Mecklenburg Medicine May 2013

May 2013 • Vol. 43, No. 5

Mecklenburg Medicine A Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org

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It’s not just about having the top nurses, doctors and technology. It’s about having them work together for you.

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2 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Contents

May 2013 Vol. 43 No. 5

Features 7 Health Literacy and Patient Health 8 MedLink Leads Community Discussion on the Affordable Care Act

9 Free and Low-Cost Clinics in

Mecklenburg County — A Pull-Out Guide

13 Third Annual Fighting for Women With Fashion Event on Oct. 1

In This Issue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 President’s Letter: A History Lesson – Part 2 It’s Not Who’s on First, But Who Was First!

14 Member News 14 MCMS Board Highlights

BOARD MEMBERS Lloyd L. Bridges, MD Raymond E. Brown, PA Scott L. Furney, MD Harold R. Howe, Jr., MD Scott L. Lindblom, MD A. Miller Wilson Maxwell, MD John P. McBryde, MD Paras H. Mehta, MD Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD Thomas N. Zweng, MD EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Tammy Bridges President, Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment Keia V. R. Hewitt, MD President, Charlotte Medical Society Docia E. Hickey, MD NCMS Speaker of the House Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH Medical Director, Mecklenburg County Health Department Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP Medical Director, Mecklenburg EMS Agency

14 New Members 14 News & Notes 14 Upcoming Meetings & Events 15 May National Health & Wellness Observances 16 At the Hospitals 18 Advertising Acknowledgement 18 Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings for May

Mecklenburg County Medical Society

OFFICERS Janice E. Huff, MD President James B. Hall, MD President-Elect Simon V. Ward III, MD Secretary Stephen J. Ezzo, MD Treasurer Maeve E. O’Connor, MD Immediate Past President

EXECUTIVE STAFF Sandi D. Buchanan Executive Director Trisha G. Herndon Director, Meetings & Special Events Stephanie D. Smith Executive Assistant

1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204 704-376-3688 • FAX 704-376-3173 meckmed@meckmed.org Copyright 2013 Mecklenburg County Medical Society

Mecklenburg Medicine is published 10 times per year by the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204. Opinions expressed by authors are their own, and not necessarily those of Mecklenburg Medicine or the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. Mecklenburg Medicine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Mecklenburg Medicine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Non-members may subscribe to Mecklenburg Medicine at a cost of $30 per year, or $3.50 per issue, if extra copies are available.

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Display Ads: Open to professional entities or commercial businesses. For specifications and rate information, call Mark Ethridge at 704-344-1980. Acceptance of advertising for this publication in no way constitutes professional approval or endorsement of products or services advertised herein.

We welcome your comments and suggestions: Call 704-376-3688 or write Mecklenburg Medicine, c/o Mecklenburg County Medical Society, 1112 Harding Place, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28204.

MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF Editor Mark E. Romanoff, MD Managing Editor Sandi D. Buchanan Copy Editor Lee McCracken Advertising Mark Ethridge 704-344-1980 Editorial Board N. Neil Howell, MD Janice E. Huff, MD Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD Graphic Design — Wade Baker

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 3

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704.295.3000 800.654.3368

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President’s Letter

A History Lesson – Part 2 It’s not who’s on first, but who was first!

By Janice E. Huff, MD, President When someone tells me there is nothing new under the sun, or at least since the Greeks described civilization, I beg to differ. Instead of the four television stations I had growing up, there are now hundreds of channels for us to peruse, each one seemingly more entertaining.

In college, I remember typing programs on cards in COBOL for computer class. Today, my pocket phone contains the entirety of current medical knowledge, and also can inform me about the speed of my last ski run.

Things evolve. Vaccines have eradicated targeted diseases by more than 95 percent. News is 24/7 — ok, that may not be the best example of Darwinian progress when one considers the incessant news shows and their “experts”.

You can even travel in space, if you have enough money.

So it is with medicine and the Mecklenburg County Medical Society. A few months back, I wrote of the origins and growth of our medical society. This article will continue in that vein, but I will touch more on where we have come in terms of medical care in our community.

The first physician reported to have practiced in Mecklenburg County, after its formation in 1762, was Dr. John Newman Oglethorpe of Rowan County, who practiced in the northern part of our county in 1764.

At that time, Mecklenburg included what are now Lincoln, Cabarrus and Gaston counties. The first record of treatment for pay was in 1766 by Dr. Crozen, who received a shilling from Mr. Dellinger for treating a slave. Curiously, the surviving documentation concerns only the financial aspect and not the patient’s

name, disease or treatment. This couldn’t survive a Medicare audit!

Dr. Joseph Kennedy, who practiced from 1766 to 1778, was the first medically educated physician. He made rounds on horseback, just as ministers and judges did. Dr. Ephraim Brevard was the first physician to live in Charlotte. One of the co-authors of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, he served in the Revolutionary War, was captured by the British at Charleston and died soon after he made his way home. Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander (son of Jack McKnitt Alexander, secretary of the convention that promulgated the May 20, 1775 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence) was a Princeton graduate and one of the county’s most-educated physicians.

A smallpox epidemic raged in 1780 (brought by the armies), and Dr. James Alexander vaccinated 10 people, charging one pound per inoculation. Around 1815, Drs. McKenzie and Caldwell formed a partnership (probably the first group practice in Charlotte). To eliminate competition, they split Charlotte down Trade Street — one taking the north side and one taking the south.

Proving you can ride a horse to medical school but you can’t ride him back, Dr. John Strong bought a horse, rode to Philadelphia, sold the horse and attended medical school. Four years later, he bought another horse and rode back to Charlotte.

Every doctor was a physician and surgeon, admitting you could not operate caused loss of standing among the laity. Operations then consisted of circumcisions, hemorrhoidectomies, strangulated hernia repair, D&Cs and tonsillectomies. Everyone carried

a tonsillotome and could remove tonsils while the patient was sitting in a rocking chair.

The usual anesthestic was chloroform, dripped on cotton in a cone. A few doctors in Asheville used ether, but were considered disloyal.

Out of loyalty to the Confederacy, Southern surgeons only used chloroform, since chloroform was used by the British who helped the South during the Civil War. Once the first hospital opened (stay tuned for more hospital history), the “specialists” arrived. First were the obstetricians, then general surgeons and then urologists and GI doctors.

Once the surgeons and internists were here, nurses and radiologists followed. The first X-rays made in Mecklenburg County were at Davidson College, where some physics students, after hearing a lecture on Roentgen’s invention, made their own X-ray machine in 1896. They kept their experiments secret for several years, fearing they would be punished. Their professor, who did experiments also, got the credit. They took X-rays of a cadaver finger (taken from the North Carolina Medical College) and six Strychnine pills (commonly used by students to stay awake during finals — so maybe Adderall isn’t so bad!). The professor used his machine to detect a broken needle in a man’s knee, allowing for surgical removal. This was the first documented use of X-rays in a medical procedure in the country. In 1897, his X-ray machine was used to find a thimble in a starving girl’s throat, and again during surgery to save her life.

After being in the first graduating class from Leonard Medical College, Dr. J. T. Williams, in 1886, was the first African-American doctor to

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 5

open a practice in Charlotte. He also served as alderman for the city of Charlotte and was appointed consul to Sierra Leone by President McKinley. The Charlotte Medical Pharmaceutical and Dental Society was founded in 1900 by Dr. Allen Atkins Wyche and became affiliated with the Old North State (founded in 1887) and the National Medical Association (founded in 1895). In 1954, Dr. Emery L. Rann was the first African-American physician accepted into the Mecklenburg County Medical Society (provoking consideration for expulsion from the North Carolina State Society).

African-Americans were admitted to the North Carolina State Society as “scientific members” in 1954. In 1965, the North Carolina Medical Society changed its Constitution to allow any qualified physician full membership.

Send any stories of interest from our more recent medical history to your county Society. We will publish your stories in the Mecklenburg Medicine magazine and keep them in our archives. The Mint Hill Country Doctor’s Museum was the first restoration project of the Mint Hill Historical Society. You can visit the museum by appointment in the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village in Mint Hill. This museum has artifacts from the practices of Dr. John McCamie DeArmon (past MCMS president in 1929) and Dr. Ayer Whitley.

The next installment of the history of medicine in Mecklenburg County will focus on our hospitals and medical education. Think Johnny Red to Johnny on the Spot.

6 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

References include: “The Black Physician in Charlotte, North Carolina (A Historical Review)”

by Emery L. Rann, MD “History of Medicine in Mecklenburg County” by Lawrence K. Boggs, MD, 1978 “A History of Medicine and the Medical Society in Mecklenburg County in the Early 20th Century” by Wilson K. Wallace, May 1966 “A History of Medicine in Charlotte-Mecklenburg” from the Bulletin, January 1993 “History of Mecklenburg County Medicine” by Charles M. Strong, MD, February 1929

Feature

Health Literacy and Patient Health

By Debra Basalik, CHES, Care Ring

P

hysicians often wonder why patients do not follow “simple” healthcare instructions, do not take their medication as directed, or do not take advantage of preventive health services. Very often, a patient’s failure to comply with medical directions stems from low health literacy. According to the Institute of Medicine, health literacy is the “degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” The result often is a mismatch between the doctor’s communication level and a patient’s ability to understand medical concepts. The result of this discrepancy often means medication errors, excessive use of emergency medical services, or other adverse medical outcomes.

Low health literacy can be found at all ages, income levels, races and education levels. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 36 percent (90 million American adults) have basic or below basic levels of health literacy. It often is compounded in older adults who may be experiencing declines in both their hearing and vision, and it is not always obvious. One research study asked medical residents to estimate the number of their patients with low health literacy. These doctors estimated about 10 percent of their patients had it, but the actual number was more than 33 percent.

Individuals with low health literacy have worse health outcomes. They are more likely to have been diagnosed with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure, and are less able to manage these complex conditions. Further, they are more likely to experience preventable emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Finally, these individuals also are less likely to use preventable health services, such as mammograms, Pap smears and flu shots. As a result, they enter the healthcare system sicker than those with adequate levels of health literacy.

Research has shown that these patients adapt their behavior to mask their lack of understanding of complex medical information. They may miss appointments or be non-compliant in taking their medication or in practicing recommended interventions. They often ask others to accompany them to their appointments, or ask staff for help in filling out forms or reading information. They often make excuses for not reading information, such as “forgetting their glasses.” They may postpone decision-making so they can ask others for help in understanding medical information on options available to them.

Physicians can help improve patient understanding of complex medical instructions by incorporating a few behaviors into patient visits. Often the first step is to assess the patient’s level of health literacy. Although there are a variety of assessments available for this purpose, many physicians are able to quickly ascertain health literacy levels based on the behaviors listed above.

A good tool to help assess health literacy is the Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS), which has been used quite successfully in identifying individuals with limited health literacy. This assessment simply asks the patient, “On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being never and 5 being always,

how often do you need someone to help you when you read instructions, pamphlets, or other written material from your doctor or pharmacy?”

Individuals who answer 3 or higher are considered to be at risk for low health literacy.

There are a number of other things physicians can do to improve their patients’ understanding of medical information. Use plain language, instead of medical terminology, in explaining medical information. Also, use diagrams or draw pictures to enhance patient understanding and recall of physician recommendations and directions. Third, limit information given at each interaction and repeat instructions.

Finally, a simple method to improve communication between physicians and low health literacy patients is to use the Teach-Back Method. This is a way for providers to confirm that what they explained to the patient was clear and understood. It simply requires the provider to ask the patient to review the items discussed with the physician before leaving the office.

This ensures clear understanding by the patient and allows the provider to assess specific communication methods for effectiveness. Physicians interested in learning more about this method can find additional information at www.nchealthliteracy.org/toolkit/tool5.pdf. For references, please call Care Ring at 704-248-3723.

CMC-Union and Carolinas MED-1 Team Up for Disaster Response Drill In early March, Carolinas MED-1, Carolinas HealthCare System’s mobile hospital, and Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe, teamed with nearly 20 additional agencies in a disaster drill. The scenario was the loss of CMC-Union’s emergency department due to a fire. MED-1 clinical and support personnel brought the unit and support vehicles to Monroe, performed set-up, trained CMC-Union staff on their use and helped move patients who were portrayed by nursing and pharmacy students from nearby community colleges. For Carolinas MED-1 leaders, it was an opportunity to “write the book” on how to work with Carolinas HealthCare System (or non-CHS) hospitals that might temporarily lose the use of their emergency department.

Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2013 | 7

Feature

MedLink Leads Community Discussion on the Affordable Care Act

By Madison Hardee, Attorney, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

T

he Affordable Care Act (ACA) is in the news and on the minds of many medical providers, advocates and patients. MedLink, a coalition of and for local safety-net healthcare providers, has been hard at work to educate our community about the upcoming changes.

On Feb. 26, MedLink started an important dialog about access to health care for the uninsured and the local impacts of the ACA here in Mecklenburg County. The event, hosted by MedLink and sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Medical Society, drew a huge response from the local community.

More than 250 guests filled CPCC Harris Conference Center to ask questions and hear from Dr. Pam Silberman, president and CEO of the N.C. Institute of Medicine, along with other local experts. The event was open to the public and attendees included representatives from more than 70 local hospitals, clinics, nonprofits and government agencies.

Silberman, a recognized expert on healthcare reform, recently helped staff several different workgroups to identify the decisions the state must make to implement the ACA. These experiences allowed her to clearly outline the upcoming opportunities and challenges for North Carolina.

Silberman touted the successes of health care reform in making quality health insurance coverage more affordable to many, expanding coverage to more of the uninsured, improving overall population health and placing an emphasis on preventative care. Because of the ACA, hospitals are having robust conversations with community partners about what happens to patients after discharge;

8 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

and starting in October of this year, enrollment for the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace will begin, making health care more accessible and affordable for middle-class families.

However, Silberman acknowledged this legislation still is not a “magic bullet.” There is no guarantee the law will reduce long-term cost escalation, and the impact on our community largely will depend on state and federal decisions in the coming months. For example, if North Carolina refuses to expand Medicaid, the poorest among us will continue to lack insurance coverage and will be ineligible for subsidies. This will create challenges for charitable and safety-net hospitals, which will lose federal funding next year in anticipation of an influx of newly insured patients. Although our state has presently voted against the option to expand Medicaid, the governor has left open the possibility of expanding Medicaid in the future, a decision that would bring health coverage to more than 500,000 low-income North Carolinians.

Following Silberman’s presentation, a group of panelists responded to questions submitted by conference attendees. I had the pleasure of sitting on that panel, along with Rhett Brown, MD, of Novant Health, Mike

Dulin, MD, of Carolinas HealthCare System and Jeanie Schepisi from the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Each panelist provided a different perspective on the ACA, all echoing the view that while the new law is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction toward closing gaps in our broken healthcare system.

The evening of her presentation, Silberman also attended a second event open to local physicians. More than 20 physicians from local hospitals and clinics met over hors d’oeuvres to hear her speak and ask questions about how the ACA will directly affect their patients and day-today practice.

Decisions regarding the implementation of the ACA will have a direct impact here in Mecklenburg County. In the coming months, local healthcare providers and advocates will see first hand the consequences of political decisions on low-income families in our community. As we witness the impact of these changes, it is essential we stay engaged and make our collective voice heard. MedLink has started the conversation; now let’s keep it going.

To stay up to date on the latest news on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Mecklenburg County, follow MedLink on twitter at @MedLinkMeck or visit www.medlinkofmecklenburg.org. For a timeline of changes under the ACA, visit www.healthcare.gov.

FREE AND LOW-COST CLINICS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Volunteer Clinics

ADDRESS

PHONE

SERVICES AND INFORMATION

Bethesda Health Center

133 Stetson Drive Charlotte, NC 28262

704-596-5606 704-363-4972

• Primary medical care • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (call for appointment) • Interviews with social worker to qualify on Monday • Spanish-speaking interpreters and bilingual staff available • www.centrobetesda.com

Charlotte Community Health Clinic

6900 Farmingdale Drive Charlotte, NC 28212

704-316-6561

• Primary medical care, acute episodic and chronic disease • ALL ages • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (call for appointment) • Must meet financial screening criteria; $10 fee • Spanish-speaking interpreters and bilingual staff available • www.charlottecommunityhealthclinic.org

Free Clinic of Our Towns

P.O. Box 1842 212 Gamble St. Davidson, NC 28036

704-896-0471 ext. 116

• Primary medical care • No appointment needed, Thursdays 6-8:30 p.m.

• Serves Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mooresville only • www.adajenkins.org

Lake Norman Community Health Clinic

14230 Hunters Road Huntersville, NC 28078

704-947-6858

• Primary medical care, acute episodic, chronic disease and some specialty care • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY • Spanish-speaking interpreters available • Must meet financial screening criteria • Zip codes served: 28115, 28117, 28031, 28036, 28078, 28216, 28269 • www.lnchc.org

Matthews Free Medical Clinic

113 N. Ames St. Matthews, NC 28105

704-841-8882

• General family medicine • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY • Patients cannot have health insurance • Must meet financial screening criteria • Serving Mecklenburg and Union counties • www.matthewsFMC.org

Shelter Health Services, Inc. 534 Spratt St. Charlotte, NC 28206

704-334-0000

• Limited primary care for residents staying at the Salvation Army Center of Hope Women’s Shelter only • Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

• Friday 2-6:30 p.m.

• www.shelterhealthservices.com

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 9

Full-Service Clinics Carolinas Medical Center (CMC)Clinics

C. W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc.

ADDRESS

PHONE

CMC Biddle Point 704-446-9987 1801 Rozzelles Ferry Road Charlotte, NC 28208 CMC Elizabeth Family Practice 2001 Vail Ave. Charlotte, NC 28207

704-304-7000

CMC Myers Park 1350 S. Kings Drive Charlotte, NC 28207

704-446-1600

CMC NorthPark 251 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC 28213

704-446-9991

West Location 3333 Wilkinson Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28208

704-393-7720

Dilworth Location 900 East Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28203 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 668093 Charlotte, NC 28266

10 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

SERVICES AND INFORMATION

• Family practice, internal medicine, infectious disease, OB/GYN, orthopedics, pediatrics, surgery • Call for available appointments; phone lines open at 8 a.m.

• Clients are screened by household income • Co-pays vary from $0 to $30 for eligible patients • Self-pay patients pay $50 up front and are billed balance • Spanish-speaking interpreters and bilingual staff available • Pharmacy • www.carolinashealthcare.org

• Family practice and pediatrics • Women’s health services and mammography screenings • Onsite podiatry services • Homeless healthcare clinic • Federally-qualified health center • Pharmacy on site • Open to new patients (call for appointment) • Clients screened by household income • Co-pays start at $20 for eligible uninsured patients • Spanish-speaking interpreters and bilingual staff • www.cwwilliams.org

Other Health Partners

ADDRESS

PHONE

SERVICES AND INFORMATION

601 E. 5th St. Suite 140 Charlotte, NC 28202

704-375-0172

(formerly Community Health Services)

Low-Cost Clinic ($50 per visit) • Primary care for non-emergency needs and chronic disease management • Pre-employment and school physicals for adults and children • Comprehensive well-woman visits ($80) • Onsite lab work • Call for appointment, walk-ins accepted • Does NOT require Mecklenburg County residency • Payment required at time of service, no insurance accepted Physicians Reach Out • Provides a medical home for eligible uninsured residents of Mecklenburg County • Financial screening required — call for appointment • Must provide proof of citizenship or legal resident alien status Nurse-Family Partnership • Intensive home visiting program for first-time, low-income moms • Must enroll before 28 weeks gestation • www.CareRingNC.org

Dental Hygiene Clinic at CPCC

1335 Elizabeth Ave. Charlotte, NC 28204

704-330-6704

• Teeth cleaning, fluoride and X-rays • Screening is free; walk-in, first-come first-serve; call for screening days and hours • If accepted, there is a small fee per visit for appointments • www.cpcc.edu/health_sciences/dental-clinic

HeartBright Cardiac Resource Center

2923 S. Tryon St. Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28203

704-373-3002

• BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (call for appointment) • Free treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure • Resource coordination services • www.heartbright.org

Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health

429 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211

704-336-6404 MeckLINK Call Center

• Support, referrals and services for mental illness, substance abuse, developmental disabilities • Services available for those without health insurance and with limited financial resources • 24/7 referral center • http://mecklink.charmeck.org

Mecklenburg County Health Department

2845 Beatties Ford Road 704-336-4700 Charlotte, NC 28216 Information

Care Ring

Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas

249 Billingsley Road Charlotte, NC 28211

704-336-6500 Appointments

Pediatric Dental Clinic CMC Biddle Point 1801 Rozzelles Ferry Rd. Charlotte, NC 28208

704-350-7300 Pediatric Dental Appointments

3701 Latrobe Drive Charlotte, NC 28211

704-365-3454

• Services include: immunizations, Pap smears, TB testing and treatment, family planning, pregnancy tests, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and other programs • Pediatric Dental Clinic (services only at Biddle Point location) provides routine dental treatment and preventive care for children up to 15 years of age. Sliding scale fees available for those without dental insurance.

• Spanish-speaking interpreters and bilingual staff • Most services offered at free or reduced rates based on eligibility • www.meckhealth.org For information on mental health services or to find a practitioner in Mecklenburg or Cabarrus county, visit www.mhacentralcarolinas.org.

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 11

Other Health Partners

ADDRESS

PHONE

SERVICES AND INFORMATION

NC MedAssist

601 E. 5th St., Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28202

704-536-1790

• Medication assistance for patients with no insurance • Accepts referrals from Physicians Reach Out and some free clinics • Financial screening required • www.medassist.org/home

Presbyterian Community Care Cruiser

Mobile unit with various locations in Mecklenburg County—see website for schedule

704-384-3031

• Immunizations • For ages birth to 17 only • First-come, first-serve — no appointments taken • Spanish-speaking interpreters available at each site • Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Immunizations not available for children with NC Health Choice or private insurance • www.presbyterian.org/cruiser

Teen Health Connection (CMC)

3541 Randolph Road, Suite 206 Charlotte, NC 28211

704-381-8336

• For ages 11-21 only • Primary healthcare services: sick visits, well-child physical exams, immunizations, pregnancy tests, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing, medication monitoring • Mental health services: outpatient therapy, comprehensive clinical assessments, mental health triage services for medical patients, referrals • Center for Disordered Eating: medical and nutritional services for adolescents with disordered eating • Nutritional services • Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (call for appointment) • Accept Medicaid, Health Choice, most major insurance carriers, sliding scale and self-pay for all services • Spanish-speaking interpreters available • www.TeenHealthConnection.org

12 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Feature

Third Annual Fighting for Women With Fashion Event on Oct. 1

By Maureen Beurskens, MD

T

he MCMS Women Physicians Section, in partnership with the Charlotte Women’s Bar, held its second annual Fighting for Women with Fashion event on Sept.

18, 2012. This event, together with our first event in 2011, raised more than $50,000 toward building the new Clyde and Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter. Safe Alliance, formerly known as United Family Services, increased the number of beds for domestic violence victims from 29 to 80, with the opening of the new shelter.

Our planning committee, consisting of women physicians and attorneys, already has begun planning this year’s event, which brings together strong individuals who want to raise awareness, and money to support Safe Alliance in its mission to further expand the shelter and provide needed

services for women and children in crisis. In addition to the shelter, Safe Alliance offers safety planning, trauma counseling, support groups, case management, childcare, legal advocacy and representation, help with addiction issues and life skills training, among other services.

Who knew medical school would prepare us to test our skills as models and event planners, as well as practicing medicine?

Although we have a little experience behind us now, we still require time, energy, focus and collaboration to plan an even more successful event this year. The Women Physicians Section is proud that many medical practices and groups have sponsored the Fighting for Women with Fashion event for the past two years. We are grateful to them and are hoping for even more participation this year.

The 2013 Fighting for Women with Fashion event will be Oct. 1 at the Foundation for the Carolinas. If you are interested in participating, donating a silent auction item, or sponsoring the event, you can contact me through Stephanie Smith at the Medical Society at 704-376-3688.

Registration details will be sent by e-mail in September. If you are a woman physician practicing in Mecklenburg County and do not receive e-mail announcements about Women Physicians Section events, contact Stephanie Smith.

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 13

Member News MCMS Board Highlights of January 2013 Meeting

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• James B. Hall, MD, president-elect, in the absence of Janice E. Huff, MD, called the meeting to order.

• Dr. Hall, in the absence of Simon V. Ward III, MD, secretary, presented five applicants for active membership: Chanel Garcia, MD; Susanne P. Hawthorne, PA-C; Richard C. Herring, MD; Thomas M. Schmelzer, MD; and Carol M. Welch, MPAS. The Board approved the applicants.

• Paras H. Mehta, MD, presented a proposal from the Chronic Pain Coalition of Greater Mecklenburg requesting MCMS co-sponsor their chronic pain training event on March 25. The Board voted unanimously to co-sponsor this event.

• Sandi Buchanan, executive director, informed the Board three new members had joined MCMS using the MCMS and NCMS dual membership application.

• Ms. Buchanan reminded Board members of the upcoming Board retreat and MCMS annual meeting.

Notes: No CAMGM meeting.

AAFP Post-Graduate Symposium has

been postponed until the fall.

New Members

News & Notes

Anthony J. Caprio, MD *Internal Medicine; * Geriatric Medicine; *Hospice & Palliative Medicine Carolinas Healthcare System, Dept. of Family Medicine 2001 Vail Ave. #400B Charlotte, NC 28207 704-304-7100 SUNY at Buffalo, 2000 Eric E. Stone, MD *Gastroenterology Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology 6324 Fairview Road #204 Charlotte, NC 28210 704-377-4009 Indiana University School of Medicine, 2001

Meetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.

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Monday, May 6 MCMS Executive Committee meeting.

5:45 p.m.

Monday, May 13 MCMS Board meeting.

5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 14 MedLink meeting.

8:30 a.m.

Wednesday-Friday, May 15-17 NCMGM Spring Conference.

Charleston, S.C. Friday, May 17 Child Health Committee meeting.

7:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 22 July/August magazine deadline.

Friday, May 22 MMAE Board meeting.

10 a.m.

Monday, May 27 MCMS office closed for Memorial Day.

Jennifer Helton, MD, has relocated her practice from Matthews to the Steele Creek area. Steele Creek Dermatology will open late May at 13557 Steelecroft Parkway, Suite 2500, Charlotte. To contact Dr. Helton, call 704-587-3200. For more information, visit www.steelecreekderm.com.

The Smith Arthritis Fund Committee Is Accepting Grant Applications The Smith Arthritis Fund was established in 1979 when Carolyn Kirkpatrick Smith donated $41,500 for arthritis research. This fund is administered through the Mecklenburg County Medical Society under the guidance of Janice Huff, M.D., who is the 2013 chair of the Smith Arthritis Fund Committee. The fund is designed to support research projects as they relate to the needs of patients suffering from rheumatological diseases. Each year the Committee awards about $1,000-$2,000 per grant. There are no rigid restrictions. The Smith

14 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

JUNE Notes: No MCMS Board meeting.

No MMAE Board meeting.

No magazine deadline. n Tuesday, June 4 AAFP Quarterly meeting.

Whitehead Manor Conference Center.

6:30 p.m. n Tuesday, June 11 MedLink meeting.

8:30 a.m. n Saturday-Wednesday, June 15-19 AMA House of Delegates Annual meeting, Chicago. n Monday, June 17 MCMS Executive Committee meeting.

5:45 p.m. n Thursday, June 20 CAMGM meeting.

Myers Park Baptist Church Cornwell Center.

Noon.

Arthritis Fund Committee of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society is now accepting grant applications from interested physicians through the end of May. Please contact the Medical Society office for more information.

Save the Date!

Aug. 15

Managers Healthcare Symposium Oct. 1

WPS Fighting for Women With Fashion Event

Member News The Mecklenburg County Medical Society congratulates the following practices that have paid 2013 annual dues for all physicians in their practice. We appreciate the continued support!

NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCES MAY 2013 Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Consultants of the Carolinas

May 1–7

Better Sleep Month

National Physical Education and Sports Week

Clean Air Month

National Hospital Week

May 6-10

Employee Health and Fitness Month

May 6-12

Healthy Vision Month/UV Safety

National Nurses Week May 8

Hepatitis Awareness Month

World Red Cross/Red Crescent Day

Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month

May 12

School Nurse Day

Lupus Awareness Month

Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology

May 12-18

National Arthritis Month

Women’s Health Week

National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May 13-17

Bike to Work Week

National Mental Health Month

Greenman Eye Associates

National Osteoporosis Awareness Prevention Month National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

May 15

National Employee Health and Fitness Day

National Stroke Awareness Month

THE 8TH ANNUAL

MELANOMA AWARENESS GOLF CLASSIC MONDAY, JUNE 17 CARMEL COUNTRY CLUB SOUTH COURSE n

11:00 am 1:00 pm 6:00 pm

n

Registration & Lunch Shotgun Start Reception IN HONOR OF

JERRI KRESHON

For more information, contact Rebecca Sheaff at Rebecca.Sheaff@carolinas.org or 704-355-4041

SAVE THE DATE!

May 29

National Senior Health & Fitness Day

MCMS Membership Directory The 2013 MCMS Membership Pictorial Directory is now available. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, call the MCMS office at 704-376-3688.

MCMS members receive a free copy as a member benefit. If you have not received your copy, please let us know.

Make the connection at

www.meckmed.org Resources for physicians, medical offices, patients and the public.

Visit us today! www.facebook.com/MecklenburgCountyMedicalSociety Sandi Buchanan@mcmsed

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 15

At the Hospitals programs who are essential members to their hospital and/or health system’s senior leadership team.

Novant Health Stroke and Neurosciences Center Offers Second n Annual Stroke Symposium Novant Health Stroke and Neurosciences Center will again offer its Stroke Symposium, a multidisciplinary forum for physicians and other clinical staff. This year’s event is on Saturday, June 8, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., in the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center multipurpose room, at 200 Hawthorne Lane in Charlotte. Breakfast will be provided.

Local and national experts will lead a program focused on the management of hemorrhagic stroke. Program topics will include: • Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations • Nursing management and monitoring of the aneurysmal SAH patient • Surgical intervention and monitoring in intracerebral hemorrhage • Determining prognosis in hemorrhagic stroke CME credit and contact hours will be offered in conjunction with this opportunity.

For more information, contact Denise Sorenson, RN, BSN, at dsorenson@ novanthealth.org. n

Novant Health Announces Strategic n Plan for Re-Branding On Feb. 26, Novant Health announced a strategic branding plan to unify all facilities in its four-state footprint under the umbrella name, Novant Health. On April 17, Novant Health launched the new brand — which includes a new logo — to tie together the many points of care across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia, and to commit to patients and communities the system’s promise to make healthcare remarkable.

Novant Health is committed to reinventing the healthcare experience by making it more convenient, easier to access and more affordable, so patients can focus on getting better and staying healthy. While Novant Health’s hundreds of locations have been delivering this seamless experience for more than 15 years, local communities may not have realized how connected the locations were as part of the Novant Health system. With world-class technology, personal connections and care that’s easier to access and understand, Novant Health is with patients every step of the way on their journey to health and wellness.

Signifying the strength of the system, Novant Health’s new brand identity will be incorporated into all locations throughout the rest of the year. Additionally, facility names changed; now, all 13 hospital facilities have adopted the driving brand name, Novant Health, along with a facility locator.

For more information on the strategic changes, visit NovantHealth.org/remarkable. n

Becker’s Hospital Review Recognizes Novant Health’s n Chief Information Officer Becker’s Hospital Review named Dave Garrett, Novant Health’s chief information officer, as one of “100 Hospital and Health System CIOs to Know.”

This list includes CIOs and leaders of health information technology and services n n

n

Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center Honored in n Modern Healthcare Magazine Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center was named to the Top 100 Hospitals list in Modern Healthcare magazine. The hospitals were chosen using Medicare provider claims data, Medicare cost reports and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare database. The recognition is divided by categories: • Major teaching hospitals • Teaching hospitals • Large hospitals • Medium hospitals • Small community hospitals Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center was recognized in the small hospitals category. Only three other hospitals in North Carolina were recognized. n n

16 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Going green First step: Opt out of the printed version of Mecklenburg Medicine Magazine Each issue is posted to the MCMS website in an interactive format.

OPT OUT of the printed version and enjoy all articles and information online at www.meckmed.org.

To opt out simply email us at meckmed@meckmed.org. Include your name as it appears on the mailing label and the words “opt out”

Thank you!

At the Hospitals

Levine Children’s Hospital Rated by the Center for International Blood n and Marrow Transplantation Research The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research recently released data on one-year survival rates for patients receiving an allogeneic transplant over a three-year period. Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Children’s Hospital had the best one-year survival rate in 2012 at 89 percent, out of 134 U.S. centers that performed more than 20 allogeneic transplants between 2008 and 2010. In 2011, Levine Children’s Hospital (LCH) also had the best one-year survival rate at 91 percent, out of 156 reporting centers that performed 11-20 transplants in the previous three-year period (2007-2009).

The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Center at LCH is led by Andrew Gilman, MD, director of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation. LCH offers a multidisciplinary approach to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) services for children. The BMT team works with the child’s primary physician to ensure a smooth transition and follow-up. LCH provides a full complement of highlyskilled, experienced pediatric subspecialists and state-of-the-art medical technology.

Inpatient and outpatient child life specialists, a music therapist, a BMT social worker and a chaplain provide support for children and families. n n

Teen Health Connection Receives National Award Teen Health Connection was awarded second prize by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare in the Welcome Back: Primary Care category, for the integrated comprehensive services it provides for teens in the Charlotte community. They will receive a $5,000 donation.

Each year, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare rewards the innovative and inspirational efforts of individuals and organizations who are n n

changing the lives of people with mental illness and addiction disorders. The Welcome Back Award for Primary Care is given to a healthcare professional or organization whose unique approach to identifying particular needs in depression diagnosis and treatment serves as an example to others.

Teen Health Connection is a nonprofit healthcare practice that provides a safe environment for adolescents and young adults, ages 11-22, to receive medical and mental health care services, along with health education. Teen Health Connection is a patient-centered medical home, a United Way Agency and a community partner of Levine Children’s Hospital.

Cleveland County Votes to Amend Existing Agreement with Carolinas n HealthCare System In March, the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the longstanding agreement between Cleveland County and the Carolinas HealthCare System.

The change means the assets of Cleveland County HealthCare System (CCHS), which include Cleveland Regional Medical Center, Kings Mountain Hospital and other related facilities, now will be owned by Carolinas HealthCare System.

“This is the logical next step in our progressive, 20-year relationship with Cleveland County and Cleveland County HealthCare System,” says Carolinas HealthCare System CEO Michael Tarwater.

“We will continue to invest in high-quality clinical services and build upon a foundation of providing integrated systems of care for those who depend on Cleveland County HealthCare System.”

As part of the transaction, Carolinas HealthCare System will pay Cleveland County approximately $100 million and will assume all liabilities and obligations of the County in connection with Cleveland Regional Medical Center and other CCHS hospitals and facilities. Cleveland County will continue to operate the county health department, mental health center and employee wellness facilities, and will lease the buildings from Carolinas HealthCare System for two years for $1 per year.

The relationship between Cleveland n n

County and Carolinas HealthCare System began in 1994 when Carolinas HealthCare System began managing what is now Cleveland Regional Medical Center and Kings Mountain Hospital. In 1997, the County and Carolinas HealthCare System replaced the management agreement with the original Interlocal Cooperation Agreement. Since that time, Carolinas HealthCare System has made significant improvements to healthcare services in Cleveland County, including additions in imaging, cancer care services, a women’s center, and a Level III trauma center designation for the hospital. Integration and unification continued with the merger of Cleveland Regional Medical Center and Kings Mountain Hospital, and today CCHS includes Cleveland Pines Nursing Center, Crawley Memorial Hospital, a clinical network of 64 physicians and advanced care professionals, and other facilities and services.

Carolinas HealthCare System Breaks Ground on a Free-Standing n Emergency Department in Harrisburg Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) recently broke ground on its fourth freestanding emergency department (ED). The $20.2 million, 23,689-square-foot ED is being built in the 9500 block of Rocky River Road in Harrisburg. Construction is expected to be finished in early 2014.

Modeled after four other free-standing EDs CHS has built in recent years, the new ED will be open 24/7 and will have six treatment rooms, a CT scanner, full-service lab and a helipad to transport patients.

The free-standing ED in Harrisburg is the latest in a series of additions and innovations associated with CMC-NorthEast, including a free-standing ED in Kannapolis, a new medical office building and a new familycentered, post-surgery care center.

Carolinas HealthCare System’s first free-standing ED opened at Steele Creek in 2009. In its first year, the Steele Creek ED had more than 20,000 patient visits, which was double the original projection. Similar success has been seen at the other EDs in Waxhaw, Kannapolis and Huntersville. In addition, roughly a year from now, CHS will open yet another free-standing ED at CMCMorrocroft near SouthPark. n n

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 17

CharRadAd.pdf

1

8/30/12

5:02 PM

Crossway Pediatric Therapy OT · ST · PT

The region’s only provider to offer CIMT for the treatment of hemiparesis.

Our therapists are licensed and experienced in the treatment of the following: Autism Prematurity Language Skills Feeding Motor Coordination

TBI Sensory Integration Cerebral Palsy Torticollis Auditory Processing

EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED Please direct referrals and questions to: info@crosswaytherapy.com www.crosswaytherapy.com 704-847-3911

9129 Monroe Rd., Suite 100-105 Charlotte, NC 28270

Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings May 2013 Continuing Medical Education (CME) 5/4 Practical Updates in Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology

presented by The Department of Pathology and Laboratory

Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

School of Medicine 5/9-10 Updates in Peripartum Obstetrics and Gynecologic Care 5/9 Updates in Peripartum Obstetrics and Gynecologic Care

- LAB Nursing Education 5/6 Mother’s Special Gift – 2013 Allied and Public Health Education 5/21 Improving the Health of the Public: Primary Care &

Public Health

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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For more information or to register for these courses call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.

Advertising Acknowledgements The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.

Brackett Flagship Properties.......................................6 Carolinas HealthCare System..................................19 Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Associates.........4 Charlotte Radiology..................................................18 Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center..........................4 Crossway Pediatric Therapy.....................................18 Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region............4 LabCorp.....................................................Back Cover Novant Health..............................................................2

18 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Built for everyone From the knowledge of many To bring health to all One system Connecting and transforming Breaking down the walls of access Focused on delivering the latest, the most effective, and the best One team Driven to make a difference Bringing together hundreds of locations and thousands of minds To care for millions of people One belief That patients are partners That communities can collaborate To prevent and educate, to eradicate and cure One mission To move possible, forward To advance the cause and change the face of medicine Together as one CarolinasHealthCare.org

Mecklenburg Medicine • May 2013 | 19

Mecklenburg County Medical Society 1112 Harding Place, #200 Charlotte, NC 28204 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED MCMS Mission: To unite, serve and represent our members as advocates for our patients, for the health of the community and for the profession of medicine.

LabCorp [1/2H]

20 | May 2013 • Mecklenburg Medicine

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLOTTE, N.C. PERMIT NO. 1494