Mark Your Calendar

Sept. 10 • Gift of Life Walk • 7:30-10:30 am • River Park, Brentwood

The Tennessee Kidney Foundation is hosting its 12th annual Gift of Life walk to honor those individuals and their families suffering from kidney-related health issues, to raise awareness about kidney disease, and to promote organ donation. Those interested can sign-up online at www.firstgiving.com/tkf or in person the day of the event at 7:30 am. For more information, go to www.tennesseekidneyfoundation.org

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. 24 • Tennessee Hemophilia & Bleeding Disorders Foundation Gala • University Club of Vanderbilt

The THBDF will hold its 12th annual Royal Gala — Royal Wedding Splendour. The event includes a silent and live auction, cocktail hour, dinner, dancing and entertainment. Tickets are $150 per person and table sponsorships are available. For more information, go to www.thbdf.org or call (615) 900-1486.

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. Registration is available at www.summitofthesoutheast.org

Sept. 29 • Beyond ACOs • One Century Place Conference Center (formerly Willis) • 8:30 am-4 pm

“Beyond ACOs – Exploring Alternative Payment Models for Tennessee Health Care” is being sponsored through a collaborative effort of several of the state’s lead healthcare organizations including the Tennessee Medical Association and Tennessee Hospital Association. For more information or to register, go online to http://thima.org/beyondacos.htm

Oct. 1 • Nashville Heart Walk • Begins at Vanderbilt University

More than 10,000 are expected to gather at Vanderbilt University for the annual Heart Walk. This year the American Heart Association is putting out the call for more “survivor teams” to join the walk to help fight against heart disease and stroke. Funds raised go to research, education and community health initiatives. To sign up or for more information, go online to www.nashvilleheartwalk.org

Oct. 3-5 • 4^th Annual Healthcare Deal Making Summit 2011 •

The three-day summit offers executive level intelligence and brings together the leading players involved with healthcare provider M&A deals. Experts from both non-profit and for-profit providers, systems and facilities will discuss the state of the market, deal valuations and creating strategic relationships. For information go online to www.informationforecastnet.com/healthcare11

Nurse of the Year Nominations Open

Nominations for the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year awards are now open. To nominate an outstanding nurse, go online to www.marchofdimes.com/tennessee.

The 2011 Nurse of the Year Awards recognizes nurses who demonstrate excellence in various aspects of the nursing profession. This includes nurses who exemplify excellence through their administration of healthcare services, their provision of clinical care, comfort, and support to patients in various healthcare settings, their education of future nursing professionals, or their advancement of nursing knowledge through research efforts. New this year is a category to recognize an outstanding student nurse.

Vanderbilt Meharry Center for Sickle Cell Disease Excellence Receives $1.4 Million Grant

Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, vice chair for Clinical Research for Vanderbilt’s Department of Pediatrics, has received a $1.4 million grant from the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) for the new Vanderbilt, Meharry, Matthew Walker Center for Sickle Cell Disease Excellence. 

DeBaun, an internationally known sickle cell disease physician scientist, is director of the Center for Excellence, which seeks to provide the best possible care for children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) over the life spectrum. Nearly 100,000 people in the United States are living with SCD, a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. The disease most commonly affects the African-American population, occurring in every one in 400 births. Nashville is one of six sites to receive the federal award.

TriStar Goes Live with State’s First Telemedicine Stroke Care Network

HCA’s TriStar Health System recently launched a collaborative telemedicine network to provide patients the most progressive and immediate stroke care available in Tennessee. TriStar equipped five area hospitals with a telemedicine robot, creating the first and largest telemedicine network for stroke care in Tennessee. These five hospitals include Centennial Medical Center, Skyline Medical Center, Southern Hills Medical Center, StoneCrest Medical Center and Horizon Medical Center. The telemedicine technology will be available at Summit Medical Center and Hendersonville Medical Center by this fall. 

The RP-Lite^® robots, developed by InTouch Health, allow neurologists to virtually consult with patients, family members and healthcare staff at a moment’s notice. Within seconds of a request for a consultation, a stroke neurologist seated at a laptop computer connects via the Internet to the RP-Lite^® robot positioned at a patient’s bedside in a TriStar emergency room. The robot provides two-way audio and video communication and a host of remote presence devices, such as an electronic stethoscope. The neurologist can examine a patient’s ability to move and speak and even zoom in to assess pupil reactivity, allowing a remote physician to complete a full neurological exam.

Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular First in State to Perform New Valve Replacement Surgery

Doctors at the Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute successfully performed the state’s first trans-catheter heart valve-replacement procedure in July. Nearly 200,000 people each year are diagnosed with aortic stenosis, but 75 percent of those diagnosed are deemed high risk or ineligible for open-heart surgery – the standard therapy.

Now, doctors at Vanderbilt are able to use a minimally invasive catheter procedure to help this group of patients. Currently, 15 patients are currently enrolled in the Medtronic CoreValve System U.S. Clinical Trial at Vanderbilt. George Ellenberg, 85, of Crossville, Tenn., was VUMC’s first recipient of the novel valve replacement technique. Acceptance into the trial saved his life.

“There are no other options for this group of patients,” said David Zhao, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Catheterization Lab and Interventional Cardiology. “With this new procedure, there will be a 20 percent reduction in mortality. This is transformational technology and can potentially save thousands of lives.”

UNHS to Open Full-time Clinic at Rescue Mission

United Neighborhood Health Services (UNHS) has received a $650,000 grant to establish a full-time health clinic at the Nashville Rescue Mission announced Mary Bufwack, CEO of UNHS. The grant was awarded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration through the U.S. Bureau of Primary Health Care. UNHS is the only community health center organization in Tennessee to receive one of the 67 grants announced by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on August 9. Money made available through the Affordable Care Act funds the grants.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Bufwack. “We operated a temporary clinic three evenings a week at the Rescue Mission while the Downtown Homeless Clinic was undergoing extensive renovations earlier this year. Our experience with the temporary clinic demonstrated the need for a permanent clinic at the Mission.”

When it becomes operational later this month, the clinic’s hours will be 7 am-7 pm weekdays. The Nashville Rescue Mission is located at 639 Lafayette Street.

Need a Doctor? TriStar Has an App for That

HCA’s TriStar Health System recently introduced the MedLine℠ application, a new app for the iPhone that makes finding the right doctor fast and simple. 

“In today’s busy world, many people do not make their health and wellness a priority and continually put off scheduling an appointment with a physician,” said Cheryl Read, vice president of marketing and communications for TriStar Health System. “We developed this app to assist today’s fast-paced society so individuals could have quick and convenient access to comprehensive physician information whenever and wherever they need it. It’s a portable physician directory with the tap of a screen.” 

The MedLine℠ app, created for the iPhone, expands on TriStar’s free physician referral and appointment service. With the tap of a screen, healthcare consumers can search and request an appointment with a physician affiliated with TriStar Health System. The new app allows consumers the ability to search for a doctor by zip or GPS location, health insurance, physician specialty, physician name or gender. It also features a doctor’s office mapping function and the ability to request an appointment with a doctor by email or one tap to directly call MedLine℠.

Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About!

Awards, Honors, Recognitions

This summer, Nashville dermatologist Michael H. Gold, MD, founder of Gold Skin Care Center, in conjunction with Marc B. Roscher, MD, of South Africa, launched the Dermatologic & Aesthetic Surgery International League (DASIL). “The mission of DASIL is to create a global community for the open exchange of knowledge and innovation by physicians specializing in dermatologic and aesthetic surgery. Through our ongoing educational activities, and by establishing a higher standard of care, people living around the world will benefit from safer, more effective dermatologic and aesthetics treatments,” Gold said of the organization, which is headquartered in Chicago.

Nearly 30 clinical and administrative leaders have been selected to participate in the 10th class of the AHA-NPSF Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship, an intensive, yearlong professional development program for senior practitioners sponsored by the American Hospital Association and National Patient Safety Foundation. More than 10 percent of this year’s class hails from Nashville: Chris Clarke, RN, Tennessee Center for Patient Safety, THA; Barbara Martin, RN, MBA, CCRN, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Barbara Olson, MS, RN, Clinical Services Group, HCA; Wesley Self, MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

The Board of Directors of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) has appointed Michael Gardner, division director of business operations for Women’s Health at Baptist Hospital, the 2011 Board of Examiners. In his new role, Gardner will review and evaluate organizations applying for a TNCPE Award.

Rahn Kennedy Bailey, MD, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College, has been named president-elect of the National Medical Association. NMA represents more than 30,000 African-American physicians and is the largest and oldest national organization representing African-American physicians and the patients they service. Elected at the annual meeting in late July, he begins his term as the 113th NMA president next summer.

The Tennessee Disability Coalition recently received a $25,000 grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) to continue its work conducting leadership training to educate the disabled in the Nashville community to speak on their own behalf and to develop community leaders to work on issues such as housing, healthcare, long-term care, transportation and job discrimination.

LBMC Technologies has been named to the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics President’s Club, which honors high-performing Microsoft Dynamics partners whose commitment to customers is reflected in their business success and growth. The select group represents the top 5 percent of Microsoft Dynamics partners worldwide. In other news, the company was also honored with a top 25 ranking in Accounting Today’s Top 100 VARs (Value Added Resellers) for 2011. LBMC Technologies was ranked 24 out of 100 firms included on the list.

Saint Thomas Hospital was recently presented with the Innovative Health-System Pharmacy Practice Award by the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP). The award is given annually to a pharmacy department staff in a hospital with more than 100 beds in recognition of efforts that advanced the level of pharmacy services within the past 24 months.

The Tennessee Medical Association has launched a quarterly Public Health Champion recognition program to highlight heroes in the public health arena. The inaugural honor went to Sullivan K. Smith, MD, FACEP, of Cookeville Regional Medical Center for his work in fighting illicit drug use.

HCA, which operates 164 hospitals and 111 freestanding surgery centers, was named to Hospitals & Health Networks’ list of “Healthcare’s Most Wired in 2011” in last month’s publication. HCA’s Information Technology & Services (IT&S) department is engaged in the design and implementation of hCare, the company’s new electronic health record, and several other significant technology projects. IT&S has more than 3,000 employees nationwide and includes its data center in Nashville, as well as four regional data centers and 14 division support centers responsible for delivering IT services to HCA and more than 80 non-HCA facilities.

Herb Fritch, HealthSpring chairman and CEO, has joined Council Ventures’ CEO Council. With Fritch's addition, the CEO Council includes 24 experienced chief executives who give portfolio companies access to important networks and expertise to complement their capabilities.

Recent Certifications, Accreditations & Commendations

Neurologist and headache specialist Jan Lewis Brandes, MD, who practices with Nashville Neuroscience Group, has earned headache medicine certification from the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS).

Horizon Medical Center was granted a Three-Year Accreditation by the CoC (Commission on Cancer) with all eight commendations and is expected to make the cut for Outstanding Achievement Award recipients when they are announced next spring.

Saint Thomas Health received Accreditation with Commendation for its Continuing Medical Education (CME) program from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This is the highest level of accreditation awarded by ACCME, as only 15 percent of all providers nationally are awarded Accreditation with Commendation. The ACCME’s accreditation criteria calls for providers to offer educational activities that address physicians’ real-world practice needs and design CME programs to change physician’s competence or performance or patient outcomes.  

Vanderbilt Researchers & International Team Uncover Genes Linked to Multiple Sclerosis

An international team of scientists has identified 29 new genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis, providing key insights into the biology of an important and very debilitating neurological disease. MS, one of the most common neurological conditions among young adults, affects around 2.5 million individuals worldwide. 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Center for Human Genetic Research (CHGR) played an important role in the research published Aug. 10 in the journal Nature, which represents the largest MS genetics study ever undertaken and effectively doubles the number of genes known to be associated with the disease. Researchers studied the DNA from 9,772 individuals with multiple sclerosis and 17,376 unrelated healthy controls. They were able to confirm 23 previously known genetic associations and identified a further 29 new genetic variants (and an additional five that are strongly suspected) conferring susceptibility to the disease. 

Previous studies have suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of MS. Researchers in this study identified two genes involved in the metabolism of vitamin D, providing additional insight into a possible link between genetic and environmental risk factors.

Radiology Alliance to Serve All Area TriStar Hospitals

In mid-August, it was announced HCA’ s TriStar Health System has signed a five-year contract with Radiology Alliance to be its exclusive market-wide radiology provider for inpatient and outpatient services at TriStar’s eight Middle Tennessee hospitals effective this month.

The state’s largest radiology practice, Radiology Alliance previously served as the provider at five TriStar hospitals – Centennial, Summit, StoneCrest, Southern Hills and Ashland City. Under the new contract, the practice added service to Skyline, Hendersonville and Horizon.

Radiology Alliance has 54 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, all board certified by the American Board of Radiology. The group has a long record of pioneering new technologies, including a partnership with Tennessee Oncology to launch the first PET/CT in Tennessee and starting the first bilateral breast MRI services in the state.

Avondale Partners Launches Municipal Bond Trading Department

Avondale Partners, a national investment banking and wealth management firm headquartered in Nashville, recently announced the creation of a municipal bond trading department. Richard Sale joined the group as a managing director to launch the new operation.

Sale brings 30 years of experience in the municipal bond industry to Avondale, having held senior level positions in municipal bond trading, underwriting, institutional sales, investment banking and management. He comes to the firm from the Brentwood, Tennessee office of Ross Sinclair & Associates where he served as vice president. Sale is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in finance and management science.

MedVance Institute Becomes Fortis Institute - Nashville

MedVance Institute, a post-secondary healthcare education institution in Nashville has changed its name to Fortis Institute. The school and its ownership remain the same, and as part of the collaborative Fortis network of colleges and institutes, the Nashville campus will continue to embrace the same core values for which it is known. Now, however, it also will be able to draw upon additional resources and have access to higher-level educational program offerings and technology.

Programs at the Nashville campus include Cardiovascular Technology, Information Technology & Biomedical Technician training, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiologic Technology and Surgical Technology. Fortis Institute is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

DisastersNet Changes Name to ReadyPoint Systems; Adds Technology

After two years and a presence in more than 100 hospitals, Nashville-based DisastersNet has changed its name to ReadyPoint Systems and expanded its technology offerings, company officials announced recently.

According to Chris Riddle, company president, the name change and services expansion reflects the changing dynamics in the healthcare industry and the company’s desire to help hospitals meet the increasing demands for quality, safety, accountability and transparency.

“Right now there is a tremendous opportunity to help hospitals meet the challenges of today’s healthcare environment. So our company has evolved to help hospitals be ready,” said Riddle. In addition to the company’s incident management system, ReadyPoint has introduced a new service called EyeOn, which helps hospitals manage quality and patient safety on a consistent basis.

Numnum Joins Gynecologic Oncology of Middle Tennessee

Saint Thomas Health recently announced the addition of board-certified gynecologic oncologist, T. Michael Numnum, MD, to the practice of Gynecologic Oncology of Middle Tennessee, which serves patients at Baptist Medical Plaza, on the Middle Tennessee Medical Center campus, and in Williamson County at the Center for Pelvic Health.

Numnum completed his medical degree, internship and residency training at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, followed by fellowship training in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Alabama. His special areas of interest include ovarian cancer, minimally invasive surgery, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer.

Ponder to Serve as Resident Pharmacist at Reeves-Sain

Kathryn Ponder, PharmD, has joined the Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services as a pharmacy practice resident with the University of Tennessee for the 2011-2012 year. She will serve in the areas of Pharmacy/Clinical Pharmacy, specifically concentrating on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy consultations and research.

The Dickson, Tenn. native, who now lives in Nashville, earned her pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2005. She has worked as a retail pharmacist since graduation.

Howell Named Principal at Cumberland Consulting Group

Cumberland Consulting Group recently announced the promotion of Erik Howell to principal. Howell, who has a decade of consulting experience, manages healthcare information technology implementation projects for a broad range of healthcare provider organizations. He specializes in configuration, testing, training, and implementation support.

Prior to joining Cumberland in 2004, Howell was a technical architect for Ernst & Young. He holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he graduated with high honors. Additionally he is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute and is certified in EpicCare Inpatient Procedure Orders. Howell is currently pursuing a master’s in Medical Informatics at Northwestern University.

PointClear Names Hamilton CMIO

PointClear Solutions, Inc., which is headquartered in Alabama with additional offices in Tennessee and Georgia, recently announced Nashville-based Rodney Hamilton, MD, has been named to the company’s newly created position of chief medical information officer and managing director of its product strategy practice. With both a clinical and HIT background, Hamilton has held executive roles at McKesson and Vanguard Health Systems. His focus will be on assisting healthcare organizations achieve goals through the strategic use of information technology via the implementation or integration of existing technologies and/or the development of custom solutions.

Hamilton will continue, on a limited basis, to see patients in his private pediatrics practice and remains an active member of the clinical staff at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

TMA’s Miller to Succeed Alexander in 2012 

Recently, the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) announced the promotion of Russell Miller, 

CAE, to executive vice president, and the TMA Board of Trustees selected him to become chief executive officer of the 8,000-member physician organization upon retirement of the current CEO Don Alexander in 2012.

Miller has been with TMA since 1987, serving as senior vice president since 1996. A veteran public relations and marketing professional, Miller has directed TMA’s corporate communications, marketing, sales management, web presence, and the association’s statewide magazine. Recently, he has also been tasked with creating and implementing TMA’s strategic plan and with oversight of the organization’s information technology systems. Miller earned his undergraduate degree in public relations and journalism from Auburn.

Alexander has been with TMA since 1973 and has served as CEO since 1995. Earlier this year, he announced his plans to retire in 2012.

Centennial Medical Center Welcomes Dobay

Centennial Medical Center recently announced the addition of Kristin Dobay, MD, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, to its medical staff.

Dobay received his medical degree from Michigan State University: College of Human Medicine. He then completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency and internship at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium: Brooke Army Medical Center/Wilford Hall Medical Center. He has more than nine years of experience and is board certified.

Xeomin^® Joins Botox, Dysport as FDA Approved Toxins

Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA), a pure neurotoxin produced by Merz Aesthetics, has received FDA approval for the improvement of glabellar lines, those between the eyebrows, in adult patients. The approval makes way for another competitor to join Botox and Dysport as the only other toxins on the market approved to treat glabellar lines.

The FDA approval comes after investigative trials indicating Xeomin provided significant improvement in versus placebo within 30 days of injection. Tennessee Clinical Research Center (the research facility of Gold Skin Care Center) of Nashville was one of 16 investigative sites selected across the country to participate in the clinical trials at its research facility. Xeomin is expected to be available to the public next spring.

PivotHealth, LLC Acquired by The Advisory Board Company

Last month, The Advisory Board Company and its Southwind division announced the acquisition as of substantially all the assets of PivotHealth, LLC, a leading physician practice management firm based in Nashville. According to company officials, the transaction enhances The Advisory Board Company's existing physician practice management capabilities and provides new growth opportunities with the addition of PivotHealth’s expertise in long-term practice management. PivotHealth has been incorporated into The Advisory Board Company’s Southwind division and will continue to be based in Nashville, and the company founders John Phillips and Mike McClintock have joined Southwind’s senior leadership team.

Sumner Regional Adds New OB/GYN to Medical Staff

Sumner Regional Medical Center (SRMC) has added Terri J. Holt, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist to the hospital’s medical staff. Holt will be joining Nancy Bradbury, MD, at Total Women’s Care in Gallatin.

Holt completed medical school at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and completed both her internship and residency at LSU Health Sciences Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shreveport. Holt was chief resident of her department and earned the outstanding second and fourth year resident teaching award and the James A. Truly, MD, Award of Compassionate and Thorough Gynecological Care.

Bashian, Jones Join Medical Staff at Horizon

Recently, Gregory G. Bashian, MD, and Chris Jones, MD, with Centennial Heart Cardiovascular Consultants have joined the staff of Horizon Medical Center. Working in collaboration with Dickson Cardiology Associates, Bashian and Jones will provide electrophysiology specializing in atrial fibrillation ablation.

Bashian graduated cum laude from Yale University with a degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then served his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, where he also completed a Fellowship in Nuclear Cardiology. Bashian has also completed Clinical Fellowships in Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at the Cleveland Clinic.

Jones, a native of Oak Ridge, Tenn., is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he graduated summa cum laude and received both a bachelor's and master's degree in nuclear engineering. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1998, where her received the Medical Student Award for Research in Nuclear Imaging. Jones subsequently served as intern and resident on the Osler medical service at Johns Hopkins Hospital and later completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Jones furthered his cardiology training by completing an electrophysiology fellowship at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

onFocus Announces New Sales Executive, Expands National Sales Coverage

Nashville-based onFocus Healthcare, Inc. recently announced the addition of Richard Crook to its leadership team. Crook brings 20 years of sales management experience to his position as vice president of sales. Most recently, he served as a national account manager at Healthcare Management Systems, which develops information technology solutions for community hospitals and healthcare facilities. Company leadership announced Crook is an integral component to the execution of a broader go-to-market plan and the creation of a national sales presence in all of the major U.S. markets.

LBMC Promotes McDonald

This summer, Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, PC (LBMC) promoted Andrew McDonald, FACHE, to director in the healthcare consulting department. He has more than 25 years experience working as either full-time administrator or consultant to a broad range of healthcare organizations including expertise in billing/coding/collection services, strategic planning, human resource management, financial analysis, IT assessment, practice development, fair market value compensation opinions/modeling, valuation services and general practice management services.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, he received his undergraduate degree in Commerce and Business Administration. McDonald earned his master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

NeighborMD Expands

The newest center for NeighborMD opened last month in Brentwood in Peartree Village Shopping Center. The first center, which opened in Hermitage, was launched this past January. The Brentwood location is the second of approximately 24 planned centers in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky over the next five years, according to NeighborMD Chief Operating Officer Les Coble. The physician-staffed center offers a broad range of healthcare services including treatment for episodic illnesses and injuries; wellness, sport, DOT, and executive physicals; immunizations; and various screening and testing panels for individuals and employers. The 3,700 square foot center has eight exam rooms and is open seven days a week.

Chaney Tapped to Lead Lam-Andrews PR Efforts

Lam-Andrews, a Nashville-based strategic marketing and interactive firm specializing in healthcare, has made significant moves to position itself among the area’s most competitive public relations agencies, hiring industry veteran Dave Chaney to lead the charge.    

“The truth is our clients have asked us for PR for years, and we’ve always believed that it would be a natural complement to our strategic and creative services. The timing is right for us to grow, and with Dave’s background and skill set we have found the perfect fit,” said John Lam, co-founder and chief strategist, of the move to provide fully integrated communications campaigns.

Prior to joining Lam-Andrews, Chaney was corporate communications advisor at Franklin-based Passport Health Communications Inc., a national healthcare IT company. His experience also includes serving as an account supervisor with McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations.

Summit Opens New ED

On Aug. 23, Summit Medical Center opened its newly renovated Emergency Department. The ED is now a 16,905 square-foot facility housing 32 private patient treatment rooms, including four “fast-track” rooms for rapid medical evaluation, 28 general treatment rooms and a dedicated decontamination room. In addition, a sub-wait area with seating and tables was added outside the triage rooms to accommodate guests who are waiting for patients to be taken to an exam room, labs or imaging.

The groundbreaking for this project began in June 2010 and was undertaken in three phases so the department could continue to function as renovations were underway. From start to finish, the $6.3 million project took 13 months.

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