Physician Advocacy Since 1873
Bulletin
MAY/JUN., 2022 VOLUME 52, NO. 3
Editors: Alejandro Arevalo, M.D. | Erica Huffman, Executive Director www.escambiacms.org
President’s Message
Contents Page 5 - Medical/Legal Page 10 - Foundation
During my time of reflection in preparation for this article, what I have been most struck with in the past few months has been the “shortages” that have been plaguing the medical community and the community at large. Two years ago it started out with an unknown and at least for me a difficult to understand at the time toilet paper shortage. I had no idea what that was foreshadowing. When it was happening, I remember thinking, well do I run out and get all of the toilet paper, tissue paper and paper towels I could find? Do I go stock my shelves at the expense of someone else’s shelves? Do I participate in worsening the hardship for someone else? But at the time it was just toilet paper. Not life or death but it seemed so stressful at the time for the country. Little did I know but what felt like within moments came the life and death decisions and shortages for this great country in which we live. We have seen shortages of Personal Protective Equipment, shortages of ICU beds and ventilators. We have seen shortages of crucial staff members secondary to COVID and thus affecting people’s ability to care for their family and in turn the ability to provide care for the sick and those in need. To now, it seems we have daily, weekly, monthly
national shortages on critical medications and equipment that are used in all areas of medicine to care for the community we are charged to care for. It seems that no specialty has been spared, although certainly the gravity of some hardships have hit some worse than others. We have lost physicians secondary to the weight of some of these decisions. Most recently we have seen empty formula shelves. Even our most innocent and vulnerable have been impacted by the shortages. I have had to watch people trying to grasp at straws and alternatives and every opportunity and avenue to feed their infant. In some instances, it has been heartbreaking. At the time of authoring this article, gas prices have skyrocketed which inevitably will cause further downstream increases which will affect our community, patients, and our families. Many will never know all that goes on in the background to ensure that high quality and compassionate care continues despite these shortages. To ensure the best decisions are made for each and every person. The medical community, in my personal opinion, has truly adapted and overcame and continues to do so. I keep trying to think of, or prepare for, the next thing that may affect me, my home, my practice, the hospital systems
Page 12 - Community
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Member Updates E.C.M.S. Bulletin The Bulletin is a publication for and by the members of the Escambia County Medical Society. The Bulletin publishes six times a year: Jan/Feb, Mar/ Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/ Oct, Nov/Dec. We will consider for publication articles relating to medical science, photos, book reviews, memorials, medical/ legal articles, and practice management.
Vision for the Bulletin: • Appeal to the family of medicine in Escambia and Santa Rosa County and to the world beyond. • A powerful instrument to attract and induct members to organized medicine.
Mission:
Advancing physicians’ practice of medicine in our community.
Editor
Alejandro Arevalo, M.D.
Executive Director Erica Huffman 4771 Bayou Blvd. # 157 Pensacola, FL 32503 Ph: 850-478-0706 Fx: 850-474-9783 Email: info@escambiacms.org www.escambiacms.org
Ad placement Contact Erica Huffman at 478-0706 Ad rates 1/2 page: $350 · 1/4 page: $200 · 1/8 page: $150 View and opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the board of directors, staff or advertisers. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit or reject any submission.
New Members Matthew Sanders, MD Vascular Surgeon Ascension Sacred Heart 5149 North 9th Avenue, Suite 120 G20 Pensacola, FL 32504 850-479-4223
Augustus Perez, M.D. Ascension Sacred Heart Neurosurgery Neurosurgery 5153 North 9th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32504 (850) 416-2250 Fax: (850) 416-2536
Paul Alappat, M.D. Cardiology Santa Rosa Medical Center 5992 Berryhill Road Milton, FL 32570 850-981-7738
Stephen Richardson, D.O. Physiological Associates, PA 1120 North Palafox Street Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 434-5033 psyassociates.com
Seth Vernon, MD, FACS General Surgeon Baptist Hospital 1717 North “E” Street, Suite 205 Pensacola, FL 32501 850-437-8810 Allen, Gary, D.O. Sacred Heart 400 Milestone Boulevard Cantonment, FL 32533 (850) 476-0200 Colleen Timmons, D.O. Ascension Sacred Heart 5151 North 9th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32504 (850) 416-7000 healthcare.ascension.org
Escambia/Santa Rosa County Medical Society is a local physician membership association established in 1873. Our mission is to advance physicians' practice of medicine in our community. SAVE THE DATE
JULY 21, 2022 , 5:30 PM Maserati Pensacola 5600 Pensacola Blvd. All physicians & their guests welcome!
RSVP to Erica Huffman by 7/14 email: director@escambiacms.org or text 561-414-6113 Sponsors: Fisher Brown Insurance, Underwood Anderson Insurance, Eriske Benefits, PIP Legal Guide
www.escambiacms.org | 3
President’s letter cont’d that I have such high regard for and the community. The truth is, we cannot anticipate these changes or hardships no matter how hard our Type A personalities want to. What I can predict, anticipate, and rely on is that our community, our practices, and our hospitals will continue to prepare and problem solve in order to take on any outside stressors head on. Just like we shield our children, as best as we can, from stressors and hardship out of a sense of love and responsibility, we too shall continue to put on our armor and wield our shields in order to protect our patients and vulnerable community members. I know, without a doubt we will persevere, even if at times it seems impossible especially with the next alert of “back orders” and “out of stock” looming around the corner as well as the next round of critical decisions that will arrive. It almost seems to be engrained as part of our lives since Quarter 1 of 2020. Hopefully, we look back at this time with incredible admiration for how we handled ourselves and grateful for the lessons and tools we took with us to ensure success for future hardships.
As always, the Escambia County Medical Society is here for each and everyone of you whether you know it or not. If we cannot solve your problem, sometimes a sounding board and commiseration is all you need. For, one thing there will never be a shortage of is the camaraderie and desire for success that I, and the rest of the ECMS society has for each and everyone of the physicians in the community. Until next time, Kacey Montgomery, MD
event notifications
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4 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Medical/Legal
Analysis of Cerebrovascular Accidents and Malpractice Claims Shelley Rizzo, MSN, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company Because a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) can happen in any healthcare setting, it is imperative that all healthcare providers and staff have the ability to spot the signs and symptoms promptly. Timely diagnosis and treatment can minimize injury severity and improve patient outcomes. In a review of claims closed by The Doctors Company from 2009 through 2020, we identified 395 claims with a final diagnosis of acute CVA. Our review addresses the following: case types, factors that contributed to patient harm, patient injuries, patient injury severity, locations where the patient allegedly suffered harm, and patient comorbidities that affected the outcome of care. The information obtained from analyzing these claims provides useful statistics and insightful risk reduction strategies that can help clinicians improve patient safety. The two case summaries presented here also provide valuable information about the types of patient safety and risk management issues that contribute to CVA claims. Most Common Case Types Related to CVA The most common types of CVA cases included claims related to diagnosis (failure, delay, or wrong) (42 percent), management of treatment plan (20 percent), and medication management (14 percent).
Diagnosis-Related Claims Diagnosis (failure, delay, or wrong) was the most common allegation in claims arising from CVAs. Factors related to diagnosis of CVA that contributed to patient injuries included inadequate patient assessments (70 percent), failure or delay in obtaining a consult or referral (28 percent), and lack of communication among providers (23 percent). Patient assessment issues included a failure to appreciate and reconcile relevant signs, symptoms, and test results and a failure or delay in ordering diagnostic tests. Other factors related to patient assessments were misinterpretation of diagnostic studies and overreliance on negative findings for patients with ongoing symptoms. One additional factor in diagnosis-related claims was failure or delay in obtaining a consult or referral. In some cases, we found that the patient was not referred to a neurologist because the diagnosing clinician did not feel that the symptoms justified additional evaluation. Communication among clinicians regarding patients’ conditions was a factor in 23 percent of diagnosis-related claims. In some cases, important information was not given to the clinicians providing care to the patient. In other cases, information was lost during transitions of patient care.
Consider the following case studies involving the diagnosis and treatment of CVA: Case One: Patient Assessment Issues With Failure to Establish a Differential Diagnosis A 57-year-old female with a diagnosis of morbid obesity presented to the hospital for reversal of a jejunal bypass and conversion to gastric bypass. The patient had undergone the jejunal bypass approximately 15 years earlier and suffered from daily diarrhea. The insured general surgeon had performed fewer than six other operations of this type. The patient was taken to the operating room and had no complications noted during the surgery. Postoperatively, she was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit and did well. She was then transferred to the surgical floor. On the second postoperative day, the family told the nurses that the patient was confused and nonresponsive. The nurses attributed the patient’s condition to the pain medication and did not call the doctor. On the third postoperative day, the patient had a high temperature and was hypotensive, nonresponsive, and draining foul-smelling brown fluid from the wound site. The general surgeon examined the patient, suspected a leak, and transferred her to the ICU, but the patient was not taken to the operating room until approximately 12 hours later.
The medical record contained no explanation for the delay. Once in the OR, the general surgeon repaired a small leak at the anastomosis. Copious foulsmelling fluid in the abdomen was irrigated with antibiotic solution and drains were placed. The patient was then transferred to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. The nurses noted that the patient was not moving her left side. A CT of the brain revealed a cerebral infarct. The patient was transferred to a larger hospital for a neurosurgery consult but expired two days later. The cause of death was determined to be multiple brain infarcts. The plaintiff ’s experts alleged that the brain infarcts were related to sepsis from the leak and that the leak should have been recognized and repaired sooner. Case Two: Failure to Diagnose and Delayed Treatment of CVA A 76-year-old male presented to the emergency department of the hospital. He stated that he had fallen and complained of pain in the left wrist. A small abrasion was noted at the left lateral eyebrow. The patient said he had lost consciousness for a few seconds. He was diagnosed with new onset of atrial fibrillation with syncope, comminuted Colles’ fracture, and facial abrasion. The patient was admitted with an internal medicine physician as the attending. A cardiology consult for atrial fibrillation was obtained. www.escambiacms.org | 5
Medical/Legal The cardiologist recommended starting Lovenox and Coumadin. The patient was recovering well and was admitted to the hospital. At 9:00 PM, the nurse noted that the patient was staring but responding appropriately. At 9:45 PM, the nurse noted the phone rang and the patient attempted to answer it using the urinal. At 10:35 PM, the nurse noted the patient was not oriented to name, place, or time. The nurse notified the attending physician, who ordered “give Haldol 2 mg IM every four hours for agitation as necessary.” At 11:37 PM, the patient’s family notified the nurse that the patient was acting strangely. The nurse noted that his pupils were equal and reactive to light. At 12:10 AM, the patient was noted to be sleeping. At 1:00 AM, the patient was found on his knees beside the bed. He complained of a slight headache, and a question was raised about whether he had hit his head. The nurse called the attending physician, who ordered “non-stat CT of head in the morning, get blood urea nitrogen and creatine, and may restrain the patient.” During the rest of the night, the patient was noted to be sleeping. At 8:00 AM, the shift changed, and a new nurse noted the patient was unresponsive, with pupils that were unequal and sluggish. The nurse did not call the physician because she thought the physician would be in shortly for rounds. The physician arrived approximately 45 minutes later. The physician ordered a stat CT of the brain, which was read as left cerebral hemorrhage. The patient was made do-notresuscitate status and expired that afternoon. The plaintiff alleged that delayed diagnosis and delayed treatment of the CVA led to the patient’s
death. Experts opined that CVA should have been part of the differential diagnosis for this patient after suffering a fall, receiving anticoagulants, exhibiting confusion, and complaining of a headache. The plaintiff ’s experts felt that the first nurse should have gone up the chain of command to get help for the patient since he was clearly having decreased mentation. Experts also felt that when the patient was found unresponsive, the second nurse should have called the physician immediately rather than waiting for the physician to make rounds on the patient. Lessons Learned from These Diagnosis-Related Case Studies Both case studies examined involved the diagnosis and treatment of CVA in which care was found to be lacking. Because CVA is relatively common, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for any patient who complains of or exhibits typical signs and symptoms: headache, confusion, numbness or paralysis of one side of the body, blurred vision, or difficulty with speech. It is important that staff also recognize the common symptoms of CVA and acknowledge concerns raised by family members. It is imperative that nurses and other caregivers relay changes in a patient’s condition to the responsible clinician. Communication and teamwork may result in a faster diagnosis, earlier treatment, and a better prognosis for the patient. Improper Management of Treatment Plan The second most common allegation in CVA claims was improper management of treatment. This included selection of treatment and failure to order medications (such as t-PA and
6 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
other anticoagulants). In some cases, patients presented with symptoms of headache, weakness, or visual disturbances. Other cases involved patients who were scheduled for cardiac procedures and experienced thrombosis when not anticoagulated. When treatment was delayed, clinicians were sometimes criticized for failing to recognize relevant signs and symptoms, or radiologists were found to have incorrectly interpreted imaging studies. Improper Medication Management Cases involving medication management were the third most common allegation in CVA claims. Most often, this included allegations of failure to order medications (such as anticoagulants). In some cases, the most appropriate medication was not used. Other allegations included inadequate documentation of medication use and failure to educate patients on the risks of medications. Services Responsible for Patient Care We found the following in a review of the top clinical services responsible for care when the patient suffered harm from a CVA: Emergency Medicine (17%) Internal Medicine (10%) Hospitalist (10%) Neurology (9%) Cardiology (8%) Radiology (7%) Family Medicine (7%) Setting Patients were admitted to the hospital in half of the cases involving allegations related to CVA. In 26 percent of CVA
claims, the patient was evaluated and treated in an ambulatory setting (including the clinician’s office). In 24 percent of CVA claims, the patient presented to an emergency department for evaluation. Inpatient (50%) Outpatient/Ambulatory (26%) Emergency Department (24%) Injury Severity The nine levels of injury severity as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on its Injury Severity Scale are listed below with the percentages of patients in our study diagnosed with CVA. No claims had an injury in the low-severity range, 21 percent were in the medium-severity category, and 79 percent were in the high-severity category. Low-severity injuries Emotional only (0%) Temporary insignificant (0%) Medium-severity injuries Temporary minor (1%) Temporary major (2%) Permanent minor (18%) High-severity injuries Permanent significant (24%) Permanent major (18%) Permanent grave (3%) Death (34%) Where Injuries Occurred We found that patients suffered the effects of CVAs prior to presenting for care, after presenting to clinicians’ offices and emergency departments with complaints, and during hospitalization. Here are where the injuries occurred:
Medical/Legal Patient’s room (33%) Emergency department (23%) Clinician office (18%) Intensive care unit (7%) Radiology/imaging (4%) Ambulatory/day surgery (4%) Hospital operating room (4%) Special procedure (2%) Cardiac catheterization laboratory (2%) Other locations: <1% each Top Comorbidities Contributing to Claims Although patients presented with comorbidities, only those comorbidities regarded by physician reviewers as having contributed to the event and/or injury or illness were included in the study. Hypertension (26%) Cardiovascular disease (17%) Diabetes (11%) Obesity (7%) Smoking (6%) Cerebrovascular disease (4%) Factors Contributing to Patient Injury We focused on the top five factors that contributed to harm in cases in which patients were diagnosed with CVA. The information includes factor subcategories to provide additional clarity. Note that patients may experience more than one factor, so the totals are sometimes greater than 100 percent. Patient assessment issues (44%) Failure to appreciate and reconcile relevant signs, symptoms, and test results (15%)
Failure or delay in ordering diagnostic tests (14%) Failure to establish a differential diagnosis (12%) Misinterpretation of diagnostic studies (x-rays and other radiographic studies) (8%) Inadequate history and physical (7%) Communication among providers (25%) Regarding patient’s condition (20%) Failure to read medical record (3%) Information lost during transitions in care (2%) Selection and management of therapy (23%) Failure to order medication (9%) Selection and management of medication, other (5%) Selection of medical treatment (4%) Selection of invasive procedure (4%) Communication between patient/ family and providers (18%) Communication between patient/ family and providers, other (4%) Poor rapport (includes unsympathetic response to patient) (4%) Communication between patient/ family and providers regarding expectations (3%) Failure or delay in obtaining a consult or referral (18%) Risk Mitigation Strategies Consider the following patient safety strategies: • Ensure that, regardless of the setting, all members of
the healthcare team are able to recognize and respond to symptoms of a CVA. This is important because CVAs can occur at any time and in any location—including prior to presenting for care, after presenting to a clinician’s office or emergency department, and during hospitalization. Triage protocol training is essential to facilitate further evaluation and treatment in a timely manner. • Conduct thorough assessments, including a comprehensive history and physical exam, and consider all differential diagnoses. • Obtain timely consultations and referrals to specialists for concerning symptoms or challenges in diagnosis. • Consider and order the most appropriate medication promptly, and document the rationale. (Many legal claims result from a failure to offer tPA.) During informed consent discussions, educate the patient and family members on the risks of the medication.
• Follow state laws for the type and extent of physician supervision or collaboration required for all team members, including any advanced practice clinicians and doctors in training. • Promote team building activities and a culture of respect among all staff and clinicians. Implement the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s TeamSTEPPS® program. Use TeamSTEPPS skills to encourage mutual support, promote conflict resolution strategies, and enhance team communication with structured handoffs that minimize errors and prevent delays in treatment. • Encourage patients and family members to learn about and share information on the warning signs of a stroke. See the American Stroke Association’s F.A.S.T Warning Signs.
• Document the patient record clearly and concisely. This information is vital to verify the progression of symptoms and corroborating a timeline of the care and interventions provided (such as diagnostic studies and medication management). • Offer education programs to all patient care staff to enhance their assessment, communication, and decisionmaking skills as part of the patient care team. • Encourage excellent handoff communication to ensure that critical patient information is accurately passed to team members in support of continuity of care, especially during transitions in care.
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KID’S EMERGENCY ROOM EXHIBIT Since 2012, the Pensacola Children’s Museum has been the premier Northwest Florida site for hands-on educational learning for children. From birthday parties to storytime with friends, thousands of children have walked through the doors of the Children’s Museum to play, learn and explore. The museum seeks to provide relevant exhibits and activities that will allow our children to be prepared, educated and productive citizens of our community. Throughout the years, our exhibits have taught visitors about shopping at the grocery store, building and engineering, Pensacola maritime history and Indigenous American history. The newest addition to the PCM, the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation Kid’s Emergency Room, will teach children about doctors visits and will remove the fear and stigma of many common procedures.
Join us in supporting the newest Pensacola Children’s Museum exhibit and help us educate future generations of museum visitors.
Pensacola Children’s Museum | 115 E Zaragoza St, Pensacola, FL 32502 | 850.595.1559 8 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Individual Sponsorship Opportunities STETHOSCOPE SPONSOR
PROVIDER GUIDE $500 per listing 50 “providers” will be included on the electronic provider guide in the PCM Emergency Room.
LAB COAT SPONSOR
$1,000 per listing
$3,000 per coat
Your name will be listed on one of ten stethoscopes in the PCM Kids Emergency Room.
Your name will be listed on one of ten lab coats in the PCM Kids Emergency Room.
Individual/Corporate/Family Sponsorship Opportunities AMBULANCE DOLL PHARMACY SPONSOR SPONSOR SPONSOR $20,000
$15,000
$10,000
LABORATORY X-RAY/CAT REGISTRATION/ SPONSOR SCAN SPONSOR WAITING ROOM SPONSOR $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
COUNT ME IN TO SUPPORT THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION KIDS EMERGENCY ROOM!
NAME _____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ PHONE _____________________________________________________________ EMAIL______________________________________________________________
I WANT TO (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY): ___Support financially with a contribution of $_______. ___Volunteer on Design Committee. ___Volunteer on Fundraising Committee.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS, CONTACT: Erica Huffman Escambia County Medical Society Foundation director@escambiacms.org
Robin Zimmern University of West Florida Historic Trust rzimmern@uwf.edu
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Foundation
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION The Escambia County Medical Society Foundation has long been committed to help the elderly and economically disadvantaged patients in our community. We also have programs designed to help the physicians of our community, such as, the SMART program and physician wellness. I am pleased to announce that we are partnering with the UWF historic trust to create a medical exhibit at the Pensacola Children’s Museum. The goal of such an exhibit is to expose children to a medical setting in a fun and educational way. The initial exhibit will focus on the Emergency Room experience but as the museum grows, there is potential to introduce other fields of medicine which would help to familiarize children with all aspects of the medical experience. There are many ways in which we all can be a part of this very worthwhile project, including many levels of sponsorship. I encourage you to consider donating to this new and exciting exhibit. We had a very successful fundraising event at the zoo over Easter weekend. The weather was beautiful and a great time was had by all. The event activities included viewing the animals at the zoo, riding the train, and an Easter egg hunt. The Easter bunny was there, taking pictures with the children, creating life long family memories. It is our intention to do two family friendly events per year. Our next one is the Thursday before Halloween, October 27th. Mark your calendar now, you won’t want to miss this. Our Foundation programs include:
Pensacola State College Endowment: dedicated to funding scholarships of students attending Pensacola State College who are interested in health-related fields of study. 1873 Society: dedicated to funding all of the initiatives/programs of the ECMS Foundation. This is made possible through the generous donations of our physician colleagues. Please consider becoming a member of the 1873 society. We need you! Physician Wellness Program: dedicated to helping our physician colleagues who may be suffering personal and professional angst. Member physicians may access three private sessions with a highly skilled psychologist. SMART program: dedicated to Stress Management and Resiliency Training. Our physician instructor is Dr. Rohit Amin who will teach a 90 minute class each week over nine weeks. Most physicians would benefit from learning skills which may help them to handle stress more appropriately and be more resilient when attempting to meet life’s challenges. The ECMS foundation board is committed to strengthen and expand the our existing programs. We are actively developing additional programs, such as our museum exhibit, to try to be a positive force in our community. This can only be done through the generosity of our physicians, both through financial contributions and by donation their time. We ask that you participate in anyway that you can.
Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
Blood Pressure Cuff Program: dedicated to helping patients monitor their blood pressure at home by providing free blood pressure cuffs. We Care Program: dedicated to helping the indigent and uninsured patients access care. This is only achievable because of our member physicians who generously donate their time and skill. Please consider joining this effort. Go Seniors Program: dedicated to helping the elderly poor see their doctor on a regular basis by covering transportation expenses.
10 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Foundation
Foundation
THE 1873 SOCIETY Since 1873, Escambia and Santa Rosa County Medical Society physicians have dedicated themselves to their patients and the people of Escambia/Santa Rosa County. To further our mission and build on the loyal support of our members, the Board of Directors approved the formation of The 1873 Society, a special recognition opportunity to formally honor physicians who contribute to our organization and have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the quality of health care and well-being of our community. As a member of The 1873 Society your good name as a physician will be honored in our community
forever – entwined with the good works of the medical society in a cherished legacy. Membership in The 1873 Society is for physicians who have chosen to pledge $3,000 to Escambia County Medical Society Foundation, Inc. This can be accomplished through a single gift or a recurring gift of $1,000 over three years, THREE IN THREE! The 1873 Society members are recognized and awarded with their names permanently engraved on a traveling Wall of Honor to be displayed in the ECMS office and at ECMS and ECMSF events.
THE 1873 SOCIETY MEMBERS
The individuals listed below are both founding members as well as others who have joined The 1873 Society since its founding. We thank you for joining their distinguished ranks.
Michelle Brandhorst, M.D.
Jennifer Miley, M.D.
Michael Riesberg, M.D.
Joanne Bujnoski, D.O.
Jack Kotlarz, M.D.
Robert Sackheim, M.D.
Kurt Krueger, M.D.
Hillary Hultstrand, M.D.
J.Howell Tiller, M.D.
Ken Long, M.D.
Susan Laenger. M.D.
Steve Ziller, M.D.
Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
Brett Parra, M.D.
Who is the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation? The Escambia County Medical Society Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare services on a volunteer and funding basis through its members. The Foundation was created in 1994. The primary goal is to assure access to adequate healthcare for the medically indigent citizens of the area, to study and promote improved methods and facilities for healthcare, to pursue the protection of public health, implement the means of financing healthcare at reasonable costs, to cooperate with other organizations and institutions interested in pursuing these goals, and disseminate information concerning healthcare in general. Current Foundation programs include “We Care” and “Go Seniors!” Contact the ECMS Foundation for more information | 850.478.0706 or info@escambiaCMS.org
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Community We may be small but we are mighty and our physician board and 1 staff works hard to grow exposure and put on these events as fundraisers for programs which help support the ECMS members. • blood pressure cuffs • go senior transportation • Medical student scholarships • physician wellness plus more... And if you missed our great Easter event yesterday at the Gulf Breeze Zoo we made a big announcement The ECMS Foundation is working on a joint project with the UWF Historic Society: Pensacola Children’s Museum. A children’s hospital display with the ECMS Foundation name right on the front! As we enter the early stages of this event please reach out with questions about • fundraising •sponsorship • planning • design We would love for YOU and your family to be a part of this exciting project with us!
Kate Treick is a local photographer who specializes in custom portraits of families, children, high school seniors, and other portraits. She also offers business portrait services including headshots (at your business or on location), photos for your website or other materials. She also runs a magazine that goes to Nature Trail, so if you are a resident, please get in touch with her to be featured in an upcoming issue! kate@katetreickphotography.com 12 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Community
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Community
14 | Escambia County Medical Society in conjunction with Santa Rosa County
Community Baptist Health Care Partners with Catalyst for Development of Medical Office Building on New Campus
Baptist Health Care announced earlier this spring that Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate, a full-service health care real estate investment firm, is developing an 80,000-square-foot medical office building on the new Baptist Hospital campus under construction at the intersection of Brent Lane and I-110 in Pensacola. The MOB is adjacent to the 10-story, 264-bed Baptist Hospital and the sixstory Bear Family Foundation Health Center. The MOB will offer health care professionals the opportunity to lease and custom design medical offices and clinical spaces. For more information, contact Brandon McFarren at Catalyst at bmcfarren@catalysthre.com or 850.607.6069, ext.106.
General Surgeon Seth A. Vernon, M.D., FACS, RPVI, Joins Baptist Medical Group
Baptist Medical Group recently welcomed general surgeon Seth Vernon, M.D., FACS, RPVI, to its multispecialty physician network. Dr. Vernon earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, where he graduated summa cum laude. He earned his medical degree at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas, and completed a general surgery residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, Kansas. He is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. His office is located at 1717 North E St., Suite 205, in Pensacola. Learn more at baptistmedicalgroup.org or call 850.437.8810.
Baptist Health Care Finalizes Plans for Behavioral Health Unit
Baptist Health Care has finalized plans for its behavioral health unit on the new Baptist Hospital campus being built at the intersection of Brent Lane and I-110. The BHU will provide inpatient behavioral health care for adults and children. It will have 72 beds with 36 allocated for adult patients, 10 for geriatric patients, 14 for adolescents and 12 for children. The design of the BHU provides efficiency, comfort and safety for patients and staff, and incorporates features such as numerous outdoor spaces and an abundance of natural light that have been shown to play a crucial role in healing. Learn more at https://ebaptisthealthcare.org/Transforming-Baptist/ new-campus.
Virtual technology assists in management of Parkinson’s disease
Patients with Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor are finding relief for their symptoms through a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS) in which electrodes are surgically inserted into a targeted area of the brain. People who have DBS devices usually have to see their neurologists every three-to-six months after the surgery to recalibrate the stimulation from the electrodes. Now Ascension Sacred Heart’s Neurology and Neurosurgical Institute is the first center in Northwest Florida to offer a telemedicine advance that allows people with a DBS device to remain at home while physicians talk with them and adjust the stimulation settings remotely.
and how the therapy is affected by a patient’s medications. To allow DBS patients to remain at home for follow-up treatments, Boland uses technology developed last year by Abbott Labs. The technology gives patients access to remote programming over the internet so patients don’t have to travel to the clinic for routine evaluations, basic troubleshooting or adjustments to their DBS therapy.
Ascension Medical Group adds pediatrics group
Five board-certified pediatricians of Pediatric Associates, a group that has cared for generations of Pensacola area children, are joining Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart and its large regional system of healthcare providers.
“These are such exciting times due to the fast advancing medical technology we now have available to us,” said Dr. Deborah Boland, an Ascension Sacred Heart neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. “Over the past 10 years that I have been programming DBS devices, the new virtual programming capability is one of the greatest advances in regards to patients receiving the therapy and access to care.”
The pediatricians are Dr. Mary Lou O’Grady, Dr. Jennifer Thompson, Dr. Ulrike Benny, Dr. Sarah Waite and Dr. Jeneile Cordell. Three of the group – Drs. Cordell, Waite and Benny – performed their residency training in Pensacola at Ascension Sacred Heart and Studer Family Children’s Hospital. The care team also includes two nurse practitioners, Malorie McKinnon and Tavi Slevinski.
There are two separate procedures that are part of DBS surgery. Electrodes are implanted in the brain and then connected to a small battery, also referred to as an implantable pulse generator. The device is implanted under the collarbone or in the abdomen and sends electrical impulses to the electrodes. The signals work to block abnormal impulses from targeted areas in the brain that are causing tremors or other movement disorders.
As the newest members of Ascension Medical Group Pediatrics, the five physicians will continue to operate in their three area locations: 5190 Bayou Blvd. in Pensacola 4591 Santa Villa Drive in Pace 12385 Sorrento Road in southwest Escambia County.
Fine-tuning the DBS therapy can take hours as the neurology team evaluates the patient’s immediate responses to signal modifications www.escambiacms.org | 15
