Editors: Ellen W. McKnight, M.D. | Erica Huffman, Executive Director
www.escambiacms.org
Bulletin JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 VOLUME 45, NO. 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HEALTHCARE IS IN NEED OF LEADERSHIP Thank you to all of you who made it out to our inaugural ball. We had a great evening. Erica did a lovely job decorating and the guitarist during the social hour was excellent. The photo booth, complete with accessories, provided lots of entertainment as well. Dr. Alan Pillersdorf joined us from the FMA and provided an insightful and humorous overview of what is happening in organized medicine and the challenges we face. We were also thrilled to recognize Dr. Steven Jabaley and Dr. Joseph Howard for their commitment to ECMS as life members of the county medical society. The 2014 Bell-Shippey We Care Doctor of the Year award went to Dr. Ian Weisberg for graciously donating his time to serve the patients of our community. Pain Consultants of West Florida were also recognized for their generous donation to our ECMS Foundation. It was my privilege to address the members of the county medical society for the first time as president,
CONTENTS and I was able to share my thoughts on the importance of leadership in healthcare. Our country obviously needs leadership - especially physician leadership – in the healthcare discussion. Our patients, our colleagues, and future generations of doctors need us to step up and speak out on healthcare issues. We don’t have to run for office or take up lobbying though. The kind of leadership I’m talking about we can do right now no matter what setting we are in. It starts by simply choosing to be involved and keeping up to date on what is happening. We as physicians must join together to effect change that will protect our ability to practice medicine the way we know is best, and preserve the patient-physician relationship as core to the delivery of healthcare. We should not be competing against each other. There are enough patients out there to go around. Besides, working together is the only way we are going to be able to protect our ability to practice medicine over the long haul. cont. on page 7
Page 3 - Announcements Page 4 - Membership Page 7 - President’s Letter cont. Page 8 - ECMS Inaugural Ball Page 10 - Foundation Page 11 - Practice Mgmt. Page 13 - Medical/Legal Page 15 - In the Community
SAVE THE DATE Tuesday, March 10, 2015 | V Paul’s Wealth Management & Tax Advisory General Membership Meeting Monday, April 13, 2015 | Pensacola Wahoos Game Doctors Day Celebration Wednesday, May 6, 2015 | Hilton Garden Inn Airport Boulevard Mini Health Vendor Fair Founded in 1973
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
8880 University Pkwy., Suite B Pensacola, FL 32514 Ph: 850-478-0706 x2 Fx: 850-474-9783 Email: info@escambiacms.org www.escambiacms.org
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.
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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:
The mission of the Escambia County Medical Society is to promote the art and science of medicine in order to improve the health of our community. | Tradition – Honoring the history of medical care in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. | Service – Serving the needs of our community through the service of our members in the practice of medicine. | Leadership – Meeting the challenges of the future and safeguarding our community’s health through organized collaboration on the local, state, and national level.
Ad placement Contact Erica Huffman at 478-0706 x2 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.
Announcements 2015 Calendar of Events Saturday, January 10, 2015 | Hilton on Pensacola Beach Gulf Front 2015 Inaugural Ball President-Elect Christopher Burton, MD Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | Pensacola Yacht Club Legislative Round Table General Membership Meeting 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Tuesday, March 10, 2015 | V Paul’s Wealth Management & Tax Advisory General Membership Meeting Monday, April 13, 2015 | Pensacola Wahoos Game Doctors Day Celebration Wednesday, May 6, 2015 | Hilton Garden Inn Airport Boulevard Mini Health Vendor Fair August 2015 | TBD Young Physicians Section Meeting Patricia Clark 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Sunday, September 27, 2015 | Hemingway’s Bimini Beach Bar Women in Medicine Brunch October 20, 2015 | TBD General Membership Meeting Kevin Pho, M.D. 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ November 14, 2015 | Hilton Garden Inn on Airport Blvd. General Membership Meeting FALL CME Conference 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Calendar is subject to change please visit our website for updates www.escambiacms.org
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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Membership New members Paul Alphonse Jr., M.D. Urology Medical Center Clinic 8333 North Davis Highway Pensacola, FL 32514 (P) 850-474-8398 (F) 850-969-2962 Dean Altenhofen, M.D. OB/GYN Dean Altenhofen MD PA 6110 N. Davis Highway Pensacola, FL 32504 (P) 850-475-0902 (F) 850-475-0908 Valerie Pruitt, M.D. General Surgery 5149 North 9th Ave., Ste 246 Pensacola, FL 32504 (P) 850-416-6159 (F) 850-416-7198 David Kaderis, D.O. General Surgery 5149 North 9th Ave., Ste 246 Pensacola, FL 32504 (P) 850-416-6159 (F) 850-416-7198
Moving
Dr. Janet Lewis, Dr. Bach-Uyen LeThi, Dr. Dennis Mayeaux, and Dr. Young, will now be located at 5907 Berryhill Road Milton, FL 32570.
Never Forgotten
Dr. Joesph O’Daniel died in his garden at home on Saturday December 6, 2015. Dr. O’Daniel was an active ECMS member from 1973 to 1990, 1993 to 1995, and 2000 to 2008.
Have You Paid Your Dues? Please pay your membership dues by March 1st to be included in the 2015 ECMS Pictorial Directory. ECMS needs your help updating our pictorial directory. If you have moved or changed any of your business information since March/2014 please email info@escambiaCMS.org Name | phone | fax | address | email
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Isn’t it time you called the med mal and cyber insurance specialists? Julie Danna and Arlene Gardner, your local medical malpractice specialists, have become well known throughout the state as strong advocates for health care providers, as well as creators of society and network insurance purchasing programs. Danna-Gracey is an independent insurance agency with a statewide team of specialists dedicated solely to insurance coverage placement for Florida’s doctors and healthcare providers, including medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and cyber liability insurance. For a no-obligation assessment of your current coverage, call Julie or Arlene at 850.995.9119.
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Active ECMS Member: $375 (check or credit card) First Time Member: $250 (check only) Part-Time Physician: $200 (check only) 20 hours or less/week Retired Physician: $100 (check only) Receiving $0 in income Active Military: $60 (check only)
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
cont. from page 1 When an issue arises or there is debate on legislation that impacts healthcare, be proactive. Write a letter to your representatives in government. Many times the FMA or our specialty societies will send notices of pending legislation that will impact us and our patients. Letting the politicians know how it will affect our ability to deliver quality healthcare is as simple as putting a short note on your letterhead and mailing, e-mailing or faxing it. Let your patients know what is going on and encourage them to speak up as well. Being a leader in healthcare means advocating for our patients to make sure they get the best care possible. Being a leader in healthcare means protecting the patientphysician relationship and our autonomy to practice medicine the way only we as physicians can. Being a leader in healthcare means communicating with each other, our patients and our representatives, whether they are in politics, our specialty society or organized medicine. In 2015, my goal is to provide great leadership for our county medical society and add value to the physicians of our community. Through the efforts of your ECMS, we will be doing new and bigger things than we have ever done before. I want to give you the tools you need to lead right here. I want you to be able to advocate for your
patients, to practice medicine the way you know is best, and to be reimbursed fairly for it. By bringing quality speakers for our events, your ECMS will provide you more than just the standard CME fair. This year we will have the creator of the popular kevinmd blog, Dr. Kevin Pho, come talk to us about social media and how it is impacting medicine. For the Young Physicians meeting, communication expert Pat Clark will coach us on speaking to our legislature – which we can use when speaking before any group or to communicate more effectively at any meeting. In addition, I am pleased to announce that the board and you the members voted to start an endowed scholarship for medical students in our community. It is important that we support and encourage medical students and residents to carry on the tradition of excellent physicians in our area. I am looking forward with excitement and anticipation for all that 2015 holds for the Escambia County Medical Society. And I thank you for being a part of it. Continue being leaders in healthcare and being involved with your medical society. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can help you leader in healthcare and practice medicine the way you want to practice, feel free to talk to any of us on the board. We are here to serve you and our medical community.
WHY I JOINED THE ECMS 2015 E.C.M.S. President: “I joined E.C.M.S. because being involved in organized medicine allows me to keep up with the changes in healthcare and to be involved in shaping those changes.”Christopher Burton, M.D.
2015 E.C.M.S. Vice-President: “I decided to join E.C.M.S. to get involved with issues that face us in the medical community in order to make positive changes by working together. It has been a great opportunity to meet other local physicians that I wouldn’t normally have a chance to meet (put a face with a name).” - Hillary Hultstrand, M.D.
2015 E.C.M.S. President- Elect: “I joined E.C.M.S. because it gives me the opportunity to meet community physicians and work with them to improve the quality of healthcare in Pensacola.” - Brian Kirby, M.D.
2015 ECMS Secretary/ Treasurer: “I decided that if I didn’t get involved in organized medicine, someone else, usually a non-physician, would make rules that affect my practice of medicine. The Escambia County Medical Society is the right organization to advocate for physician/patient issues. It’s also a lot of fun!” - Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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2015 ECMS Annual Inaugural Ball Saturday, January 10, 2015 Hilton on Pensacola Beach Gulf Front
2015 OFFICERS
MEMBERS AT LARGE
President: Christopher Burton, M.D.
Layne Yonehiro, M.D.
President-Elect: Brian Kirby, M.D.
Thomas Westbrook, M.D.
Vice President: Hillary Hultstrand, M.D.
Brett Parra, M.D.
Secretary/Treasurer: Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
THANK YOU TO OUR BAILANDO SPONSORS Sacred Heart Health Systems Underwood Anderson & Associates, Inc. Danna Gracey Insurance Edward Jones Health First Network, Inc.
(Left to Right) Brian Kirby, M.D., Susan Laenger, M.D., Christopher Burton, M.D., pose for a photo with Dr. Alan Pillersdorf, 2014-2015 President of the Florida Medical Association
Dr. Joseph Howard and Mrs. Marilyn Howard having fun in the photo booth
2015 Executive Committee (Left-right) Christopher Burton, M.D. (President); Ellen W. McKnight, M.D. (Secretary/Treasurer); Hillary Hultstrand, M.D. (Vice President); Brian Kirby, M.D. (President-Elect) ECMS | 8
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
ECMS Board takes a moment for a photo op with Representative Mike Hill.
Dr. Christopher Burton is sworn in as the 2015 ECMS President by Dr. Alan Pillersdorf
(Left-Right) Brett Parra, M.D. (member at large); Christopher Burton, M.D. (President); Ellen W. McKnight, M.D. (Secretary/Treasurer); Hillary Hultstrand, M.D. (Vice President); Brian Kirby, M.D. (President-Elect); Layne Yonehiro, M.D. (member at large)
Dr. Alan Pillersdorf performs the 2015 Installation of ECMS Officers
ECMS LIFE MEMBERS Joseph Howard, M.D. Steven Jabaley, M.D. David Miles, M.D. Fred Mixon, M.D.
William Zimmern, Jr., M.D. Dr. Chip Jabaley accepting the certificate for ECMS Life Membership from Dr. John Lanza. Thank you Dr. Jabaley for your 35 years of dedicated membership to the ECMS. ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Dr. Joseph Howard accepting the certificate for ECMS Life Membership from Dr. John Lanza. Thank you Dr. Howard for your 35 years of dedicated membership to the ECMS.​ 9 | ECMS
Foundation 2015 BELL-SHIPPEY WE CARE DOCTOR OF THE YEAR The 2014 Bell-Shippey We Care Doctor of the Year, Dr. Ian Weisberg. Dr. Weisberg’s total donated services were $50,959.00. This is the second time in three years that Dr. Weisberg has been the We Care doctor of the Year. The total donated amount for Escambia County We Care was $6,809,001.76. This project first started in 1994. Without the support and cooperation of all four area hospitals* and over 300 doctors, many patients would have struggled to find the specialty care they needed. Our medical society can be proud that this project is ongoing after 21 years and supported by so many caring physicians and hospital administrators who see the need and care deeply enough for the indigent, adult patients of our community. Congratulations to the entire healthcare community who have united in this project to take care of our own. *Baptist Health Care, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Sacred Heart Health Systems, and West Florida Healthcare If you are a specialist and wish to receive more information on how you can participate as a We Care Doctor please call Susan Prescott 850-595-6500, ext. 1082. Thank you, Pain Consultants of West Florida, or making a generous donation to the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation in the amount of $2,500.
Dr. Ian Weisberg accepting the 2014 BellShippey We Care Doctor of the Year Award from Dr. John Lanza. ECMS ECMS || 10 10
ESCAMBIA ESCAMBIA COUNTY COUNTY MEDICAL MEDICAL SOCIETY SOCIETY IN IN CONJUNCTION CONJUNCTION WITH WITH SANTA SANTA ROSA ROSA COUNTY COUNTY
Practice Management MANAGING YOUR CYBER RISK As a physician it is your job to ensure that your patients’ protected health information is safeguarded. Cyber attacks against hospitals and medical practices are on the rise, and it’s more important than ever for physicians to take the necessary precautions to protect their practice. Five Tips for Protecting Patient Data 1. Internet access should be provided through a quality router/firewall. 2. Ensure all computer operating systems are patched on a monthly basis. These patches fix bugs and close security gaps. 3. Use an anti-virus program. Though the program is not an absolute solution to keeping others from accessing your information, it is an important element of any comprehensive security system. 4. Any site, program, or computer that requires a password should be given a strong and unique password. 5. Consider using contracted IT support to ensure that all elements of security are in place and functioning properly. Five Security Components for Managing Your Risk 1. Physical Safeguards – to protect your facilities, computer equipment, and portable devices you should consider alarm systems, locked offices, and screen shields. 2. Administrative Safeguards – Hire a security officer, provide workforce training and oversight, control access to information, and perform periodic security reassessments. 3. Technical Safeguards – Implement controls on access to EHRs by requiring passwords and having different access levels. Utilize audit logs to monitor users and other EHR activities. Install measures that keep electronic patient data from being improperly changed and perform data back-ups regularly. Secure electronic exchange of patient information by performing virus checks and keeping data encrypted. 4. Policies and Procedures – Having written policies and procedures will help assure HIPAA security compliance, proper documentation, and good security measures. Written protocols on authorized users and record retention are also a good measure. 5. Organizational Requirements – Ensure the practice has breach notification and associated policies as well as business associate agreements. Cloud Storage vs. HIPAA Compliant Hosting Cloud – When using cloud storage software for patient information, the data center is the only piece of equipment that is located off site. The information that is stored in the cloud can be accessed anywhere. When in transit to, and at rest in the cloud, data must be encrypted. The cloud storage service chosen must support the data in an encrypted state to be considered HIPAA compliant. Compliant Hosting – This is a server-based solution and is required when a medical practice chooses not to house the hardware or data locally. Webserver, application server, and database sever are all located in the data center of a HIPAA compliant hosting provider. This service includes firewall, web or application server, and database server. After choosing the right data storage method, utilize the aforementioned tips to help protect your medical
ESCAMBIA ESCAMBIA COUNTY COUNTY MEDICAL MEDICAL SOCIETY SOCIETY IN IN CONJUNCTION CONJUNCTION WITH WITH SANTA SANTA ROSA ROSA COUNTY COUNTY
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Practice Management practice from being exposed to a cyber attack. Though these tips and practices may help to minimize your risk, they do not entirely eliminate it. To protect your practice against the damages attributed to a cyber breach, consider talking to your medical malpractice carrier about cyber liability coverage. Works Cited Cowperthwaite, Eric. (2014, July 23). 6 steps for reducing cyber risk. http://www.medicalpracticeinsider. com/best-practices/6-steps-reducing-cyber-risk HealthIT.gov. 10 Best Practices for the Small Health Care Environment. http://www.healthit.gov/ providers-professionals/cybersecurity Pollard, David. 2013, July 30. HIPAA Cloud Storage vs. HIPAA Compliant Hosting- Key Differences. http://www.connectria.com/blog/the-difference-between-hipaa-compliant-hosting-and-hipaa-cloudstorageindex-php/ Taitsman, M.D., J.D. Julie K. Grimm, M.P.A Chrisi Macrinca, and Agrawal, M.D. Shantanu. 2013, March 14. Protecting Patient Privacy and Data Security. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1215258
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Medical/Legal REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING:
REAL-TIME PATIENT DATA, REAL LIABILITY RISKS by Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, Director, Patient Safety Education, The Doctors Company
Three million patients worldwide are currently connected to a remote monitoring device that sends personal medical data to their healthcare provider.1 Each year alone, 600,000 cardiac patients are implanted with pacemakers, one of the most common monitoring devices.2 Remote medical devices allow healthcare providers to closely monitor patients outside of the office. This helps doctors catch potential problems earlier, when they’re easier to treat, and can reduce the number of hospitalizations, improving patient health and containing healthcare costs. Remote monitoring devices perform routine tests—such as checking glucose levels for patients with diabetes or checking blood pressure for patients receiving cardiac care—and send the data to the patient’s doctor in real time over the Internet or through phone lines. The doctor can then assess the information and adjust the patient’s treatment plan as needed. Despite the many advantages, remote patient monitoring has liability risks. Because remote monitoring devices transmit patient data, there is a risk of a data breach if the information is not properly encrypted. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that all personal health information (PHI) be encrypted when transmitted, and providers who fail to properly safeguard PHI can face significant penalties. Medical devices may be vulnerable to viruses and malware that can compromise patient privacy and the effectiveness of the device. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlined serious cybersecurity risks for medical devices. The FDA noted that providers who use medical devices cannot rely solely on device manufacturers to ensure security—providers must also take steps to safeguard patient information within their network. These steps include ensuring antivirus software and firewalls are up to date, monitoring the network for unauthorized use, and reporting any medical device cybersecurity problems to the device manufacturer. If a remote device fails or malfunctions, physicians may be named in the lawsuit against the manufacturer, under the claim that the physician failed to use the device properly. To help reduce this risk, physicians should stay up to date on the latest information for the device, including manufacturer’s warnings, the device’s safety record, and the device’s approved uses. Providers should also be aware of any FDA alerts or recalls and should thoroughly read all contracts with medical device vendors. Ensure that the contract outlines who is responsible in the case of device malfunction or failure. Providers should also be aware of the need for additional staff members to handle the incoming data. In the case of a potential problem, these staff members should respond either directly to the patient or alert the appropriate professional for intervention. The amount of patient data from a remote monitoring device can be overwhelming, and medical practices often need a dedicated team to process the information and respond to it in a timely manner. Each practice should have written guidelines for: • At what times the device will be monitored. • Which members of the care team will monitor the data at each point in time. • Under what circumstances the appropriate clinician will be alerted to a potential problem. Providers should also be aware of the risk of “alert fatigue,” when an overwhelming number of alerts are received and it causes staff members to ignore, override, or disable them. Anytime an alert or a potential patient problem is ignored, the reason for that decision should be documented. Patient selection is also an important issue, as successful remote patient monitoring is dependent on each patient’s motivation to actively manage his or her health, as well as the patient’s ability to understand and use the technology. Patients who are not tech-savvy may not be good candidates for remote monitoring. To help ensure ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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Medical/Legal patients effectively use remote devices: • Complete and document a thorough informed consent process. • Educate the patient on: • How to use the device. Explain the treatment plan, such as at what times the device will be monitored and how alerts will be handled by the healthcare team. • What device failure or malfunction looks like, and what the patient should do if that happens. • How to properly maintain the device. References 1. Report: 19 million will use remote patient monitoring by 2018. MEDCITY News. http://medcitynews. com/2014/06/biggest-market-remote-patient-monitoring/. Accessed December 1, 2014. 2. Remote monitoring proven to help prolong life in patients with pacemakers. Heart Rhythm Society. http:// www.hrsonline.org/News/Press-Releases/2014/05/Remote-Monitoring-Pacemakers#_edn1. Accessed December 1, 2014. Contributed by The Doctors Company. For more patient safety articles and practice tips, visit www.thedoctors. com/patientsafety. Susan Shepard, MSN, RN, is the director of patient safety education at The Doctors Company. She earned a master’s degree in nursing administration from Medical Colleges of Virginia–Virginia Commonwealth University, a master of arts degree in management from Webster University, and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from St. Louis University. Article Description: Remote Patient Monitoring: Real-Time Patient Data, Real Liability Risks Remote medical devices allow healthcare providers to closely monitor patients outside of the office, which can help improve patient health and contain healthcare costs. This article outlines the liability risks doctors face with using remote devices to monitor patients. Tweet: Don’t ignore #liability risks w/ remote patient monitoring, e.g. cardiac devices: http://ow.ly/FX18o #heartmonth @doctorscompany
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
In the Community SACRED HEART HOSPITAL UPDATES Sacred Heart Recognized for Commitment to Babies’ Safety Sacred Heart Hospital has been recognized by the March of Dimes and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for reducing the number of Early Elective Deliveries to support safe care for babies. Sacred Heart Opens Perinatal Specialty Unit Sacred Heart Hospital now has a Perinatal Specialty Unit (PSU) dedicated for mothers-to-be and their babies who are deemed high risk .The new 18-bed unit is solely dedicated to pregnant women who require close monitoring in the hospital for high-risk and/or antepartum care. Sacred Heart Elevates Care for Ob/Gyn Emergencies Sacred Heart Hospital has launched an Obstetrics Hospitalist program to elevate the level of care and safety for expectant mothers who arrive at the hospital with a condition requiring immediate access to a physician’s care. The Ob Hospitalist program ensures that a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology is in the hospital and available 24 hours a day.
Sacred Heart Offers New Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease Sacred Heart became the first hospital in Northwest Florida, and only the second in Florida, to use a new device to re-open clogged arteries and keep them open. The recently approved device is a drug-coated balloon catheter that applies the drug paclitaxel to the artery wall. Sacred Heart Hospitals Rank in Top 5 for Patient Engagement in State A new hospital study that calculates patient engagement has ranked Sacred Heart’s three hospitals among the five best in the state of Florida. The 2014 Hospital Patient Engagement Rankings is based on four factors: Readmission rates, patient satisfaction, patient education and community social media engagement. For more information on the rankings, visit online axialexchange.com/engagement. Cordova Mall Ball Supports The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart The 2015 Cordova Mall Ball will be Saturday, Jan. 24, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Cordova Mall in Pensacola. The annual event benefits sick and injured children at The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart. For ticket information, please visit www.sacred-heart.org/mallball, or purchase tickets by phone at 850-416-7415.
BAPTIST MEDICAL GROUP NEWS Baptist Health Care Cardiovascular Diagnostics Receive Echocardiography Accreditation by IAC
Dr. Curtsinger Awarded by HealthStream® for Patient Experience
Baptist Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital and Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile Cardiovascular Diagnostics, has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Echocardiography in the areas of Adult Transthoracic and Adult Stress by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Alison S. Curtsinger, M.D., Baptist Medical Group Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Baptist Medical Park – Navarre, was awarded the Excellence through Insight Award for Overall Patient Experience by HealthStream® for her commitment to excellence in patient care. To qualify for the award, a physician must have been a patient satisfactiontracking client of HealthStream® in 2013, scored in the 75th percentile or higher, and surveyed a minimum of 100 patients.
Accreditation by the IAC means that Baptist Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital and Baptist Medical Park- Nine Mile Cardiovascular Diagnostics have undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to provide quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that each facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Echocardiography.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Dr. Curtsinger was chosen to receive the highest ratings in patient experience from among HealthStream’s clients, as well as for exceeding industry standards. “I am extremely honored to have been chosen for this award. I enjoy caring for patients, and I take pride in providing them personalized and attentive care,” said Dr. Curtsinger.
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY