Winter 2015 GHS’ Rare Tumor Center: First in Nation On-site Health Care Is Good Business GHS’ Clinical University Fuels Research A Publication of Greenville Health System
New Heart Device Gets Under Skin … A Good Thing
CHOOSE A TOP DOCTOR BACKED BY EVEN MORE. CHOOSE A GHS DOCTOR.
When you choose a Greenville Health System primary care physician, you get more than just a great family physician, OB/GYN, internist or pediatrician. You get a great doctor and a medical home backed by hundreds of leading specialists, all networked together. And with primary care physicians located at multiple sites across the Upstate, there’s one near you. Find yours today at ghs.org/mydoctor.
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CONTENTS
New Heart Device Offers Second Chance 5 With an innovative defibrillator protecting him from sudden cardiac arrest, Arthur Craig has the peace of mind to pursue an active lifestyle in retirement.
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Healthy Bottom Line 9 When companies help their employees enjoy better health, they net results in more ways than one.
Hope Rising 13 GHS’ Rare Tumor Center is using advanced research to find answers to cancer’s great challenge.
GHS Clinical University Is No Ivory Tower 17
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One-of-a-kind model is improving patient care through education, workforce development and research partnerships with multiple academic institutions.
Departments Message from the President and CEO 1 Spotlight 2 What’s Right in Health Care 3 Clinical Trials 16
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Q & A 17 Practice Profile 18 Physician Directory 19
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We welcome your comments, suggestions and ideas. Call (864) 797-7541 or email nparker@ghs.org.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Gentlemen, This Is a Football “Gentlemen, this is a football”—Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi’s introduction of the most fundamental element of the game to his players to start each season is legendary. He believed in building success on a clear, unshakeable grasp of the essentials. At GHS, we have our own version of Lombardi’s football: the GHS Vision, Mission and Values statements (see back page), which I review as I open every staff meeting, managers retreat and employee Town Hall assembly. These statements embody the guiding principles by which GHS provides health care today—and tomorrow. Consider our mission statement: Heal compassionately. Teach innovatively. Improve constantly. These clear directives are interdependent, like the wheels of a tricycle with the front wheel (the patient) being supported by the rear wheels of education and research. The way compassionate healing, innovation and constant improvement foster one another underscores this issue of Inside Health. In the cover story, Arthur Craig is finding a new lease on life through a groundbreaking ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator). In another feature, GHS is helping businesses enhance the health of their workforce—and their bottom line—with innovative strategies. And we share the exciting news about our Rare Tumor Center, which is pioneering the treatment and research of cancers collectively comprising 20 percent of all cancers—an approach driven by the compassion of our oncologists who are determined to find a better way.
Our mission of compassionate healing, innovation and improvement also has led GHS to develop in partnership with other hospitals the MyHealth First Network, a clinically integrated network of 1,500 healthcare providers (including GHS-employed doctors) that spans nine counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg. These providers are working together to improve health, reduce costs and enhance the patient experience. Physicians play a key role in developing the network’s quality and cost goals as well as its performance initiatives, and they govern the network. Areas of efficiency within the network include case management for patients with chronic disease; constant quality improvement to ensure the best care and adherence to evidence-based medicine; and an integrated approach of both health systems and physician groups to monitor and reduce costs for items such as medications, X-rays and Emergency Department visits. Even as we find new and better ways to deliver health care, we—like the Packers—remain focused on the essentials. We are committed to pursuing innovation and improvement for the ultimate goal of healing with compassion. As always, we welcome the opportunity to serve as your healthcare partner.
Michael C. Riordan President and CEO
SPOTLIGHT
Giving Joint Pain the Cool Shoulder A new procedure at Greenville Health System (GHS) is making great strides in the treatment of knee, hip and back pain that does not respond well to traditional therapies. COOLIEF™ Cooled Radiofrequency Treatment uses radiofrequency energy, similar to that used by kitchen microwaves, to block nerve cells’ ability to send pain messages to the brain. Unlike standard radiofrequency ablation (RFA), COOLIEF controls the heat of the process by circulating water through the probe. Katarzyna Kocol, DO, GHS interventional physiatrist focusing on spine, musculoskeletal and pain medicine, was the first in South Carolina to use the treatment on hips. “I’m very excited about the procedure,” Dr. Kocol remarked. “Patients are saying, ‘Wow, this feels so much better, so much quicker!’ Studies and patient experience have shown it provides up to 24 months of pain relief, which is pretty impressive.” Because the treatment produces a larger lesion, it allows a more precise targeting of the nerve, providing more complete blocking of pain signals than standard RFA. While the procedure, in effect, masks pain, Dr. Kocol commented that patients still will be able to tell if a problem occurs after treatment. Possible side effects are similar to an injection and include pain, swelling or bleeding at the injection site.
Cooled radiofrequency lesions form at the target nerves of the hip joint.
Robert LeBlond, MD, GHS pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, is finding success with the COOLIEF procedure to treat chronic lumbar spine pain and arthritic knee pain. “I started using traditional radiofrequency ablation more than six years ago, and relief with the procedure wasn’t all that effective,” Dr. LeBlond said. “With COOLIEF, the relief is of higher quality and longer lasting.” COOLIEF offers a promising alternative for patients who have not responded well to standard treatments. It also may serve as a bridge therapy for patients who currently aren’t candidates for surgery because of age or health issues. The non-surgical procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, with patients usually resuming normal activities in two to three days. Dr. LeBlond offers encouragement to people with joint pain of an arthritic or chronic nature. “Patients need to know there’s hope for chronic pain besides narcotic pain medicine,” he commented. “COOLIEF provides marked pain relief, reduces the need for strong pain medication and improves functioning.” COOLIEF is another example of how GHS actively seeks alternative solutions to meet patients’ needs. To learn more, please call 1-877-GHS-INFO or visit ghs.org. (Image provided by KimberlyClark Worldwide, Inc.)
W H AT ’ S R I G H T I N H E A LT H C A R E
Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on at GHS as we pursue our mission to heal compassionately, teach innovatively and improve constantly.
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Years that Laurens County Memorial Hospital has served the community. It joined GHS in 2013.
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Level accorded GHS’ Center for Pediatric Medicine (CPM) as a Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This model of care emphasizes care coordination and communication, which leads to higher quality and lower costs. CPM is the state’s first pediatric practice to earn Level 3 (highest level) recognition.
Children in the GHS Asthma Action Team registry, a multidisciplinary, multilingual, family-centered program within the Center for Pediatric Medicine, a large primary care clinic. The team recently received the NOVA Award from the American Hospital Association for its efforts to improve community health through effective, consistent and evidencebased asthma care.
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Births that occurred at Greenville Memorial Hospital (GMH) this year. GMH has received international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility, an honor held by a small number of U.S. hospitals. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative’s goal is to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies through breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin bonding.
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Students who attended the GHS Medical Experience Academy (MedEx) this summer, representing 16 local high schools and 20 regional colleges and universities. MedEx exposes students to experiences that provide foundational training for numerous health careers. Seventeen MedEx graduates now attend the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville.
Programs in the U.S. lauded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a leader in community-site care delivery and research: GHS’ Cancer Institute is one of these nationally recognized sites. It is the only community-based program originating in South Carolina to attain this distinction. Along with national inclusion as an NCI program, the Cancer Institute was awarded a multi-million dollar grant—the largest in GHS history—to conduct clinical trials and research studies that improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequities.
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Participants in the new Embedded Scholars program, through which postdoctoral fellows work alongside GHS physicians and Clemson University health research faculty. Fellows are charged with finding ways to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. Their research focuses on surgical processes, obstetrics, geriatrics and health information systems.
GHS facilities that received the S.C. Hospital Association Certified Zero Harm Award for having no preventable hospital-acquired infections with central line-associated bloodstream and/or knee or hip replacement sites during the award’s reporting period. The facilities are Greenville Memorial, Greer Memorial, Hillcrest Memorial, Laurens County Memorial and Baptist Easley (of which GHS is 50 percent owner) hospitals.
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Our first priority: taking care of patients and their families.
Inside Health 4
Arthur Craig and his family home both have been given a new lease on life.
New Heart Device Offers Second Chance GHS is first in the Upstate to use the Boston Scientific S-ICD™ System, a subcutaneous implantable defibrillator for patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. By Claire Cross
Andrew Brenyo, MD (left), and Donald Rubenstein, MD, PhD, believe that the new S-ICD offers important benefits.
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rthur Craig, a 68-year-old former Clemson University football player, automobile spirit flag inventor and retired chemical sales representative, is renovating his family home in the heart of Greer. Putting his handyman skills to work, he’s giving the century-old house new life.
For those at risk, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a known lifesaver. If the device detects a dangerous arrhythmia, it can prevent sudden cardiac arrest by sending an electric shock to the heart (defibrillation) to jolt it back to normal rhythm in a matter of seconds.
Craig is finding a lot of satisfaction in the project—and a greater peace of mind to perform this labor of love thanks to a new device that is giving him his own second chance.
Yes to “No Touch”
The results of a cardiac stress test in February showed that Craig’s heart was not pumping properly. He was at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system abruptly malfunctions, producing an abnormal rhythm that makes the heart unable to pump blood to the body. Without immediate lifesaving treatment, death occurs in more than 90 percent of cases.
Craig’s physician, Donald Rubenstein, MD, PhD, is medical director of Cardiovascular Research at Greenville Health System (GHS) and a cardiac electrophysiologist with GHS’ Carolina Cardiology Consultants. He recommended that Craig get an ICD. Because Craig didn’t need a pacemaker or pacing therapy in addition to protection from sudden cardiac arrest, he was a candidate for a new kind of ICD called the S-ICD. The “S” stands for subcutaneous, meaning under the skin. The device was approved by the FDA in 2012 but only recently has become available for wider release. Inside Health 6
“The S-ICD is a phenomenal breakthrough in technique to prevent sudden death in patients with advanced heart disease,” said Dr. Rubenstein. “What’s revolutionary about the S-ICD is that the entire system is implanted—but not in the heart. Its components are literally under the skin and do not touch the heart at all.” A conventional ICD, on the other hand, requires thin, insulated wires called leads to be inserted into blood vessels and follows their path to lodge into the heart chambers directly. The leads adhere to the walls of the heart and vessels. “With the leads touching the heart, the conventional ICD poses some risk of infection or other damage to the heart or blood vessels,” noted Andrew Brenyo, MD. “It’s not a trivial matter to take it out.” Dr. Brenyo also is a cardiac electrophysiologist with GHS’ Carolina Cardiology Consultants.
ICD, would likely require lead replacement one or more times. The lifesaving device also may be a possibility for patients who may not have a conventional ICD placed because they have blocked or scarred heart vessels. “For patients who need protection from sudden cardiac arrest but who don’t need heart rate or pacing therapy—which, unlike the conventional ICD, the S-ICD doesn’t offer—the S-ICD is the mainstay of treatment within national and international cardiovascular therapy,” explained Dr. Brenyo. “Mr. Craig fit the bill.”
‘Implantable Paramedic’ After weighing the two options, Craig gave a thumbs-up to being the first patient in the Upstate to get the Boston Scientific S-ICD in March. “The S-ICD just made sense,” Craig said.
With the S-ICD, however, should heart function improve, the device can be removed with ease. “It can protect you if and when you need it, but you may not need it forever,” said Dr. Brenyo. “If that’s the case, your heart and vessels won’t be at risk of being damaged.” The S-ICD can be especially beneficial for patients susceptible to infections or for young patients who, with a conventional
Transvenous ICD System (electrical wires placed through the veins into the heart) 7 Inside Health
The S-ICD system has two main components: a small, pagersized pulse generator and one lead. The pulse generator is positioned just under the skin below the armpit and connected to the single thin lead, which is placed under the skin beside the breastbone and about two inches from the heart. The procedure to place the S-ICD is minimally invasive, requiring only three small incisions. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to perform, and patients usually go home the same day.
Subcutaneous S-ICD® System (electrode placed under the skin with nothing inside the heart)
Dr. Brenyo describes the device as an implantable paramedic. “I tell patients, ‘If you have this risk, you forget about him, but he won’t forget about you.’ ” The S-ICD records constantly, and physicians can take note of patterns and adjust settings if necessary at follow-up appointments about every three months.
arrest out of my mind and not live life in fear. It’s given me a second chance to do the work in front of me.” As a self-described fan of continuous improvement, Craig said he appreciates the innovative offerings of GHS and also values the perseverance he sees in his GHS physicians.
Craig’s recovery from his S-ICD placement was short and easy. “This procedure is not anything that’s going to keep you down for long,” he remarked.
“They’re super-dedicated,” Craig emphasized. “They’re not the kind of guys who are content with a ‘that’s good enough’ approach to things. They’ve got a passion for what they do, and they do it well.”
Craig was driving again in a couple weeks and soon thereafter was going about his everyday life, which included running electrical wires and new plumbing in his house.
To talk with an electrophysiologist to learn if an S-ICD is right for you, please call (864) 522-1400 to schedule an appointment.
“Having the S-ICD is like having a built-in insurance policy,” Craig commented. “I’m able to put the idea of sudden cardiac
“Having the S-ICD is like having a built-in insurance policy. I’m able to put the idea of sudden cardiac arrest out of my mind and not live life in fear. It’s given me a second chance to do the work in front of me.” — Arthur Craig
Healthy Bottom Line GHS Business Health program helps companies cut costs by improving health. By Leigh Savage
Thanks to GHS’ on-site nurse practitioner, Drive Automotive employees enjoy better health and more productivity.
It’s been a godsend. It’s accessible, reduces healthcare costs for the employee and the company, and promotes proactive preventive care for our employees. — Sue Kavanagh, HR Benefits/Wellness coordinator for Drive Automotive
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rive Automotive has almost 700 employees working intensive production schedules with rotating shifts at the 24-hour manufacturing facility. In the past, missed work and costly after-hours health care made routine and preventive medical appointments difficult for employees. Some simply didn’t go. But thanks to a new partnership with Greenville Health System (GHS), the company has an on-site clinic with a nurse practitioner available 40 hours each week. “It’s been a godsend,” said Sue Kavanagh, HR Benefits/ Wellness coordinator for Drive Automotive. “It’s accessible, reduces healthcare costs for the employee and the company, and promotes proactive preventive care for our employees.” Rising healthcare costs are a key problem for upstate businesses and their employees; since 2007, GHS has focused on forging partnerships to help transform health care by facilitating wellness and prevention while finding ways to keep costs low. Now serving 70+ companies, the GHS Business Health program has more than doubled in the past four years, conducting 23,000 health risk assessments annually. The program offers employers a comprehensive approach with a growing roster of services that can be customized to fit each company’s needs. Jane McBride, director of Clinical Rehabilitation and Wellness at GHS, said some companies prefer a minimal plan, often starting with a lunch-and-learn series.
including biometric screenings, find the risk factors of their population, and then design a lunch-and-learn for them.” For example, some companies benefit from smoking cessation programs or weight management programs, while others may need diabetes education or occupational medicine. This targeted approach has been a big draw for clients such as ScanSource, which has been working with GHS for two years. Jessica Howard, manager of the benefits and wellness program, said her company was looking for ways to manage rising healthcare costs while also enhancing the company’s focus on employee wellness. To help reach both goals, ScanSource has added on-site personal trainers as well as an on-site clinic with a nurse practitioner available 25 hours a week. While the entire slate of programs hasn’t been implemented long enough to show full results, Howard has received positive feedback from employees, who like the convenience of on-site medical care. “Productivity is hard to track,” she said, “but we believe we will see hard dollars being saved. People are more apt to go and get checked, and they hardly have to be away from their desks.” Reduced prescription costs have been another benefit, and Howard said the program is an excellent retention and recruiting tool. “It stands out to employees and candidates,” she commented. “They really like it and want more.”
“We want to specifically target the risks of a corporation,” McBride said. “We can perform screenings for health risks, Inside Health 10
“Employers are telling us they are beginning to see healthcare costs improve,” said Angelo Sinopoli, MD, vice president for Clinical Integration and chief medical officer at GHS. “By prioritizing employees with the highest risk, those with chronic problems see great improvement and costs go down for the company as a whole.” Dr. Sinopoli said the key to the program’s success is its continuing evolvement. “Every year, we add additional aspects to the program,” he said. “Now we have everything from onsite education programs to Five Phase Wellness to Zumba.” Five Phase Wellness was designed to improve the health of a company’s employees through individualized wellness coaching. Based on risk factors such as waist measurement and tobacco use, employees are placed in five phases of wellness, from unhealthiest/highest risk to the healthiest/ lowest risk. Based on their results, they meet with a nurse practitioner or health educator to address their risks.
A Flexible Approach
McBride said the most recent addition is BeWell, designed to help people with metabolic syndrome. The program is the result of a request from a client where several employees were struggling with the issue.
Flexibility is the reason for the program’s success, Howard noted. “We don’t do things the way they are typically done,” she said. “We are always thinking outside of the box, and GHS has been very open-minded. It’s been a nice, transparent partnership.”
“That program and others have grown out of requests from corporations,” she said. “We are local, with local resources, and it’s not a cookie-cutter approach—we build the program around what they are looking for.”
Angelo Sinopoli, MD, leads the GHS Business Health strategy.
With 600 employees in Greenville and 1,000 nationwide, ScanSource is one of GHS’ larger clients, though the program also caters to smaller businesses with fewer than 75 employees. Included in the program are on-site employee health screenings, health risk assessments, a group health report, and HR insight, a financial model that shows how businesses can cut costs based on lifestyle, behavior and health status changes. GHS then can recommend and create a health and wellness program to help achieve both health and financial goals.
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Additional offerings include QuitWell, a tobacco cessation program; LoseWell, a medical weight management program; Care Management, for high-risk individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma or hypertension; Pharmacy Services, with prescription refill service; and Occupational Medicine, focused on disability prevention. With the continuing growth of the Business Health program and the need to provide flexibility and accessibility of medical care, GHS also will offer employers the opportunity to deliver services through telemedicine in the near future.
Population Health Dr. Sinopoli said GHS realized early on that health care was heading toward population health management and made sure his team developed the required expertise. “We were hearing that healthcare costs were rising faster than employers could absorb, and they needed help,” he said. “That’s where Business Health evolved. It’s continued to evolve, and now it’s one of the most robust business health programs in the Southeast.” Several Business Health clients were recognized with 2014 LiveWell Greenville Healthy Workplace Awards for supporting the health and wellness of their employees. GHS employees were the first to implement Business Health initiatives, and GHS earned a gold award thanks to programs such as LoseWell, which helped employees lose more than 4,500 pounds in two years. ScanSource also won gold for its variety of on-site fitness and wellness opportunities as well as large reductions in overall triglycerides and metabolic syndrome risk factors.
Drive Automotive earned a Silver Award, with LiveWell pointing out the success of initiatives such as free fruit Tuesdays and the on-site nurse practitioner who saw 2.4 employees per hour, saving an estimated 1,880 employee work hours per quarter.
Drive Automotive earned a Silver Award, with LiveWell pointing out the success of on-site healthy meal options and free fruit Tuesdays, health information newsletters, and the on-site nurse practitioner who saw 2.4 employees per hour, saving an estimated 1,880 employee work hours per quarter. Pam Wessel, director of Business Relations at GHS, said she loves the opportunity to share the population health strategy with the community because improving employee health is a win for everyone. “This is a transformation,” she said. “We don’t want these employees in the ER—we want them to have access to the right care at the right time at the right place, handling their own prevention and wellness. We help the entire population where we live, and that drives down costs for everybody.” If you would like to learn how the GHS Business Health program can tailor a plan for your company, please contact Pam Wessel at (864) 522-3104 or pwessel@ghs.org.
Hope Rising For Patients with Rare Tumors GHS is pioneering an approach that will open up new treatment options for rare cancers. By Leigh DeLozier
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he most difficult situation physicians face is a disease for which there is no known effective therapy. Now, that concern is giving way to hope for some patients and their families, thanks to the new Rare Tumor Center at Greenville Health System (GHS). Opened in March, it is the nation’s first center dedicated exclusively to the treatment and research of rare cancers. “People might wonder why we’ve established something for rare cancers, which typically may affect from 150 to 5,000 patients each year,” said Jeffery Edenfield, MD, medical director of GHS’ Institute for Translational Oncology Research (ITOR). “But when you add up all the cases, they’re not so uncommon. Rare tumors affect more than 20 percent of all patients with cancer—one in every five.” Cancer of the thyroid, small bowel, eye and other sites not usually heard about are all considered rare cancers. “Patients with rare cancers are at a great disadvantage,” Dr. Edenfield noted. “Clinical trials aren’t routinely available for these types of cancer, and the treatments often are based on observational use of medications, which are less reliable than an evidence-based approach.” Genes Are the Means to Answers The new GHS center is taking a different approach with these patients.
“Our belief is that if we don’t know how to treat the cancer, we can look at the mutations driving the cancer and look at it from that perspective,” explained Dr. Edenfield. While cancer is immensely complex, some rare tumors may be driven by relatively fewer alterations, according to W. Larry Gluck, MD, medical director of the GHS Cancer Institute. Knowing more about these alterations (or mutations) can open new options for a patient’s treatment. Dr. Edenfield added, “That can help us find existing treatments that will work or allow us to get the patient into a clinical trial specifically for drugs that address a genomic alteration that contributes to the patient’s cancer.”
Jeffery Edenfield, MD, is the catalyst behind the Rare Tumor Center.
“There’s been a paradigm shift from thinking about cancer based on where it began in the body to thinking about and treating cancer based on the underlying genomic alterations Inside Health 14
At Foundation Medicine, a Rare Tumor Center research partner, lab technicians receive and process specimens.
driving the growth of the tumor,” stated Vince Miller, MD, chief medical officer for Foundation Medicine in Boston, one of the center’s corporate partners. “This development carries promise for patients with rare tumors who have not benefitted from the research and advances in the more common types of tumors that have been studied extensively.” For example, if a patient diagnosed with liver cancer has genomic alterations in the tumor that may be more commonly known in another tumor type—breast cancer, for example— the physician could determine that a therapy approved in breast cancer for that alteration might be a viable treatment. This approach is based on comprehensive genomic profiling, or tests that give a clear picture of a patient’s molecular structure. Greenville-based Selah Genomics provides the test that analyzes the genetics of every patient who enrolls in the biorepository of ITOR, the hospital’s program that brings research and treatment options together. Information from each patient is added to the biorepository database where details can be compared and treatments that would otherwise be overlooked might show promise. The database can help patients and physicians at GHS as well as be an international resource. “We want to give them the tools they need to fight the battle,” said Michael Bolick, CEO of Selah Genomics. “We’ll do anything we can to help patients with cancer in our community—and beyond—however we can.”
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Tumor Center Is Unique Patients at the center who qualify to participate in a unique 18-month research study can undergo additional testing in conjunction with Foundation Medicine. The test, which Dr. Edenfield described as the “gold standard” for comprehensive genomic profiling, uses next-generation sequencing to detect genomic alterations in more than 315 genes believed to be most relevant to the growth and spread of cancer. “This approach brings a level of sophistication and precision available only here,” commented Jerry Dempsey, former chairman of the GHS Board of Trustees who, along with wife Harriet, provided $1 million to make the Rare Tumor Center possible. “I’ve seen up close the transformative work being done by GHS—and absolutely believe this investment will have great returns to our community now and in the future. We’re proud to be a part of it.” “We’re creating something in Greenville, S.C., that exists only as pieces elsewhere,” emphasized Dr. Gluck. “What our teams of physicians and scientists learn here will not only impact rare tumor research but also provide answers to other cancer issues.” Being in the forefront of groundbreaking research and treatments can be a daunting prospect, but the team at GHS stays focused on its purpose. “If we don’t go looking, we’ll never know it’s there,” Dr. Edenfield observed. “And if we don’t know it’s there, we can’t try to find other ways to treat it.” Whether you or a loved one has cancer or has questions about cancer, we are here to help. Please visit ghs.org/sooner.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Participants Needed
Hundreds of clinical trials are conducted throughout Greenville Health System on a variety of drug therapies, surgical devices and other treatments in all areas of medicine. Persons With Any Cancer ITOR (Institute for Translational Oncology Research) conducts Phase I cancer clinical trials to give patients access to the most advanced treatments available. Could you benefit from one of its research protocols? Studies range from those for newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic cancer to those for patients who have exhausted conventional therapies. Call Lisa at (864) 455-3735 or Jill at (864) 455-3737.
Cancer Survivors for Registry GHS Cancer Institute’s Cancer Survivor Registry is a database of cancer survivors that includes demographics, contact information, and tumor and treatment information. Through the registry, survivors can receive information about cancer issues and invitations to participate in surveys and studies on subjects such as quality of life and survivorship challenges. Survivors may enroll by completing a consent form and a registration form. For forms and info, contact Annie, (864) 455-3459 or aanderson6@ghs.org.
Breast Cancer Survivors and Healthy Adults This study will investigate effects of breast cancer and treatment on skeletal muscle health through a non-invasive technique. The purpose is to compare skeletal muscle health in breast cancer survivors to healthy individuals. A $15 gas card will be provided to participants. Call Samantha, (864) 455-1410.
Relatives of People With Type 1 Diabetes This study is searching for ways to prevent and quickly medically intervene in those newly diagnosed with diabetes. Researchers are seeking to test family members of people with type 1 diabetes to determine if they show signs of developing the disease. Parents, brothers, sisters and children of those who have type 1 diabetes (ages 1-45), and cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and grandchildren (ages 1-20) can be tested for their risk of developing type 1 diabetes free of charge. Benefits of participation include finding out your family members’ risk level for developing diabetes, possibly receiving an early diagnosis of diabetes that would allow for early treatment and contributing to the fight against type 1 diabetes. Adult patients or their relatives may call Shirley at (864) 455-3261. Relatives of pediatric patients may call Jennifer at (864) 454-5591.
Children With Type 2 Diabetes If you are 10 to 17 years of age and have type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for this study, the purpose of which is to evaluate the effectiveness of the oral suspension medication Welchol for decreasing HbA1c levels. In addition to receiving the study drug, participants are counseled on ways to improve eating and exercise habits. Call Jennifer at (864) 454-5591.
Children and Teens With Autism This study is designed to evaluate genetic markers as a way to find out how efficient and safe two FDAapproved medications are in treating irritability in children with autistic disorder. It consists of nine study visits over a period of 12 weeks. Participation in the study is limited to children between 6 and 17 years of age. Call Amy at (864) 454-5168.
To learn more about research at GHS, please visit ghs.org/research.
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Q & A
GHS Clinical University Is No Ivory Tower
“We believe that the clinical university model is a game changer that will improve patient care, not only at GHS, but also across the state and even at a national level.” — Michael C. Riordan, GHS President and CEO Why is an academic health center important to our community? Last year, Greenville Health System (GHS) was designated an academic health center by the Association of Academic Health Centers. Only two percent of health systems in the country have earned this designation. Different from most hospitals, academic health centers are teaching hospitals that provide a wide range of care, develop new technologies and treatments, provide first-in-region access to clinical trials, bolster the region’s economic health, conduct research and educate new healthcare providers.
What is the GHS Clinical University? Among the only 100 academic health centers in the nation, GHS leads the way through development of a one-of-a-kind model called the GHS Clinical University. Unlike traditional academic health centers that include one academic institution, we are driven to improve patient care through education, workforce development and research partnerships with multiple academic institutions. The GHS Clinical University leverages the existing resources of academic partners rather than duplicating infrastructure. This collaboration allows us to concentrate on initiatives that best meet the region’s healthcare and workforce needs.
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Who are the GHS Clinical University academic partners?
How will the GHS Clinical University enhance research?
The University of South Carolina serves as primary partner for medical education and graduate studies, Clemson University is primary research collaborator, and Furman University is primary partner for undergraduate studies and pipeline programs. In addition, we also collaborate with more than 50 other academic institutions to provide clinical education. These collaborations include graduate and professional studies as well as healthcare career pipeline programs for undergraduate and high school students.
GHS is one of the leading healthcare systems in the state for clinical trials, and the launch of the GHS Clinical University offers even more opportunities in research. Recently, GHS opened the nation’s first Human Performance Lab fully embedded in a cancer research and treatment program as well as the country’s only Rare Tumor Center. This summer, GHS instituted an Embedded Scholars program in which postdoctoral fellows from Clemson University work alongside our physicians to find innovative ways to improve care and reduce costs.
How is education at GHS transforming health care for our community? If GHS were a traditional university, it would be among the largest in South Carolina, providing applied education and training to 5,000 students annually. Through more than 40 academic professional programs and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, GHS Clinical University delivers opportunities based on the current, realworld healthcare needs of our community. Our programs offer a solution to the growing shortage of health professionals by providing a pipeline of highly skilled, ready-to-work graduates.
Exciting research is happening within almost every department at GHS. What we discover will transform health care in the Upstate, across South Carolina and beyond.
Spence M. Taylor, MD, is president and chief academic officer, GHS Clinical University.
PRACTICE PROFILE
Christie Pediatric Group Parents want the best for their child, and one of the most important decisions they will make concerns whom to trust with their youngster’s health and wellness. Christie Pediatric Group, one of the area’s most established pediatric practices, has served three generations of families. Christie Peds providers understand that they are caregivers and advocates for children: In addition to staying current on medical practices and academic aspects of care, they remember that patients require a compassionate approach. They work to get to know the patient and their families to help provide better care and to establish a more enjoyable relationship with them.
Katherine Brooks, PA-C; William Wylie Jr., MD; and Pamela Chivers, MD, at the Maxwell Pointe (Hwy. 14) office. The 10 providers alternate among the three locations.
The practice’s doctors have received training from a crosssection of medical schools and pediatric training programs from around the country and offer a variety of special interests in pediatric care. The practice has both male and female providers with tenures that surpass 30 years. This breadth and depth of training, experience and specialty areas allow the providers to offer comprehensive and dedicated medical care for children.
Providers All doctors are board-certified.
Some of Christie Peds’ special services are …
A practice of Partners In Health Inc. and affiliated with Greenville Health System
Separate Sick- and Well-child Areas keep sick and well children apart through designated waiting areas and patient rooms. The practice makes keeping wait times brief a priority. Phone-A-Nurse Service is a dedicated phone service at all locations. Designated nurses answer parents’ questions and calls are returned promptly. If a child has something for which a medical protocol is in place (such as pink eye), a prescription can be called in without an office visit. If the nurse and parent determine the child needs to see a doctor, a visit is scheduled for the same day. Lactation Service helps new moms through what can be an uncertain learning process. The positive outcome is that more mothers are successfully and happily nursing their infants. “In sum, our physicians and staff are experts in caring for young patients,” said Stephen Lookadoo, MD, “and we enjoy doing it!”
Pamela C. Chivers, MD Stephen E. Lookadoo Jr., MD Andrea D. Nesbit, MD James B. Nichols Jr., MD Joseph D. Pool, MD
Kevin A. Springle, MD Jeffrey E. Stoeber, MD William L. Wylie Jr., MD Katherine H. Brooks, PA-C
Christie Pediatric Group
9 Mills Ave. • Greenville, SC 29605-4097 (864) 242-4840 • (864) 241-9209 Fax 3911 S. Highway 14 • Greenville, SC 29615 (864) 522-1340 • (864) 241-9209 Fax 1409 W. Georgia Road, Suite A • Simpsonville, SC 29680 (864) 454-5062 • (864) 241-9209 Fax
Hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.-noon Walk-in time 8-8:20 a.m. ghschildrens.org/christiepeds Christie pediatric group
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GHS PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES Having a personal physician with whom you can establish a lifelong relationship is as important as getting your screenings. If you need assistance finding one, here is a list of Greenville Health System primary care physicians who will help keep you healthy and loving life! To find out more about these physicians, go to ghs.org/primarycare. For a complete list of primary and specialty physicians, go to ghs.org.
CLEMSON Clemson-Seneca Pediatrics 208 Frontage Rd., Ste. 1, 29631 654-6034
CLINTON Advanced Family Medicine 210 S. Broad St., 29325 833-0973 Carolina Women’s Center 102 Medical Park Ct., 29325 938-0087
DUNCAN Palmetto Medical Associates 500 Squires Pte., 29334 968-5123 Pediatric Associates–Spartanburg 500 Squires Pte., 29334 582-8135
EASLEY Pediatric Associates–Easley 800 N. A St., 29640 855-0001
GRAY COURT Laurens Family Medicine 9100 Hwy. 14, 29645 876-4888
Children’s Hospital After-hours Care (Urgent Care) 890 S. Pleasantburg Dr., 29607 271-3681 Christie Pediatric Group 9 Mills Ave., 29605 242-4840 3911 S. Hwy. 14, 29615 522-1340 Cross Creek Internal Medicine 50 Cross Park Ct., 29605 797-7035 Cypress Internal Medicine–Maxwell Pointe 3907 S. Hwy. 14, 29615 522-1300 Cypress Internal Medicine–Patewood 200 Patewood Dr., Ste. B460, 29615 454-2226 GHS Pediatrics & Internal Medicine 1809 Wade Hampton Blvd., Ste. 120, 29609 522-5000 Greenville Family Medicine 2-A Cleveland Ct., 29607 271-7761 Greenville Midwifery Care 35 Medical Ridge Dr., 29605 455-1600 Greenville Ob/Gyn Associates 2 Memorial Medical Dr., 29605 295-4210 1025 Verdae Blvd., Ste. F, 29607 286-7500
GREENVILLE
Gynecology Specialists 890 W. Faris Rd., Ste. 510, 29605 101 Halton Village Circle, 29607 455-1600 (for both)
Carolina Pediatrics of Greenville 200 Patewood Dr., Ste. A120, 29615 454-2670
Internal Medicine Associates of Greenville 1025 Verdae Blvd., Ste. A, 29607 242-4683
Center for Family Medicine 877 W. Faris Rd., Ste. A, 29605 455-7800
MD360® (Urgent Care) 1025 Verdae Blvd., Ste. B, 29607 286-7550
The Children’s Clinic 890 S. Pleasantburg Dr., 29607 271-1450
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Piedmont OB/GYN 890 W. Faris Rd., Ste. 330, 29605 455-1270 3917 S. Hwy. 14, 29615 522-1360 Riverside Family Medicine–Eastside 215 Halton Rd., 29607 454-2700 Riverside Family Medicine–Maxwell Pointe 3909 S. Hwy. 14, 29615 522-1320
GREER The Children’s Clinic 325 Medical Pkwy., Ste. 150, 29650 797-9300 Cypress Internal Medicine–Greer 325 Medical Pkwy., Ste. 200, 29650 797-9550 Family Medicine–Mountain View 406 Memorial Dr. Ext., 29651 877-9066 Greer Family Medicine 1107 W. Poinsett St., 29650 879-8886 Greer OB/GYN 325 Medical Pkwy., Ste. 100, 29650 797-9200 MD360® (Urgent Care) 1305 S. Suber Rd., 29650 989-4609 Pediatric Associates–Greer 318 Memorial Dr., 29650 879-3883
LAURENS Laurens Family Medicine 106 Parkview Dr., 29360 984-0571
PIEDMONT/POWDERSVILLE Heritage Pediatrics & Internal Medicine– Wren 1115 Wren School Rd., 29673 859-0740 (in collaboration with Baptist Easley) MD360® (Urgent Care) 11402 Anderson Rd., Ste. A, 29611 631-2799 (in collaboration with Baptist Easley) Pediatric Associates–Powdersville 207 Three Bridges Rd., 29611 220-1110 Premier Women’s Care 209 Three Bridges Rd., 29611 220-4209
SENECA Between the Lakes Primary Care 106 Ram Cat Alley, 29678 888-4445 Blue Ridge Women’s Center 103 Carter Park Dr., 29678 482-2360 10110 Clemson Blvd., 29678 985-1799 Clemson-Seneca Pediatrics 207 Main St., 29678 888-4222 Mountain Lakes Community Care (Urgent Care) 109 Omni Dr., Ste. B, 29672 885-7425 Mountain Lakes Family Medicine 10110 Clemson Blvd., 29678 482-3148 Dr. Timothy Sanders Family Medicine 100 Omni Dr., Ste. A, 29672 885-7520
Upstate Family Medicine 12016 N. Radio Station Rd., 29678 882-6141
SIMPSONVILLE The Children’s Clinic 727 S.E. Main St., Ste. 100, 29681 454-6520 Christie Pediatric Group 1409 W. Georgia Rd., Ste. A, 29680 454-5062 Cypress Internal Medicine–Simpsonville 1409 W. Georgia Rd., Ste. D, 29680 454-6540 Greenville Ob/Gyn Associates 727 S.E. Main St., Ste. 120, 29681 454-6500 Heritage Pediatrics & Internal Medicine– Simpsonville 727 S.E. Main St., Ste. 320, 29681 454-6440 Keystone Family Medicine 1409 W. Georgia Rd., Ste. B, 29680 454-5000 MD360® (Urgent Care) 300 Scuffletown Rd., 29681 329-0029
Inside Health is published by Greenville Health System as a community service. This information is for educational purposes solely—it should not take the place of medical advice or diagnoses made by healthcare professionals. Greenville Health System is known for its comprehensive services and world-class physicians, in addition to being an academic health center and conducting leading-edge research. However, our compassion and strength come from our people—13,000 dedicated professionals, your neighbors, who work together to care for you and your family. Editor-in-chief Jerry R. Youkey, MD Executive VP, Medical and Academic Affairs, Greenville Health System Founding Dean, USC School of Medicine Greenville Art Direction GHS Creative Services
SPARTANBURG
Contributing Photographer George Reynolds
Pediatric Associates–Spartanburg 1686 Skylyn Dr., Ste. 201, 29307 582-8135
Contributing Writer Robin Halcomb
TRAVELERS REST Travelers Rest Family Medicine 9 McElhaney Rd., 29690 834-3192
Seneca Medical Associates 11082 N. Radio Station Rd., 29672 882-2314 The practices listed here are part of Partners In Health Inc. and affiliated with Greenville Health System.
For more information, contact Nancy Parker, Editor, Marketing Communications Greenville Health System 701 Grove Road Greenville, SC 29605-5601 (864) 797-7541 nparker@ghs.org
© 2014 Greenville Health System 14-21385466 11/14
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701 Grove Road • Greenville, SC 29605-5601
GHS Vision Transform health care for the benefit of the people and communities we serve. GHS Mission Heal compassionately. Teach Innovatively. Improve constantly. GHS Values Together we serve with integrity, respect, trust and openness.
Oconee Medical Center Becomes Part of GHS Through a long-term lease agreement, Oconee Medical Center (now Oconee Medical Campus) became fully integrated into GHS as the system’s eighth medical campus October 1. “Together,” said Michael Riordan, GHS president and CEO, “we will make a positive impact on the health of the communities we serve by improving access, quality and value.” He continued, “Like GHS, Oconee Medical Center has been hard at work developing innovative new ways to care for the people they serve, not just in the hospital but also in the home, at work and in the community. We’re excited to be on the same team, with the same values and goals. We all recognize that we can’t simply treat illness anymore—we have to keep people healthier over their entire lives.”
“We are so fortunate to have an organization of the caliber of Greenville Health System right here in the Upstate and more fortunate to be part of GHS,” said Jeanne Ward, former campus president and CEO whose new position is regional president. On October 1, medical campus staff became GHS employees and the 169-bed hospital became known as Oconee Memorial Hospital. Employed doctors were offered positions within the GHS physician network. Hunter Kome was named campus president. “It was critical to me that we find an organization that shares our vision and values of clinical quality and has a deep connection to the communities it serves, just as we do,” Ward noted. “We have found that in Greenville Health System.”