medical staff
U p dat e Issue 4, 2012
St. Joseph Health Center
Cardiovascular Lab Showcases New Technology St. Elizabeth Health Center opened its cardiovascular lab for a tour showcasing new technology that makes atrial fibrillation ablation possible. St. Elizabeth is the only health care provider in the region to offer atrial fibrillation ablation as a treatment option for patients with the most common arrhythmia in the United States. It began offering this advanced procedure in September. Before St. Elizabeth introduced atrial fibrillation ablation to the region, patients who could benefit from such treatment needed to travel to larger cities where the procedure has been available longer. Atrial fibrillation ablation provides for better outcomes than anti-arrhythmic drug therapy, according to Lee Gemma, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist who performed the first atrial fibrillation ablation in the region at St. Elizabeth in September.
“Anti-arrhythmic drug therapy has provided symptomatic relief in many patients with atrial fibrillation, but radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation has emerged as an alternative method of treatment,” Dr. Gemma says. “In head-to-head clinical trials of anti-arrhythmic drug therapy versus catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation has been shown to be vastly superior.” While not all patients with atrial fibrillation are candidates for catheter ablation, making the option available will undoubtedly improve the outcomes and quality of life for many patients and their families. Dr. Gemma, who joined HMHP Physician Associates/Diagnostic Cardiology Associates this summer, can be reached at 330-726-3204.
Lee Gemma, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist who performed the first atrial fibrillation ablation in the region at St. Elizabeth in September
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HMHPPA Opens Church Hill Family Health Center
There’s a new option for patients in the Liberty Township area.HMHP Physician Associates has opened Church Hill Family Health Center, the first HMHP family practice in the area. Currently staffed by Crispin Barlatt, DO, the practice will expand in January to welcome two additional family medicine physicians, Harriet Lemberger-Schor, MD and Angela Matthews, DO. Dr. Barlatt earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey – School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic’s South Pointe Hospital. Church Hill Family Health Center is located in Church Hill Commons at 4694 Belmont Avenue in Liberty Township. Contact the practice for more information at 330-480-7655.
Physician Welcome Profile Crispin Barlatt, DO Family Medicine Dr. Barlatt is in practice at the newly opened Church Hill Family Health Center- a primary care practice located in Liberty. Dr. Barlatt grew up in New Jersey and attended medical school at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He later completed his family medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic- South Pointe Hospital. His clinical interests include promoting a healthy lifestyle and well-being for his patients. When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Barlatt and his wife, Dr. Sabine Barlatt, enjoy traveling, cooking, and watching movies. For information, contact: Church Hill Family Health Center 4694 Belmont Avenue, Liberty, OH Phone: 330-480-7655 Jawad Francis Medical Oncology After completing a postdoctorate laboratory research fellowship in Cancer Experimental Therapeutics at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California, Dr. Francis went for his Internal Medicine Residency at State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo-University at Buffalo Department of Medicine. While at SUNY, Dr. Francis served as a chief resident and earned the "Rakesh Bidani Memorial Award" for his selfless commitment to teaching, dedication to patients and support of colleagues. He then went to pursue a Medical Oncology Clinical Fellowship at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Francis' clinical interests focus on treating various types of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, with a specific focus on lung cancer. During his fellowship at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, he studied and researched novel agents in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. When he is not working, Dr. Francis enjoys spending time with his wife as well as playing tennis. For referral information, contact: St. Joseph Cancer Center 667 Eastland Avenue, Warren, OH 44484 Phone: 330-841-4177 Lee Gemma, MD Electrophysiology Lee Gemma, MD recently joined HMHP Physician Associates Diagnostic Cardiology Associates practice. Dr. Gemma was born and raised in Poland, OH and attended The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at Case Western Reserve MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. In addition, Dr. Gemma completed a Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Gemma’s clinical interests include Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation and Congenital Long QT Syndrome. In September, he performed the region’s first atrial fibrillation ablation at St. Elizabeth. When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Gemma and his wife, Dana, enjoy spending time with family, camping and running. For information, contact: Diagnostic Cardiology Associates 715 E. Western Reserve Rd., Poland, OH Phone: 330-726-3204
Thank You The staff of HMHP Diabetes Education would like to thank all physicians for their support in caring for those with diabetes. v
Hats Off to St. Joseph Family Medicine Residents Congratulations to the St. Joseph Family Medicine residents who once again out scored their Ohio CORE Residency Peers at their annual Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). This is the eighth time in the last nine years that the St. Joseph Family Medicine residents have been number one in the state of Ohio. During the annual OSCE, trainees are observed and evaluated as they go through a series of stations in which they interview, examine, and treat standardized patients who present with some type of problem.
Surgeons Complete 100th Robotic Surgery at St. Joseph Health Center Surgeons at St. Joseph Health Center completed the100th robot-assisted surgery in Trumbull County in October, just six months after introducing this advanced treatment option to the community. St. Joseph Health Center is the only health care provider in Trumbull County to offer robot-assisted surgery. Since completing the first robot-assisted surgery in Trumbull County, a hysterectomy, April 13, surgeons at St. Joseph have completed more than 100 hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures and demand continues to grow. “Minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery enables physicians to perform more precise procedures that result in less blood loss, lower risk of infection, less pain and quicker recovery for patients. So, it makes sense that many of our patients would prefer robot-assisted procedures over open procedures,” observes John Finizio, president of St. Joseph Health Center. “We’re proud to offer this option so our patients can benefit from the latest surgical technologies without leaving home.” While patients requiring gynecologic surgery were the first to be offered robot-assisted surgical treatment options, other robot-assisted procedures will be offered soon at St. Joseph, Finizio adds.
Clinical Documentation Specialist Sticky Notes on Admitted Patients
What’s in it for ME? By: Mary E. Martin, Regional Director of HIM
All Physician Evaluation & Management Services are based on combination of 3 categories: • History • Physical Exam • Medical Decision Making • More diagnoses & appropriate severity of those diagnoses can only increase the medical decision making component • Internal audits of Hospitalist groups have NEVER shown inadequacy in the medical decision making component Complete documentation, reflective of the true severity of your patients, helps justify outcomes • Physician Profiles are used for both commercial/public use • Future Physician Reimbursement Methods will likely incorporate profiles in the formula (eg. Pay for Performance) Reduced Hospital Finances directly affects Physicians and their Patients • May mean fewer nurses on the floor taking care of my patients • May mean desired new procedural equipment may not be able to be purchased Hospital Viability and Physician fortunes now permanently and inescapably tied to one another. Physicians & Hospitals need to work together as any negative impact on directly effects the other.
Da Vinci Robot-Assisted Surgery
HUMILITY
OF
M A RY H E A LT H P A RT N E R S
CONGRATULATIONS Top in the Nation...
Experience the most advanced surgical treatment option available in the world – from a surgeon’s perspective. This may be the only opportunity you have to “operate” using the da Vinci surgical robot.
Dr. Thomas Albani
Family Physician of the Year
10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 Center Court Eastwood Mall
St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center congratulates Dr. Albani on being named the Academy of Family Physicians’ Family Physician of the Year. Dr. Albani is chair of the hospital’s primary care department.
Humility of Mary Health Partners is the only health care provider in nine contiguous counties to offer da Vinci robot-assisted surgery.
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