and innovation. Physician participants are: David Kibbe, MD, (senior advisor, family practice); Jim Miller, MD, (hospitalist/internal medicine); Indu Anand, MD, (ob/gyn); Meyer Dworsky, MD, (neonatology); Brian Raymaker, MD, (family practice); Jordana Heaven, MD, (pediatrics); Michael Blackstone, MD, (internal medicine); Anne-Laura Cook, MD, (hospitalist/internal medicine).
Horning Named DisastersNet VP of Sales & Marketing DisastersNet, an information technology company focused on helping hospitals improve the processes that enhance both the quality and safety of care, recently announced Michael Horning has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing. In this new role, Horning will lead DisastersNet’s business development efforts and manage the company’s sales force. Additionally, as part of the company’s leadership team, Horning will help develop strategic plans to guide the company’s growth. Prior to joining DisastersNet, Horning founded and served as the chief executive officer of The Web Collaboration Network, a technology platform that helped Fortune 1000 brands maximize their ROI on social media advertising. In the healthcare industry, he served as regional manager for a medical device manufacturer and has experience working in the home health and elder care arenas. Horning earned a degree in communications from Murray State University.
Family Staffing Solutions Adds Staff Bruce Plummer, has joined Family Staffing Solutions, Inc. as vice president of Development for the Murfreesboro-based personal care assistance company. Plummer has more than 30 years of marketing and business development experience combined with several decades of banking experience. Previously, he served as vice president of Marketing/Business Development for F&M Bank, Murfreesboro. Plummer is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University with a degree in Business Management and holds additional qualifications in banking. Lorrie Riley has been named director of Family Staffing Solutions Murfreesboro office, which specifically serves Rutherford County residents. In addition to overseeing the office, Riley will help implement two new programs: a quality assurance and improvement project and the introduction of a severe weather-related emergency and natural disaster preparedness plan for clients. Riley is a graduate of the Mississippi University for Women.
Siloam Adds to Board Non-profit Siloam Family Health Center recently announced the addition of Patsy Powers, of counsel with Waller Lansden, and Keith Meador, MD, professor of psychiatry and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School to its board of directors.
Woods Cain-Swope Relocates to Belle Meade Hill Center Woods Cain-Swope (WCS), an all female gynecology practice, has recently relocated from Saint Thomas Hospital to the Belle Meade Hill Center at 4322 Harding Road. WCS has been in practice for eight years and is operated by the firm’s partners Grayson N. Woods, MD, and Christina L. Cain-Swope MD. It has surgery affiliations with Saint Thomas Surgicare, Centennial Surgery Center, Baptist & Vanderbilt Hospitals.
Custom Software Systems introduces ChartSmart emr®, In the race for electronic medical record adoption, too many healthcare providers are discovering that while their new EMR products may have met certification deadlines, they fall short in other critical ways, making unrealistic demands on clinicians’ skills and patience. To address that need, Nashville-based Custom Software Systems, Inc., recently released ChartSmart emr®, an easy-to-use, high-performing electronic medical record that has been 2011/2012 ONC-ATCB Certified by Drummond Group (DGI). “We wanted a real-world solution that ‘clicked’ with caregivers and truly delivered on the promise of EMR,” said DeWitt Rhaly, company president, adding training takes only a matter of hours. The new product is completely customizable to an individual hospital’s needs, has web-based flexibility, and has been shown to save at least 10-20 minutes per nurse, per shift in pilot studies.
Horizon Opens Observation Unit Last month, Horizon Medical Center hosted an open house for the facility’s new Observation Unit. What was once a storage area for the hospital, is now a 4200 square feet, 11-bed unit to allow Emergency Department physicians increased flexibility. “A lot of patients are on the cusp — not well enough to go home, but not sick enough for inpatient,” said Gina Bullington, CNO. “Despite all the medical technology, the best thing to determine what's going on with somebody is to watch them.” John Marshall, CEO of Horizon, added, “The observation unit will enhance the flow of patients through the emergency department and free up inpatient beds and will reduce the number of people who leave the emergency room without being seen by a medical provider. It’s a more effective process for patients.”
SAAS and Qualifacts Announce Exclusive EHR Partnership Last month, the State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) and Nashville-based Qualifacts Systems Inc., announced that they have entered into an exclusive partnership to offer Qualifacts’ Software-as-a-Service electronic health records to the SAAS member agencies. This partnership will provide members the opportunity to pursue proven EHR technology in order to take advantage of Meaningful Use incentives and comply with health information technology initiatives. “We evaluated many EHR vendors in the industry and felt Qualifacts’ tremendous growth, leadership and culture were a clear fit for our members,” says Becky Vaughn, CEO of SAAS. “Moreover, their Software-as-a-Service model gives our members the most flexibility in this period of rapid change.”
Little Clinic Expands Services This summer, the Little Clinic began offering the SmartPath® Tobacco Cessation Program, which is available seven days a week with no appointment needed. The program offers a two-visit option. The first visit assesses the patient’s health status and nicotine dependence. If appropriate, medication will be recommended and prescribed. On the second visit, medication effectiveness and side effects will be evaluated along with tips for quitting for good. To help improve a patient’s success rate, it is recommended that a patient continue coaching sessions to help reduce temptations for tobacco, manage stress, prevent weight gain, change tobacco routines, handle triggers and prevent relapse.
Leadership Health Care Announces Board of Directors Leadership Health Care (LHC) recently announced board leadership and seven new directors for fiscal year 2011-2012. Melissa Waddey, senior director, Hospital Strategic Planning, LifePoint Hospitals, remains as chair for 2011-2012, and Mark Wainner, vice president, Operations, AmSurg, is vice chair. The following new directors joined the LHC board: John Davis, senior associate, Council Ventures; Bobby Fritts, Nashville account manager, Pfizer; Will Howorth, director of Development, Physician Services, HCA; Ted Lomicka, assistant treasurer, Community Health Systems; Kelly Miller, senior consultant, Kraft Healthcare Consulting; and Michele Peden, vice president, Corporate Communications, IASIS Healthcare. Drew Mason, Vanderbilt Owen School of Management Health Care MBA candidate, joins the group in a one-year student board seat. The following board members were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the board: Kearstin Patterson, director, Corporate Communications, BioMimetic Therapeutics and Carrie Teaford, vice president, Finance, Baptist Hospital. All board appointments were effective on July 1.
The Reading Hospital Partners with PivotHealth Nashville-based PivotHealth has reached an agreement with The Reading Hospital to provide physician practice management services for affiliated physicians in The Reading Hospital Medical Group and Reading Professional Services. Under this three-year management contract, PivotHealth will place a highly experienced, senior-level practice management team on site to lead the day-to-day business operations of these unique physician enterprises. PivotHealth will also provide additional personnel to assist in specific operational initiatives.
HCA Announces Memorandum of Understanding to Acquire HCA-HealthONE® in Denver In mid-June, HCA (NYSE: HCA) announced that it has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Colorado Health Foundation (the Foundation) for the purchase of the Foundation’s approximately 40 percent ownership of the HCA-HealthONE® LLC joint venture for $1.45 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory review and the negotiation of a definitive agreement and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011. “We are very pleased with the opportunity to acquire full ownership of these outstanding facilities,” said HCA Chairman and CEO Richard M. Bracken. “This transaction would not only expand our economic involvement in the metropolitan Denver market, but would also provide additional resources for the Foundation to further its mission and outreach activities.” HCA-HealthONE includes seven hospitals and 13 ambulatory surgery centers in the metro Denver area. The health system is a Colorado company created in 1995 as a joint venture between non-profit The Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado’s second largest charitable foundation, and HCA. The company intends to fund the purchase price at closing through amounts available under its revolving credit facility and does not anticipate it will have a material impact to its leverage ratio.
Foundations Recovery Network Promotes Two Brentwood-based Foundations Recovery Network (FRN), a drug and alcohol treatment provider and a leader in Dual Diagnosis care, recently promoted two members of the corporate executive staff. CFO Richard Rodgers has been promoted to chief operating officer while also retaining his duties as chief financial officer for an indefinite time. CIO Lee Pepper has been promoted to chief marketing officer while also retaining his duties as chief information officer for an indefinite time.
Lovell Communications Promotes Mansouri Lovell Communications Inc., a strategic public relations and crisis communications firm serving clients nationwide, announced in June the promotion of Sarah Mansouri to assistant account executive. Having previously held an administrative assistant position at Lovell, Mansouri is now an assistant account executive and provides special project support to the Lovell Communications team. She assists agency clients in the areas of media monitoring, media relations, writing, research, scheduling and other support services.
Conemaugh Health System Selects onFocus Healthcare Nashville-based onFocus Healthcare, Inc. recently announced Conemaugh Health System of Johnstown, Penn. would use its business execution software to support clinical, operational and financial performance across its integrated delivery system, which includes three hospitals, a multi-specialty physician group and a network of outpatient centers. onFocus|epm is a web-based software solution that helps healthcare organizations link key performance indicators with leadership accountability, action planning, monitoring and progress tracking to increase performance on critical business objectives. By combining data from many sources into a single solution, executives are able to assign employees to critical tasks and track progress in real-time, increasing organizational performance and execution on strategic objectives by as much as 20 percent.
Qualifacts Reports Record Month for Go-Lives Qualifacts Systems Inc., announced it completed 13 implementations of its CareLogic behavioral health electronic health record between Jun 1 and July 5. This record number of “go-lives” includes over 50 locations and 1,800 new users across six states. These new implementations represent a 15 percent increase in the number of customers “live” on CareLogic Enterprise. On average, the projects were completed in six months, from kick-off to go-live.
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