April 2016 • Vol. 46, No. 4
Mecklenburg Medicine A Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org
2016 MCMS ANNUAL MEETINg • A Night To •
Remember
Mecklenburg County Medical Society • Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment Founders of: Bioethics Resource Group, Ltd., Hospitality House of Charlotte, Teen Health Connection, N.C. MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out
Kid-size emergencies, big-time expertise When children need emergency care, they require special treatment, both medically and emotionally. That’s why our Novant Health Hemby Children’s Emergency Department (ED) is different. Our board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians and dedicated team of pediatric experts provide 24/7 care in a child-friendly environment that makes the experience less scary. And should an inpatient stay be required, the specialists at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital are on-site to provide a seamless transition for ongoing care. Make sure your patients know about Novant Health Hemby Children’s Emergency Department, Charlotte’s first ED dedicated to children.
NovantHealth.org/KidsEmergency
© Novant Health, Inc. 2016 2/16 • GCM-35622
April 2016 Vol. 46 No. 4
Table of Contents 5 President’s Letter: Saving Lives By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
OFFICERS President Stephen J. Ezzo, MD Secretary Elizabeth B. Moran, MD Treasurer Scott L. Furney, MD Immediate Past President Simon V. Ward III, MD
6 Feature: Physician Burnout: Don’t Let Fatigue Lead to Failure
BOARD MEMBERS
By Lee McCracken
7 Feature: Wily Old Pathogen Up to New Tricks: Ocular Syphilis By Laura H. Bachmann, MD, MPH and Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH
8 Member News
8 National Health & Wellness Observances for April 2016 8 Upcoming Meetings & Events
John R. Allbert, MD Maureen L. Beurskens, MD Raymond E. Brown, PA W. Frank Ingram III, MD Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH Scott S. Lindblom, MD Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPH Robert L. Mittl, Jr., MD Babak Mokari, DO Cameron B. Simmons, Jr., MD Cheryl L. Walker-McGill, MD, MBA
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Sandi D. Buchanan, Executive Director Mecklenburg County Medical Society Mimi Compton, President Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment
9 MCMS Annual Meeting
Michelle Conner, DDS, President Charlotte Medical Dental & Pharmaceutical Society
10 MMAE
Docia E. Hickey, MD NCMS President
10 Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings
Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA
11 At the Hospitals
Marcus G. Plescia, MD, Health Director Mecklenburg County Health Department
13 Independent Physicians of the Carolinas
Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP, Medical Director Mecklenburg EMS Agency
13 Advertising Acknowledgements
EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director Sandi D. Buchanan Finance & Membership Coordinator Stephanie D. Smith
1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204 704-376-3688 • FAX 704-376-3173 meckmed@meckmed.org
Meetings & Special Events Jenny H. Otto
Copyright 2016 Mecklenburg County Medical Society
MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF
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. Classified Ads: Open to members, nonprofits and non-member individuals only; advance approval of the Managing Editor and advance payment required. Member rate is 0, non-members $20 for the first 30 words; $.75 each additional word. Display Ads: Open to professional entities or commercial businesses. For specifications and rate information, contact Mark Ethridge at mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com. 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.
Editor Stephen J. Ezzo, MD Managing Editor Sandi D. Buchanan Copy Editors Lee McCracken Stephanie Smith Advertising Mark Ethridge mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com Editorial Board N. Neil Howell, MD Scott S. Lindblom, MD Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD Graphic Design — Wade Baker
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4 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
President’s Letter
Saving Lives By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
“You saved his life.”
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hese words came from the mother of one of my patients. Her tone was excited and appreciative, and she even laid a hand on my forearm. I held her gaze for a moment, trying not to look embarrassed. “Well, we had a lot of people who helped us with this journey.” I do not recall if I shrugged as I spoke, but most likely I did. I always have been uncomfortable with praise, doing my best to deflect and minimize it. I imagine some of this stems from my years of Catholic education — a phenomenon that is not short on instilling guilt and “rewarding” any perceived braggadocio with a few swift ruler raps on the knuckles. But some of this also is in part due to decades of practicing medicine, and being reminded time and again of not only its difficulty but its capriciousness. You can treat an illness in textbook, evidence-based fashion and, yet, the patient will confound you by actually getting worse. So I have strived for maintaining an even keel, reminding myself of what my friend and mentor Duncan Morton, Jr., MD, always said, “Hero in one room, goat in the next.” Yet, we all know how hard this is to do, as we want our patients to get well, and quickly, and our frustration mounts when they do not follow the game plan. Thankfully, it is precisely this attachment we have to them and this attribute of our profession that allows us to be better physicians. Back to my patient. What had I done that altered his life so significantly? Nothing so powerful and immediate in the way we commonly think of saving lives (as portrayed on TV) — curing a severe infectious disease, discovering a tumor early enough in the course to achieve total eradication, or finding the resources available to help keep an addiction at bay. No, what I did was something I do quite frequently in my practice: diagnose him with ADD. I listened to the concerns he, his parents and his teachers had noted over the years. We performed the appropriate psychological testing, worked with his school and teachers to create a learning environment more conducive to success, laid out strategies for homework and began a trial of medication (as I said, I had a lot of help in the journey). Now, six months later, he had gone from a student close to failing with a dread of attending school to an A/B honor roll student eager for each day of classes. It was a wonderful outcome and one I have been fortunate enough to share in several times over the years. Obviously, I was pleased and shared their excitement. When he told me he wanted to enter the medical field, I jokingly urged him to hurry up and become a pediatrician
and join my clinic so I could retire. We set up a followup appointment, and I went to see the next patient with newfound energy. Still, I felt his mom’s statement had been a bit too inflated. At the end of the day, as I was completing his chart, her words came back to me. Having time to reflect, I began to realize that, although dramatic, she was in a way correct. We know through studies that patients with ADD who go undiagnosed have a higher incidence of school failure and dropout, lower self-esteem (my patients with untreated ADD report feeling “stupid” because they do not do well in school) and higher rates of substance abuse. By making the correct diagnosis and finding the right treatment plan, we were able to allow my patient to meet his potential and open up worlds to him never considered. He had discovered the gift of education — something I constantly stress to my patients is the key to a happy, successful and fulfilling life. I relate this story to remind each of us that in our everyday dealing with patients, what we say and do for them can have profound and lasting consequences, even if we initially view it as something minor or routine. Our patients seek our help on a variety of matters, many of them not necessarily what we consider “traditional medicine.” They ask, nonetheless, as our years of training make us appear learned and trustworthy. Remember: Even the most casual of advice may be taken to heart. This is something, like most things in medicine, that took me years to learn and understand. I find it elicits a wide range of emotions in me: appreciation, humbleness, fear and even conceit (yes, doctors can be conceited on occasion). We chose medicine in part because a streak of altruism runs deep in all of us. We influence patients in everything we say and do for them. Our idea of what is significant may not match theirs. Proceed with caution, but be filled with optimism. You never know whose life you’ll save. “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” — Herman Melville
Question: Who was Mary Mallon? See page 10 for the answer.
Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 5
Feature
Physician Burnout: Don’t Let Fatigue Lead to Failure By Lee McCracken, Contributing Writer
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t wreaks havoc on your life and the lives of your patients. It can tear apart your family. It can end your career. Physician stress and burnout affects some 45 percent of doctors in the United States. It is real, and it is pervasive. Physicians and surgeons can experience emotional exhaustion and a loss of enthusiasm, depersonalization/distance from patients and a feeling of low personal accomplishment. Not surprisingly, the number of stressors impacting physicians is continually increasing. These include time demands/work-life balance, productivity and economic pressures, advancing technology, higher patient expectations/lower patient satisfaction and personal finances (paying off medical school loans, raising children, etc.). And, hospital-based physicians experience the most stress-related health problems due to work culture/environment. Research has shown some 60 percent of emergency department doctors burnout, according to expert Tait Shanafelt, MD, in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s “Enhancing Meaning in Work: A Prescription for Preventing Physician Burnout and Promoting Patient-Centered Care,” 2009. James Hall, MD, the director of gynecologic oncology at Carolinas Medical Center/Levine Cancer Institute and a past-president of Mecklenburg County Medical Society, emphasizes the importance of not letting physician stress go unchecked. “I’ve had talks over the years with some colleagues about mental and physical fatigue. For anyone in any field, long working hours and job pressures can cause a loss of focus. In medicine, you can’t afford it.” The Mayo Clinic reported on medical error in 2010, citing from the article “Burnout and Medical Errors Among American Surgeons,” by lead researcher Dr. Shanafelt in Annals of Surgery, 2010. The article noted that
“Physician, heal yourself.” — Luke 4:23
April 2016 is National Stress Awareness Month and National Counseling Awareness Month What you can do: Pause for deep breaths and stretching throughout the day. Exercise during time off. Be present and enjoy time with family/friends when you are with them. Engage in a hobby. Find a mentor who can understand and encourage you. Remember you are human. God is God.
6 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
9 percent of surgeons said they were concerned they had made a major medical error in the past three months. Burnout can happen in family medicine, internal medicine and other specialties, too. “Over the past 20 years, medicine and physicians have undergone massive changes from private practice to being employees of large corporations, from simply trying to do what’s right to being told by myriad regulations, from old charts to different EMRs ... all of which have increased the pressure and loss of time for physicians,” says Hall. Anthony Montgomery is a well-known researcher on physician burnout at the University of Macedonia, Greece. In the journal Burnout Research, he authored “The Inevitability of Physician Burnout” (June 2014), saying “The increasingly high levels of job burnout observed among physicians globally is set to continue, as fewer resources and tighter budgets ratchet up the personal and professional pressure.” The Liaison Committee on Medical Education stated in 2012 that medical schools don’t prepare future doctors to handle being part of an organization/healthcare system, primarily providing theoretical knowledge, ethics, skills and clinical competence. New physicians may be unprepared to deal with the business of medicine. Hall, however, says he sees young doctors entering the scene with a new mindset. “They have a quality-of-life outlook. They’re into running and yoga, and their focus isn’t ‘Everything is all about medicine.’” He continues, “I think some 30- and 40-something doctors are all-in — their job is their identity.” Dike Drummond, MD, is a Mayo-trained family practice physician and the owner of TheHappyMD.com. He also wrote “Stop Physician Burnout” (Heritage Press Publications, 2014). A speaker and physician coach, Dr. Drummond emphasizes how to avoid what he calls “compassion fatigue.” In a May 2012 blog post on burnout, he says, “You can’t give what you don’t have. … If your emotional needs are not being met, you can’t be there emotionally for your patients when they need you the most. And no one teaches you how to get your own emotional needs met in medical school or residency.” Drummond warns, “Here’s the unspoken tragedy: If you can’t be emotionally present for your patients because of compassion fatigue, you can’t be there for your spouse, significant other, children or friends either. Everyone loses when you allow yourself to be tapped out at work. But physician stress is both preventable and treatable.” Hall agrees. “Counseling and support are imperative,” he says. “There are a lot of built-ins at our hospital systems to help doctors if they are feeling stressed. And young doctors need to identify a mentor — someone with whom they can really feel comfortable talking.”
Feature
Wily Old Pathogen Up to New Tricks: Ocular Syphilis By Laura H. Bachmann, MD, MPH, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH, Mecklenburg County Health Department
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yphilis is an ancient disease that was thought to be near elimination in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, the recently released 2014 CDC STD Surveillance Report makes it abundantly clear that syphilis — and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia — continue to present real threats to American society (www.cdc.gov/std/stats14/toc.htm). Specifically, primary and secondary syphilis (known as infectious syphilis) rates for 2014 are the highest since 1994 (6.3 cases/100,000 population) with North Carolina ranked as the ninth highest incidence state in the country in 2014. After declines in Mecklenburg County from a high of 188 cases in 2006 to 91 cases in 2008, cases of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis increased to 269 in 2014. In the first nine months of 2015, 217 new cases were reported. As if the numbers are not sobering enough, an additional trend bears notice. In addition to the concerns about increased syphilis rates, the CDC recently issued a clinical advisory regarding the emergence of ocular syphilis. Between December 2014 and March 2015, 12 cases of ocular syphilis were reported from San Francisco and Seattle. Subsequent case finding discovered more than 150 cases reported from 20 states during the last two years. Most cases have occurred among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), with several cases resulting in long-term vision problems, including blindness. Ocular syphilis is a clinical manifestation of neurosyphilis and can involve almost any eye structure. Posterior uveitis and panuveitis are the most common findings, with additional manifestations including anterior uveitis, optic neuropathy, retinal vasculitis and interstitial keratitis. The cases resulting in blindness have led to increased concern, and the situation is actively being investigated
In addition to the concerns about increased syphilis rates, the CDC recently issued a clinical advisory regarding the emergence of ocular syphilis.
in order to determine if strain differences or other unidentified co-factors are responsible for the more severe presentations documented recently (www. cdc.gov/std/syphilis/ clinicaladvisoryos2015.htm). An ocular syphilis case is defined as “a person with clinical symptoms or signs consistent with ocular disease, with syphilis of any stage.” Clinical recommendations from the CDC include: • Clinicians should be aware of ocular syphilis and screen for visual complaints in any patient at risk for syphilis (MSM, HIV-infected persons, others with risk factors and persons with multiple or anonymous partners). • All patients with syphilis should receive an HIV test if status is unknown or previously HIV-negative. • Patients with positive syphilis serology and early syphilis without ocular symptoms should receive a careful neurological exam including all cranial nerves. • Patients with syphilis and ocular complaints should receive immediate ophthalmologic evaluation. • A lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination should be performed in patients with syphilis and ocular complaints. • Ocular syphilis should be managed according to CDC treatment recommendations for neurosyphilis (www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/). • Cases of ocular syphilis should be reported to your state or local health department within 24 hours of diagnosis. Ocular syphilis cases diagnosed since December 1, 2014 should be reported through your local or state health department to CDC by email at ocularsyphilis2015@cdc.gov. • If possible, pre-antibiotic clinical samples (whole blood, primary lesions and moist secondary lesions, CSF or ocular fluid) should be saved and stored at -80°C for molecular typing. For more information, or to report cases of syphilis (including ocular syphilis) in Mecklenburg County, call 704-336-3349 or 704-614-2993. Clinical information about syphilis and other STDs can be obtained through the National Network of STD Prevention Training Center Consultation Line (www.stdccn.org).
Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 7
Member News
Upcoming Meetings & Events APRIL Meetings at MCMS office unless otherwise noted.
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Save Your Skin Melanoma Awareness Golf Classic
No MCMS Board meeting. n
11TH ANNUAL
Tuesday, April 12 MedLink meeting. Mecklenburg County Health Department. 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 18 MCMS Executive Committee meeting. 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 MMAE Finance/Board meeting. 9 a.m./10 a.m Thursday, April 21 CAMGMA meeting. Myers Park Baptist Church Cornwell Center. Noon.
JUNE 6 | NOON | CARMEL COUNTRY CLUB
Friday, April 22 June magazine deadline.
givecarolinas.org/saveyourskin
Look for healthy eating tips to share with your patients in future MCMS bento boxes! Future Issues of Meck Med will feature activities, recipes, walking trails, parks and recreation, walking/running teams and more, to help you help your patients!
8 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Thank you to our 2016 MCMS Annual Meeting sponsors. Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
HENDRICK LUXURY GROUP
NOVANT HEALTH
Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 9
MMAE
Dear Friends,
Spring is here, and we are fast approaching the highlight of the MMAE year – our annual meeting and the giving of grants. I don’t have enough room to list all of the worthy organizations that have received grants from us over the years, but you can visit our website to view the list of recipients spanning the years 2006-2015. Over the years, MMAE also has been involved in quite a few projects such as MMAE’s Inn, MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out and Teen Health Connection. Our last big project involved working with MEDIC to distribute AED’s to schools and churches in our area and to provide the training required to use the devices. We need your help. Our Planning and Development Committee, under the leadership of Linda Kramer, is looking for a new project. The results of the survey that was sent out last year indicated many of you are looking for a hands-on project. If you have any suggestions for a project that will impact the health status of the people in our community, please contact Linda through our website, mmaeonline.com.
Mimi Compton
2015-2016 MMAE President
Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings Charlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.
APRIL 2016 Continuing Medical Education (CME)
4/2 2nd Annual Spring Cactus Cancer Conference 4/9 Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications of Current Research for Providers 4/9 UNC Pathology: Updates in Genitourinary Pathology 4/16-17 30th Annual Meeting of Glomerular Disease Collaboration Network Online DOT Medical Examiners Course Online Risk Management Online Social Media: Risks & Benefits for Physicians Online Prevention and Management of Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Online Motor Vehicle Crash Victims Online MTAC Trauma Modules
For more information or to register for these courses, call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.
10 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Save the Date! Peace and Revitalization: A Visit to Mercy’s Healing Garden April 12
Join us for lunch and a visit to CMC-Mercy’s Healing Garden named for Lois and Sandy Benjamin. Sandy Benjamin, MD, will speak about patientcentered care and give a tour of the garden. 11 a.m. - Meet for lunch at Viva Chicken, 1617 Elizabeth Ave. 12:30 p.m. – Meet at the Mercy hospital lobby
Lunch and Laugh
May 24 | 11 a.m. | Myers Park Country Club
Annual Luncheon, Grants and Disbursements Everyone knows laughter is good for your health! Celebrate the end of another successful Alliance year with Tracy Lee Curtis, humorist, Charlotte Observer writer and mother.
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, email us at meckmed@meckmed.org. Include your name as it appears on the mailing label and the words “opt out.” Trivia answer from page 5: Mary was a cook of Irish descent, who lived in New York during the early part of the 20th century. Though healthy, she was known to infect more than 50 people, three of which died, through her cooking. (Some estimates have her infecting hundreds with over 50 deaths). She repeatedly defied court orders to stop working as a cook, at times changing her name to gain employment. She infected several households, as well as at least one hospital. She was quarantined twice, including the last 23 years of her life. She became somewhat of a celebrity. Today we remember her as Typhoid Mary.
At the Hospitals
Novant Health Centers Recognized for Exceptional Breast Cancer Care Several Novant Health facilities recently have earned re-accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). The program administered by the American College of Surgeons is given only to those centers that are committed to providing the highest level of quality breast cancer care. Centers that are chosen undergo a rigorous evaluation and review of their performance. Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited facility means that a patient has access to the most exceptional breast cancer care including: • Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services. • A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options. • The latest information available on clinical trials and new treatment options. • The convenience of quality breast care close to home. Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, Novant Health Breast Center at Presbyterian Medical Tower and Novant Health Breast Center Ballantyne received the accreditation. n
Completion of Expansions of Cardiovascular Facilities at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Over the past year, Matthews Medical Center has experienced unprecedented growth. Due to the increased volume of procedures, the state approved two new cardiac and vascular procedure laboratories. The hospital is now a full 24/7 program capable of serving all STEMI and ROSC patients. The hospital is proud to feature new state-of-the-art labs and to partner with local Emergency Medical Services. n
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Receives Stroke Elite Plus Award For the second year in a row, Presbyterian Medical Center’s stroke program has been n
awarded Target Stroke Elite Plus status by the AHA/ASA. In 2015, there were 52 hospitals across the country and only five in North Carolina that were recognized as Target Stroke Elite Plus. Two of the five were Novant Health hospitals. Target Stroke recognizes hospital door-to-drug times for tPA, the clot busting medication that potentially can reverse the symptoms of stroke. The faster the medication is administered, the better the outcome for patients. In order to receive Target Stroke Elite Plus status, 75 percent (or greater) of patients receive tPA in less than 60 minutes, and 50 percent receive tPA in less than 45 minutes. St. Jude Affiliate Clinic in Charlotte Turns One The St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, one of only eight facilities nationwide to join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s affiliate program, celebrates its oneyear anniversary on April Jessica Bell, MD 21. Through the St. Jude network, Novant Health pediatric oncologists, Jessica Bell, MD, Christine Bolen, MD, Paulette Bryant, MD, and Randy Hock, MD, are Christine Bolen, MD able to provide their patients access to more clinical trials and life-saving treatment protocols than any other facility in the Southeast. The St. Jude Affiliate Clinic is Paulette Bryant, MD here in Charlotte across from Presbyterian Medical Center at 301 Hawthorne Lane. For more information or to refer a patient, call 704-384-1900 or visit NovantHealth.org/ Randy Hock, MD Hemby/StJudeClinic. n
Child & Adolescent Medical Group Adds Waxhaw Office To provide patients with enhanced access to healthcare, Novant Health Child & Adolescent Medical Group recently opened a satellite location in Waxhaw. Susan Duncan-Butler, MD, will serve this community and surrounding areas
with the clinic’s main office remaining in nearby Monroe. The new clinic is at 3614 Providence Road S., Suite 101, in Waxhaw. Services offered for infants, children and teens include annual physical exams, developmental evaluations, routine vision and hearing screenings, evaluation of emotional conditions, and immunizations and preventive care. For more information, call 704-384-8460.
EEG Laboratory Awarded Five-Year Accreditation From ABRET The EEG lab at Presbyterian Medical Center was awarded a five-year accreditation from The Laboratory Accreditation Board of ABRET — the only accredited lab in Charlotte. This accreditation program recognizes EEG labs that meet technical standards and demonstrate quality output. Being an accredited EEG Lab by ABRET (American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists) means the lab complies with established standards and guidelines, has policies and procedures in place that facilitate consistent technical quality, and supports professionalism and quality patient care. The team hosted a celebration to recognize the EEG team members.
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Pictured left to right: Mary Beth “Bobbi” Bobyarchick, Deb Briese, Gloria Sherin, Don Potter, Sarah Elaine Foster, Kimberly Kardules, Shankar Perumal, MD, and Jeffrey Schmidt, MD.
Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 11
At the Hospitals
CHS Appoints Eugene A. Woods President and CEO The Board of Commissioners of Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) has appointed Eugene A. Woods as president and chief executive officer, effective April 28. Previously, Mr. Woods, 51, served as president and chief operating officer of CHRISTUS Health, based in Irving, Texas. He succeeds Eugene A. Woods Michael C. Tarwater, CEO since 2002. Tarwater announced his retirement in June 2015 and will remain with CHS until June 30, 2016 to ensure a seamless transition. Woods brings to CHS 24 years of healthcare leadership experience. He recently was elected the next chairman of the American Hospital Association and will assume that role in 2017. At CHRISTUS Health, which has more than 50 hospitals and long-term care facilities, 175 clinics and outpatient centers, and 30,000 associates, Woods, who is fluent in Spanish, was responsible for overseeing acute, post-acute and international operations for its facilities in the United States, Mexico and Chile. Prior to that, Woods served in dual roles at Catholic Health Initiatives as CEO of the eight-hospital Saint Joseph Health System and as senior vice president responsible for helping implement national initiatives for the organization which operates in 18 states. He also previously served as COO of the Washington Hospital Center, a 968-bed teaching hospital in Washington, D.C. “Gene is a proven leader with extraordinary experience,” says Edward J. Brown III, chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “We know he is the right person to lead Carolinas HealthCare System as we continue our journey as one of the leading healthcare systems in the nation, providing incredible care to all of the communities we serve.” Carolinas HealthCare System and its more than 60,000 full-time and part-time employees provide care through more than 11.5 million patient encounters per year through an integrated network of more n
than 900 care locations in North and South Carolina, including 39 hospitals and more than 200 primary care locations. It has been recognized for providing access to coordinated, high-quality care on a large scale through nationally renowned clinical quality and IT programs. “The Board of Commissioners is extremely grateful to Michael Tarwater for his outstanding contribution over more than 35 years at Carolinas HealthCare System,” says Brown. “During his tenure as CEO, he has led this organization to remarkable success in providing extraordinary care, and he has overseen the establishment of landmark clinical services, including Levine Children’s Hospital and Levine Cancer Institute. There will be more occasions in the future to thank him and recognize his extraordinary service.” Carolinas Medical Center Hires New CMO Gary Little, MD, MBA, has been named chief medical officer at Carolinas Medical Center and began service in February. As CMO, he will partner with Eugene Christian, MD, chief medical officer of CMC-Mercy. Together they will be responsible for medical staff interactions and initiatives, as well as oversight of all quality and patient safety work through the unified license of the Carolinas HealthCare System Central Division. Since 2009, Dr. Little has served as the medical director for George Washington University Hospital, a Level I Trauma center and academic hospital. There, he oversaw the medical staff leadership, regulatory compliance, accreditation and quality improvement programs. Little also worked closely with the school of medicine and faculty practice for graduate medical education. Prior to that post, he was the chair of emergency medicine at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Virginia. Little earned his bachelor of arts from Occidental College, his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his master of business administration from George Washington University. He also has the honor of being a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow. Little completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at George Washington University and is a diplomate n
12 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
and board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. CMC-Biddle Point Relaunches Reading and School Readiness Program Research shows that reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do to help their children succeed in school and in life. Yet many children have little or no access to books at home, and as a result, many of them enter kindergarten already lagging behind their peers. Nneka Hendrix, MD, and the other providers at CMC-Biddle Point aim to change that. They have just relaunched Reach Out & Read, a program providing age-appropriate books to all children ages 6 months through 5 years, at the start of each well-visit. “Parents who read aloud to their children are giving them a huge developmental head start,” says Dr. Hendrix, designated physician champion for Reach Out & Read at Biddle Point. “This program helps us get books into their hands and impress upon parents that reading is just as critical to their children’s development as immunizations and good nutrition.” Reach Out & Read has been in place and thriving at CMC-NorthPark and CMCMyers Park Pediatrics for years. The program at Myers Park is one of the top 10 percent in the nation and often is used as an example site to show donors how the program works. State Sen. Jeff Jackson recently visited CMC-NorthPark to highlight the program and its positive impact on patient outcomes and the community. Relaunch of the program was made possible by a new partnership with Smart Start, a public/private partnership designed to improve school readiness, and the donation of 1,500 books from Promising Pages, a Charlotte nonprofit that distributes gently-used books to at-risk children. As part of the relaunch at CMC-Biddle Point, Smart Start provided grant funding to create new cozy and inviting reading corners to encourage children and parents to start reading their new books right away. A Smart Start literacy coordinator also helps keep the program running at full speed to serve the CMC-Biddle Point patient population, which has a high percentage of Medicaid patients. n
Independent Physicians of the Carolinas
Independent Physicians of the Carolinas is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) membership organization whose mission is to create public awareness of medical doctors not employed by a network or hospital system and to provide educational programs and resources to physician members and their administration. Visit us at IndependentPhysicians.org. American Academy of Dermatology 2016 Shade Structure Grant Program Marc Darst, MD, of Darst Dermatology, is proud to have sponsored Mineral Springs United Methodist Church Preschool, named a recipient of an American Academy of Dermatology Shade Structure Program Grant. They will receive an $8,000 grant to build a shade structure over their playground. Seeking shade, in addition to wearing sun-protective clothing and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, is important in reducing the risk of skin cancer. n
NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCES APRIL Alcohol Awareness Month Autism Awareness Month Cancer Control Month Child Abuse Prevention Month Counseling Awareness Month Donate Life Month Humor Month Minority Health & Health Disparities Month Occupational Therapy Month Stress Awareness Month Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month April 4-10: Public Health Week April 9: Alcohol Screening Day April 16: Healthcare Decisions Day April 16-23: Infant Immunization Week April 23-29: Medical Fitness Week
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is pleased to be a sponsor of the Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event on Saturday, April 2. Each year, people with celiac disease, gluten sensitivities and other food allergies attend this event to explore options available to them. Attendees will enjoy a day filled with presentations by featured speakers, health information and food and product samplings.
Please email all questions and topic suggestions for upcoming meetings to Charlotte Ramirez at charlotte@ip-carolinas.org. Advertising Acknowledgements The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.
Brackett Flagship Properties............................................8 Carolinas HealthCare System........................................15 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates................4 Charlotte Radiology........................................................14 LabCorp.......................................................... Back Cover Novant Health...................................................................2 Oncology Specialists of Charlotte.................................14 Randolph Audiology........................................................4
Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 13
AdvAnced & experienced
NC BREATHE Conference April 8
Hematology & Oncology Care James Boyd, MD
704.342.1900
ONCOLOGYCHARLOTTE.COM
Justin Favaro, MD, PhD
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. UNC Charlotte Center City
April marks our 16th birthday, as the practice was opened on April 1, 2000.
Dipika Misra, MD
Catherine Moore, MD
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Jason Shultz, MD
EASTOVER MEDICAL PARK
2711 Randolph Rd., Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28207
ncbreatheconference.org
Anne Poutier, FNP-C
SOUTH CHARLOTTE
7108 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Suite 102 Charlotte, NC 28226
Bridging Research on Economics and Air Quality for The Health of Everyone
Join us for an interactive forum to share the latest research related to the impacts air pollution has on human health, the environment and the economy, and to discuss the critical role that policy making plays.
For more info and to register:
NCBREATHEConference.org
14 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
30 Years
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More than 175 providers and 20 care locations across the Carolinas Mecklenburg Medicine • April 2016 | 15
Mecklenburg County Medical Society
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLOTTE, N.C. PERMIT NO. 1494
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 Laboratory Corporation of America
PATIENT SERVICE CENTERS
Ballantyne Billingsley** Carmel** Cabarrus Charlotte** Gastonia Stat Lab Huntersville Huntersville** Lake Norman Matthews Northridge* Pineville Rock Hill Salisbury** Salisbury* Shelby Statesville** University**
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15830 John Delaney Drive 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 200A 5633 Blakeney Park Drive, Suite 100 478 Copperfield Blvd. 1718 E. 4th Street 660 Summitt Crossing, Suite 206 14330 Oakhill Park Lane 10030 Gilead Road, Suite B100 134 Medical Park Drive, Suite 102 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, Suite 1147 5031-G West W.T. Harris Blvd. 10410 Park Road, Suite 450 2460 India Hook Road, Suite 101 601 Mocksville Avenue 514 Corporate Road 809 N. Lafayette Street 1710-A Davie Avenue 10320 Mallard Creek Road
*Drug Screens only **Blood Draws only
16 | April 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine
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