Save the DateFebruary 10 • Deadline for 2014 Women to Watch NominationsThe deadline is fast approaching to nominate an outstanding woman in the field of healthcare for the Women to Watch Class of 2014. Clinicians, researchers, administrators, policy makers and allied industry professionals who are making a difference in the healthcare industry on a local, regional or national level are eligible for nomination. In April, Nashville Medical News will feature a special section on the 10 honorees for 2014, and the women will also be recognized at an awards breakfast later that month. To nominate a deserving candidate, go online to www.nashvillemedicalnews.com and click on the Women to Watch icon.March 7 • 2014 Healthcare Diversity Forum • Vanderbilt University Student Life Center • 7:30 am-1 pmThe Council on Workforce Innovation is presenting this half-day seminar on trends and resources impacting diversity in the healthcare workforce. Moderated by NewsChannel 5 Anchor Vicki Yates, panelists include HealthStream Founder & CEO Bobby Frist; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean; Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, Jr., JD; Vanderbilt Associate Dean of Diversity Andre Churchwell, MD; and Vanderbilt Chief Human Resource Officer Traci Nordberg, JD. For more information, call (615) 830-0201 or go online to www.nowdiversity.org. Registration deadline is March 1.Vanderbilt Announces Recent Autism DiscoveriesLast month, Vanderbilt researchers announced the findings of two separate studies on autism.The first, which was released in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, found more independent work environments might lead to reductions in autism symptoms and improve daily living in adults with the disorder.The study examined 153 adults with autism and found that greater vocational independence and engagement led to improvements in core features of autism, other problem behaviors and ability to take care of oneself. Participants averaged 30 years of age and were part of a larger longitudinal study on adolescents and adults with autism. Data were collected at two time points separated by 5.5 years.“We found that if you put the person with autism in a more independent vocational placement, this led to measurable improvements in their behaviors and daily living skills overall,” said lead author Julie Lounds Taylor, PhD, assistant professor of Pediatrics and Special Education and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center investigator. The second study revealed the senses of sight and sound are separated in children with autism. Published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the study found children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble integrating simultaneous information from their eyes and their ears … much like watching a foreign movie that has been badly dubbed.The study, led by Mark Wallace, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, is the first to illustrate the link and strongly suggests that deficits in the sensory building blocks for language and communication can ultimately hamper social and communication skills in children with autism.“There is a huge amount of effort and energy going into the treatment of children with autism, virtually none of it is based on a strong empirical foundation tied to sensory function,” Wallace said. “If we can fix this deficit in early sensory function then maybe we can see benefits in language and communication and social interactions.” Wallace added, the findings could have much broader applications because sensory functioning is also changed in developmental disabilities such as dyslexia and schizophrenia. The study found that children with autism have an enlargement in the temporal binding window (TBW), meaning the brain has trouble associating visual and auditory events that happen within a certain period of time. A second part of the study found that children with autism also showed weaknesses in how strongly they “bound” or associated audiovisual speech stimuli.“One of the classic pictures of children with autism is they have their hands over their ears,” Wallace said. “We believe that one reason for this may be that they are trying to compensate for their changes in sensory function by simply looking at one sense at a time. This may be a strategy to minimize the confusion between the senses.”Rash Returns to Top Post at RegionalCareAfter less than a year in the top spot at RegionalCare Hospital Partners, Kent Wallace has resigned and founder Marty Rash has stepped back into the CEO role. Wallace joined the Brentwood-based rural hospital company last February from Vanguard Health Systems, which was bought out by Tenet in 2013. In addition to his resumed CEO position, Rash continues as executive chairman of RegionalCare. In other company news, Rob Jay, another former Vanguard employee, has been named RegionalCare’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer. The promotion was announced in late January. Jay joined RegionalCare in May 2013 as senior vice president of operations. Prior to his work at Vanguard, Jay served as the corporate controller for HMA, which has just been purchased by CHS.Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About!Awards, Honors, RecognitionsBass Berry & Sims has announced Danielle Sloane has been elected to membership. The new partner focuses her practice exclusively in the healthcare industry with a particular emphasis on regulatory, operational, compliance and transactional issues.Tennessee Health eShare Direct Project hit a milestone in late January when more than 4,000 physicians have participated in the state’s Direct Technology initiative since its launch last July. The push to adopt the technology, which allows secure communication, is a national effort, and Tennessee has been recognized for having one of the most rapid adoption rates.Judge Daniel B. Eisenstein was recently honored during the inaugural NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Tennessee Vision of Hope Gala. The judge was presented with the Vision of Hope Award for his work with the Davidson County Mental Health Court over the last decade, as well as his collaboration with NAMI Tennessee and advocacy for people with mental illness. Wishes GrantedAccording to annual figures available through the National Institute of Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is now ranked ninth in the national among U.S. medical schools in total grant support provided through the nation’s medical research agency. During the calendar year 2013, VUSM received more than $292 million in NIH grant support. VUSM moved up four places in the rankings since 2012.Centerstone Research Institute (CSI) is teaming up with Indiana University – Bloomington, Regenstrief Institute, Wake Forest School of Medicine and other organizations in a three-year, $686,000 research grant to study the advance use of artificial intelligence in healthcare decision support. The grant is funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health. The Martha O’Bryan Center has received a $100,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee to support the parent education programming, Tied Together. The 10-week program brings together community partners to support young parents … some as young as 14 years old … as they raise their children. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has received a $100,000 ovarian cancer grant from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The fund, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the V Foundation, presents an award annually to an institution based in the host city of the NCAA Women’s Final Four®, which will be held in Nashville April 6 and 8 at Bridgestone Arena. The grant will be used to continue VICC research on imaging ovarian cancer with novel small molecule radiotracers of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). TriStar StoneCrest Names Wagster Lab DirectorTriStar StoneCrest Medical Center recently welcomed Marvin Wagster as administrative director of laboratory services where he will oversee a staff that processes about 270,000 inpatient tests annually. With more than 20 years of laboratory services experience, he has extensive leadership expertise in the hospital laboratory setting. Most recently, Wagster was with Saint Thomas Health Services. He earned his undergraduate degree in medical technology/biology and chemistry from the University of Tennessee and his master’s degree in health services administration from University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill.
Beverly Joins UNHS as CMOSteven Beverly, MD, recently joined United Neighborhood Health Services as chief medical officer. In his new role, he will provide oversight of the organization as a member of the leadership team and will maintain responsibility for clinical activities. A board-certified OB/GYN, he has practiced medicine for 13 years, most recently serving as managing partner of Dobson and Beverly in Bowling Green, Ky. Beverly is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. TriStar Buys Capella FacilityLast month it was announced that HCA’s TriStar division had signed a definitive agreement to purchase Grandview Medical Center near Chattanooga from Capella Healthcare. The 70-bed hospital located in Jasper, Tenn., serves five counties in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. It will become part of TriStar’s growing Parkridge Health System, which will grow to five facilities in the Chattanooga metropolitan market with the completion of this acquisition. The transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, is expected to close the first quarter of 2014.PearlPoint Releases New App on Cancer Side EffectsLast month, PearlPoint Cancer Support announced the release of a new, free mobile app called, “Cancer Side Effects Helper.” The app, which can be downloaded by oncology patients and their caregivers from ITunes and Google Play, provides information to help minimize common side effects from cancer treatments. The app features a comprehensive list of side effects and the medically approved, practical tips that could help decrease their impact.
New Law Aims to Protect Youth Athletes from Long-Term Effects of ConcussionOn Feb. 5, New Life Lodge hosted “Tackle Mental Health and Addiction” to raise awareness for the connection between concussions, mental health and addiction. The event was inspired by a new Tennessee law that protects youth athletes who suffer from concussions by providing treatment guidelines for coaches, youth athletic instructors and parents. It brought together Tennessee legislative leaders, the Tennessee NFL Alumni Association and mental health professionals to learn how concussions affect the brain and why they’re linked to long-term mental and behavioral health conditions. Dr. Paul Ragan, medical director at New Life Lodge, presented the latest research on concussions. He emphasized that it is vital for athletes to allow time for a full recovery before returning to competition after a concussion. Repeated concussions can damage the brain, which impacts behavior and puts athletes at risk for addiction, even years down the road.
The Keckley ReportHealthcare guru, political pundit, and former Nashvillian Paul Keckley, PhD, recently launched The Keckley Report. The weekly report – billed as simplifying the world of health policy so you don’t have to – shares insights and explanations from Keckley, who is the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and a nationally renowned speaker on health policy. You can subscribe to the free report at www.paulkeckley.com.Healthways Inks Three-Year Agreement with California BlueIn late January, Healthways announced Franklin-based company had signed a three-year agreement with BlueShield of California to provide well-being solutions to the insurer’s Wellvolution health and wellness program. The program will touch three million commercial members plus more than a dozen employer groups. This latest agreement marked the fourth such deal inked by Healthways in January. Other contracts to start 2014 included ones with UCLA, Carondelet Health Network in Arizona and a health coaching program ‘down under’ in Australia.Duke LifePoint Signs Agreement with Wilson Medical CenterIt was recently announced that Duke LifePoint Healthcare has signed a definitive agreement with Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, N.C., to form a joint venture, including $120 million in capital investments and resources over the next decade, following a vote by the Wilson County Board of Commissioners. The agreement is now under review by the state attorney general.Under the terms of the agreement, Duke LifePoint would own 80 percent of the joint venture, while Wilson Medical Center and the community would have a 20 percent ownership stake. Governance of Wilson Medical Center will be shared equally by Duke LifePoint and Wilson though the creation of a 10-member board with equal representation from both organizations. BlueCross to Offer One-Year Extensions to Individuals with Policy Renewal Dates through Oct. 1, 2014BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will allow individuals with coverage renewal dates from Jan. 1, 2014 through Oct. 1, 2014 to keep their existing health plans for another year.The extension option was offered in November by the federal government and Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) for what are considered non-grandfathered health plans under the Affordable Care Act. An estimated 50,000 individuals currently covered with BlueCross policies will be offered the extension option. These members will need to keep the exact same level of benefits and renewal dates in order to qualify for the extensions.BlueCross will not offer small group customers (50 or fewer employees) with an extension option because the company had already provided an option for early renewal in 2013 to allow them to keep their existing plans through most of 2014.“Many of our customers will now have the option to keep their health insurance,” said Bill Gracey, BlueCross president and CEO. “These plans have provided high-quality coverage that has met our customers’ needs. We expect many of them will welcome the opportunity to renew their coverage for another year.”BlueCross individual members will have the option to renew their current plan for another year, or choose an Affordable Care Act-compliant plan, which may come with additional benefits and financial assistance, if eligible.The individual plans that may be extended are considered as non-grandfathered health plans under the ACA and were required to be discontinued under the law in 2014.The extension effectively moves the deadline forward, but plans renewing after Oct. 1, 2014 must meet all requirements of the ACA. Extending existing individual plans will delay some of the more challenging consumer impacts of the ACA for another year and alleviate concerns of consumers who have had difficulty accessing the Marketplace. Customers who choose this one-year extension option will still need to move to ACA-compliant plans in 2015.This extension option does not apply to consumers with coverage through any of the Cover Tennessee programs, which are operated by the State of Tennessee with BlueCross serving as a contracted administrator. For more details on the future of these state programs, visit www.tn.gov/tenncare/HealthInsurance.shtml.
