medical staff
U p dat e Issue 4, 2013
St. Elizabeth Health Center • St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center
Physicians Embrace Health Literacy
HMpartners.org
Welcome Dr. Tomasic
At HMHP, efforts are being made to bring awareness to health literacy so our staff can to improve how we communicate health information to our patients. Earlier this year, Helen Osborne, a nationally recognized expert in health literacy, presented two workshops for HMHP physicians and staff members. A discussion on health literacy – what it is and why it matters was presented to physicians, senior leaders and board members on April 30. The May 1 workshop open to all physicians and staff members, provided insight on how communicating health messages in ways others can understand. Many physicians and their office staffs attended these programs.
Kelly Tomasic, MD HMHP Physician Associates is proud to welcome Kelly Tomasic, MD. Dr. Tomasic joins Shannon Barillare, MD at HMHPPA’s Boardman Complete Family Health Center on South Avenue in Boardman. Several members of the St. E’s family medicine practices attended the day-long workshop on health literacy earlier this year. From left is Ashley Reimer, MD; Angelina Rodriquez, MD and Thomas Macabobby, MD; Ellen Ford, manager of community health education and coordinator for the workshops; Helen Osborne, nationally recognized expert on health literacy; Rudolph Kraftt, MD and Dinah Fedyna, MD.
Finding the Right Words for Better Health A common definition of health literacy is: A shared responsibility between patients (or anyone on the receiving end of health communication, including the lay public) and providers (or anyone on the giving end, including agencies that provide health information). Each must communicate in ways that the other can understand. According to many studies, a significant number of people have problems reading, understanding and acting on health information. There are a number of reasons for this. For one thing, health information is complex, and health providers sometimes are not skilled communicators. Additionally, patients bring a wide range of learning needs to the health care experience. Basic literacy skills, language, age, disability, cultural context and emotional responses can all affect the way people receive and process information. And the way people process information, in turn, has a direct impact on health outcomes and costs.
Dr. Tomasic attended medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, OH and completed her family medicine residency at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Tomasic is a major proponent of preventative medicine. In her practice, she enjoys caring for and getting to know entire families and is trained in the care of all age groups, from infants to geriatrics. Dr. Tomasic is currently accepting new patients, for information call 330-729-9514. Boardman Complete Family Health Center is located at 7000 South Ave., Suite 2.
Infusion Center Opening in Boardman
Board Approvals St. Elizabeth Health Center Request for Active Provisional Staff Status Adrian Butler, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedics Rachel Doan, DDS, Department of Dentistry, Section of General Dentistry Nisha Kalia, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Supreet Kaur, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine Thrissawan Sungkapalle, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease Tiffany Victor, DO, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine
Patients needing infusion therapy now have a new option in Boardman. St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center is opening an infusion center this month. Located on the first floor, adjacent to the main lobby, the infusion center offers an easily accessible, relaxing environment for infusion patients. Many IV therapies are available, with a physician’s order, 7 days a week, including holidays. The official blessing and dedication of the center is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. All physicians and their staff members are invited. Stop in to see the center and meet the staff. For more information or a brochure, contact Barb Lorenzini, nurse manager, at 330-716-2787. The center will be open for patients on Dec. 19. It is a participating provider with many insurance carriers. All necessary insurance verifications and authorizations will be completed for the patient before the first visit. To find out if the St. E’s Boardman Infusion Center is a good choice for your patient or to make an appointment, call 330-729-3185.
Resignations
Welcome Dr. Butler
Huy Tran, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine
Staff turned out at St. Elizabeth and St. Elizabeth Boardman to welcome Adrian Butler, MD earlier this year. Dr. Butler is a board certified orthopedic surgeon with certificate of added qualification in surgery of the hand. In addition to treatment of hand conditions and injuries, Dr. Butler provides general orthopedic and fracture care. Dr. Butler’s practice, Boardman Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, is located in the Boardman Medical Pavilion. For more information, contact his office at 330-729-3126.
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Carrie Cannon, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Section of General Pediatrics Ray Crouch, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery Ramy Fahim, DPM, Department of Surgery, Section of Podiatry Steven Robbins, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine Gary SeGall, MD, DMD, Department of Pathology John Sorboro, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Shelley Johnson, CST, Department of Surgery Susan L. Julian, CNS, Department of Surgery Marlene Mataruski, CRNA Department of Anesthesiology