The CVA Medical Foundation held its 7th annual Cardiovascular Update conference on Saturday, February 1st. Cardiologists spoke on a number of topics including inflammation and atherosclerosis; team approaches to reducing readmission; the pharmacology of pulmonary hypertension; and comprehensive solutions to valvular disease.
Approximately 150 physicians and nurses attended the conference.
Peggy Sease has been named vice president, human resources for DCH Health System.
Sease has responsibility for the overall direction and management of the human resources function for the Health System. The position requires daily management of the 52-person Human Resources Division.
Sease was vice president of human resources at Southeast Alabama Medical Center, a nonprofit multihospital system in Dothan where she had responsibility for strategic initiatives for human resources functions. She also worked for University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, where she held the roles of director of human resources and director of education.
Sease received her Master of Education degree from the University of South Carolina, and her Bachelor of Science degree from Winthrop University.
Alabama Health Action Coalition Established to Support the Future of Nursing Report
Alabama is among the growing number of states to create partnerships designed to improve the overall health of citizens. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a historic report, “The Future of Nursing.” The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action was then launched to help move the recommendations forward at national and local levels. Over the last three years, advocates across the country began working to implement the IOM recommendations.
These efforts are being coordinated through the Center to Champion Nursing in America. The establishment of Alabama’s Coalition came through the coordinated efforts of the State of Alabama Association of Colleges of Nursing (SAACN) and the Alabama Organization of Nurse Executives (AlaONE).
The Alabama Health Action Coalition (AL-HAC) accomplishes its work through volunteers and in-kind services. Primary partners of AL-HAC include the nursing community of Alabama, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the Alabama Hospital Association, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and AARP Alabama.
Princeton NAPBC Accreditation
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers has awarded the Breast Care Center at Baptist Princeton Medical Center a full three-year National Breast Center Accreditation.
Care of patients diagnosed with breast cancer continues to evolve rapidly. As diseases of the breast become more complex and treatments more specialized, dedicated centers have been developed to meet this growing need. In 2005, the American College of Surgeons initiated the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers in order to identify breast centers committed to excellence.
In order to apply for recognition, a breast care center must demonstrate seamless cooperation and are required and held accountable by MQSA law (state and FDA) to maintain standards among the varied medical professionals who participate in the care of women with breast cancer.
The Breast Care Center at Princeton holds a weekly conference where Radiologists, Surgeons, Pathologists, Oncologists, Nurses, Physical Therapist , Mammography and Ultrasound Technicians, Social workers and Navigators come together to discuss every patient with a new diagnosis of cancer. This ensures smooth collaboration and the creation of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Pinnacle Credentialing Services Initiates Operations
Pinnacle Credentialing Services, LLC, a Birmingham-based provider information management and credentialing company, started operations on January 1, 2014. The company will provide ongoing management of provider information needed for credentialing and credentialing services for providers on both the provider and facility levels. For more information, contact Sammie Cockrell at sammie@caahms.com or (205) 978-0338.
UAB’s Rimmer awarded best paper of 2013 by AAP
James H. Rimmer, PhD, director of the Lakeshore Foundation/UAB Research Collaborative, has been selected to receive the Association of Academic Physiatrists Excellence in Research Writing Award by the AAP and the editorial board of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The award, which is given annually to the lead author of the best paper published in the journal each year, is for Rimmer’s article titled “Telehealth Weight Management Intervention for Adults with Physical Disabilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”
The article examined the results of Rimmer’s study on the effects of a remote, telephone-based weight management program for people with physical disabilities. The subjects were studied for nine months and used a Web-based telehealth system that he and his team developed referred to as POWERS — Personalized Online Weight and Exercise Response System.
Brookwood Receives AHA Award for Heart Failure Treatment
Brookwood Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The recognition signifies that Brookwood has reached a goal of treating heart failure patients according to the guidelines of care recommended by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology.
Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure helps Brookwood staff implement prevention guideline processes to improve patient outcomes. The program provides hospitals with a web-based patient management tool, best practice discharge protocols and standing orders, along with a robust registry and real-time benchmarking capabilities to track performance. The efficient use of guideline procedures can improve the quality of care for heart failure patients, save lives and, ultimately, reduce health care costs.
Following Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure treatment guidelines, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies if needed, including cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants while in the hospital. Before discharge, they also receive education on managing their heart failure. Hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period of time to be eligible for the achievement awards.
BHS Names VP Strategic Planning and Business Development
Teresa Shufflebarger has been named vice president, strategic planning and business development for Baptist Health System (BHS).
Shufflebarger has had significant roles during her tenure at Baptist, including physician practice management, physician recruitment and business development. Most recently, she assumed responsibility for Baptist’s strategic planning process.
In her new role, Shufflebarger will continue to oversee the areas of strategic planning, business development and physicians recruitment, but will also take on a more significant role in identifying and developing innovative models of health care delivery for Baptist Health System.
Shufflebarger completed her Masters in Healthcare Administration and a Masters in Business Administration at UAB, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She is also past ACHE Young Executive of the Year for Alabama. She was the Founding President of the Alabama Healthcare Executives Forum.
Shufflebarger is also active in several community organizations. She has served on the board of M-Power Ministries and is Past President of the Board of Directors of The Alabama Ballet. She is also a member of the Women’s Network and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Birmingham.
Egeland Joins Cockrell and Associates
Rodger D. Egeland, MPH, has joined Cockrell and Associates, LLC as a Senior Associate. Egeland has been in medical management for a number of years in both the private practice and healthcare systems settings. He brings expertise in day to day management, strategic planning and other areas of medical management which he will focus on those areas with clients.
Ruse Earns Board Certification in Obesity Medicine
Nikki Ruse, MD, of Cullman Internal Medicine is one of only 158 physicians nationally to complete the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) certification.
Physicians certified in obesity can incorporate weight management into traditional models of medical practice. Specifically, this subspecialty requires competency in the treatment of obesity and an understanding of the genetic, biologic, environmental, social and behavioral factors that contribute.
National Center for Sports Safety Provides AEDs to Alabama Parks
The National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS) will give 11 Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) and fully stocked emergency first aid kits to parks and recreation centers across Alabama. Recipients include Tuscaloosa, Brookwood, Fort Payne, Birmingham, Greenville, Gulf Shores, Gadsden, Andalusia, and Orange Beach.
NCSS partnered with the State of Alabama, Alabama Power Foundation, and Walter Energy to provide these units at no cost to these municipalities. The goal is to help decrease the number of sports fatalities resulting from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is characterized by the sudden loss of normal heart function, consciousness and breathing. According to the American Heart Association, for every minute that passes between cardiac arrest and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival decreases up to 10 percent.
“The risk of injury in sports is inevitable,” said Executive Director, Kathryn Gwaltney. “Having an AED on site at these facilities is fundamental in the event an emergency situation arises.”
As a recipient of this award, NCSS encourages all coaches, volunteers, and staff to complete its sports safety course, PREPARE. The course, founded by renowned orthopedic surgeon, Larry Lemak, MD and a team of medical experts, covers topics including concussions, injury prevention, heat and cold illness, and emergency recognition.
To date, NCSS has distributed 42 AED units to parks and recreation facilities across Alabama, and educated just over 18,000 coaches with the NCSS PREPARE Course.
RMC Honors Bergquist
Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Board of Directors recently honored board member, Vince Bergquist, MD for his service to the community through the Healthcare Authority of Cullman County, Inc. board.
Bergquist served as a Board Member for two years as CRMC Medical Staff President. Board Chairman Todd McLeroy thanked him for leadership, vision and dedication to the community during his term and presented him with a service award in recognition of his efforts.
Jackson Thornton Opens Nashville Office
Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm based in Montgomery, has opened an office in Nashville, Tennessee.
The office is home to a group of the Firm’s utilities auditors and consultants as well as a segment of the healthcare and physician practice management group. The Nashville office is managed by Jackson Thornton Principals, George Lynch and Rod Ballard. Jackson Thornton Technologies, the Firm’s IT products and services company, has also expanded into the space.
Michael Korpiel Named President of St. Vincent’s East
Michael Korpiel, MS, FACHE, has been named the president and Chief Operating Officer of St. Vincent’s East.
Korpiel brings more than 20 years of healthcare operations experience, including serving most recently as COO of the University of Mississippi Hospitals and Health Systems in Jackson, Mississippi. In addition, he has served as the Chief Operations Officer of Methodist Hospitals of Dallas, as well as Director of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation, Vice President of Surgical Services and Senior Vice President of Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas.
“Michael’s diverse experience in a large health system, a faith-based hospital system and an academic health system uniquely equips him to bring great value and knowledge to our patients and the surrounding community,” said Vicki Briggs, executive vice president and COO for St. Vincent’s Health System.”
Korpiel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Texas Woman’s University, and is currently a student in the Doctorate of Healthcare Administration Program at the University of Mississippi.
In addition, Korpiel has held numerous leadership roles in community organizations, including serving as the Chairman of the Jackson/Vicksburg Hospital Council, Central Mississippi Regional Trauma Network, and DeSoto Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a graduate of the Leadership Mississippi Class of 2012.
Junkins Earns Otolaryngology Credential
Debaroh Junkins of Excel ENT has been awarded the Certification in Otolaryngology Practice Management (COPM) from the Association of Otolaryngology Administrators. In completing the requirements for this achievement, Junkins has demonstrated mastery of core competencies specific to otolaryngology head and neck surgery.
Junkins is one of 13 candidates nationwide who successfully completed the COPM exam this year. To qualify for the certification exam, candidates must demonstrate successful experience in otolaryngology practice management, management responsibility, continuing education, membership in professional organizations, and professional contributions to the field.
