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SHM Fellow in Hospital Medicine Spotlight: Rachel George MD, MBA, SFHM
Dr. George is president of the central business unit for Brentwood, Tenn.-based Cogent Healthcare, the largest privately held hospital medicine company in the United States. She oversees multiple HM programs in the north central region of the U.S. Previously, she was medical director of hospitalist services for OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill.
Undergraduate education: Dr. George went straight from high school to a direct medical program and earned her MBA at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Medical school: JJM Medical College in India.
Notable: She began her MBA at the University of Tennessee when she was 34 weeks pregnant, proving wrong the professors who thought she would not be able to finish the program. Actively involved in the SHM Leadership, RIV, and Annual Meeting committees, Dr. George is a frequent annual meeting presenter on women’s workforce issues.
FYI: Dr. George keeps busy with her two children, ages 15 and 9, supporting them in such extra-curricular pursuits as marching band, music lessons, tae kwon do, and chess. In her downtime, she likes to relax by watching movies and spending time with friends.
Quotable: “It is a tremendous honor to be a Fellow in Hospital Medicine; it demonstrates clearly to everyone my accomplishments as a hospitalist, and I am proud to have been a member of the inaugural class of fellows.”
Dr. George is president of the central business unit for Brentwood, Tenn.-based Cogent Healthcare, the largest privately held hospital medicine company in the United States. She oversees multiple HM programs in the north central region of the U.S. Previously, she was medical director of hospitalist services for OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill.
Undergraduate education: Dr. George went straight from high school to a direct medical program and earned her MBA at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Medical school: JJM Medical College in India.
Notable: She began her MBA at the University of Tennessee when she was 34 weeks pregnant, proving wrong the professors who thought she would not be able to finish the program. Actively involved in the SHM Leadership, RIV, and Annual Meeting committees, Dr. George is a frequent annual meeting presenter on women’s workforce issues.
FYI: Dr. George keeps busy with her two children, ages 15 and 9, supporting them in such extra-curricular pursuits as marching band, music lessons, tae kwon do, and chess. In her downtime, she likes to relax by watching movies and spending time with friends.
Quotable: “It is a tremendous honor to be a Fellow in Hospital Medicine; it demonstrates clearly to everyone my accomplishments as a hospitalist, and I am proud to have been a member of the inaugural class of fellows.”
Dr. George is president of the central business unit for Brentwood, Tenn.-based Cogent Healthcare, the largest privately held hospital medicine company in the United States. She oversees multiple HM programs in the north central region of the U.S. Previously, she was medical director of hospitalist services for OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Ill.
Undergraduate education: Dr. George went straight from high school to a direct medical program and earned her MBA at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Medical school: JJM Medical College in India.
Notable: She began her MBA at the University of Tennessee when she was 34 weeks pregnant, proving wrong the professors who thought she would not be able to finish the program. Actively involved in the SHM Leadership, RIV, and Annual Meeting committees, Dr. George is a frequent annual meeting presenter on women’s workforce issues.
FYI: Dr. George keeps busy with her two children, ages 15 and 9, supporting them in such extra-curricular pursuits as marching band, music lessons, tae kwon do, and chess. In her downtime, she likes to relax by watching movies and spending time with friends.
Quotable: “It is a tremendous honor to be a Fellow in Hospital Medicine; it demonstrates clearly to everyone my accomplishments as a hospitalist, and I am proud to have been a member of the inaugural class of fellows.”
Side Effects of Synthetic Marijuana Blamed for Thousands of ED Visits
A report outlining the alarming side effects of synthetic marijuana use in young adults acts as a call to attention for hospitalists, as thousands of patients per year are exposed to the chemicals found in the cannabinoid.
The report from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that synthetic marijuana was responsible for 11,400 ED visits in one year, with brain and kidney damage, hallucinations, and violent behavior among the severe reactions found in users.
Synthetic marijuana is herbs sprayed or soaked in chemicals, making it difficult for drug tests to detect and more dangerous to consume. Some of the chemicals are found in fertilizers, painkillers, and cancer treatments, creating an unsafe and potentially deadly concoction. It is inexpensive, available online or in convenience stores sold under such brand names as “potpourri,” “K2,” and “spice,” and labeled “not for human consumption.”
The multiple reasons why patients may be having psychoactive effects could be a daunting mystery to solve. However, two hospitalists provide insight on possible treatment options. Scott Carney, MD, FAAP, assistant professor and program director at University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, and Melissa Schafer, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., advise hospitalists to treat these patients with IV fluids and close monitoring while they metabolize. A toxicology consultation and psychological evaluation should be ordered, and Dr. Schafer suggests poison control can “help with knowing what is on the streets in your area and what to expect.”
Visit our website for more information on treating symptoms of drug overdose.
A report outlining the alarming side effects of synthetic marijuana use in young adults acts as a call to attention for hospitalists, as thousands of patients per year are exposed to the chemicals found in the cannabinoid.
The report from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that synthetic marijuana was responsible for 11,400 ED visits in one year, with brain and kidney damage, hallucinations, and violent behavior among the severe reactions found in users.
Synthetic marijuana is herbs sprayed or soaked in chemicals, making it difficult for drug tests to detect and more dangerous to consume. Some of the chemicals are found in fertilizers, painkillers, and cancer treatments, creating an unsafe and potentially deadly concoction. It is inexpensive, available online or in convenience stores sold under such brand names as “potpourri,” “K2,” and “spice,” and labeled “not for human consumption.”
The multiple reasons why patients may be having psychoactive effects could be a daunting mystery to solve. However, two hospitalists provide insight on possible treatment options. Scott Carney, MD, FAAP, assistant professor and program director at University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, and Melissa Schafer, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., advise hospitalists to treat these patients with IV fluids and close monitoring while they metabolize. A toxicology consultation and psychological evaluation should be ordered, and Dr. Schafer suggests poison control can “help with knowing what is on the streets in your area and what to expect.”
Visit our website for more information on treating symptoms of drug overdose.
A report outlining the alarming side effects of synthetic marijuana use in young adults acts as a call to attention for hospitalists, as thousands of patients per year are exposed to the chemicals found in the cannabinoid.
The report from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that synthetic marijuana was responsible for 11,400 ED visits in one year, with brain and kidney damage, hallucinations, and violent behavior among the severe reactions found in users.
Synthetic marijuana is herbs sprayed or soaked in chemicals, making it difficult for drug tests to detect and more dangerous to consume. Some of the chemicals are found in fertilizers, painkillers, and cancer treatments, creating an unsafe and potentially deadly concoction. It is inexpensive, available online or in convenience stores sold under such brand names as “potpourri,” “K2,” and “spice,” and labeled “not for human consumption.”
The multiple reasons why patients may be having psychoactive effects could be a daunting mystery to solve. However, two hospitalists provide insight on possible treatment options. Scott Carney, MD, FAAP, assistant professor and program director at University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, and Melissa Schafer, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., advise hospitalists to treat these patients with IV fluids and close monitoring while they metabolize. A toxicology consultation and psychological evaluation should be ordered, and Dr. Schafer suggests poison control can “help with knowing what is on the streets in your area and what to expect.”
Visit our website for more information on treating symptoms of drug overdose.
SHM Fellow in Hospital Medicine Spotlight: Randy J. Ferrance, DC, MD, FHM
Dr. Ferrance is medical director of the hospitalist service, hospice, and hospital-based quality at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital in Virginia. He began his medical career as a chiropractor before deciding to take a different path, entering medical school, and finding that he loved inpatient care. He is triple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, and palliative care; this last specialty is the area he is most passionate about.
Undergraduate education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania for two years before gaining early admission into Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Ga. After several years in private practice, Dr. Ferrance entered medical school. Thus, he holds two doctorates and no bachelor’s degree.
Medical school: The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
Notable: Riverside Tappahannock Hospital is a closed, rural hospital, so Dr. Ferrance and his team of four hospitalists and one nurse practitioner handle all medical admissions, as well as most of the surgical admissions. They manage the ICU and do most of their own procedures.
FYI: He has authored two fiction articles published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, titled “Death is a crafty adversary” and “Death is a crafty old friend.”1,2 He also makes custom pens as a hobby, using exotic woods and acrylics.
Quotable: “To me, being a SHM fellow is recognition of the time and energy I’ve given to hospital medicine. I have worked hard to bring good quality care to my small hospital through the use of standardized order sets, real-time chart review, and mentoring.”
Caitlin Cromley
References
Dr. Ferrance is medical director of the hospitalist service, hospice, and hospital-based quality at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital in Virginia. He began his medical career as a chiropractor before deciding to take a different path, entering medical school, and finding that he loved inpatient care. He is triple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, and palliative care; this last specialty is the area he is most passionate about.
Undergraduate education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania for two years before gaining early admission into Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Ga. After several years in private practice, Dr. Ferrance entered medical school. Thus, he holds two doctorates and no bachelor’s degree.
Medical school: The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
Notable: Riverside Tappahannock Hospital is a closed, rural hospital, so Dr. Ferrance and his team of four hospitalists and one nurse practitioner handle all medical admissions, as well as most of the surgical admissions. They manage the ICU and do most of their own procedures.
FYI: He has authored two fiction articles published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, titled “Death is a crafty adversary” and “Death is a crafty old friend.”1,2 He also makes custom pens as a hobby, using exotic woods and acrylics.
Quotable: “To me, being a SHM fellow is recognition of the time and energy I’ve given to hospital medicine. I have worked hard to bring good quality care to my small hospital through the use of standardized order sets, real-time chart review, and mentoring.”
Caitlin Cromley
References
Dr. Ferrance is medical director of the hospitalist service, hospice, and hospital-based quality at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital in Virginia. He began his medical career as a chiropractor before deciding to take a different path, entering medical school, and finding that he loved inpatient care. He is triple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, and palliative care; this last specialty is the area he is most passionate about.
Undergraduate education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania for two years before gaining early admission into Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Ga. After several years in private practice, Dr. Ferrance entered medical school. Thus, he holds two doctorates and no bachelor’s degree.
Medical school: The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
Notable: Riverside Tappahannock Hospital is a closed, rural hospital, so Dr. Ferrance and his team of four hospitalists and one nurse practitioner handle all medical admissions, as well as most of the surgical admissions. They manage the ICU and do most of their own procedures.
FYI: He has authored two fiction articles published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, titled “Death is a crafty adversary” and “Death is a crafty old friend.”1,2 He also makes custom pens as a hobby, using exotic woods and acrylics.
Quotable: “To me, being a SHM fellow is recognition of the time and energy I’ve given to hospital medicine. I have worked hard to bring good quality care to my small hospital through the use of standardized order sets, real-time chart review, and mentoring.”
Caitlin Cromley