March 2018 • Vol. 48, No. 3
Mecklenburg Medicine A Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org
MCMS Women Physicians Section
Meet and Mingle March 22 featuring author and MCMS member
Kimmery Martin, MD
Mecklenburg County Medical Society
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Mecklenburg County Medical Society Foundation @meckmedsociety
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March 2018 Vol. 48 No. 3
Table of Contents 6 President’s Letter: Docere — “To Teach”
OFFICERS
President Scott L. Furney, MD
By Scott L. Furney, MD, President, MCMS
7 Member News 7 Women Physicians Section Meet and Mingle 8 New Members 9 Upcoming Meetings & Events 9 2018 President’s Award 9 Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings for March 10 Feature: 2018 MCMS Annual Meeting, featuring Karen Garloch 12 Feature: Should You Compete With a Non-Compete By John R. Allbert, MD and John Buric, Esq.
12 National Health & Wellness Observances, March 13 Feature: Diabetes and Welfare By Gordon Hull, Director, Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, Associate Professor Philosophy and Public Policy, UNC Charlotte
President-Elect Elizabeth B. Moran, MD Secretary Babak Mokari, DO
Treasurer John R. Allbert, MD
Immediate Past-President Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
BOARD MEMBERS
Raymond E. Brown, PA Sarah M. Edwards, MD E. Carl Fisher, Jr., MD Donald D. Fraser, MD Vishal Goyal, MD, MPH Jane S. Harrell, MD Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH B. Lauren Paton, MD Anna T. Schmelzer, MD Rachel L. Storey, DO Andrew I. Sumich, MD G. Bernard Taylor, MD
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Tracei Ball, MD, President-Elect Charlotte Medical Dental & Pharmaceutical Society Sandi D. Buchanan, Executive Director Mecklenburg County Medical Society Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA
14 At the Hospitals 16 Independent Physicians of the Carolinas 16 Advertising Acknowledgements
Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP, Medical Director Mecklenburg EMS Agency
EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director Sandi D. Buchanan
Finance & Membership Director Stephanie D. Smith
On the Cover:
Women Physicians Meet and Mingle — for more information, see page 7.
Meetings & Special Events Coordinator Jenny H. Otto
1112 Harding Place, #200, Charlotte, NC 28204 704-376-3688 • FAX 704-376-3173 meckmed@meckmed.org Copyright 2018 Mecklenburg County Medical Society 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. 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.
MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF Editor Scott L. Furney, MD Managing Editor Sandi D. Buchanan Copy Editors Lee McCracken Stephanie Smith
Advertising Mark Ethridge mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com Editorial Board Stephen J. Ezzo, MD N. Neil Howell, MD Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD Graphic Design Wade Baker
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 5
President’s Letter
Docere — “To Teach” (Latin root for the word “doctor”) By Scott L. Furney, MD
N
o one will ever confuse me with a morning person. My internal clock is wired for late nights, not early mornings. After battling with my alarm clock(s) and attempting to negotiate with the snooze button, I begrudgingly admit defeat and find some coffee. Mondays are particularly challenging after indulging my circadian rhythms during the weekend. This particular Monday started out as any other — in clinic with my patients and with a medical student to precept. The list was filled with the usual suspects, and I thought my student would benefit from a complex patient on a return visit for a vertebral insufficiency fracture. I will spare you the details, but his medical history affords that as a risk. I was worried about him, though. He was losing weight and “failing to thrive” over the last few months, all for unclear reasons. The fracture added misery to his long problem list. My student returned from the room to go over the case, and his conclusion barely registered in my morning fog. “I wonder if he has Pott’s Disease of the spine?” the student suggested. I suddenly was wide awake and have to admit, a little shocked. My brain quickly went through the Kübler-Ross stages, adapted for medical teaching: • Denial. No way the patient could have that! • Anger (at myself). How could I not have thought of that! • Bargaining. This is where you hedge a bit as a teacher, trying to decide whether or not to admit your own inadequacy and compliment the student. • Depression. Admit you did not think of it, and the third-year medical student did. • Acceptance. Celebrate the fact that the patient benefits from two smart people in his care, and you benefit from another dose of humble pie. In reality, no one should be surprised that novices with ample time can come up with a broad differential diagnosis and have time to explore it cognitively. That is, after all, why they are there. They can elicit the patient’s long-lost military history and positive PPD test in
As much as I have found time with patients to be a potent antidote to burnout, learners can be, as well. While I could attempt to remind you of the Hippocratic Oath and our duty to teach the next generation, that is not the reason to teach.
6 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Asia 40 years ago. They are not bound by the short appointments and diagnostic biases that familiarity can produce. Enough excuses, though; these are some really smart people we get to train. I learn as much from them as they do from me. There seems to be a consistent theme I am hearing in my first few months leading this organization. My articles are in response to this angst. As much as I have found time with patients to be a potent antidote to burnout, learners can be, as well. While I could attempt to remind you of the Hippocratic Oath and our duty to teach the next generation, that is not the reason to teach. The real reason is that it brings diversity to our clinical experience — another antidote against fatigue in the midst of repetition. Whether pharyngitis or another common illness, we are more engaged mentally when we have to explain our approach. For some, the act of teaching is a selfish pleasure. You might find your patients enjoy it, too. True or not, when my patients see me teaching another, they likely infer someone thinks I am smart enough to do so. I add to that enjoyment by deeming my patients “Professor” after they have taught at least three of my medical students. You should see them smile! For those who might have their interest piqued, you are in luck. There are so many opportunities now in Mecklenburg County that you will not have to look very hard. CHS has residencies and medical students, Novant has a new family medicine residency, Campbell has medical students who need placement, and there are innumerable physician assistant and nurse practitioner programs needing preceptors. There are simple tools I will share to build clinic templates for teaching and quick tips for ambulatory precepting. And, you have an open offer from me to give you a pep talk. I know some of you will dismiss this, and some are just not built to teach anyone but patients and staff. For those who are on the fence and do not know how to get started, please connect with me. You will find those few minutes a worthwhile investment in a tool that will rejuvenate the practice of medicine for you. Being scooped by my medical student certainly gives me a morning dose of catecholamines, in a very good way. I still am not a morning person, but my students make sure I am fully awake. In humble service,
P.S. The patient did not have Pott’s Disease, but it still was a really good thought!
Member News
MCMS Women Physicians Section
Meet and Mingle
Thursday, March 22 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Roosters SouthPark Wine and Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres
Featuring a book launch/signing by one of our very own members! Kimmery Martin, MD, is celebrating the release of her new book “The Queen of Hearts.” This is a free event sponsored by Hunstad Kortesis Bharti and REACH (Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte).
To RSVP, email Stephanie Smith at ssmith@meckmed.org. PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS • New Construction Class “A” medical and professional office buildings • ± 4,100 SF still available • Novant Health to anchor first building • (currently under construction) • Building signage opportunities • Excellent accessibility and parking with close proximity to I-485, I-77, and I-85. • Located in Berewick Town Center, the centerpiece of Berewick’s 1,200 acre master-planned community located 8 miles southwest of uptown Charlotte.
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Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 7
Member News
NEW MEMBERS Scott M. Baker, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of North Carolina, 1989 Jessica A. Bell, MD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology St. Jude Affiliate Clinic Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 301 Hawthorne Lane #100 Charlotte, NC 28204 704-384-1900 Wake Forest University, 2002
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
LeShara M. Fulton, PA-C Otorhinolaryngology Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates 6035 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 704-295-3000 Wake Forest University, 2016 Richard M. Hasson, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Tulane University, 1993
James D. LeClair, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Hahnemann University, 1994
Photo not available.
Yvonne Mack, MD Radiation Oncology Southeast Radiation Oncology Group 200 Queens Road #400 Charlotte, NC 28204 704-333-7376 Wake Forest University, 1988
Jason A. Hill, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of Tennessee, 2006
Taylor E. Maxwell, PA-C Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Nova Southeastern University, 2014
Vernon D. Byrd, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 East Carolina University, 1990
Mackenzie K. Hines, PA-C Hematology/Oncology Carolinas Medical Center 1000 Blythe Blvd. 3rd Fl. Annex Charlotte, NC 28203 980-621-1224 Wingate University, 2017
Charles A. McLaughlin III, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Wake Forest University, 2003
Amy V. Chudgar, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Medical College of Georgia, 2011
Robert J. Hosker, MD Neuroradiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Medical University of South Carolina, 2010
Denise R. Finck-Rothman, MD Family Medicine Care Ring 601 E. 5th St. #140, Charlotte, NC 28202 704-375-0172 Albany Medical College, 1975
Scott E. Hunter, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Harvard University, 2006
Jon E. Fromke, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of Minnesota, 1996
Thomas R. Jones, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of Alabama, 1994
Mark K. Fromke, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 St. Louis University, 1994
Scott R. Kennedy, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of South Florida, 1992
Travis L. Boaz, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 George Washington University, 1992
8 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Michael A. Meuse, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Dartmouth College, 2004 Richard A. Richardson, PA-C Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Hahnemann University, 1992
Photo not available.
Carlos M. Rish, MD Family Medicine Centro Medico Latino 3541 Randolph Road #303 Charlotte, NC 28211 704-333-0465 Universidad De Guadalajara, 1982 John C. Rossitch, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 Duke University, 1988
Member News
Upcoming Meetings & Events MARCH
Meetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.
Friday, March 3 Charlotte Dental Society Conference Harris Conference Center 8 a.m.-4 p.m. n Monday, March 5 Executive Committee meeting 6 p.m. n Tuesday, March 13 MedLink meeting Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg 4701 Hedgemore Drive, Charlotte 8:30 a.m. n Thursday, March 15 CAMGMA meeting Myers Park Baptist Church Cornwell Center Noon n Monday, March 19 MCMS Board meeting 5:15 p.m.–dinner; 5:45 p.m.–meeting n Tuesday, March 20 Charlotte Dental Society Membership meeting Myers Park Country Club 6 p.m. n Thursday, March 22 May magazine deadline n Thursday, March 22 Women Physicians Meet and Mingle Roosters, SouthPark 5:30-7:30 p.m. n Friday, March 30 Good Friday — MCMS office closed
2018 President’s Award The 2018 President’s Award was given to
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NEW MEMBERS
CONTINUED
David J. Sheridan, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of North Carolina, 1987 Daniel J. Stackhouse, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of North Carolina, 1988 Jason A. Swenson, MD Diagnostic Radiology Charlotte Radiology 1701 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-362-7071 University of Michigan, 2004
Ophelia Garmon-Brown, MD, MDiv by Stephen J. Ezzo, MD, and the 2017 Board of Directors at the MCMS Annual Meeting on January 18 at the Charlotte Country Club. The award was given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service throughout North Carolina.
CHARLOTTE AHEC COURSE OFFERINGS Charlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.
MARCH 2018
Continuing Medical Education (CME) 3/7-9 3/9 3/10 Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online
42nd Internal Medicine Conference CHS Sleep Symposium Integrated Care of Patients With Afib: A Satellite Symposium Protecting Your Patients From Air Pollution Risk Management: Patient Identification Social Media: Risks and Benefits for Physicians Prevention and Management of Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Motor Vehicle Crash Victims MTAC Trauma Modules Get the 4-1-1: Everything Primary Care Providers Should Know About Parent Training in Behavior Therapy While Working With Families With Young Children With ADHD Electronic Medical Record on Trial (Risk Management)
For more information or to register for these courses, call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 9
2018 M Annual M
Featuring Kar
The Mecklenburg County Medical Society awar for 30 years of informing and educating t
10 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
MCMS Meeting
Karen Garloch
warded Karen Garloch a plaque in appreciation ng the public on health issues, 1987-2017.
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 11
Should You Compete With a Non-Compete? By John R. Allbert, MD, and John Buric, Esq.
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hen I first arrived in Charlotte 30 years ago, I soon realized that many of the physicians I knew had switched practices at some point in their career. This also is common among bankers, accountants and, particularly, lawyers. Individuals had their own reason to switch companies or practices, but from my perspective, it usually boiled down to a mismatch in practice style, a desire for a cultural change, or more likely than not, an opportunity to earn more income. Twelve years ago, I made the decision to make a career change. I always had planned to go into private practice, but making such an important decision sometimes can be daunting. Unfortunately, Twelve years ago, I I had signed a contract with made the decision a non-compete clause. I questioned its validity and to make a career consulted a couple of attorneys change. I always for advice. The first one I met had planned to go with recommended I buy out my non-complete as a way of into private practice, saving face for everyone. He but making such an stated, “This is what really important decision everyone does.” This option did not appeal to me since I sometimes can be felt strongly I had a very strong daunting. case. I met with John Buric and we developed a plan before I turned in my resignation. First, Buric advised me that in order for a non-compete clause to be enforced, it must fulfill ALL of the following five criteria: • It must be in writing and signed by the employee. • It must be exchanged for a valid consideration, (I did not feel I was compensated adequately enough to sign the non-compete). • It must be reasonable as to time. • It must be reasonable to geographical territory, (long duration and narrow territory or similarly short duration and larger territory often is reasonable). • It must be narrowly tailored to protect a legitimate business interest and not in violation of public policy (in my example, as a maternalfetal medicine specialist, the community may be harmed if I had to leave the area). Buric stated our courts recognize that a client-based restriction also can be reasonable in lieu of a territorial restriction. Any non-compete that prohibits the employee from “directly or indirectly” competing will 99 percent of the time be declared unenforceable. Similarly, if the non-compete prohibits all employment by a competitor (including employment in a position unrelated to the position the employee held with his former competitor), it is facially unenforceable.
12 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Making the decision to move forward can be daunting. Even when your case is strong, your former employer may threaten to force you to spend excessive amounts of money on legal fees or force you to move out of town. I have spoken with physicians who have gone through this in the past, and they compare it to going through a divorce. Things can be said with the intent of intimidating and creating fear. My advice is to not allow yourself to get angry. It is simply a strategy and should not be taken personally. I hear from many individuals who want more autonomy or are dissatisfied with future compensation options, and others who are tired of certain responsibilities and just want to focus on taking care of patients. No matter your concern, I want to encourage you to look seriously at your options and do what is best for you and your family, not only for now but for the future. Before you do anything, meet with an attorney who has experience in winning and not just negotiating a settlement. Develop a strategy that you both agree on before you resign from your position. I know my decision to move beyond legal threats to pursue my goals was one of the best decisions I ever made.
NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCES MARCH 2018 American Red Cross Month Athletic Training Month Brain Injury Awareness Month Colorectal Awareness Month Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Eye Donor Month Hemophilia Month Kidney Month Nutrition Month Save Your Vision Month Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month March 1-6: Aplastic Anemia and MDS Week March 2-9: Sleep Awareness Week March 5-9: School Breakfast Week March 11-17: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week March 14: Kick Butts Day March 18-24: Poison Prevention Week March 20: Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 27: American Diabetes Alert Day
Feature
Diabetes and Welfare By Gordon Hull, Director, Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, Associate Professor Philosophy and Public Policy, UNC Charlotte
T
here is growing empirical evidence that confirms what most of us know intuitively: The poor have a harder time controlling their diabetes than those of greater means. A couple of recent papers by Seth A. Berkowitz, MD, serve to illustrate. In one, Berkowitz and his coauthors found that a number of indices of “material insecurity” were associated with poor diabetes control; of the various factors they studied, food insecurity was most closely linked. In the other, Berkowitz and colleagues found that unstable housing was associated with a staggering increase in visits to the emergency room or hospitalization for diabetics (adjusted odds ratio 5.17; 95 percent CI 2.08–12.87). These individuals are not homeless — “housing unstable” means they can’t pay rent/mortgage; they moved two or more times in the last 12 months; or they live in a place they do not own/rent. Less than 1 percent of these patients received help with their housing. In the meantime, many more people might be called “housing precarious.” A Harvard report noted that a quarter of all renters paid half or more of their income for housing, and underscored that “much to their detriment, cost-burdened households are forced to cut back on food, health care and other critical expenses.” In Charlotte, a 2017 report estimated the city had a deficit of 21,000 units of housing that would be affordable to someone making less than 50 percent of the city’s median income. This presents both a moral and an economic problem. The economic problem should be clear enough and can be put this way: It is almost certainly cheaper to assist with housing than it is to pay for ER visits. As Berkowitz notes, diabetes cost the country $217 billion last year, including more than 21 million ER visits and hospitalizations. A Kaiser Health News report from 2010 found that diabetes then cost $83 billion a year in hospital spending, or 20 percent of total hospital spending in the country. Research in diabetes care estimated that, in 2012, “40 percent of all healthcare expenditures attributed to diabetes came from higher rates of hospital admission and longer average lengths of stay per admission, constituting the single largest contributor to the attributed medical cost of diabetes.” Behind the obvious fiscal reasons to trim diabetes-related hospitalizations, however, lurk some difficult moral issues. It seems to me that findings like these suggest we need to expand the social safety net — welfare, if you prefer — dramatically, if we as a society want to say that we care for low-income people with diabetes. On welfare, we have been doing the opposite at least since the 1996, Clinton-era welfare reform legislation. There are lifetime maximums on TANF and three-year limits to SNAP for many people. These recent studies remind us that social determinants of health matter, and that one way of addressing those is with traditional welfare programs that are in a 20-year decline. Of course, even locally there are questions — the logical extension of providing housing assistance to those with diabetes is further expansion of the safety net, perhaps by ramping up food assistance.
That said, the difficult problem is not, I think, of deciding how far to extend assistive welfare programs. If one frames the problem as reducing noncompliance with treatment regimes, it becomes apparent that there is another continuum, this one based on how coercive the help with care management is. Strictly assistive programs, such as housing or food subsidies, pose no special problems here. Somewhat more contentious would be efforts to make non-compliance more difficult, such as a steep tax on sugary drinks. Our experience with cigarettes shows that this sort of thing can make a difference. Much more contentious would be efforts to directly induce compliance; new technologies are rapidly making these more economically viable. For example, now there are pills that know they have been ingested and can report this information. Simpler devices like fitness trackers also could provide useful information. In my view, programs in this last category are morally questionable. First, they don’t address a fundamental problem: Being in unstable housing makes it more difficult to comply with a medical routine. Second, they pose serious questions about patient privacy and autonomy. Finally, they leave unanswered the question of what to do if patients don’t follow their care regimen. Would you deny them treatment? Hertfordshire in England has started down this path, banning elective surgery for those who smoke or fail to lose weight if they need to. This last point about privacy and autonomy suggests an unusual wrinkle to old debates about welfare. In the United States, it looks like housing assistance from the state is better for individuals’ autonomy than other efforts to get them to maintain treatment regimens. However you resolve the moral issues, it seems to me that as long as we accept a moral and legal obligation to treat those who arrive at the emergency room with poorly-managed diabetes, the question really is about what kind of dependence on the state is preferable and how we want to pay for that dependence. At the end of the day, we tend, as a society, to look at health care and healthcare expenses in a vacuum. Berkowitz’s work provides an evidence-based reminder that this is myopic.
The economic problem should be clear enough and can be put this way: It is almost certainly cheaper to assist with housing than it is to pay for ER visits.
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 13
At the Hospitals
Novant Health Hematology Opens in Charlotte Novant Health Hematology is the first location opened within our footprint to specialize in blood diseases, both malignant and benign. Omotayo Fasan, MD, staffs the clinic and is board-certified in internal medicine and hematology. He is joined by David Miller, MD, and Jenny Park, ANP. The clinic, at 1718 E. 4th Street, suite 807, offers services for adults, including diagnosis and treatments for acute leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, anemia, bleeding disorders, sickle cell disorder and a host of other blood diseases. The clinic also provides and offers access to traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapies, as well as advanced, more specialized services such as immunotherapy, cell therapy and bone marrow transplants. For more information, call 704-316-3297. n
Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute Opens in Mint Hill Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute has opened a satellite clinic in Mint Hill, staffed by Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD. He joined Novant Health last September after completing a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Brown University in Providence, RI. Dr. Dabhadkar received his medical degree from Grant Medical College in Mumbai, India, and completed his residency in internal medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from Emory University. Dabhadkar has expertise in the area of preventive cardiology, including blood cholesterol and management. He practices clinical cardiology with a specific emphasis in non-invasive cardiology, including valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and heart failure. Dabhadkar previously served as a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Preventive Cardiology Leadership Council. Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute is nationally ranked for leadingn
edge prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular conditions. Patients with a history of heart disease, suspected valve disease or chest pain may be referred by their physician for a non-invasive evaluation. The clinic is at 8110 Healthcare Loop, in the Mint Hill Medical Office Building. The office building is part of the 80-acre Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center campus on Albemarle Road near the I-485 interchange. For more information, call 704-316-3024. Novant Health Brings Cardiac Cath Lab Services to Charlotte Suburbs As heart-care labs spread to smaller medical centers across the United States, patients in suburban Charlotte have more options for receiving services in their own backyard. Novant Health Matthews Medical Center became a full-service heart center four years ago, and now Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center is in process of doing the same. The Huntersville hospital has opened a catheterization laboratory, or cath lab, to provide heart-related evaluations and treatments. The cath lab is fully equipped to provide nonsurgical and some minor surgical procedures designed to evaluate and effectively treat a full spectrum of heart problems. Some of these procedures include: • Diagnostic X-rays, which evaluate the flow of blood through the heart’s valves. • A check of the heart muscle to look for evidence of heart failure. • A check of the coronary arteries to look for angina and heart attack. • Checks of arteries and veins for blood clots, and control of electrical problems of the heart for patients with fast or slow heartbeats or ablating bad electrical fibers. • Implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. “We have developed programs at Salisbury, Matthews and more recently Huntersville,” says Gary Niess, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the Heart and Vascular Institute service line physician lead for the Charlotte market. “More than 90 percent of heart cath procedures can n
14 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
be done in these centers by physicians and technologists who have done thousands of the procedures already, and about half are done on an outpatient basis, which is a huge time-saver for patients.” The cath lab is only one piece of the program Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute is offering local communities. It’s also expanding services in the fast-growing Lake Norman area by adding a number of subspecialists in cardiovascular services to the cardiac providers already there. To learn more, visit novanthealth.org/heart. Novant Health Welcomes New Pediatricians Novant Health Pediatrics Symphony Park has opened at 4105 Matthews Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill and is fortunate to have the following experienced physicians join its Novant Health family after practicing in other areas of Charlotte: Michael Bean, MD; Stephanie Richter, MD; Kasey Scannell, MD; Andrew Shulstad, MD; and Kerry Van Voorhis, MD. All physicians are board-certified in pediatrics and collectively have more than 80 years of experience. They see infants and children as they grow and develop to age 21. For more information, call 704-384-9966. Novant Health Pediatrics Lake Norman has opened at 10305 Hampton Park Drive, suite 101, in Huntersville. Kymberly Selden, MD, and Stephen Lods, MD, have joined Novant Health after practicing in the surrounding area for 13 years. They see infants and children as they grow and develop to age 18. For more information, call 704-384-1130. n
Novant Health Opens Urgent Care in Harrisburg Novant Health has opened a new urgent care at 9550 Rocky River Road, suite 150, in Harrisburg. The clinic offers walk-in care daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., including weekends. The clinic also offers immunizations, sports physicals and onsite X-ray and lab services for a fast and accurate diagnosis. For more information, call 704-316-5283. n
At the Hospitals
Carolinas HealthCare System is Atrium Health On February 7, Carolinas HealthCare System announced its decision to carry forward the mission of the organization with a new name: Atrium Health. The milestone announcement reflects the transformation of the healthcare system from its beginnings as Charlotte Memorial Hospital to a healthcare system with a regional footprint and national profile for addressing many of health care’s most pressing challenges. The name change to Atrium Health reflects the system’s evolution as it establishes the next generation of high-quality, high-value care and looks to advance beyond traditional borders and care settings. “It’s quite remarkable to think back to our humble beginnings in 1940, when a group of ambitious, young clinicians answered the call to serve everyone and opened our doors as Charlotte Memorial Hospital,” says Atrium Health President and CEO Gene Woods. “Now, nearly 80 years later, our doors remain open, and we’ve helped our community thrive. We have maintained our mission to serve all, and we also have evolved. Our new name reflects our organization today and where we are going in the future to make a greater impact for the people we will serve.” With nearly 12 million patient encounters each year, or one every three seconds, Atrium Health is positioned better than ever to reach the communities and rural areas that often lack access to services. Atrium Health will lead in critical areas, such as population health, primary care, behavioral health and virtual care, while improving access to world-class specialty care such as cancer, pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, neurology and orthopedics. The new name, Atrium Health, captures the essence of the organization and was selected for its meaning: a place filled with light; a gathering ground where diverse thinkers come together and connections are made; and, literally, the chamber of the heart n
where each and every heartbeat begins. The revised branding that accompanies the new name retains several familiar elements that were part of the Carolinas HealthCare System brand. The teal color remains, along with an updated “Tree of Life” icon, which always has held special meaning for the healthcare system and is one of the most recognizable logo marks in the region. “While we continue to evolve as an organization, we will always hold true to our roots,” says Woods. “Our Tree of Life is strong and our mission to provide care for all will not change. Atrium Health will allow the organization to grow and impact as many lives as possible and deliver solutions that will help even more communities thrive.” While full implementation of the new name will take nearly two years, changes to the signage at hospitals and care locations will begin at the end of this year and into early 2019. As a first step, the organization introduced the Atrium Health name to more than 65,000 employees on February 7, including more than 3,000 physicians and 16,000 nurses and other care providers. Temporary signage will begin to appear at care locations, and advertisements will immediately begin to carry the new name to help ensure patients and local communities know about the name change. Patients also will see updates on their statements and wellness education materials over the next several months. While the system name may change, the heart of who we are will remain the same, and patients will continue to receive the compassionate and world-class care they have come to expect. Charlotte’s First 24/7 Urgent Care is Now Open You can plan for work. You can plan for the weekend. You can even plan to travel the world. But no matter how full your schedule gets, you’ll never think to pencil illness or injury into your calendar. Thanks to Carolinas HealthCare System’s new 24/7 urgent care in Charlotte, you can feel better and keep your plans — no matter what time it is. n
Here’s what you need to know before your next visit to Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care—Center City. It’s open – always. You’re on a tight schedule — we get that. We also get that no two schedules are alike. And at Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care— Center City, that’s okay. Whether you work traditional hours, the night shift or just need care right now — whatever time it is — come in. With 24/7 hours of operation, this new urgent care is open — always. It’s in the center of a bustling city. Its 24/7 hours aren’t the only perk of Charlotte’s newest urgent care. Nestled just outside Uptown, the location couldn’t be more convenient. If you’re working, visiting or going home, you can have peace of mind that care is there, when and where you need it. You can reserve your spot online. Cutting in line is never okay — but what about reserving your spot before leaving home? And what if you could reduce the time spent in the waiting room? By reserving your spot online, you can do all the above. You even can wait from the comfort of your couch before heading in for your reservation. Reserving your spot is easy — just go to CarolinasHealthCare.org/UrgentCare. You can get the care you actually need. When you’re not feeling well, you want to get better as fast as you can. And it all starts with making the right choice for care. Some conditions might require emergency attention, while others can be treated using Virtual Visit. But when it comes to minor illnesses and injuries — like cold symptoms or sprains — the 24-hour urgent care is there to get you the right care at the right time and in the right place. “There are times when feeling better just can’t wait until tomorrow,” says Steve Jones, vice president of Carolinas HealthCare System Medical Group. “With this new 24hour urgent care, we’re giving members of our community the care they need to feel better, the moment they need it.” To learn more about Carolinas HealthCare Urgent Care—Center City, visit CarolinasHealthCare.org/CenterCity.
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 15
Independent Physicians of the Carolinas Randolph Road offices with Mary Magee, MS, RDN. Magee joined Charlotte Gastro in November. She has more than 20 years of experience focusing on medical nutritional therapy and empowering patients to improve their quality of life through positive lifestyle changes while promoting balance. 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. Join Oncology Specialists of Charlotte (OSC) on Saturday, March 24 at the 5th Annual Fight for Air Climb, hosted by the local chapter of the American Lung Association. OSC’s Clinical Nurse Manager, Valarie Shepherd, serves on the planning committee and has personally tested the “climb,” rallied sponsorships and formed a team. This climb features 50 floors and 883 steps in the stairwell of The Vue in uptown’s Fourth Ward. Since its inception in 2014, the Charlotte Climb has raised more than $250,000 to support the mission of the American Lung Association. To register for the Fight for Air Climb, visit www.ClimbCharlotte.org.
David Draughn, MD, owner of Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, is featured as a Charlotte Healthcare Leader in this month’s issues of Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Woman’s Day. The newest innovations concern the deep venous system, once thought to be “off limits.” Iliac Vein obstruction, MayThurner Syndrome, was considered rare. We now know it was just rarely considered, and rightfully so, as venography, Draughn even now, is just not sensitive enough. The new gold standard of diagnosis is IVUS, Intravascular Ultrasound — an ultrasound probe inside the veins. Venous stenting may be very effective when symptoms are uncontrollable by other measures. Chronic pelvic pain is common in women; many may be suffering from PCS, pelvic congestion syndrome, due to distended varicose veins in the pelvis with standing or sitting and occurring during or after intercourse. Venography with coil embolization and sclerotherapy of the varicose veins can be very successful. Vein Specialists of the Carolinas is proud that all of these groundbreaking technologies and treatments are available in its new AAAHC Accredited Office-Based Surgical Center and IAC Accredited Venous Ultrasound Lab. Draughn says, “I’m so excited about this new frontier. All I do is veins, all day, every day.”
Peter Ford, MD, at Vascular Solutions PC, is pleased to announce new modalities of care are available for patients with leg vein problems. As of January 1, Medicare (and most commercial insurance companies) began covering the VenaSeal closure system (CPT #36482), a new, minimally-invasive, FDA-approved method to treat superficial vein problems in the legs by administering a thin column of medical adhesive along the Ford length of the target vein, which seals the problematic vein. The procedure is done in the office, typically takes 30-60 minutes, is virtually painless and allows immediate return to work and sports activities. In addition, Medicare (and many commercial insurance companies) have started covering Varithena (CPT #36465), a new, minimallyinvasive, FDA-approved method in which a specially-formulated microfoam is administered via a micro-catheter into the target vein. This procedure is done in the office, is virtually painless and allows fast recovery. Vascular Solutions PC has been chosen to be a Medtronic Center of Excellence and serves as the regional training site for the new Venaseal closure system.
Nelsa Ciapponi, MD, recently has completed a Functional Medicine program from the Institute for Functional Medicine and is now a certified practitioner. She is in a new office at 11220 Elm Lane in the Ballantyne area and is accepting new patients. Visit www.optimalhealthmed.com for more information.
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is proud to be the presenting sponsor, along with Novant Health, for the Colon Cancer Coalition’s Get Your Rear in Gear 5K. The event on Saturday, March 3 at Independence Park will raise funds to provide life-saving screenings for those in the local community who may not be able to afford them. Get Your Rear in Gear kicks off Charlotte Gastro’s recognition of colon cancer awareness month in March. March also is National Nutrition Month. Charlotte Gastro offers nutritional counseling at the Mooresville, Huntersville, Ballantyne and
Flagship Healthcare Properties............................................................ 13
16 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Advertising Acknowledgements The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.
Atrium Health.........................................................................................19 Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center......................................................18 Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates..........................................4 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates.......................................4 Charlotte Radiology.................................................................................3
LabCorp..................................................................................Back Cover Novant Health...........................................................................................2 Oncology Specialists of Charlotte....................................................... 17 Parsec Financial........................................................................................3
Chemotherapy may destroy your cancer but it doesn’t have to destroy your hair
We are the only oncology group in the Charlotte region to offer DigniCap®
New Clinical Trials Head & Neck Randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 Study of Avelumab in Combination with Standard of Care Chemoradiotherapy (Cisplatin Plus Definitive Radiation Therapy) Versus Standard of Care Chemoradiotherapy in the Front-line Treatment of Patients with Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Metastatic Breast Double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial of Seribantumab Plus Fulvestrant in Postmenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive, Heregulin Positive (HRG+), HER2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Whose Disease Progressed After Prior Systemic Therapy
Justin Favaro MD PhD • Jason Shultz MD • Catherine Moore MD • Dipika Misra MD
704-342-1900
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For patient enrollment: email lauren.jordan@djlresearch.com or call 704-247-9179, ext. 202
Randolph Road & Pineville-Matthews Road
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OncologyCharlotte.com
Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 17
Our region will need over 175,000 health care jobs over the next 10 years* and you can help students get a head start! Sign up to provide internship opportunities through the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program! Contact Sophia Davis at scdavis@charlottenc.gov or visit charlottenc.gov/myep for more information. *Source: CharlotteWorks.com
help shape the of health care
Ah...Ah...Ah...SPRING!
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. WE CAN HELP YOUR PATIENTS BREAK THE SEASONAL ALLERGY CYCLE. If you have patients who suffer from seasonal allergies year after year, it’s tempting for them to try over-the-counter remedies that may help ease their symptoms, but can leave them groggy or drowsy. Our board-certified allergists can test to discover exactly what your patients are allergic to, create a customized treatment plan that over time can lessen the severity of symptoms, and, in many cases, cure their allergies altogether! Call 704.372.7900 today to refer your patients to any of our 12 convenient office locations.
breathe » live » thrive | www.carolinaasthma.com
18 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
A PLACE…
filled with light
where each and every heartbeat begins
A GATHERING GROUND…
Where diverse thinkers come together And connections are made
AN AMBITION…
Working with partners to build something new To better more lives
Bringing health, hope and healing
FOR ALL
Carolinas HealthCare System is Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2018 | 19
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. Founders of: Bioethics Resource Group, Ltd., Hospitality House of Charlotte, Teen Health Connection, N.C. MedAssist, Physicians Reach Out
LabCorp Laboratory Corporation of America
PATIENT SERVICE CENTERS
Ballantyne Billingsley** Carmel** Cabarrus Charlotte Charlotte** Gastonia Stat Lab Huntersville Huntersville** Lake Norman Matthews Northridge* Pineville Rock Hill Salisbury** Shelby Statesville** University**
… for all of your laboratory testing needs
15830 John Delaney Drive 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 200A 5633 Blakeney Park Drive, Suite 100 478 Copperfield Blvd. 8401 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 140 1718 E. 4th Street 660 Summitt Crossing, Suite 206 16525 Holly Crest Lane, Suite 250 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 809 N. Lafayette Street 1710-A Davie Avenue 10320 Mallard Creek Road
*Drug Screens only **Blood Draws only
20 | March 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Concord, NC Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC Gastonia, NC Huntersville, NC Huntersville, NC Mooresville, NC Matthews, NC Charlotte, NC Pineville, NC Rock Hill, SC Salisbury, NC Shelby, NC Statesville, NC Charlotte, NC
704-540-0251 704-332-6904 704-542-7061 704-795-2710 704-372-6609 704-372-6609 704-854-9497 704-948-8101 704-875-9130 704-799-6230 704-849-0154 704-598-6266 704-341-1145 803-328-1724 704-637-1676 704-480-7004 704-878-0948 704-549-8647