Mecklenburg Medicine March 2017 by Wade Baker

March 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Vol. 47, No. 3

Mecklenburg Medicine A Publication of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society | www.meckmed.org

We Love Our Doctors! Happy Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day on March 30.

Mecklenburg County Medical Society facebook.com/meckmed

Mecklenburg County Medical Society Foundation @meckmedsociety

@meckcountymedsociety

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March 2017 Vol. 47 No. 3

Table of Contents 5 President’s Letter: Brave New World

OFFICERS President Stephen J. Ezzo, MD

By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD, President, MCMS

6 Feature: 20 Years Later, Procedure Developed By Charlotte Neurosurgeon Still Helping Patients Recover More Quickly 8 Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment (MMAE) 8 Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings for March 8 National Health & Wellness Observances for March 10 Feature: MCMS Annual Meeting 13 Member News 13 New Members 13 Upcoming Meetings & Events 14 At the Hospitals 16 Independent Physicians of the Carolinas 16 Advertising Acknowledgements 17 MedLink 5th Annual Community Forum: Reducing Unnecessary ER Visits

President-Elect Scott L. Furney, MD Treasurer Elizabeth B. Moran, MD Secretary Robert L. Mittl, Jr., MD Immediate Past-President Simon V. Ward III, MD

BOARD MEMBERS John R. Allbert, MD Maureen L. Beurskens, MD Raymond E. Brown, PA May N. Doan, MD Donald D. Fraser, MD W. Frank Ingram III, MD Stephen R. Keener, MD, MPH Shivani P. Mehta, MD, MPH Babak Mokari, DO B. Lauren Paton, MD Rachel L. Storey, MD Andrew I. Sumich, MD

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Tracei Ball, MD, President-Elect Charlotte Medical Dental & Pharmaceutical Society Sandi D. Buchanan, Executive Director Mecklenburg County Medical Society Karen Chandler, President Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment Docia E. Hickey, MD NCMS Past President Darlyne Menscer, MD NCMS Delegate to the AMA Marcus G. Plescia, MD, Health Director Mecklenburg County Health Department Douglas R. Swanson, MD, FACEP, Medical Director Mecklenburg EMS Agency

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Executive Director Sandi D. Buchanan Finance & Membership Coordinator Stephanie D. Smith Meetings & Special Events Coordinator Jenny H. Otto

MECKLENBURG MEDICINE STAFF

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. Non-members may subscribe to Mecklenburg Medicine at a cost of $30 per year, or $3.50 per issue, if extra copies are available. 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.

Editor Stephen J. Ezzo, MD Managing Editor Sandi D. Buchanan Copy Editors Lee McCracken Stephanie Smith Advertising Mark Ethridge mecklenburgmedicine@gmail.com Editorial Board N. Neil Howell, MD Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD Graphic Design — Wade Baker

Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2017 | 3

PA RT N E R S

THE

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4 | March 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ Mecklenburg Medicine

President’s Letter

Brave New World By Stephen J. Ezzo, MD

et me tell you about my mother. Ninety-three years young, daughter of Italian immigrants, she experienced the two greatest upheavals of the 20th century – the Great Depression and World War II. There was no money for college and as a result she and dad (my Pops, 91, is a retired cardiologist who received his education thanks to the GI Bill after serving in the Army in the WWII European theater) made sure their six children had access to whatever higher education they desired. As a result there are college and graduate degrees everywhere you look. She has thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren (for now). I like to think when my grandparents came through Ellis Island, even with all the newness and uncertainty they faced, this was part of their plan. Now let me tell you another aspect of my mom. She possessed a 93 year old aortic valve that was stiff, covered in calcium, and barely opened, leaving her with episodes of chest pain, shortness of breath, and near fainting. When she could barely make it from one room to the next without resting, something had to be done. So in late 2016 she underwent a TAVR - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. The procedure went even better than hoped for and she was home in two days (Of course it did. As she told my sister and me as they were taking her back, “Don’t worry. You’re not getting rid of me yet.”). She is now in outpatient cardiac rehab, her follow-up echos and EKGs are normal, she is driving again, and tells everyone she cannot remember the last time she felt this good. I hear the timbre and strength in her voice increasing each time I speak with her. When everything had settled, and my heart rate, chest pain and cortisol levels had decreased to manageable levels, I had the time to reflect on what an amazing event had just occurred. Not just that a 93 year old woman had her aortic valve replaced and went home in two days – that was incredible (as was the fact her preprocedure heart catheterization and carotid ultrasounds were clean, which means she probably has better arteries than I do). But just as much so as they were able to replace a valve in her heart through a puncture wound in her leg. I first heard about TAVR around four years ago during a presentation to several physicians. About half way through you could see everyone thinking, “Wait. Did he just say they could replace the aortic valve with a new valve folded on to the end of catheter? Really?” I am sure my jaw was rather slack when the lecture finished. Little did I know how intimate I would become with the procedure. I am reminded once again of the incredible complexities of the human body, and the near-miraculous advancements we make in our quest to treat patients. My mother was not a candidate for open-heart surgery, nor did we want her to undergo this. If this had occurred just four years ago she would have had no treatment options other than drug therapy, which would have been merely a form of comfort

measures. As I told mom, “You lived long enough for the technology to catch up with you.” We are all so busy trying to provide the best care we can for our patients that sometimes we fail to see the advancements that take place every day in medicine, not only in our specialty but in others. As part of the editorial board of this bulletin, I read monthly the achievements of our colleagues at Novant Health, Carolinas Healthcare System, and the Independent Physicians. Take a moment to read in this magazine what is going on around you – not until you have finished this of course – we are as cutting edge in many areas as any place. How reassuring to have so many expert colleagues to offer our patients when they are in need. I tell my patients who are considering the medical profession there are two things that will accompany them their entire careers – the intellectual stimulation/challenge and the exponential growth of knowledge, on a scale unmatched. I realize that this statement reflects my typical naïve, myopic view – “A man’s got to know his limitations”1 – and I am sure other professions have similar qualities, but we have the honor and privilege to partner with the greatest achievement that God and evolution have designed. We went into medicine not only because we wanted to help our fellow man, but also because we are life-long learners. Good thing too, as the new information never stops coming. We marvel not only at this, but at cases we see for the first time regardless of how long we have been in practice. Stay abreast, and at times keep tabs on what is going on outside your discipline. You never know how close it may hit to home. (Note: A big shout out here to Dr. Gary Niess, who assured me this was the right thing for my mom, and Dr. Yele Aluko, who walked me through the procedure step-by-step, reviewed the data, and provided me with all the right questions to ask. Gentlemen, you were a harbor during the storm.) 1

Inspector Harry Callahan, “Magnum Force”

“Oh, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in ‘t!” Miranda, “The Tempest” William Shakespeare — William Shakespeare

Trivia question: What is the earliest known depiction of a circumcision? Answer on page 13.

Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2017 | 5

Feature

20 Years Later, Spine Procedure Developed By Charlotte Neurosurgeon Still Helping Patients Recover More Quickly In 1997, local neurosurgeon Tim Adamson, MD, developed cervical microendoscopic discectomy (MED), an outpatient procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve caused by a herniated cervical disc. As the 20th anniversary of this achievement approaches, we congratulate this medical society member on his accomplishment and asked Dr. Adamson to reflect on the origin of the procedure and the future of neurosurgery. His responses are below.

y first exposure to the concept of minimally invasive surgery, or microsurgery, was during my neurosurgery fellowship with Gazi Yasargil, MD, in Switzerland. It was an incredible opportunity to learn from the Michael Jordan of neurosurgery. He is a true innovator and was even named Neurosurgeon of The Century in 2000. Dr. Yasargil wanted to improve outcomes and reduce the trauma that patients had to endure during and after neurosurgical procedures. His primary area of focus was related to brain procedures, but once I began practicing neurosurgery here in Charlotte, I realized these same principles could be applied to spine surgery, as well. Today, the term “minimally invasive” is a buzzword among patients and within the medical community. The idea of surgery with a small incision and short recovery time is very common now, but in the 1990s, it was just becoming a hot topic. In 1997, Kevin Foley, MD, and Maurice Smith, MD, in Memphis developed the lumbar microendoscopic discectomy (MED) procedure. We saw the benefits of lumbar MED for our patients here at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and began using the technique. After learning the lumbar procedure, I thought it was a natural fit to develop a similar type of technique for the cervical spine. Traditionally, cervical spine disease was treated using techniques that originated in the 1950s and required cutting muscles in the neck. As a result of significant muscle disturbance, procedure recovery took several weeks and patients experienced significant postoperative pain. I knew that a new minimally invasive option could make a real difference for these patients in terms of both recovery time and pain reduction. I consulted with the two surgeons who created the original lumbar procedure and explained my idea. They wished me well but did not think the lumbar technique could be adapted for the cervical spine disorders. After about three months of intense focus and exploring options, I learned that we could create great results for patients using cervical MED. This meant neurosurgeons now could treat a very painful and potentially dangerous condition in the neck much more easily and quickly with an outpatient procedure. Unlike traditional surgery, the cervical MED procedure only requires a half-inch incision. Instead of cutting through muscle, a tubular retractor system is used to separate muscles in order to access

6 | March 2017 • Mecklenburg Medicine

the damaged cervical spine. An endoscope then is inserted into the tube to visualize the anatomy, allowing us to safely remove damaged material and decompress the spine. Over the past two decades, cervical MED has proven to be a highly effective treatment for cervical radiculopathy, especially for physically active patients. It routinely is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients usually are discharged the same day as surgery and can return to a light normal routine after three to five days of limited activity. The procedure has been successful enough to gain attention around the world. Surgeons from other states and countries routinely come and train with us to learn the cervical MED technique. I expect minimally invasive surgery will continue to play a larger role in spine surgery over the next decade. At Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, my colleague Dom Coric, MD, and I are working on a new minimally invasive technique for cervical fusion that hopefully will be in clinical trials in April. Our practice and other doctors around the world will continue to push the boundaries of neurosurgery to provide better outcomes for patients. Twenty years have gone by very quickly. But, as I look back to the time when we pioneered cervical MED right here in Charlotte, I was just doing then what all of us in the medical field hope to do every day — build upon the advancements that came before us, add our own insight and, hopefully, serve as a catalyst to create new innovations to help patients in the future. Tim Adamson, MD, is a neurosurgeon with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. He is the medical director of Carolina Center for Specialty Surgery and an independent neurological consultant for the NFL. To see a video with Dr. Adamson discussing cervical MED, visit: CNSA. com/MED. To learn more, call Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates at 704-376-1605.

Tim Adamson, MD

s n â&#x20AC;Ś o i t a l u t a r g C on

olina Society of Gastroenterology for a successful conference! r a C h t r o N to the

CME and MOC credits were awarded to more than 230 attendees.

Mecklenburg Medicine â&#x20AC;˘ March 2017 | 7

MMAE

Mecklenburg Medical Alliance & Endowment Planned Giving Making MMAE part of your legacy through planned giving helps ensure MMAE’s mission of making our community healthier continues for many years to come. A planned gift is one that originates during your lifetime and becomes available to MMAE after your death (or some other later event).

Types of Planned Gifts

Charlotte AHEC Course Offerings Charlotte AHEC is part of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and Carolinas HealthCare System.

MARCH 2017

Bequest A gift from your will or trust is the simplest way to remember MMAE. Work with your attorney to prepare a simple, inexpensive codicil to your will. The bequest can specify a gift of cash or securities and may reduce your estate tax liability. Retirement Plan Assets Retirement plan assets often are considered an attractive option for making a planned gift because they can be subject to income and estate taxes at death. To make a charitable gift of retirement assets, simply complete a new beneficiary designation form naming MMAE as a percentage beneficiary. Life Insurance Policies You may use one or more whole life insurance policies to make a future gift to MMAE. To do so, name MMAE as a percentage beneficiary of a new or existing policy, or simply transfer ownership.

Save the Date!

Continuing Medical Education (CME) 3/1 3/3 3/15-17 3/16-18 3/31 3/31 Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Online Online Online Online Online Online Online Online

PeraHealth Webinar Series: Patient Safety 7th Annual Carolinas Clinical Sleep Symposium 41st Annual Internal Medicine Conference Spring Cactus Cancer Conference Whole Person Integrated Care Summit Schwartz Center Facilitation Workshop Communication in Health Care: 4 hr, Basic Communication Course Communication in Health Care: Train the Trainer Course University of Colorado: Excellence in Communication Protecting Your Patients From Air Pollution DOT Medical Examiners Course 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 For more information or to register for these courses, call 704-512-6523 or visit www.charlotteahec.org.

NC MedAssist Executive Luncheon Presented by

Tuesday, April 25 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center For more information, visit www.medassist.org.

8 | March 2017 • Mecklenburg Medicine

NATIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OBSERVANCES MARCH 2017 American Red Cross Month n Brain Injury Awareness Month n Colorectal Awareness Month n Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month n Eye Donor Month n Hemophilia Month n Kidney Month n Nutrition Month n Save Your Vision Month n Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month March 1–6: Aplastic Anemia and MDS Week March 5–11: Sleep Awareness Week March 6–10: School Breakfast Week March 12–18: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week March 15: Kick Butts Day (Smoking) March 19–25: Poison Prevention Week March 20: Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 22: World Water Day March 28: American Diabetes Alert Day

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Helping Your Patients Breathe, Live And Thrive. Serving the Charlotte area since 1952, we are the area’s largest asthma and allergy practice made up entirely of physicians who are board certified in allergy, asthma and immunology. We deliver patient-focused care to all ages and are committed to educating patients and caregivers, improving quality of life, and maintaining our own high standard of expertise and care. Areas of specialty include environmental allergy, food allergy, drug allergy, insect allergy and asthma.

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Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2017 | 9

MCMS Annual

A wonderful evening was had by all who attended in January. The event featu

10 | March 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Mecklenburg Medicine

l Meeting 2017

atured Francine Mary Netter (daughter of Frank H. Netter, MD) as speaker.

Mecklenburg Medicine â&#x20AC;˘ March 2017 | 11

We provide minimally invasive treatments for the following conditions: - Liver, Renal and Lung Cancers - Compression Fractures - Deep Vein Thrombosis - Pelvic Congestion Syndrome - Peripheral Arterial Disease - Stroke - Uterine Fibroids - Varicoceles

IRMDCharlotte.com 12 | March 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Mecklenburg Medicine

Member News

Upcoming Meetings & Events

In Memoriam Our medical community lost the following MCMS members in 2016:

TIM E. COOPER, MD R. GORDON CRANDALL, MD JOSEPH LEE GARVEY, JR., MD DONALD E. HAMMER, MD RICHARD T. JAMES, MD

ANGUS M. MCBRYDE, JR., MD GRADY E. PRICE, MD C. ROBERT RUPPENTHAL, JR., MD FRED E. WISE, JR., MD JAMES A. YOUNT, MD

NEW MEMBERS Jennifer E. Mixter, PA-C Mid-Atlantic Emergency Medical Associates 1900 Randolph Road #900 Charlotte, NC 28230 704-377-2424 George Washington University, 2013 Niravkumar A. Naik, MD Hematology/Oncology Oncology Specialists of Charlotte 2711 Randolph Road #100 Charlotte, NC 28207 704-342-1900 St. Georges University, 2005

Ronald H. Peeler, MD Emergency Medicine Semi-Retired Bowman Gray University, 1981

MARCH

Upcoming Meetings n

David L. Walrath, MD General Surgery, Other Charlotte Radiology 1705 East Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28203 704-334-7800 University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey, 1970

Save the Date! MCMS Emeritus Members

Tuesday, March 14 MedLink meeting. Mecklenburg County Health Department. 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 15 MMAE Board meeting. 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16 CAMGMA meeting. Myers Park Baptist Church Cornwell Center. Noon. Friday, March 17 Child Health Committee meeting. 7:30 a.m. Monday, March 20 Executive Committee meeting. 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 May magazine deadline. Monday, March 27 MCMS Board meeting. 5:15 p.m.

Upcoming Events Meetings are at the MCMS office unless otherwise noted.

David G. Welton, MD, Society Spring Luncheon

Wednesday, March 15 n 11:30 a.m. Charlotte Country Club

2465 Mecklenburg Avenue

Speaker: Samuel Peretsman, MD Topic: HIFU for Prostate Cancer RSVP to Jenny Otto at jotto@meckmed.org or call 704-376-3688.

Tuesday, March 14 MedLink Forum. Speaker: Anita Schambach. Topic: Reducing Unnecessary ER Visits. Project 658, 3646 Central Ave. Noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 David G. Welton, MD, Society Spring Luncheon. Speaker: Samuel Peretsman, MD. Topic: HIFU for Prostate Cancer. Charlotte Country Club. 11:30 a.m. Trivia answer from page 5: An Egyptian bas-relief that dates from around 2400 B.C. shows the procedure, with the inscription, “Hold him and do not allow him to faint.” Good luck with that.

Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2017 | 13

At the Hospitals

Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Recognized As ‘Baby-Friendly’ Novant Health Matthews Medical Center has received international recognition as a “BabyFriendly” designated birth facility. Matthews Medical Center is one of 10 hospitals to be designated in North Carolina. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), a global initiative of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was launched in 1991. The initiative’s goal is to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies through breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin bonding by recognizing birthing facilities that successfully implement the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. As a “Baby-Friendly” hospital, Matthews Medical Center is staffed with lactation consultants, who assist mothers in gaining the skills and confidence they need to breastfeed once the baby arrives. Other important practices include encouraging skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns and rooming in — allowing the baby to stay in the mother’s room during their time in the hospital. n

Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center Awarded Certificate of Distinction from The Joint Commission Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center has been awarded The Joint Commission’s colorectal cancer disease-specific care certification for a two-year period. Huntersville Medical Center is the fourth facility in the United States to receive this certification. “The colorectal cancer-disease specific care certification is a validation of our incredible patient care and the outcomes of our colorectal cancer program,” says Mike Riley, president and chief operating officer, Huntersville Medical Center. “This is the result of a lot of hard work from our team members. This certification improves the quality of patient care by reducing variation in clinical processes and creates a loyal, cohesive clinical team.” The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care certification program evaluates clinical programs across a continuum of care. To become certified, an organization is evaluated during an n

on-site review conducted by a Joint Commission reviewer, who assesses how clinical outcomes and other performance measures are used to identify opportunities to improve care, if the organization’s leaders understand and commit to improving the quality of care for patients in need of the services the program provides, and how patients and their caregivers are educated and prepared for discharge. Novant Health Grows Cancer Navigator Team in Honor of Bob Mayberry The Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center successfully has raised the money to fund a new Novant Health cancer navigator position in memory of Bob Mayberry, who was well-known in the community for his car dealerships and his kind spirit before he passed away from Alesia Brown, RN, BSN, pancreatic cancer in 2012. Alesia OCN Brown, RN, BSN, OCN, has been selected to fill the Mayberry navigator position with Novant Health Cancer Care. Brown, an oncology certified nurse (OCN), has been with Novant Health since 2001, most recently working as a nurse manager at Hematology/Oncology Inpatient and Harris Hospice. She graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration from East Carolina University. She joins a team of seven nurse navigators already in place in Charlotte, Huntersville and Matthews. According to Barbara LiPira, director, Novant Health Cancer Care, the new Mayberry navigator fund is a tremendous blessing. “The navigator plays a pivotal role in the patient journey. By raising more dollars to support more navigators, we’re able to connect more patients with the higher level of care they deserve.” “Our foundation was thrilled to be a part of an effort that allowed us to provide a great benefit for our patients while honoring Bob,” says Beth Crigler, senior director, Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center. “Bob had the gift of boundless energy and the wisdom to know what to do with it. He was a lifelong learner and sought to share his own life lessons with others by example. His personal and business successes were matched by his humility, positive spirit and generosity toward others. He always was willing to help someone in need.” n

14 | March 2017 • Mecklenburg Medicine

To connect a patient with a Novant Health cancer nurse navigator, call 704-384-5373. Novant Health Receives Grant to Establish Dental Clinic at Charlotte Community Health Clinic Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center received a $350,000 grant from The Duke Endowment to fund a new dental clinic at the Charlotte Community Health Clinic (CCHC). The dental clinic will be located in the Leon Levine Opportunity Center at the new Goodwill Opportunity Campus on Wilkinson Boulevard. The new clinic will provide services primarily for low-income and other underserved individuals. Opening in 2017, the clinic will provide preventive, restorative and emergency dental services for people who often do not have access to dental care. Construction began in February. “We are grateful to The Duke Endowment for its generous support, which enables Novant Health to further support Charlotte Community Health Clinic,” says Paula Vincent, president and chief operating officer, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center. “Since its founding in 2000, CCHC has played a vital role in caring for the needs of our community, and we are excited to partner with the clinic on the opening of its new dental facility.” CCHC provides low-income and other underserved community residents with medical services, including primary care, dental and behavioral health services, as well as education for pediatric and adult patients. CCHC recently expanded its capacity by partnering with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, which opened its Opportunity Campus in 2016. The campus offers workforce development, education, financial, child care and medical services complementing traditional storefront operations. In addition to The Duke Endowment, the following organizations have invested in the dental clinic: • Health Resources and Services Administration • North Carolina Office of Rural Health • Children’s Medical Fund • Foundation for a Healthy Carolina • Leon Levine Foundation • Wesley Foundation For more information about the Novant Heath Foundation, visit NovantHealth.org/giving. n

At the Hospitals

Levine Cancer Institute Earns Planetree Designation Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) has been named a “Planetree Designated® PatientCentered Organization” making it the only cancer network worldwide to earn Planetree designation, the highest achievement in patient-centered care. In addition to being the first outpatient cancer network to receive the designation, Levine Cancer Institute is the first multi-site center to receive the designation and also the first outpatient network. Because of this, the Institute’s role in defining criteria and benchmarks for other cancer centers and multi-site institutes seeking designation is critically important. More than 20 of the Institute’s sites share the designation. The Planetree Designation is a key award that recognizes excellence in personcenteredness across the continuum of care and is based on evidence and standards within the healthcare industry. There are only 31 healthcare providers in the country and 81 worldwide that have earned Planetree Designation, including CMC-Mercy. To achieve designation, LCI has undergone rigorous site visits by a team of Planetree representatives, which included focus groups with recent LCI patients, families and current staff. More than 50 specific criteria address components of a patient-centered healthcare experience, including patient-provider interactions, access to information, family involvement, the physical environment, food and nutrition, spirituality, arts and entertainment, and integrative therapies. In addition, the criteria focus on how the organization is supporting its staff, opportunities for staff, patients, and families to have a voice in the way care is delivered, and the ways that the organization is reaching beyond its walls to care for its community. Levine Cancer Institute is one of the nation’s leading and most innovative oncology institutes, providing a full spectrum of cancer care, breakthrough treatments, n

and survivorship programs throughout North and South Carolina across more than 25 locations. The Institute’s cancer care delivery model and focus on population health gives patients increased access to care, while improving overall quality of life. The Institute has established standardized clinical pathways treatment guidelines that ensure treatment is consistent for all patients. Advanced technology enables physicians at various locations to collaborate and share best practices. Study to Examine Male Infertility Treatment A study dedicated to helping couples who struggle with unexplained infertility is now open and enrolling patients at Carolinas HealthCare System’s CMC Women’s Institute. Most studies related to infertility traditionally have focused on the role of the woman and have evaluated interventions for women. This is one of the largest trials looking at the male partner — and it potentially can offer a simple, effective way to treat infertility. The study will determine if antioxidants can improve the quality and motility of sperm and help couples conceive. Under the direction of Rebecca S. Usadi, MD, associate director, Reproductive Endocrinology, the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) Trial will examine if infertile males who are given a twice daily dose of antioxidants in pill form will boost their fertility. The hope is that the antioxidants will improve sperm structure and function, resulting in higher fertilization rates and improved embryo development. The study also is looking to see if the antioxidants can improve the quality of the sperm’s DNA, which would allow for couples with male infertility to use less intensive therapies to achieve conception. This trial will cover the cost of three clomiphene and intrauterine insemination cycles for qualifying couples. The CMC Women’s Institute is one of eight sites across the country participating in the national trial and the only place in Charlotte to offer this opportunity to patients. The trial is led by the NIH Reproductive Medicine Network and is expected to last two to three years. Approximately one in eight couples experience infertility. In 40-50 n

percent of those couples, infertility is related to sperm quality. For more information on the MOXI trail, contact Kathy Ramsey, RN, BSN, CCRC, clinical research nurse, Carolinas Medical Center, 704-355-2949, kathleen.ramsey@carolinashealthcare.org. Rissmiller Named Chief Physician Executive Scott Rissmiller, MD, has been named deputy chief physician executive for Carolinas HealthCare System. In his new role, Dr. Rissmiller will oversee the surgical care division, primary care division, adult acute care Scott Rissmiller, MD division and the behavioral health service line. Most recently, Rissmiller has overseen the adult acute care division, where he helped bring together 13 disparate specialties and created a culture of collaboration around improving quality and experience for patients. Under his leadership, the adult acute care division achieved nationally-leading quality performance measures across all specialties. The division also successfully integrated innovative care delivery models, such as virtual care, around patient and system goals. n

Draper Named SHVI Vice President Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute (SHVI) has named Tom Draper, MBA, vice president of hospital operations. He is responsible for all operational excellence aspects of adult and pediatric invasive Tom Draper, MBA cardiology procedures, cardiac and vascular surgical services, cardiac imaging services, heart failure clinics, cardiac rehabilitation and clinical research. Draper will partner with Paul Colavita, MD, Scott Moroney, several SHVI medical directors and physicians, and facility executives to execute the SHVI cardiac strategy for Carolinas HealthCare System. He previously served as assistant vice president for SHVI surgical services for four years. He has demonstrated leadership in team building, programmatic growth and clinical optimization, while developing strong physician relationships and building trust. n

Mecklenburg Medicine • March 2017 | 15

Independent Physicians of the Carolinas

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. Carolina Family Healthcare welcomes Jeff Seegers, PA-C. Seegers recently earned his master’s degree from Wingate University. He also has a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and has done graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has been working in various roles in health care for the past seven years and is an active volunteer within the medical community. Seegers has been at Carolina Family Healthcare, working with Dino Kanelos, Jeff Seegers, PA-C MD, and Chris Jenny since January. Please stop by the office to meet him. For patients on the autistic spectrum, care will be transitioned to Kristen Spratt, FNP. If you need additional information about Kristen or this change, call the office at 704-847-4000. Join Oncology Specialists of Charlotte (OSC), Jim Boyd, MD, Justin Favaro, MD, Dipika Misra, MD, Catherine Moore, MD, Jason Shultz, MD, Nirav Naik, MD, and their team of nurses and administrators to support colon cancer in our community. OSC is once again the Survivors Tent sponsor at the annual “Get Your Rear In Gear” 5K on Saturday, March 4, 8 a.m., at Independence Park. Funds raised will benefit the Colon Cancer Coalition and are designated for people in our area to help in prevention, early detection and treatment for colon cancer. OSC’s colon cancer ambassador, Joe Miller, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in November 2015 at the age of 39. Today, he is kicking colon cancer right in the behind! Miller continues to work a full-time travel career and spend time with his three small children and wife. Show support by registering on their team or donating online through www.GetYourRearInGear.com. Find the Charlotte event button followed by “Join an existing team;” Joe Miller’s team is called “It’s Miller Time!” Cancer Patient Support Group, peer-to-peer structure, meets every Wednesday, 6 p.m., at Oncology Specialists of Charlotte, 2711 Randolph Road, Suite 100. The meeting is open to all patients with a cancer diagnosis, from any facility. Patients’ family, friends and caregivers are encouraged to attend. No matter where a cancer patient may be on his or her journey, from recently diagnosed to survivorship, all are welcome to share, support and console. To attend, or for more information, contact nurse manager Valarie at 704-342-1900, ext. 2168.

16 | March 2017 • Mecklenburg Medicine

Dr. Nirav Naik, oncologist, and Valarie, the support group coordinator with Oncology Specialist of Charlotte, offer compassionate support to patients.

Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology (CGH) Mooresville providers are seeing patients in a new building. This 16,500- square-foot facility will accommodate Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology’s five lake physicians, two physician assistants, the medical office and endoscopy center. CGH Mooresville is located across from Lake Norman Regional Medical in Fairview Center. The new address is 115 Commerce Point Blvd., Mooresville, NC, 28117. March is colon cancer awareness month. Staff members will be wearing blue each Friday throughout the month to help enhance awareness of this disease, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women. To help improve that statistic, CGH, with Novant Health, is honored to be a presenting sponsor of “Get Your Rear In Gear.” Team CGH is looking forward to keeping the tradition of being one of the largest corporate teams and top corporate fundraisers. Funds raised from the event will stay in the community and provide life-saving screenings for individuals who otherwise may not be able to afford them.

Advertising Acknowledgements The following patrons made Mecklenburg Medicine possible.

Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center......................................9 Carolinas HealthCare System.............................................19 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates...................18 Charlotte Radiology........................................................ 4, 12 Flagship Healthcare Properties.............................................9 LabCorp................................................................ Back Cover Memory Center Charlotte......................................................4 Metrolina Pain and Dependency Clinic.............................18 Novant Health.........................................................................2 Oncology Specialists of Charlotte......................................18

5th Annual Community Forum:

Reducing Unnecessary ER Visits Join us as we discuss the reduction of unnecessary ER visits and how we can better serve people seeking care in emergency rooms for non-emergency issues. Hear from teams that have implemented successful ER diversion programs.

AGENDA Noon-12:30 Registration & Lunch 12:30-12:40 Welcome 12:40-1:00 State of Access to Care 1:00-2:00

Keynote Speaker

2:00-2:15 Q&A

Tuesday, March 14 Noon-4 p.m.

Project 658 3646 Central Ave. Charlotte, NC 28205

2:15-2:30 Break 2:30-3:45

Panel Discussion

3:45-4:00

Closing Remarks

FREE REGISTRATION

Keynote Speaker:

Anita Schambach Community Care Partners of Greater Mecklenburg