medical staff
U p dat e Issue 3, 2013
St. Elizabeth Health Center • St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center
Sepsis Education Video Available Online
HMHP Physician Associates Launch First Patient-Centered Medical Home The Austintown practice is the first primary care medical practice in the area to earn this national distinction. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized Austintown Family Health Center as the area’s first Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). While they may be the first in the area, they are not the last. According to Rod Neill, director, physician practice management, the goal is for all of the HMHP Physician Associates primary care practices to earn this distinction by 2014. It is not a small goal. Practices recognized as a PCMHs meet a rigorous set of standards that describe clear and specific criteria designed to improve primary care. The PCMH standards require a doctor’s office to organize care around patients, work in teams, coordinate, and track care over time. In a medical home practice, the doctor is the patient’s champion and the practice is the patient’s “home-base” for health and wellness. Working with the staff, doctors lead and coordinate a patient’s overall care. A patient can rely on their doctor to not only treat current health conditions, but also work with them to plan their overall health and wellness, and if needed, coordinate and monitor care from specialists. For patients, having a “medical home” means better access to their doctor. Extended hours, same day appointments, and ease of communication are hallmarks
HMpartners.org
of a PCMH. For example, Austintown Family Health Center uses an electronic health record to maintain a single medical record for each patient. This technology gives patients access to their health information through MyChart, a secure, online service. With MyChart, patients can log into their personal account, from a computer or smart phone, to request an appointment, renew a prescription, view test results, or send a secure message to their doctor or care team member. “We’re always striving to improve care for our patients and it’s exciting to be on the leading-edge and to make a real difference in our patients’ experience,” says Nancy Lesniewski, manager, Austintown Family Health Center.
About The National Committee for Quality Assurance The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Since its founding in 1990, NCQA has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system, helping to elevate the issue of health care quality to the top of the national agenda.
A video that gives laypersons a good description of what sepsis is and how to help prevent it is now posted on Humility of Mary Health Partners’ Internet website: HMpartners.org/patientvideos. Sepsis is the body’s reaction to an infection. In severe sepsis, the body’s normal reaction to an infection becomes harmful instead of helpful. If not corrected, it can overwhelm all normal body functions and lead to death. Rhonda Gluckner, sepsis coordinator for HMHP, has been working hard to educate staff and the public about sepsis. Gluckner said the statement at the beginning of the video really sets the stage for what the video is about: 215,000 Americans die every year of a disease that most people have never heard of: Sepsis. “I believe the video is effective in helping people understand that this condition can affect anyone, at any age, at any time – and the devastation it has the potential to cause,” she said. This video is designed for patients and families using easy-to-understand terminology to help define and understand sepsis. It includes two personal stories of two young women affected by sepsis. One survived, but with many physical disabilities. The other one died. Her father created the Sepsis Alliance, which created the video. For more information about HMHP’s sepsis program, call Gluckner at 330-480-2935.
New Option for Chronic Sinusitis Available at Howland Ear, Nose, and Throat
St. Joseph Sleep Center Earns National Accreditation
A minimally invasive, in-office procedure could bring dramatic relief to those who suffer from chronic sinus pain, pressure, and infections.
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A clinically proven, minimally invasive technology used by surgeons who treat chronic sinusitis is now available at Howland Ear, Nose, and Throat, an HMHP Physician Associates practice. The Balloon Sinuplasty System by Acclarent™ uses a small catheter and balloon to quickly open and expand blocked sinuses. Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic health problems in the U.S., afflicting 37 million Americans each year. Patients suffer headaches, congestion, fatigue and other symptoms. This condition significantly affects an individual’s physical, functional, and emotional quality of life. Typically, the first treatment for sinusitis is medication. However, at least 20 percent of patients do not respond adequately to medications. Sinus surgery is often the next step towards finding relief. Conventional sinus surgery requires bone and tissue removal in order to open up blocked sinus passageways. This may lead to post-operative pain and bleeding that requires uncomfortable nasal packing to control. Now ENT doctors can use minimally invasive sinus balloon catheters to position a balloon into the blocked sinus passageway. The doctor gently inflates the balloon to restructure and open the sinus passageway, facilitating normal sinus drainage and function. Jared Bunevich, DO is one of the first physicians in this area to offer this technology. “The Balloon Sinuplasty is a true advance in sinus care. In many cases, it can be done without removing any tissue or bone, which means less pain, and a faster recovery,” he says. Sinusitis patients can learn more about the Balloon Sinuplasty by contacting Howland Ear, Nose, and Throat at 330-856-2520 or by visiting HMpartners.org/sinus. Howland Ear, Nose, and Throat is located at 1950 Niles-Cortland Rd. NE, Suite 4 in Howland, Ohio.
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St. Joseph Health Center’s Diagnostic Sleep Lab in Howland has earned accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for a period of five years. The facility has changed its name to the St. Joseph Sleep Center, which became possible after the AASM accreditation. AASM accreditation is the gold standard by which the medical community and the public can evaluate sleep medicine services. The Standards of Accreditation ensure that sleep medicine providers maintain proficiency in areas such as testing protocols, policies on patient safety and follow-up, and physician and staff training and accountability. Steven Pavlak, manager of the St. Joseph Sleep Center, said there are some 2,500 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country. “The accreditation process was quite extensive. It required an application that was more than 200 pages. After the applications was reviewed and accepted, a site visit was scheduled to evaluate our compliance with the mandatory standards,” said Pavlak. Pavlak credits the entire sleep center staff for this successful accreditation, including Dr. Fernando Chaves, medical director; Bill Boccia, ambulatory directory; Shelly Ventura, coordinator; and sleep technicians Jaclyn Williams (days), Steve Rose, Wanda Boyd, Lisa Clontz, Tiffany Salomone and Josellen Hrusovsky (nights). AASM accreditation is voluntary. “Although accreditation is not yet required for reimbursement in Ohio, certain insurance providers are mandating it for sleep testing to be reimbursed. Experts feel that AASM accreditation will be required for coverage of sleep testing in the near future,” said Pavlak. The St. Elizabeth Sleep Center in Warren is also accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Regional Tobacco Treatment Center Earns Accreditation HMHP’S Regional Tobacco Treatment Center has received Joint Commission accreditation. Outstanding quality combined with exceptional outcomes has physicians referring to the center more than ever. 2012 statistics include end of treatment quit rate of 96 percent, 77 percent at three months, and 69 percent at six months. The Tobacco Treatment Center continues to adhere to CDC’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence outlining ‘Best Practices’ which combines behavioral counseling with pharmacotherapy. Staff includes licensed chemical dependency counselors with certification as Tobacco Treatment Specialists, RN’s, and a Medical Director. The Center continues to receive grant funding from HMHP’s Foundation allowing participants to receive treatment at no out-of-pocket cost including both the counseling and medications. Medications include OTC and prescription medications. When indicated, clients receive a combination of two medications to further improve the chances of quitting and alleviating withdrawal symptoms. For example, the nicotine patch and gum or lozenge or the combination of Buproprion and gum or lozenge. Chantix is not combined with any other medications. Physicians may make a referral directly to the center by calling 330-306-5010 ext. 101 or may request a personalized “Fast Fax” form. A customized Fast Fax form allows the physician to make an immediate referral along with permission for the Tobacco Center’s staff to do all the follow up with their patient. To request a Fast Fax form call or email the Center’s manager, Terri Grimmett at 330-306-5010 x108 or Terri_Grimmett@hmis.org.
Clinical Documentation Excellence (CDE) The goal of the Clinical Documentation Excellence (CDE) program is to ensure provider documentation in the health care record clearly reflects the quality of patient care and severity of illness. To be successful, the program requires true collaboration between physicians and CDE specialists. Physician documentation is the basis for diagnoses codes. CDE specialists cannot assume diagnosis codes from clinical findings. When reviewing medical records, CDE specialists create physician queries. They place the queries in CarePath as CDI Sticky Notes.
Physician documentation must include the following to ensure a complete record reflecting accurate severity of illness: • Document a patient assessment daily, the patient active problem list should not be used as the assessment unless updated daily • Specify the acuity of conditions. Specify CHF acuity and type (Systolic, Diastolic, acute, chronic) • Document suspected causative organism in infections • Document cause and effect – Acute organ dysfunction related to sepsis; GI bleed and the probable source • Document if debridement was excisional or non-excisional, depth, tissue excised and instruments used. • Specify anemia- acute or chronic blood loss anemia, iron deficiency anemia, etc. • Document pressure ulcers site, stage and Present On Admission status • Document if suspected conditions have been ruled out, still suspected or confirmed after study • Document the likely etiology of symptoms • Document all diagnoses in the discharge summary that impacted the patient’s stay We would like to thank all the physicians for helping to improve health care record documentation.
Hospice of the Valley Opens Pennsylvania Office Hospice of the Valley has expanded its service area to western Pennsylvania with the opening of its office at Villa Maria, Pa. The faith-based, non-profit service is CMS/Medicare approved and all staff is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania. The service area includes Mercer, Lawrence and Beaver counties. All hospice services are available to qualified patients in their homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals or anywhere the patient calls home. For more information, call Gerianne Costantini, clinical manager, at 724-964-1082. Hospice of the Valley also serves patients in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio.
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Laser Sheds Light on New Options in Facial and Body Rejuvenation Looking younger has never been so easy thanks to cutting-edge Sciton Laser technology now available from HMHP Physician Associates plastic surgeon, Adam D. Cash, MD. This state of the art instrument introduces affordable new options in facial and body rejuvenation. The face shows signs of aging with the passage of time and effects of gravity. Loss of fullness in the face, specifically in the cheek area, loss of skin glow, and an increase in red and brown pigment to the skin, as well as both deep and fine wrinkles are some of the first signs. The combination of laser procedures available with the Sciton Laser can help diminish these signs. Laser treatments are significantly more affordable than surgery and require a very short recovery period. With the introduction of the Erbium YAG Ablative Laser as well as BroadBand Light wavelengths, women and men of all ages can improve appearance and turn back the hands of time.
“My face feels revived and my friends have noticed a fresher look! My skin looks and feels younger.” Kris C.
Look as young as you feel ™
with Sciton’s ProFractional + MicroLaserPeel combination treatment
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Photos courtesy of Jason Pozner, M.D.
younger looking skin | tone and texture improvement scar revision | wrinkle reduction
The Sciton Joule Laser platform can effectively improve any of the following conditions: • Tighten fine lines and wrinkles of the face • Improve facial fullness • Vertical lines around the mouth • Facial scars caused by injury or accident • Scars caused by acne • Areas of uneven pigmentation, such as age spots • Lines on the cheeks caused by sun damage • Vascular lesions/Rosacea • Acne Patients are treated in the office with minimal pain and without the need for a trip to the operating room. Recovery generally occurs over a long weekend. Dr. Cash can help choose a treatment plan best for each individual in a private consultation at either his Howland or Boardman Location. For more information, visit HMpartners.org/plasticsurgery, or call Dr. Cash’s Howland office at 330-856-2545 or Boardman office at 330-729-3128.
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Residency Program Continues Tradition of Quality
Rudolph M. Krafft, MD, FAAFP The St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency has received a full accreditation for an additional five years from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The ACGME is the national organization that accredits all medical residency programs – more than 9,000 in the U.S. - leading to certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Five years is the maximum length of accreditation awarded by the ACGME, and indicates that the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency continues to provide the highest quality residency training available in the specialty. Accreditation follows a rigorous review process that includes complex reporting requirements, a site visit from an ACGME specialist, interviews with faculty, staff, and residents, and a review by the national committee of all findings. “This announcement is a testament to the efforts of multiple people, but especially to the current faculty of the residency and the residency coordinator, Rosie Hilland,” says Rudolph M. Krafft, MD, FAAFP, director, St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. The St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency has graduated more than 120 physicians in more than 30 years of operation. Training involves patient care at the Family Health Center as well as rotations throughout the institution and private offices of staff physicians in numerous specialties.
Board Approvals St. Elizabeth Health Center
Resignations
Request for Active Provisional Staff Status
Leyla Abdulhay, DMD, Department of Dentistry
Michael Keller, DO, Department of Emergency Medicine
Michael Banyasz, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine
Ying Amorn, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine
Beth Magnifico, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine
Linda Berry, CRNA, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal
Peter Motolenich, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
Patrick Brine, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Andrew Bushey, DMD, MD, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Louis Henn, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Aron Blecher, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine
Karipineni Prasad, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Steven D’Sa, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
Ashley Reimer, MD, Department of Family Medicine
Marc Estafanous, MD, Department of EENT
Keith Roller, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
Neville Irani, MD, Department of Radiology
Ronald Yendrek, DO, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
David Jackson, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine Loretta Jacob, CNP, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine
Focus on Patients
Healthy Food, Healthy Heart After suffering a heart attack in 2007, Jim Converse, manager of the Northside Farmers’ Market, underwent quintuple heart bypass surgery at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. Last October, after setting up for a farmers’ market at St. Elizabeth, Converse suffered a second heart attack. “It was a busy day and at first I thought I over exerted myself,” Converse says. “I had a headache and I was sweating. I sat and rested but the symptoms persisted. Then I thought to myself, ‘I think I’m having a heart attack.’” Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Converse quietly left the first-floor lobby where the market was being held and headed for the emergency department. Within 10 minutes, HMHP Physician Associates cardiologist, Dr. Walter Sweeney, had examined Converse and confirmed that he had another blocked vessel. Ten minutes later, Converse was in the cath lab being
Farmers’ Market Manager Jim Converse prepped for a heart catheterization. By the time Converse’s wife, Pat Rosenthal, arrived at the hospital Dr. Sweeney had inserted a stent into Converse’s blocked artery and restored blood flow. The next day, Converse was up walking around. A rosy glow had returned to his face and he was feeling good.
Brendan Patterson, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedics Llewelyn Rao, MD, Department of EENT, Section of Ophthalmology Michael Shumaker, PA-C, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery Timothy Wagner, DO, Department of Family Medicine Roger Wilber, MD, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedics April Patterson, CRNA, Department of Anesthesiology
“I took it easy for a couple of days but I didn’t miss any farmers’ markets,” he boasts. In the year since his second heart attack, Converse has completed six months of cardiac rehabilitation – three months under the guidance of health-care professionals at Humility of Mary Health Partners and three months on his own. He has also switched to a vegan diet and lost 15 pounds. Converse says he hopes that losing weight and eliminating cholesterol from his diet will help maintain his heart health. In addition to managing the Northside Farmers’ Market, Converse initiated the HMHP-sponsored monthly farmers’ markets held in the private dining rooms at St. Elizabeth and on the square in downtown Warren. Converse’s mission is to make healthful, locally grown fruits and vegetables readily available to everyone, especially inner-city residents who may not have easy access to fresh produce.
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