WellStar Kennestone Hospital APPs Volunteer for Houses for Heroes

A group of WellStar Kennestone Hospital APPs volunteered their time off by participating in a Habitat for Humanity build project. The project is part of the Houses for Heroes project that provides homes and assistance for members of our United States military. The group raised over $8000 to support the project.

Nineteen Kennestone volunteers participated in the build and completed tasks such as landscaping – manicured trees and shrubs, planted new trees and flowers, as well as placing the new mailbox and preparing the yard for new sod. Inside the house, the team helped with paint touch-up and a thorough cleaning before residents move in.

Team member volunteers included Lindsay Logan, Bethany Bixler Quinn, Cara Gurney, Charmaine Faucher, Deleen Bode, Andrea Huffman, Nina Siu, Damon Denzin, Sheri Behrman, Margie Nguyen, Mona Shums, plus many spouses, children and family members.

Tax Deduction Available for Physicians Who Teach Georgia Students

In an effort to increase the number of clinical sites available to serve the increasing numbers of students in Georgia’s Medical, Nursing and Physician Assistant (PA) schools, the Georgia Legislature has approved a tax deduction that will be available to physicians who serve as preceptors for Medical Students, Nurse Practitioner Students and PA Students. 

The program begins July 1. The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) will administer the program and is currently writing the rules. The law provides up to a $1,000 tax deduction per student for every 160 hours of training provided. Preceptors will be required to provide training for a minimum of three students to qualify for the credit. 

There is an upper limit to the tax deduction of $10,000. Physicians can also receive a deduction of $750 for serving as a preceptor for a Nurse Practitioner student or a PA student.  Deductions will be available only for training students who are enrolled in Georgia schools. 

WellStar Library now a source of Elsevier’s Clinical Key

Library Services now offers Elsevier’s Clinical Key resource for all WellStar team members. Clinical Key replaces the very popular MDConsult service that many providers trusted as a source of accurate and timely information. 

Clinical Key draws from the largest collection of clinical resources covering every medical and surgical specialty. Users can obtain CME credits for searches. Clinical Key can be accessed from the Library page on eSource, and remote access is available from smart phones or iPads. 

To set up remote access, contact Shannon Glover in the Library at Shannon.Glover@wellstar.org.  Look for Clinical Key representatives at your hospital in early June to help you become familiar with their services. 

Top 10 MyChart Activation Providers

This chart highlights the top 10 providers that have the highest MyChart activation rates. MyChart activation is important as it directly correlates to several of the Meaningful Use objectives. Increased activation rates leads to increased patient usage of MyChart.

For Meaningful Use, providers are relying on patients to send them secure, clinically relevant messages through MyChart. Providers with higher activation rates are performing well on the Patient Send Secure Messages objective for Meaningful Use.

Feb-Apr 2014 MyChart Activation Rates

New Providers

Arpita Srivastava, M.D.
Dr. Srivastava received her medical degree from Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in Dehradun, India. After moving to the United States, she completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Srivastava is currently in practice with WellStar Kennestone Hospital as a hospitalist.

Christopher Horn, M.D.
Dr. Horn received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. and his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. He completed his internal medicine internship and neurology residency at Case Western Reserve University – University Hospitals of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio.

Certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, he is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Society of Critical Care Medicine and Neurocritical Care Society. Dr. Horn is currently in practice as a WellStar Intensivist.

Princeton Lakes Internal Medicine Joins WMG

May 2014 CME Events

Kennestone Surgical M&M: May 28; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camelia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cobb Surgical M&M: May 22; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Trauma Grand Rounds – Kennestone: May 29; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: May 19, 26; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: May 14, 21, 28; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: May 14, 28; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: May 14, 21, 28; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: May 15, 22, 29; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital

GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: May 15, 22, 29; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Anesthesia M&M: May 21; 7 a.m.; Anesthesia Conf. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

 
Making CME More Convenient for Providers
The Physician Education Program at WellStar strives to meet the continuing education needs of all providers.  We want to be sure you know that there are many online CME opportunities available. Please do not hesitate to call (770-22-MYCME (69263)) and let us help you with your CME needs.

American College of Physicians Honors Bob Lubitz, M.D., with Mastership

The American College of Physicians recently honored Bob Lubitz, M.D., vice president of medical affairs for WellStar Kennestone Hospital, with advancement to Mastership during its annual Convocation ceremony in Orlando, Fla.

Election to ACP Mastership recognizes outstanding and extraordinary career accomplishments. Dr. Lubitz was recognized for his leadership in health care delivery and his impact nationally on issues related to health care access, quality of care and patient safety.

Dr. Lubitz joined WellStar in Oct. 2012 and has spent much of the past 15 years developing innovative education and research programs across multiple hospitals, including graduate medical and nursing education programs that stressed inter-professional teamwork and safety training. He also played a key role in formation of the Marian University (Indiana) College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has mentored more than 3000 medical students, resident physicians and health care leaders.

Richard W. Cohen, M.D. Receives 2014 Hero in Healthcare Ethics Award

Richard W. Cohen, M.D. has received a 2014 Hero in Healthcare Ethics Award for the Healthcare Ethics Consortium.

The Heroes in Healthcare Ethics award recognizes an individual or group for exemplary achievements in the field of healthcare ethics fostering a culture of ethics within the healthcare organizations and/or communities.

Dr. Cohen is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.  He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his orthopedic residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Over the last 30 years, Dr. Cohen has served as the medical director of the WellStar Health System Ethics Program.  He is also the chair of the Board of Georgia Health Decisions and facilitator for the Georgia POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Collaborative.
Dr. Cohen was honored on March 20 at the Healthcare Ethics Consortium’s 20th Annual Conference, Embracing Change: Balancing Innovation and Our Humanity.  Dr. Cohen was one of two recipients of the award.  2014 is the 11th year the award has been given.

Two WellStar Medical Group Practices Become NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Two WellStar Medical Group (WMG) practices are now certified as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) by NCQA, a milestone achievement for the WellStar Medical Group. Internal Medicine Associates of Marietta became the first of six pilot practices to be awarded recognition as a Level 3 PCMH in January by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which is the highest level of distinction. In addition, Family Medicine at East Cobb was awarded NCQA recognition as a Level 2 PCMH.

Other pilot practices in the process of obtaining NCQA recognition include:

• Acworth Family Practice & Internal Medicine
• West Cobb Medical Center
• East Paulding Primary Care Center
• Douglasville Medical Center

What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?
It is a care model that strengthens the physician-patient relationship by replacing disjointed, episodic care with coordinated care that engages the patient a long-term health-oriented relationship. This model creates an environment where we partner with our patients to help them achieve their health goals. It’s about our care team thinking about our patients and promoting their care even when they are not in the office.  In the right environment, medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patients’ and their providers’ experience of care.

NCQA-Recognition
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.  Physician Practice Connections® (PPC) recognizes practices that use systematic processes and information technology to enhance the quality of patient care.  Practices who meet the Physician Practice Connection standards demonstrate they have established connections to information, patients and other providers that allow them to:

• Know and use patient histories
• Follow up with patients and other providers
• Manage patient populations and use evidence-based care
• Employ electronic tools to prevent medical errors

This recognition was a truly a team effort, and we want to thank all of the physicians and care providers, as well as the practice managers, Jill Darbonne and Connie Robinson, and all of their team members who worked so hard to make this happen.  Our continued efforts and diligence are required to deliver the benefits of a Patient-Centered Medical Home over the long-term. Our hope is that all WellStar Medical Group Primary Care practices will be awarded this NCQA recognition in the future.

Ethics Forum Planned May 7

WellStar Physicians Publish Unusual Case History with Dramatic Imaging Studies

WellStar Kennestone physicians Nitin Mayur, M.D., Rodolfo Bordoni, M.D., Drew Locandro, M.D. and Mark McLaughlin, M.D. published in the March 2014 issue of Endocrine Practice an unusual case of Cushing’s syndrome due to Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone production from an Olfactory Neuroblastoma. The case is the seventh in the world’s literature of Cushing Syndrome produced by ACTH from this rare nasal tumor.

The case report is highlighted by a dramatic MRI image of the tumor as well as immunohistochemical visualization of the tumor cells. The patient presented with markedly elevated ACTH levels that fell to normal after multimodal therapy.   

Life After Go-Live: Testimonials on WellStar Connect

 A new video, “Life After Go-Live” has been posted on wellconnected.wellstar.org. Clips of WellStar Kennestone Hospital team members showcase the efficiency of Epic. Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gSetoG9W5tc

Organ Donation Presentation Planned featuring Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D.

Run for Your Life 5K Planned

Top 10 MyChart Activation Providers

This chart highlights the top 10 providers that have the highest MyChart activation rates. MyChart activation is important as it directly correlates to several of the Meaningful Use objectives. Increased activation rates leads to increased patient usage of MyChart.

For Meaningful Use, providers are relying on patients to send them secure messages that are clinically relevant and this is doing via MyChart. It is seen that providers with higher activation are performing well on the Patient Send Secure Messages objective for Meaningful Use.

CME Available for Faculty Development Series to Begin Mid-May

As Graduate Medical Education plans come together at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, we will see an increasing number of medical students doing clinical rotations that will include some third year students from Georgia Regents University (GRU). A large number of physicians across the System have become approved as clinical faculty at GRU and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Although many WellStar physicians have had teaching experience at academic medical centers, most have not had formal training as instructors.

Faculty from GRU will join with Waldon Garriss, M.D. to present the first in a series of programs that will bring basics of educational theory along with practical tips on instructional techniques. The class with be held on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. in the Kennesaw Mountain Room at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

The program will provide 2.0 hours of CME Credit. The program is open to any physician or APP who is interested in becoming a better teacher. Contact Don Campbell, M.D., senior vice president, Physician Leadership & Student Affiliation, at don.campbell@wellstar.org for further information.

New Providers

Cassandra Treadway, M.D.
Dr. Treadway received her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta and her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga.
Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, she is a member of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Treadway is in practice with WellStar Internal Medicine at Princeton Lakes.

Tawain M. Livingston, M.D.
Dr. Livingston received his bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Georgia Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the Georgia Board of Medical Examiners and the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Livingston is in practice with WellStar Internal Medicine at Princeton Lakes.

Rodrick G. Lawton, M.D.
Dr. Lawton received his bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta and his family medicine internship and residency at The Medical Center in Columbus, Ga.
Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association. Dr. Lawton is currently in practice with WellStar Cobb Hospital Medicine.

April 2014 CME Events

• Kennestone Surgical M&M: April 30, May 28; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camelia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cobb Surgical M&M: April 24, May 22; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Trauma Grand Rounds – Kennestone: April 24, May 29; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: April 21, 28; May 5, 12, 19, 26; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: April 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: April 23, 30; May 7, 14, 28; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: April 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: April 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: April 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Anesthesia M&M: April 16, May 21; 7 a.m.; Anesthesia Conf. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Making CME More Convenient for Providers
The Physician Education Program at WellStar strives to meet the continuing education needs of all providers. We want to be sure you know that there are many online CME opportunities available. Please do not hesitate to call (770-22-MYCME (69263)) and let us help you with your CME needs.

WellStar Connect Training
Providers will be receiving CME credit for the e-Learning modules and classroom time of WellStar Connect Training.  CME credit will be automatically added to each provider’s SuccessFactors Learning transcript.  If you need a CME certificate please contact Jennifer Reagan at jennifer.reagan@wellstar.org.    

WellStar Connect Phase Two - Thrive After Go Live Training