Houston Medical Times - November 2018 by Rick Delarosa

Serving Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties

HOUSTON

November Issue 2018

Inside This Issue

MD Anderson Slates Third Annual Boot Walk to End Cancer

Nora’s Home to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Opening of Phase Two Expansion See pg. 10

INDEX Legal Matters........................ pg.3 Financial Outlook............... pg.4 New Technology................ pg.6 Oncology Research......... pg.7

Texas Children’s Hospital’s receives $1 million VOCA grant to support the Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center See pg. 5

hanks to a grassroots campaign at Houston-area Walmart stores and generous support from individuals, teams and other corporate sponsors, fundraising already has generated more than $1.6 million as The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center makes final preparations for the Boot Walk to End Cancer®. Check-in for the third annual noncompetitive walk will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The 1.2-mile walk starts at 1 p.m., beginning and ending at Bertner Avenue and East Road. Free parking will be available at MD Anderson’s Mid Campus Garage, 7007 Bertner Ave. Free ADA parking will be available in the Armory Lot at 1902 Old Spanish Trail. There’s still time to start or join a team and be a part of the festivities with co-chairs Ashley and Lance Loeffler. “MD Anderson holds a special place in our hearts,” said Ashley Loeffler. “We’re grateful to give back to a place that gives so much to so many.” Participants are encouraged, but not required, to wear their favorite boots to symbolize giving cancer “the boot.” Registration (www.mdanderson.

org/bootwalk) is free and open to all ages. Participants who raise at least $100 will earn a commemorative T-shirt, available for pick-up on event day or the week before the event. Strollers and baby joggers are allowed on the route. Participants are asked to leave pets at home, though service animals are welcome. Event day will feature a festive

finish line party, with live music, food trucks, face painting, balloon artists, lawn games, a Topgolf simulation booth, photo ops and more. Justin Stapleton, KPRC-TV meteorologist, will emcee the event, and Sarah Pepper of Mix 96.5 and George Lindsey of 100.3 The Bull will be on hand to cheer participants see Boot Walk... page 13

Memorial Hermann Opens New Urgent Care Center In Greater Heights

ouston Residents of Greater Heights, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, Lazybrook, Timbergrove, Woodland Heights and surrounding communities in need of after-hours care for non-life-threatening illnesses and minor injuries now have a new option for immediate diagnosis and treatment – Memorial Hermann Urgent Care Greater Heights. Staffed by board-certified family medicine physicians, Memorial

Hermann Urgent Care Greater Heights combines the comfort of a primary care practice with the convenience of extended office hours and walk-in access. “It’s a situation we’ve all faced – an illness or injury that needs attention after your physician’s regular business hours,” Jennifer Zimmerman, chief operating officer for Memorial Hermann Medical Group. “Instead of waiting it

out, or incurring an emergency room charge for a minor issue, patients can now seek immediate care at our new Urgent Care Center.” Modeled after sister facilities in Spring, Friendswood and Tanglewood, Memorial Hermann Urgent Care Greater Heights is capable of treating patients as young as six months old, and offers an array of services for non-lifesee Memorial Hermann... page 14

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1 HOUSTON TX

Houston Medical Times

Page 2

Equals make

THE BEST PARTNERS. We’re taking the mal out of malpractice insurance. As a company founded and led by doctors, we know what keeps you up at night. It’s why we partner with practices of all sizes to help manage the complexities of today’s healthcare environment and reward the practice of good medicine. Because when you have a partner who’s also a peer, you have malpractice insurance without the mal. Join us at thedoctors.com

6255_TX_HMedTimes_BA_Apr2017A_f.indd 1

November 2018

3/8/17 8:07 AM

medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times

Page 3

Legal Matters Peer Review Of Employed Physicians John T. Synowicki, JD Polsinelli, PC

s the health care industry sees increasing alignment among hospitals and other health care providers, a reoccurring issue is how to handle peer review for physicians who are engaged with the provider through credentialing, but also through an employment relationship. Inevitably, peer review concerns arise for some of those physicians, often resulting in separate employment and peer review evaluations of the physician. It is important for providers to look at these arrangements proactively, as the structure of the relationship can streamline how the hospital handles the underlying situation. This issue can arise where physicians are employed directly by the Hospital. Although this applies only on

a limited basis in Texas, some physicians enter into a physician employment agreement (PEA) with providers, in addition to receiving privileges with the provider. The PEA often contains a provision that the loss of employment by the physician will result in the automatic loss of membership and privileges at the hospital through immediate termination. Additionally – and more commonly in Texas – a situation can arise where the physician is employed by an affiliate of the Hospital, or with a group who is contracted as an exclusive provider. Under such circumstances, it is not uncommon for the affiliate to directly employ the physician, and for the PEA to contain a clause that the loss of employment by the physician requires the physician to immediately resign from any affiliated hospitals or other credentialing entities. This could trigger an automatic termination of privileges and membership, or require the physician to voluntarily resign his privileges and membership at affiliated entities. In April 2017, the National

Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) issued formal guidance on the issue of employed physicians to clarify issues surrounding loss of employment in relation to privileging issues. The NPDB clarified that where a physician was under peer review, but lost his privileges and membership due to an automatic action related to employment termination or resignation, the termination was not reportable to the NPDB. The NPDB stated the “termination was not a result of a professional review action and, therefore, was not reportable. It does not matter that the employment termination *** automatically resulted in the end of the practitioner’s clinical

privileges.” National Practitioner Data Bank Insights Publication, April 2017. The NPDB publication provides several important takeaways. First, it confirmed that when the loss of privileges is automatic, it is considered an administrative action, and the loss of privileges is not reportable to the NPDB. Thus, even if there is a parallel peer review investigation underway at the Hospital when the physician’s employment terminates, there is no reporting requirement related to the loss of privileges, provided that the loss of privileges was automatic. Second, the NPDB guidance see Legal Matters...page 14

NOW LE ASING LUXURY APARTMENT HOMES Med Center Living with Exclusive Shuttle Unique 1 & 2 bedrooms floor plans Walking distance to Hermann Park & The Museum District Immediate freeway access

5755 Almeda Rd. Hou., TX 77004 www.5755HermannPark.com 281.310.5755 medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Houston Medical Times

Page 4

Financial Outlook Tax-Free Retirement Income By Grace S. Yung, CFP® Managing Director Wealth Manager at Midtown Financial Group, LLC

egardless of how much you have saved for the future, there is one thing that most investors are assured of – and that is having Uncle Sam receive a portion of your retirement income in the form of taxes. There are, however, some strategies that can generate tax-free income in retirement. A Roth IRA Alternative for High Income Earners One strategy is to open and fund a Roth IRA. But, although the Roth IRA allows you to receive tax-free income upon withdrawal, there are a couple of factors that can prevent this type of account from being a viable option for everyone. For example, if you make “too much” income, you won’t qualify to

fund a Roth IRA. In 2018, single tax-filers who earn more than $135,000 of modified adjusted gross income, and married tax payers who file jointly and who earn more than $199,000 aren’t candidates for this type of account. In addition, even if you do qualify for Roth IRA ownership, there are maximum annual contribution limits. This year (2018), those limits are $5,500 for investors who are age 49 and under, and $6,500 for those who are age 50 and over. Because of these Roth IRA limitations, some investors are taking advantage of indexed universal life insurance, or IUL. An IUL policy is a permanent form of coverage that allows tax-deferred build up of its cash value. Unlike whole life, though, that earns a fixed rate of interest over time, an IUL’s cash value returns are tied to the performance of an underlying market index, such as the S&P 500. When the index performs well, the cash value is credited with a positive return. But, if the index performs

poorly during a given year, the return is simply credited with a 0%. By taking advantage of policy loans (as versus taking a cash withdrawal), there are no taxes due on the distributions. So, the funds can be used to supplement retirement income, but without income tax due. This second strategy comes with an added advantage - creditor protection. In the state of Texas, these instruments offer asset protection from possible creditors. No Contribution limits

MUSEUM MEDICAL TOWER 1213 HERMANN

November 2018

medicaltimesnews.com

If you don’t qualify for a Roth IRA and / or if you’ve already “maxed out” your qualified retirement plan(s), the beauty of using permanent life insurance like an IUL policy is that there is no annual maximum contribution limit. However, one thing to be mindful of when going this route is to not allow the policy to become a Modified Endowment Contract, or MEC. A MEC is a type of tax qualification for a see Financial Outlook...page 14

Houston Medical Times

Page 5

Texas Children’s Hospital’s Trauma and Grief Center Receives $1 million VOCA grant to support the Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center

exas Children’s Trauma and Grief Center is excited to announce it is the recipient of a $1 million grant from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund to support the recently-created Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center. Earlier this year, experts from Texas Children’s Trauma and Grief Center partnered with the Gulf Coast Center, and others in the Santa Fe community, to create the Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center, in the aftermath of the Santa Fe tragedy, to provide mental health services to those impacted by the recent shooting. Learn more about the Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center. This $1 million VOCA grant will help support the Centers’ ongoing efforts for the next 18 months. Texas Children’s will use these funds to hire five trauma- and grief-informed therapist and train them in the

relevant assessment and interventions most needed by the students and families in this community. The team will also provide ongoing consultation and support to the therapists at the Santa Fe Strong Resiliency Center, as well as school counselors across Santa Fe Independent School District. “This will be a community in need for many years and we are thrilled to receive this funding which will help us provide much-needed services and support for the children and families of the Santa Fe community,” said Dr. Julie Kaplow, director of the Trauma and Grief Center at Texas Children’s. “We know there are long-term psychological impacts to those exposed to traumatic events, including posttraumatic stress and maladaptive grief reactions, especially if access to ongoing support from trauma- and grief-informed

Call 713-600-9500 for a free assessment, 24/7.

clinicians is limited.” Most of these newly-hired therapists will be deployed directly to Santa Fe High School to assess and provide trauma- and grief-informed intervention to the most affected and exposed students. Though most clinicians will be at Santa Fe High School, the team will also be present at other schools throughout Santa Fe ISD where some of the more highlyimpacted students, including those who lost siblings or very close friends, attend school. The goal is to address the unique needs of those most highlyexposed to this tragedy in a convenient setting, where they are most likely to

access care (i.e., school). In addition to these supplemental resources, experts at Texas Children’s Trauma and Grief Center plan to host at least two large-scale trainings for communityand school-based clinicians. These trainings will be open to anyone who might be called upon to serve the needs of the community by caring for and treating impacted children and adolescents. “It is important to note that symptoms of posttraumatic stress may see Texas Children’s...page 13

Your provider of choice

Behavioral health and substance use treatment We offer: • Services for Adolescents, Adults and Seniors • Exclusively women program • Detoxification • Outpatient services for adults - Intensive Outpatient Program - Partial Hospitalization Program

Physicians are on the medical staff of Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. Model representations of real patients are shown. Actual patients cannot be divulged due to HIPAA regulations. 162038 6/16

medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Houston Medical Times

Page 6

New Technology Is Your Healthcare Built On The Right Foundation? By Mark Johnson President, Xtrii

aving When you build a house we all know the importance of building it on the right, solid foundation. If you don’t, all the investments in the framing, walls, roof, and fixtures would be at risk. The same is true for building your healthcare organization and operating processes on a risky, unstable foundation. Today, healthcare is being reshaped around a digital foundation. The optimal clinical and business processes, patient access, and timely care are dependent on systems. How reliable, secure and solid are your organization’s systems and underlying technologies? If you ask your internal I.T. Manager they will likely tell you that

everything is fine... that is until the very unpleasant day that you find out that it wasn’t fine after all. The day a Hacker has invaded your systems and stolen customer information, medical records and other sensitive data. The day the network crashes and you hear that it will take hours or days to recover. The day that your core systems are down, and you realize that your company doesn’t have an actionable Disaster Recovery Plan nor a Business Continuity Plan. How will that day impact your business and your customers? If you are unable to take customer orders or process customer requests, where will your customers turn to fill their needs? Most likely your competitors. Once they do, will you be able to get your customers back or will they continue to turn to your competitor that is more reliable? What liability and risk does your healthcare organization assume during those technology outages and/ or system breaches? Savvy business leaders know they must have a clear

understanding of their business risks, operations vulnerabilities and how they will handle unexpected issues. Even if you use cloud services or your systems are operated by a third-party, you still must have a reliable, secure network infrastructure to access those systems and services and a viable plan for how you will continue your business operations if the systems are not available. Business leaders must identify and understand their vulnerabilities and risks, and proactively take actions to address them. What is the best way to do so? An unbiased, independent, comprehensive technology assessment is the best way to reveal the realities and develop the right plan to address your vulnerabilities. The weakness of depending on internal opinions is the reality that people tend to be very biased about their own work and are often blind to weaknesses within their

daily routines. You need an unbiased, seasoned professional that provides a fresh, clear view of the overall operating environment and expertise to help you implement the optimal processes and address the technology and business risks. The age of Digital Transformation is here, and it relies on a solid digital foundation. Act now to ensure your business is built on a solid, digital foundation that can withstand the growing digital demands and can be trusted to support your business’s future. Mark Johnson is a global technology leader that has advised and led the top healthcare organizations. He currently serves as President of Xtrii, www.Xtrii.com. For additional information on healthcare technology and to see more of Mark’s technology tips and insights, visit www.Xtrii. com.

CENTERED LIVING

LUXURY APARTMENT HOMES In The Texas Medical Center

NOW OPEN

713-527-1000 LatitudeMedCenter.com

50% Off Rent Through 2018 Book Your Tour Today

November 2018

medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times

Page 7

Oncology Research Telemedicine: When I’m Here, But My Doctor Is There By Gury Doshi, M.D., Texas Oncology– Houston Memorial City

n a perfect world, location would never be a factor in a patient’s access to specialized cancer care. The reality is that in a state as vast as Texas, patients often travel long distances for consultations and treatment. Traveling for care can be exhausting for patients, and timely and costly for families and caregivers. That’s why telemedicine can be a viable and beneficial option, when appropriate, for the patient and physician. In recent years we’ve seen extraordinary medical advancements and technological innovations in oncology and the healthcare industry. While telemedicine has existed in

facility. Physicians within a healthcare network can access patient records and share files through encrypted, HIPPA-compliant technology to discuss test results, treatment options, and more. Telemedicine does not completely eliminate the need for patients to travel for certain aspects of treatment and in-person doctor visits. But the robust communications technology effectively extends the reach of healthcare providers by allowing some consultations and follow-ups to take place remotely. This is vitally important in many areas of Texas, where access to specialty healthcare is limited or even non-existent. For example, if a patient in Houston, Austin, or El Paso, has been identified as a potential candidate for highly precise proton therapy, oncologists specializing in this type of treatment can use telemedicine to conduct a preliminary consultation with the patient to determine if the

Let’s give the boot Put on your favorite boots and join us at the Boot Walk to End Cancer® on Nov. 10, 2018 in the Texas Medical Center. Every dollar raised helps us get closer to Making Cancer History.® various forms for years, its use is becoming more common in oncology care. So, what is it, and how might you or a loved one benefit from it? Telemedicine enables physicians to connect directly with patients who need highly specialized care, even if they live many miles away from the physicians’ offices and clinics. This can be done through a range of technologies, including video conferencing solutions that allow patients to see and speak directly with the physician, and that enable the medical team to share files, documents, and images on the screen. With telemedicine, patients have access to extensive and diverse expertise with more treatment options, while saving time and expense by limiting travel to a distant treatment

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018

treatment is appropriate for them. The patient may only have to travel for treatment because consultations and some follow-ups may be conducted via telemedicine. The patient visits their local physician’s office for the appointment, where the appropriate specialist is added remotely via telemedicine technology. Specialties available also include blood and marrow transplant, CAR-T therapy, pediatric hematology or oncology, and advance care planning. Telemedicine makes it possible for patients to connect with physicians by allowing some consultations and

1-4 p.m. | Texas Medical Center

PRESENTING SPONSOR

see Oncology...page 14 18corpal3814_7_Houston Med Times Ad_3.indd 1

medicaltimesnews.com

8/20/18 9:09 AM

November 2018

Page 8

Houston Medical Times

Rice Pursues Endgame for Diabetes National Institutes of Health Supports Effort to Advance Cell Implants that Make Insulin On Demand

ice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh ultimately wants patients with Type 1 diabetes to forget about it. That’s the goal his lab has declared with funding support from the National Institutes of Health. The agency has awarded Veiseh’s lab a prestigious four-year, $2.8 million R01 grant to design hydrogel-encapsulated cells that, when placed into a patient, sense blood glucose levels and produce insulin on demand. These on-board drug factories would eliminate the need for patients to persistently monitor their blood glucose and administer insulin shots. “Our hope is that one day patients can be insulin-independent and not have to think about diabetes,” said Veiseh, an assistant professor of bioengineering who joined Rice in 2017. “We want to get to the point where they get the treatment and live their lives normally.” Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s own immune system inadvertently destroys the

insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Replacing the beta cells with protection from the immune system is a potential cure for many patients afflicted with this disease, Veiseh said. To that end, his lab at Rice’s BioScience Research Collaborative is developing thousands of distinct hydrogel capsules that can protect and support pancreatic islet cells. A major challenge is developing hydrogel formulations which can hide these cells from the host immune system. The lab’s solution involves the synthesis of 7,000 variations of hydrogels, each carrying islet cells and an individual bar code. These will allow the lab to inject multiple types of hydrogels into a small number of mice for in vivo testing. (In vivo tests are conducted in live organisms; in vitro experiments are conducted in test tubes and the like.) “We can’t do this in vitro, only in vivo, but it would take an army to test thousands of individual animals,” Veiseh said. Using the innovative bar

coding technique, batches of different cell/capsule combinations can be implanted and those that survive the animal’s immune system can be identified based on their bar codes. The codes themselves represent a unique approach, he said. Rather than Rice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh, left, with graduate student Siavash physically marking Parkhideh, is leading an effort to develop gel-encapsulated cells for patients each cell – hard to do with diabetes that monitor blood glucose and release insulin when needed. in a jelly – or using Photo by Jeff Fitlow chemical means that could induce an of donated umbilical cords and have immune response, the researchers will their donors’ distinct genomes, they encase surrogate cells along with the can be easily identified through islet cells. next-generation sequencing. That will These surrogates are human umbilical vein endothelial cells. see Rice...page 13 Because they’re culled from thousands

Want to Connect with Houston’s Top Docs? Some of the nation’s finest doctors can be found right here in Greater Houston. Even better? The Houston Medical Times is their Primary Choice for local Healthcare News. Reserve your ad space today Call: 713.885.3808

November 2018

medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times

Page 9

Healthy Heart Eat Smart – Live Longer

ADVANCE YOUR

By American Heart Association

ecent estimates show around 10 percent or fewer U.S. adults and children get the recommended 4.5 cups of total fruits and vegetables per day. Currently, less than 1 percent of Americans meet the American Heart Association’s definition of ideal cardiovascular health, primarily due to poor diet. In fact, poor diet was the single leading contributor to premature death in the U.S. in 2010. Today, nearly two in three American adults and one in three American children are overweight or obese. Dietary habits contribute to multiple cardiovascular risk factors including blood cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. At the same time, fruits and vegetables are an important part of a heart-healthy

HEALING

contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Check the Nutrition Facts label and avoid foods with hydrogenated oils. • Choose canned fruits packed in juice rather than syrup. • Use nonstick cooking spray instead of greasing bakeware with butter or shortening. And use it in skillets instead of butter for cooking. • Make your own salad dressings by mixing healthier kitchen oils (such as olive oil) with vinegar and herbs. • Look for whole grains and lower sodium when you buy things like bread, crackers and snacks. • Choose poultry and fish and limit red meat. Always look for leaner

Do you have a wound that won’t heal? At Memorial Hermann Wound Care – Southwest, a multidisciplinary team of affiliated specially trained wound care physicians, nurses and technicians provide extensive expertise along with the latest wound care technology, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, to treat wounds that are slow to heal. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 713.456.6100 memorialhermann.org/wound-care

SW WoundCare_MedicalTimes_4.9167x6.535 C.indd 1

Struggling?

dietary pattern. A recent review concluded that increasing the portions of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association encourages Houstonians to Eat Smart during the month of November. Eat Smart Month is part of the AHA’s “Healthy For Good” movement, which focuses on eating smart, adding more color - such as vegetables - to meals, getting more exercise and making “being well” a priority. For a 2,000 calorie diet, the American Heart Association recommends 2 cups of fruits and 2.5 cups of vegetables each day. The average American adult consumes around 1 to 1.5 cups of each daily. Follow these healthy guidelines to update your eating style and improve your nutrition profile. • Cut down on saturated and trans fats by choosing non-tropical vegetable oils instead of foods rich in saturated fat or trans fat for cooking. These oils

pieces and trim away skin and visible fat before cooking. You want to be Healthy For Good. The American Heart Association wants to help, with science-based information and you-based motivation. Help spread the word by downloading the Eat Smart Month Toolkit and highlight how to make the healthy choice the easy choice for patients, employees, staff and partners. The kit comes with a full suite of marketing materials including posters, resource guides and shareable social media graphics. Four weeks of daily tips and weekly articles are also included. Find it all at www.heart.org/eatsmartmonth. Here’s wishing all a festive, happy and thankful November. We are thankful to be part of the Houston community. Follow us on Facebook – @AHAHouston– and post a picture of your healthy Thanksgiving meal with the hashtag #eatsmartmonth. We’ll be looking for your pictures!

10/30/18 12:37 PM

Let us help. We can be your partner in overcoming challenges such as depression or substance use. For more information call 832-720-6688 or visit westoakshospital.com. Serving the needs of children, adolescents and adults, West Oaks Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient treatment options.

6500 Hornwood | Houston, TX 77074 With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 183440

medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Houston Medical Times

Page 10

Nora’s Home to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Opening of Phase Two Expansion

Recovery starts here

• Mental health and substance use treatment for teens and adults • Inpatient and outpatient programs • Specialized inpatient program for First Responders • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)* for adults

No-cost assessments available 24/7. Call 281-918-7670 today.

he Houston transplant community, Texas Medical Center representatives and supporters gathered at Nora’s Home, Houston’s haven for organ failure and transplant patients receiving care in the Texas Medical Center, to celebrate the opening of the facility’s expansion at a recent ribbon cutting ceremony. Executive director Natalie Raymer welcomed guests, supporters

the new building, which doubles the existing capacity of Nora’s Home from 16 to 32 family suites. The new building features several community rooms, a large kitchen with capacity for cooking classes and multiple meal preparation stations as well as a laundry room, sun room, and family suites. A boardroom and education room will open up to each other to allow for expanded space

17750 Cali Drive | Houston, TX 77090 cypresscreekhospital.com With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. * Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any medical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is right for you. 183446

Shawn Cloonan, TMC COO, Lillian Gaber, M.D., , Osama Gaber, M.D.

and friends anxiously waiting to tour the new facility, thanking everyone involved for their support and making the expansion possible. Texas Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Shawn Cloonan commended Nora’s Home efforts to provide affordable lodging to Texas Medical Center transplant patients before assisting with cutting the red ribbon welcoming guests to

www.qualitydocllc.com Serving Greater Houston

ABOUT US QualityDoc, LLC is a veteran-owned Health Information Management company dedicated to providing efficient record management and administrative services for short and long-term solutions. We are here for you, we are QualityDoc!

Medical Record Review Services HEDIS

HIM Vendor Service

Coding Review

Risk Adjustment

Claim Integrity

Office Assistance

info@qualitydocllc.com

PO Box 2972 Spring TX, 77383

qualitydocllc.com

for a Transplant Life Center. Four of the family guest rooms are built with strict immune suppressed protocol for post-lung transplant patients. Before guests toured the expansion, Dr. Osama Gaber, CoFounder and Chair of Nora’s Gift Foundation, reflected on how far see Nora’s Home...page 13

Move your career forward with this unique M.S. Degree!

BIOSCIENCE AND HEALTH POLICY profms.rice.edu RICE UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TEXAS

November 2018

medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times

Page 11

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Performs First Internal Kidney Swap

aylor St. Luke’s Medical Center (Baylor St. Luke’s) completed its first internal kidney swap, also known as a paired kidney exchange, a procedure that occurs when a living kidney donor is incompatible with a recipient and exchanges kidneys with another donor/recipient pair. “Conducting a paired kidney exchange requires a deep understanding of genetics, education and patient safety,” explained Dr. Christine O’Mahony, Surgical Director for Kidney Transplant. “The successful completion of the first kidney swap is an incredible accomplishment for Baylor St. Luke’s and a testament to the patient centric care provided by our team of surgeons, nephrologists, transplant coordinators, nurses and many other professionals.”

The four-way transplant exchange performed involved two sets of relatives, mother and daughter (recipient and donor A, respectively) and a sister and brother (donor and recipient B, respectively). The daughter (donor A) gave a kidney to the brother (recipient B) and the sister (donor B) gave a kidney to the mother (recipient A). *Illustration A *Illustration A Craig Pesl, recipient B, had been on dialysis for over five years prior to the kidney swap. After finding spots on his kidneys at age 41, he began seeing a specialist and his first kidney was removed in 2008. Following that, his second kidney was removed, and he functioned with only a partial kidney for some time, until he needed the

kidney fully removed, and he was put on dialysis in 2013. Pesl waited five years for a kidney transplant, so the significance of the kidney swap was paramount to him. “It’s special to be a part of the first kidney swap at Baylor St. Luke’s” explained Pesl. “After this transplant, I will have a new life and can return to doing the things I love to do.”

Baylor College of Medicine Immune Evaluation Laboratory completed the work to find the compatible matches, reviewed the genetic information and coordinated the swap. The specialty genetics provider for this surgery has offered a full spectrum of genetic testing and innovative solutions to Baylor St. Luke’s for nearly 40 years. 

cookiedelivery.com

cookie de

cookiedelivery.com

cookie de

Warm cookies, delivered.

medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Page 12

Houston Medical Times

An Incredible Journey By Jamie Farquhar-Rizzo Houston Medical Times

he Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) hit a little closer to home this year in Houston. On Sept. 30, 2018, the DGR riders of Houston were graced to have a fellow rider join them on the ride, Charlie Morse. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’s has one simple goal: giving more life to our fathers, sons, brothers and friends. (DGR raises funds for research into men’s cancer, mental health and suicide prevention programs. The Movember Foundation is the official charity partner of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.) Both organizations

motorcycle with a sidecar. My team’s name is “Texas Urals for Cancer.” We decided that we will concentrate on Prostate, Colorectal Cancer, and PTSD. Why you ask? It is because it is one of the leading forms of cancer to kill men. Colorectal cancer is the number 2 leading killer in men. Why PTSD? Because many of us are former military and we know what the ravages of combat can do to a human. My team is riding in the 2018 “Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride” out of Houston. I don’t want you to buy anything, just donate... At the ride area I will be standing there with cancer ribbons and information concerning these cancers.

From Left to Right: Rider; Charlie Morse, Ural Pilot; Arturo DrTuri Perez and Distinguished Gentleman’s Houston Ride Host; Jamie Farquhar-Rizzo

focus on helping gentlemen who have been dealt a tough hand in life. And Charlie had been dealt a tough hand, he had been fighting colorectal cancer. The doctors defined it as an inoperative and listed it as Stage 4. Charlie was sent home from the hospital to receive hospice care at his daughter’s home in Bushland, Texas, just outside of Amarillo. But Charlie chose a different path, he decided to leave the comfort of his Daughter’s home and to raise awareness for men’s cancer. Right before the DGR ride Charlie wrote “Men’s cancer seems to not be in many people’s thoughts, but how many of you have had a male family member with cancer? Here is my sales pitch. I have formed a team of people who ride Urals, a quirky November 2018

medicaltimesnews.com

I will be dressed appropriately in 1920’s Gentleman’s outfit befitting the ride... I ask for you to pray for my family, so they may have the strength to forge this journey with me.” Charlie’s “final ride and final wish” was to ride in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in Houston, Texas. With the help of his friend, Jeffrey Ansel, he made the trip to Houston and got into Arturo DrTuri Perez’s side car for the ride. Charlie was weak but made it through the entire ride, passing our ribbons and smiling the whole way. At the end of the ride Charlie wrote Jeffery a note on his note pad that said, “It is time.” see Incredible Journey...page 13

Houston Medical Times

Boot Walk

Page 13

said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “It’s incredible to see the community coming together to support our efforts in Making Cancer History.” Sponsors include LyondellBasell (Presenting); PepsiCo (Diamond); Walmart (Gold); Boot Barn, IBC Bank and MustangCAT (Silver); and The

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Regina Rogers and Topgolf (Bronze). In-kind media sponsors are Outfront Media, Univision, Modern Luxury, Texas Monthly, Lifestyles & Homes Magazines, Texas Tribune and Pandora. Media partners are Houstonia, KPRC, 100.3 The Bull and Mix 96.5.

Since the Boot Walk’s inception in 2016, more than 1,000 teams and 11,000 cancer survivors, caregivers, MD Anderson staff and supporters have raised approximately $2 million to support critical patient care and research programs.

for trauma- and grief-informed mental health services, will only increase. We are extremely grateful for the current funding, and will continue to seek support for our programs to effectively address the ongoing needs of this community for years to come.” Intervention teams from Texas Children’s Trauma and Greif Center were deployed following the tragic events of May 18, providing support and

crisis management to those students, teachers and families impacted. These services and interventions, which are being made possible through government support, come at no cost to the families and insurance is not required. Texas Children’s Trauma and Grief Center, part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, is the only program of its kind in the country

that specializes in the dissemination of developmentally-informed, groupbased interventions for traumatically bereaved children and adolescents. This Center and its affiliated programs are dedicated to evidence-based assessment and intervention, treatment effectiveness and providing education to better address childhood trauma and grief.

their ability to house and protect islet cells, and the cells’ ability to survive and correct blood glucose.” The capsules will also have to ward off fibrosis, the body’s tendency to wall off invading cells by building scar tissue. Veiseh has been developing novel materials that enable cell-based therapies for close to a decade. He’s a co-founder of Sigilon Therapeutics, a biotech company working to

commercialize this approach for treatment of various chronic diseases. He noted the development of implantable, drug-making cells is one of this year’s 10 “breakthrough” technologies listed by the World Economic Forum. While some approaches require occasional or even frequent cell injections, Veiseh’s clear goal is to solve the complex management of diabetes for patients once and for all.

“When I started my postdoctoral research (at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), I had a misperception that diabetes was not that big of a problem because we have insulin. But when I realized the challenges people face, particularly children, I was really inspired,” he said. “My team and I are committed to making a transformative impact for patients.”

honored and proud he was to be a part of Nora’s Home and the opportunity Continued from page 10 to serve the transplant community in the Texas Medical Center. Nora’s Home guest Bobby Nora’s Home has come, expressed his Channell from Vernon, Texas, excitement and thanked supporters for expressed his gratitude to have a place their endless dedication to providing like Nora’s Home to await his heart transplant patients with a loving, transplant for the past three years. home-like environment. Dr. Gaber Channell said he is thankful to have then introduced George Pontikes, a home away from home filled with founder of Satterfield & Pontikes family-like friends. Construction, friend of Nora’s Home Dr. Gaber recognized Paula and builder of both the phase I and Hern and husband Tom Barbour II expansions. Pontikes conveyed how for supporting the dream since the

beginning and making Nora’s Home and the phase II expansion possible. The JLH Foundation is named after Paula’s father John L. Hern, who was a heart transplant recipient. While awaiting his transplant, he befriended many in the transplant community and encountered several who could not afford the associated costs of a transplant. The JLH Foundation now supports the financial needs of transplant patients and their families while promoting the need for organ donation. Dr. Gaber and Nora’s Home Board of Directors dedicated the

Nora’s Home campus in honor of the Hern Family and the legacy of the JLH Foundation. State Representative Shawn Thierry’s office presented Nora’s Home with a resolution from the Texas State Capitol expressing support and recognition for Nora’s Home contributions to the Texas transplant community. Guests then had the opportunity to tour the facility expansion and enjoyed mingling and refreshments.

squeezes as a thank you, relaxed and took his last breath. Jeffery took comfort in knowing that their incredible journey was a success. Jeffery said, “He went out on his terms having the time of his life. As far

as I’m concerned Charlie beat cancer.” For more information on DGR please visit https://www.gentlemansride. com/ Movember kicks off Nov. 1, 2018 get involved at https://us.movember. com/

Continued from page 1 across the finish line. “The Boot Walk is a wonderful opportunity to bring together all of us who have been touched by cancer,”

Texas Children’s

Continued from page 5 not emerge until at least six months following a traumatic event and grief reactions can and do endure for long periods of time” added Kaplow, who is also an associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “For this reason, we anticipate the demand

Rice

Continued from page 8 let the lab drastically cut the amount of time it will take to test all of its variants. “That’s going to be the first pass, and it will allow us to whittle down those 7,000 formulations to a manageable number,” Veiseh said. “Once we discover new leads, we will test those more rigorously to evaluate

Nora’s Home

Incredible Journey

made the 600 mile trip back home that night, fighting the whole way. Continued from page 12 He then made his flight into heaven right as they passed the “Welcome Charlie asked Jeffery to drive him to Amarillo” sign. home to Amarillo right away. Charlie Charlie gave Jeffery a few hand

medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Houston Medical Times

Page 14

Memorial Hermann

HOUSTON

Continued from page 1

their appointment so they know when as sports and school physicals. As an added convenience, the to arrive, reducing unnecessary time in facility offers online check-in so patients the waiting room. can reserve their place in line ahead of time. Patients also are able to track

threatening conditions such as flu, fever, earaches, insect bites, sprains, simple fractures, eye injuries and cuts requiring stitches. X-ray imaging and laboratory services are also offered on-site, as well

Legal Matters

by the NPDB and which require close factual scrutiny, including, but not limited to, the following: • Does the PEA allow the employer to notify the Hospital of the termination? • Is the termination of privileges under the bylaws automatic, or is it considered a separate resignation by the physician? • Does the automatic termination of privileges apply in all loss of employment situations, or only in for-cause terminations?

questions could have a decisive impact in how to handle the situation. While each situation is unique and requires a careful review of the relevant medical staff bylaws, PEA, and facts involved in each matter, tying privileges to employment may provide an opportunity for hospitals to automatically terminate a physician’s privileges and membership without having to conduct a full-scale peer review investigation.

The answer to each of these

Continued from page 4

Before You Decide Which Plan is Right for You While certain types of life insurance policies can add some significant advantages to your overall financial strategy, it is imperative that these vehicles are properly structured.

Otherwise, you could end up losing some – or even all - of the benefits. With that in mind, working with an investment professional who is well versed in the insurance and financial planning arena is highly recommended. Grace S. Yung, CFP ® Managing Director / Wealth Advisor MIDTOWN FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA / SIPC. The opinions voiced in this article are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All indices are unmanaged and

may not be invested into directly. The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change. This article contains only general descriptions and is not a solicitation to sell any insurance product, nor is it intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice.

Telemedicine is making it possible to reach more patients and to deliver care more efficiently and conveniently, regardless of the location of the patient or physician. The future of cancer care is here, and it includes telemedicine that is effective for patients and doesn’t compromise quality or confidentiality

– even when a patient is hundreds of miles away. Gury Doshi, M.D., is a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Houston Memorial City. For more information, visit texasoncology.com.

Oncology

Continued from page 7 follow-up to take place remotely. Consultations can include voice, videoconferencing, sharing and reviewing scans and images, coordination of local supportive care, symptom management – or any combination of those services as clinical circumstances require. November 2018

Web Development Lorenzo Morales Distribution Robert Cox Accounting Liz Thachar Office: 713-885-3808 Fax: 281-316-9403 For Advertising advertising@medicaltimesnews. com Editor editor@medicaltimesnews.com

Financial Outlook life insurance policy that’s cumulative premiums exceed federal tax law limits. If this occurs, the taxation structure, as well as the policy’s classification, changes. The taxation of withdrawals from that policy would be similar to that of a non-qualified annuity. In this case, if the policy holder took withdrawals before turning age 59 1/2, he or she would also incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty from the IRS.

Director of Media Sales Richard W DeLaRosa Senior Designer Jamie Farquhar-Rizzo

Continued from page 3 focuses on the result that terminated the physician’s privileges, not whether the review began due to a peer review investigation or an employment concern. Thus, regardless of whether the underlying issue starts as an employment concern or a peer review concern, if the physician’s employment terminates, and there is a provision for an automatic termination of privileges and membership, it is not reportable to the NPDB. Although the NPDB guidance provides important clarification for providers, it also leaves open several questions that have not been addressed

Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group Inc.

medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times is Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group, Inc. All content in this publication is copyrighted by Texas Healthcare Media Group, and should not be reproduced in part or at whole without written consent from the Editor. Houston Medical Times reserves the right to edit all submissions and assumes no responsibility for solicited or unsolicited manuscripts. All submissions sent to Houston Medical Times are considered property and are to distribute for publication and copyright purposes. Houston Medical Times is published every month P.O. Box 57430 Webster, TX 77598-7430

Houston Medical Times

Page 15

We pledge to help build your practice. Equipment Loans as low as

4.20

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re dedicated to boosting your bottom line. So now for a LIMITED TIME, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re offering tremendous financing rates for the medical equipment you need to keep things moving onward and upward.

up to

months

AllegianceBank.com

Call 281 894 3200

medicaltimesnews.com

November 2018

Houston Medical Times

EATSMART

MONTH

Let’s Get Healthy For Good ™ in Houston! JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Eat smart during the month of November and get Healthy For Good™. The Healthy For Good movement is designed to inspire Houstonians to live healthier lives and create lasting change. It focuses on the idea that making small, simple changes today can create a difference for generations to come. TO JOIN, VISIT HEART.ORG/EATSMART MONTH

2019 PAUL “BEAR” BRYANT AWARDS January 9, 2019 | The Post Oak Hotel www.BryantAwards.com The Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is much bigger than college football. It is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on heart disease and stroke while raising valuable funds to support the lifesaving research of the American Heart Association. medicaltimesnews.com