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Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Michael Campbell, MD, has been named one of the 2013 Physicians of the Year at Lake Health community health system in Lake County, Ohio. Dr. Campbell is a hospitalist who is board certified in family practice. He has been with Lake Health since 2011.
Nitish Kosaraju, MD, and Jocelyn Hendricks, DO, both received the 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for an acute care practice from IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Kosaraju is a practice group leader for IPC in Houston and has been an IPC hospitalist since 2010. Dr. Hendricks is a practice group leader in Tucson, Ariz., and has been part of IPC since 2004.
Pedram Taher, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a post-acute care practice. Dr. Taher has worked for IPC since 2009 and is a practice group leader in the San Francisco Bay area.
Tammy Hilliard, FNP-C, earned IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a non-physician provider. Hilliard has been with IPC since 2009 and now serves as a nurse practitioner and practice group representative in Phoenix, Ariz.
Jeffrey Harris, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Newcomer Clinician of the Year award. Dr. Harris is a neuro-hospitalist in San Antonio, Texas, and joined IPC in January 2013.
Corbi Milligan, MD, was featured in Murfreesboro Magazine for her exemplary leadership as the EmCare hospitalist site medical director for TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tenn. Dr. Milligan oversees 10 hospitalists in her role and has been with TriStar StoneCrest since 2004.
Business Moves
St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Ill., has announced a brand new hospitalist program. The 146-bed acute care center will staff two full-time hospitalists.
Laurens County Memorial Hospital (LCMH) in Clinton, S.C., has partnered with the hospitalist program at Greenville Health System (GHS) in Greenville, S.C., to provide 24-hour hospitalist services. GHS’s lead hospitalist, Kevin Gilroy, MD, will oversee the new program at LCMH. GHS is a public, nonprofit healthcare system comprising seven regional medical centers, including LCMH, as well as numerous post-acute care facilities and offices.
The hospitalist program at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, Tenn., will now be managed by MDP Management, a Chattanooga-based physician management company. Erlanger’s hospitalist program has 18 full-time physicians at the nonprofit, level-one trauma center.
IPC The Hospitalist Company has acquired the post-acute hospitalist practice CAP Medical Group, PLLC, in New Hartford, N.Y. CAP Medical Group has served the Oneida County area of upstate New York since 2007. IPC oversees hospitalist services in over 400 hospitals and 1,100 post-acute care practices across the country.
Michael Campbell, MD, has been named one of the 2013 Physicians of the Year at Lake Health community health system in Lake County, Ohio. Dr. Campbell is a hospitalist who is board certified in family practice. He has been with Lake Health since 2011.
Nitish Kosaraju, MD, and Jocelyn Hendricks, DO, both received the 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for an acute care practice from IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Kosaraju is a practice group leader for IPC in Houston and has been an IPC hospitalist since 2010. Dr. Hendricks is a practice group leader in Tucson, Ariz., and has been part of IPC since 2004.
Pedram Taher, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a post-acute care practice. Dr. Taher has worked for IPC since 2009 and is a practice group leader in the San Francisco Bay area.
Tammy Hilliard, FNP-C, earned IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a non-physician provider. Hilliard has been with IPC since 2009 and now serves as a nurse practitioner and practice group representative in Phoenix, Ariz.
Jeffrey Harris, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Newcomer Clinician of the Year award. Dr. Harris is a neuro-hospitalist in San Antonio, Texas, and joined IPC in January 2013.
Corbi Milligan, MD, was featured in Murfreesboro Magazine for her exemplary leadership as the EmCare hospitalist site medical director for TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tenn. Dr. Milligan oversees 10 hospitalists in her role and has been with TriStar StoneCrest since 2004.
Business Moves
St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Ill., has announced a brand new hospitalist program. The 146-bed acute care center will staff two full-time hospitalists.
Laurens County Memorial Hospital (LCMH) in Clinton, S.C., has partnered with the hospitalist program at Greenville Health System (GHS) in Greenville, S.C., to provide 24-hour hospitalist services. GHS’s lead hospitalist, Kevin Gilroy, MD, will oversee the new program at LCMH. GHS is a public, nonprofit healthcare system comprising seven regional medical centers, including LCMH, as well as numerous post-acute care facilities and offices.
The hospitalist program at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, Tenn., will now be managed by MDP Management, a Chattanooga-based physician management company. Erlanger’s hospitalist program has 18 full-time physicians at the nonprofit, level-one trauma center.
IPC The Hospitalist Company has acquired the post-acute hospitalist practice CAP Medical Group, PLLC, in New Hartford, N.Y. CAP Medical Group has served the Oneida County area of upstate New York since 2007. IPC oversees hospitalist services in over 400 hospitals and 1,100 post-acute care practices across the country.
Michael Campbell, MD, has been named one of the 2013 Physicians of the Year at Lake Health community health system in Lake County, Ohio. Dr. Campbell is a hospitalist who is board certified in family practice. He has been with Lake Health since 2011.
Nitish Kosaraju, MD, and Jocelyn Hendricks, DO, both received the 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for an acute care practice from IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Kosaraju is a practice group leader for IPC in Houston and has been an IPC hospitalist since 2010. Dr. Hendricks is a practice group leader in Tucson, Ariz., and has been part of IPC since 2004.
Pedram Taher, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a post-acute care practice. Dr. Taher has worked for IPC since 2009 and is a practice group leader in the San Francisco Bay area.
Tammy Hilliard, FNP-C, earned IPC’s 2013 Hospitalist of the Year award for a non-physician provider. Hilliard has been with IPC since 2009 and now serves as a nurse practitioner and practice group representative in Phoenix, Ariz.
Jeffrey Harris, MD, received IPC’s 2013 Newcomer Clinician of the Year award. Dr. Harris is a neuro-hospitalist in San Antonio, Texas, and joined IPC in January 2013.
Corbi Milligan, MD, was featured in Murfreesboro Magazine for her exemplary leadership as the EmCare hospitalist site medical director for TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tenn. Dr. Milligan oversees 10 hospitalists in her role and has been with TriStar StoneCrest since 2004.
Business Moves
St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Ill., has announced a brand new hospitalist program. The 146-bed acute care center will staff two full-time hospitalists.
Laurens County Memorial Hospital (LCMH) in Clinton, S.C., has partnered with the hospitalist program at Greenville Health System (GHS) in Greenville, S.C., to provide 24-hour hospitalist services. GHS’s lead hospitalist, Kevin Gilroy, MD, will oversee the new program at LCMH. GHS is a public, nonprofit healthcare system comprising seven regional medical centers, including LCMH, as well as numerous post-acute care facilities and offices.
The hospitalist program at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, Tenn., will now be managed by MDP Management, a Chattanooga-based physician management company. Erlanger’s hospitalist program has 18 full-time physicians at the nonprofit, level-one trauma center.
IPC The Hospitalist Company has acquired the post-acute hospitalist practice CAP Medical Group, PLLC, in New Hartford, N.Y. CAP Medical Group has served the Oneida County area of upstate New York since 2007. IPC oversees hospitalist services in over 400 hospitals and 1,100 post-acute care practices across the country.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Lakshmi Halasyamani, MD, SFHM, is the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Cogent Healthcare, which is based in Brentwood, Tenn. A former SHM board member, Dr. Halasyamani comes to Cogent from her role as CMO at St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ypsilanti, Mich. She has assumed the role left vacant by Ron Greeno, MD, MHM, after Cogent appointed him executive vice president of strategy and innovation.
Dalibor Hradek, MD, has been named the 2013 physician of the year by the Greenville, S.C.-based OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG). Dr. Hradek is an OB/GYN hospitalist at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Fla. Dr. Hradek received praise for his clinical expertise and dedication to his patients. OBHG staffs more than 250 OB/GYN hospitalists in over 55 programs nationwide.
Abdul Ftesi, MD, has been named the new hospitalist medical director at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center (OUMC) in Oklahoma City, Okla., by the Dallas, Texas-based provider Questcare Hospitalists. In his new role, Dr. Ftesi will lead and coordinate a team of 12 hospitalists.
Alan Dulit, MD, is the new chief medical officer for St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colo. Dr. Dulit comes to St. Anthony from his role as OB Hospitalist Group’s vice president of medical affairs at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Sujesh Pillai, MD, has been named the 2013 Physician of the Year by Huntsville (Texas) Memorial Hospital (HMH). Dr. Pillai currently serves as hospitalist medical director at HMH. Dr. Pillai is noted for his professionalism and his compassion for his patients and their families.
Christine Meagher, RN, is the first to receive the Hospitalist Nursing Service Award from the Physician Hospitalist group at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, Mass. Meagher serves as a nurse in the ICU at the 134-bed acute care facility.
John Larson, MD, has been named Family Physician of the Year for 2013 by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Larson serves as regional assistant medical director for Mayo Clinic Health System and often plays the role of a hospitalist, among many others, as part of his job.
Charles Clair, MD, recently received a service and gratitude award from the Pocatello (Idaho) Free Clinic. Dr. Clair serves as a hospitalist at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, and regularly volunteers at the Free Clinic with his wife, who offers her time maintaining the clinic’s website. The Pocatello Free Clinic has been serving patients in the area since 1971.
Felix Cabrera, MD, is the new director of clinical informatics and medical education for Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) in Dededo, Guam. Dr. Cabrera was previously a hospitalist and associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital. GRMC is a brand new, 130-bed acute care facility privately owned by Philippine healthcare firm The Medical City.
Scott Sears, MD, FACP, has been named the new chief clinical officer for the Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians. Dr. Sears assumes his new role after serving as Sound’s regional chief medical officer for the Northwest Region.
Talbot “Mac” McCormick, MD, has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians. Dr. McCormick previously served as Eagle’s president and chief operating officer and has been with Eagle in various roles since 2003.
Lakshmi Halasyamani, MD, SFHM, is the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Cogent Healthcare, which is based in Brentwood, Tenn. A former SHM board member, Dr. Halasyamani comes to Cogent from her role as CMO at St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ypsilanti, Mich. She has assumed the role left vacant by Ron Greeno, MD, MHM, after Cogent appointed him executive vice president of strategy and innovation.
Dalibor Hradek, MD, has been named the 2013 physician of the year by the Greenville, S.C.-based OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG). Dr. Hradek is an OB/GYN hospitalist at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Fla. Dr. Hradek received praise for his clinical expertise and dedication to his patients. OBHG staffs more than 250 OB/GYN hospitalists in over 55 programs nationwide.
Abdul Ftesi, MD, has been named the new hospitalist medical director at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center (OUMC) in Oklahoma City, Okla., by the Dallas, Texas-based provider Questcare Hospitalists. In his new role, Dr. Ftesi will lead and coordinate a team of 12 hospitalists.
Alan Dulit, MD, is the new chief medical officer for St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colo. Dr. Dulit comes to St. Anthony from his role as OB Hospitalist Group’s vice president of medical affairs at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Sujesh Pillai, MD, has been named the 2013 Physician of the Year by Huntsville (Texas) Memorial Hospital (HMH). Dr. Pillai currently serves as hospitalist medical director at HMH. Dr. Pillai is noted for his professionalism and his compassion for his patients and their families.
Christine Meagher, RN, is the first to receive the Hospitalist Nursing Service Award from the Physician Hospitalist group at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, Mass. Meagher serves as a nurse in the ICU at the 134-bed acute care facility.
John Larson, MD, has been named Family Physician of the Year for 2013 by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Larson serves as regional assistant medical director for Mayo Clinic Health System and often plays the role of a hospitalist, among many others, as part of his job.
Charles Clair, MD, recently received a service and gratitude award from the Pocatello (Idaho) Free Clinic. Dr. Clair serves as a hospitalist at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, and regularly volunteers at the Free Clinic with his wife, who offers her time maintaining the clinic’s website. The Pocatello Free Clinic has been serving patients in the area since 1971.
Felix Cabrera, MD, is the new director of clinical informatics and medical education for Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) in Dededo, Guam. Dr. Cabrera was previously a hospitalist and associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital. GRMC is a brand new, 130-bed acute care facility privately owned by Philippine healthcare firm The Medical City.
Scott Sears, MD, FACP, has been named the new chief clinical officer for the Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians. Dr. Sears assumes his new role after serving as Sound’s regional chief medical officer for the Northwest Region.
Talbot “Mac” McCormick, MD, has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians. Dr. McCormick previously served as Eagle’s president and chief operating officer and has been with Eagle in various roles since 2003.
Lakshmi Halasyamani, MD, SFHM, is the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Cogent Healthcare, which is based in Brentwood, Tenn. A former SHM board member, Dr. Halasyamani comes to Cogent from her role as CMO at St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ypsilanti, Mich. She has assumed the role left vacant by Ron Greeno, MD, MHM, after Cogent appointed him executive vice president of strategy and innovation.
Dalibor Hradek, MD, has been named the 2013 physician of the year by the Greenville, S.C.-based OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG). Dr. Hradek is an OB/GYN hospitalist at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Fla. Dr. Hradek received praise for his clinical expertise and dedication to his patients. OBHG staffs more than 250 OB/GYN hospitalists in over 55 programs nationwide.
Abdul Ftesi, MD, has been named the new hospitalist medical director at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center (OUMC) in Oklahoma City, Okla., by the Dallas, Texas-based provider Questcare Hospitalists. In his new role, Dr. Ftesi will lead and coordinate a team of 12 hospitalists.
Alan Dulit, MD, is the new chief medical officer for St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colo. Dr. Dulit comes to St. Anthony from his role as OB Hospitalist Group’s vice president of medical affairs at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Sujesh Pillai, MD, has been named the 2013 Physician of the Year by Huntsville (Texas) Memorial Hospital (HMH). Dr. Pillai currently serves as hospitalist medical director at HMH. Dr. Pillai is noted for his professionalism and his compassion for his patients and their families.
Christine Meagher, RN, is the first to receive the Hospitalist Nursing Service Award from the Physician Hospitalist group at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, Mass. Meagher serves as a nurse in the ICU at the 134-bed acute care facility.
John Larson, MD, has been named Family Physician of the Year for 2013 by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Larson serves as regional assistant medical director for Mayo Clinic Health System and often plays the role of a hospitalist, among many others, as part of his job.
Charles Clair, MD, recently received a service and gratitude award from the Pocatello (Idaho) Free Clinic. Dr. Clair serves as a hospitalist at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, and regularly volunteers at the Free Clinic with his wife, who offers her time maintaining the clinic’s website. The Pocatello Free Clinic has been serving patients in the area since 1971.
Felix Cabrera, MD, is the new director of clinical informatics and medical education for Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) in Dededo, Guam. Dr. Cabrera was previously a hospitalist and associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital. GRMC is a brand new, 130-bed acute care facility privately owned by Philippine healthcare firm The Medical City.
Scott Sears, MD, FACP, has been named the new chief clinical officer for the Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians. Dr. Sears assumes his new role after serving as Sound’s regional chief medical officer for the Northwest Region.
Talbot “Mac” McCormick, MD, has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians. Dr. McCormick previously served as Eagle’s president and chief operating officer and has been with Eagle in various roles since 2003.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Business Moves
Sound Physicians, based in Tacoma, Wash., is now providing hospitalist services at both Christus Santa Rosa Health System in San Antonio, Texas, and John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Christus Santa Rosa consists of four acute care hospitals, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and several outpatient clinics and emergency centers in the greater San Antonio area. John Peter Smith Hospital is a 537-bed trauma center serving the central Fort Worth area.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has acquired the practice groups of Bruce G. Johnson, DO, PC, in Roseville, Mich.; Allen Trager, DO, PC, in Flint, Mich.; and Victor Toledano, MD, PA, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. IPC also completed its acquisition of Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, PC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, PC, (collectively, “Park Avenue”), all based in White Plains, N.Y. IPC now provides hospitalist services in 28 states.
Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz, Pa., is now providing pediatric hospitalist services. Initially, the program will staff six pediatric hospitalists at the 148-bed facility. The facility joins Lancaster General Hospital as the second in the county to provide pediatric hospital medicine services.
Morthland College Health Services (MCHS) in West Frankfort, Ill., has assumed coverage of hospitalist services at Harrisburg Medical Center (HMC) in Harrisburg, Ill. MCHS already provides hospital medicine services at Franklin Hospital in Benton, Ill. Morthland College is a small liberal arts college founded in 2009. Harrisburg Medical Center is a 98-bed acute care hospital serving greater Saline County, Ill.
The Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., is providing services to Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Del. Milford Memorial has served communities in the Milford area since 1938. OBHG provides inpatient OB/GYN services to nearly 50 hospitals and clinics nationwide.
St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D., has partnered with the University of North Dakota to institute a new hospitalist fellowship program in North Dakota. The one-year program is the first of its kind in North Dakota.
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Business Moves
Sound Physicians, based in Tacoma, Wash., is now providing hospitalist services at both Christus Santa Rosa Health System in San Antonio, Texas, and John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Christus Santa Rosa consists of four acute care hospitals, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and several outpatient clinics and emergency centers in the greater San Antonio area. John Peter Smith Hospital is a 537-bed trauma center serving the central Fort Worth area.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has acquired the practice groups of Bruce G. Johnson, DO, PC, in Roseville, Mich.; Allen Trager, DO, PC, in Flint, Mich.; and Victor Toledano, MD, PA, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. IPC also completed its acquisition of Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, PC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, PC, (collectively, “Park Avenue”), all based in White Plains, N.Y. IPC now provides hospitalist services in 28 states.
Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz, Pa., is now providing pediatric hospitalist services. Initially, the program will staff six pediatric hospitalists at the 148-bed facility. The facility joins Lancaster General Hospital as the second in the county to provide pediatric hospital medicine services.
Morthland College Health Services (MCHS) in West Frankfort, Ill., has assumed coverage of hospitalist services at Harrisburg Medical Center (HMC) in Harrisburg, Ill. MCHS already provides hospital medicine services at Franklin Hospital in Benton, Ill. Morthland College is a small liberal arts college founded in 2009. Harrisburg Medical Center is a 98-bed acute care hospital serving greater Saline County, Ill.
The Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., is providing services to Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Del. Milford Memorial has served communities in the Milford area since 1938. OBHG provides inpatient OB/GYN services to nearly 50 hospitals and clinics nationwide.
St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D., has partnered with the University of North Dakota to institute a new hospitalist fellowship program in North Dakota. The one-year program is the first of its kind in North Dakota.
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Business Moves
Sound Physicians, based in Tacoma, Wash., is now providing hospitalist services at both Christus Santa Rosa Health System in San Antonio, Texas, and John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Christus Santa Rosa consists of four acute care hospitals, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and several outpatient clinics and emergency centers in the greater San Antonio area. John Peter Smith Hospital is a 537-bed trauma center serving the central Fort Worth area.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has acquired the practice groups of Bruce G. Johnson, DO, PC, in Roseville, Mich.; Allen Trager, DO, PC, in Flint, Mich.; and Victor Toledano, MD, PA, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. IPC also completed its acquisition of Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, PC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, PC, (collectively, “Park Avenue”), all based in White Plains, N.Y. IPC now provides hospitalist services in 28 states.
Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz, Pa., is now providing pediatric hospitalist services. Initially, the program will staff six pediatric hospitalists at the 148-bed facility. The facility joins Lancaster General Hospital as the second in the county to provide pediatric hospital medicine services.
Morthland College Health Services (MCHS) in West Frankfort, Ill., has assumed coverage of hospitalist services at Harrisburg Medical Center (HMC) in Harrisburg, Ill. MCHS already provides hospital medicine services at Franklin Hospital in Benton, Ill. Morthland College is a small liberal arts college founded in 2009. Harrisburg Medical Center is a 98-bed acute care hospital serving greater Saline County, Ill.
The Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., is providing services to Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford, Del. Milford Memorial has served communities in the Milford area since 1938. OBHG provides inpatient OB/GYN services to nearly 50 hospitals and clinics nationwide.
St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D., has partnered with the University of North Dakota to institute a new hospitalist fellowship program in North Dakota. The one-year program is the first of its kind in North Dakota.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Sereen Sharp, MD, has been named director of the hospital medicine program at Fairview Range Medical Center (FRMC) in Hibbing, Minn. Dr. Sharp has been a practicing hospitalist at FRMC since the program launched in 2010.
Sanin Syed, MD, has been named medical director of the newly founded hospitalist program at Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville, N.Y. Dr. Syed previously served as a hospitalist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Business Moves
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians has agreed to provide hospitalist services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Sound also has acquired hospitalist-related assets of Inpatient Care United, Inc., a private hospitalist staffing company in northeast Ohio, which already provides hospitalist services to Akron General Medical Center and Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., has been named one of the best places to work in South Carolina by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Best Companies Group, and the publishers of SCBIZ News. The private OB-GYN hospitalist staffing company was ranked 5th among South Carolina companies in the same size category. Additionally, OBHG was recognized as one of Inc.’s 500/5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, as well as one of South Carolina’s 25 fastest-growing companies. OBHG has been staffing private OB hospitalists at hospitals throughout the country since 2006.
North Hollywood, Calif.-based IPC The Hospitalist Company recently acquired the following hospitalist practices:
Greater Orlando Hospitalists (GOH), P.A., in Orlando, Fla.
The Hospitalist Group (THG) in Mission, Texas, consisting of three affiliated hospitalist practices: THG The Hospitalist Group, LP; The Hospitalist Management Group, LLC; and MD @ Home Ltd., all serving the greater Rio Grande Valley area of Southwest Texas.
Naples, Fla.-based Neapolitan Inpatient Care, LLC , and Venetian Hospitalist Services, LLC, headquartered in Venice, Fla.
Hospitalist-related assets of Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C., based in Kansas City, Mo.
IPC has signed definitive agreements to acquire Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, P.C.; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, P.C., collectively known as Park Avenue and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y.
TeamHealth Hospital Medicine has acquired Marshall Physician Services, LLC, also known as MESA Medical Group, in Lexington, Ky. MESA already oversees hospitalist and emergency medicine services at 24 different hospitals throughout Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. TeamHealth now operates specialty hospital medicine programs in more than 850 acute and post-acute care centers throughout the U.S.
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine have collaborated to initiate a pediatric hospitalist program at the facility in San Antonio, Texas. The new program will staff 10 pediatric hospitalists and will be led by professor Ricardo Quiñonez, who comes to San Antonio from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Ky.,has partnered with the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians to provide hospitalist services at the privately owned facility. Eagle provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in 17 states.
In Memoriam
Scott Swygert, MD, hospitalist, chief quality officer, and chief medical information officer at Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Medical Center (LRMC), died Nov. 1 at the age of 45. Dr. Swygert had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition resulting in scarring of the lung tissue. According to local news reports, he was awaiting a lung transplant and had been airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.; however, doctors deemed him too sick for the procedure.
Dr. Swygert was most noted for his sense of humor and passion for the care of his patients. He is credited with jump-starting LRMC’s hospitalist program and was on the cutting edge of working to move the hospital to electronic health records.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and three daughters, Anna, Rachel, and Laura.
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Sereen Sharp, MD, has been named director of the hospital medicine program at Fairview Range Medical Center (FRMC) in Hibbing, Minn. Dr. Sharp has been a practicing hospitalist at FRMC since the program launched in 2010.
Sanin Syed, MD, has been named medical director of the newly founded hospitalist program at Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville, N.Y. Dr. Syed previously served as a hospitalist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Business Moves
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians has agreed to provide hospitalist services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Sound also has acquired hospitalist-related assets of Inpatient Care United, Inc., a private hospitalist staffing company in northeast Ohio, which already provides hospitalist services to Akron General Medical Center and Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., has been named one of the best places to work in South Carolina by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Best Companies Group, and the publishers of SCBIZ News. The private OB-GYN hospitalist staffing company was ranked 5th among South Carolina companies in the same size category. Additionally, OBHG was recognized as one of Inc.’s 500/5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, as well as one of South Carolina’s 25 fastest-growing companies. OBHG has been staffing private OB hospitalists at hospitals throughout the country since 2006.
North Hollywood, Calif.-based IPC The Hospitalist Company recently acquired the following hospitalist practices:
Greater Orlando Hospitalists (GOH), P.A., in Orlando, Fla.
The Hospitalist Group (THG) in Mission, Texas, consisting of three affiliated hospitalist practices: THG The Hospitalist Group, LP; The Hospitalist Management Group, LLC; and MD @ Home Ltd., all serving the greater Rio Grande Valley area of Southwest Texas.
Naples, Fla.-based Neapolitan Inpatient Care, LLC , and Venetian Hospitalist Services, LLC, headquartered in Venice, Fla.
Hospitalist-related assets of Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C., based in Kansas City, Mo.
IPC has signed definitive agreements to acquire Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, P.C.; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, P.C., collectively known as Park Avenue and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y.
TeamHealth Hospital Medicine has acquired Marshall Physician Services, LLC, also known as MESA Medical Group, in Lexington, Ky. MESA already oversees hospitalist and emergency medicine services at 24 different hospitals throughout Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. TeamHealth now operates specialty hospital medicine programs in more than 850 acute and post-acute care centers throughout the U.S.
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine have collaborated to initiate a pediatric hospitalist program at the facility in San Antonio, Texas. The new program will staff 10 pediatric hospitalists and will be led by professor Ricardo Quiñonez, who comes to San Antonio from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Ky.,has partnered with the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians to provide hospitalist services at the privately owned facility. Eagle provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in 17 states.
In Memoriam
Scott Swygert, MD, hospitalist, chief quality officer, and chief medical information officer at Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Medical Center (LRMC), died Nov. 1 at the age of 45. Dr. Swygert had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition resulting in scarring of the lung tissue. According to local news reports, he was awaiting a lung transplant and had been airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.; however, doctors deemed him too sick for the procedure.
Dr. Swygert was most noted for his sense of humor and passion for the care of his patients. He is credited with jump-starting LRMC’s hospitalist program and was on the cutting edge of working to move the hospital to electronic health records.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and three daughters, Anna, Rachel, and Laura.
HM MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Sereen Sharp, MD, has been named director of the hospital medicine program at Fairview Range Medical Center (FRMC) in Hibbing, Minn. Dr. Sharp has been a practicing hospitalist at FRMC since the program launched in 2010.
Sanin Syed, MD, has been named medical director of the newly founded hospitalist program at Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville, N.Y. Dr. Syed previously served as a hospitalist at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Business Moves
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Physicians has agreed to provide hospitalist services at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Sound also has acquired hospitalist-related assets of Inpatient Care United, Inc., a private hospitalist staffing company in northeast Ohio, which already provides hospitalist services to Akron General Medical Center and Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), based in Mauldin, S.C., has been named one of the best places to work in South Carolina by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Best Companies Group, and the publishers of SCBIZ News. The private OB-GYN hospitalist staffing company was ranked 5th among South Carolina companies in the same size category. Additionally, OBHG was recognized as one of Inc.’s 500/5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, as well as one of South Carolina’s 25 fastest-growing companies. OBHG has been staffing private OB hospitalists at hospitals throughout the country since 2006.
North Hollywood, Calif.-based IPC The Hospitalist Company recently acquired the following hospitalist practices:
Greater Orlando Hospitalists (GOH), P.A., in Orlando, Fla.
The Hospitalist Group (THG) in Mission, Texas, consisting of three affiliated hospitalist practices: THG The Hospitalist Group, LP; The Hospitalist Management Group, LLC; and MD @ Home Ltd., all serving the greater Rio Grande Valley area of Southwest Texas.
Naples, Fla.-based Neapolitan Inpatient Care, LLC , and Venetian Hospitalist Services, LLC, headquartered in Venice, Fla.
Hospitalist-related assets of Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C., based in Kansas City, Mo.
IPC has signed definitive agreements to acquire Park Avenue Health Care Management, LLC; Park Avenue Medical Associates, P.C.; Park Avenue Medical Associates, LLC; and Geriatric Services, P.C., collectively known as Park Avenue and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y.
TeamHealth Hospital Medicine has acquired Marshall Physician Services, LLC, also known as MESA Medical Group, in Lexington, Ky. MESA already oversees hospitalist and emergency medicine services at 24 different hospitals throughout Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. TeamHealth now operates specialty hospital medicine programs in more than 850 acute and post-acute care centers throughout the U.S.
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine have collaborated to initiate a pediatric hospitalist program at the facility in San Antonio, Texas. The new program will staff 10 pediatric hospitalists and will be led by professor Ricardo Quiñonez, who comes to San Antonio from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Ky.,has partnered with the Dallas, Texas-based Eagle Hospital Physicians to provide hospitalist services at the privately owned facility. Eagle provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in 17 states.
In Memoriam
Scott Swygert, MD, hospitalist, chief quality officer, and chief medical information officer at Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Medical Center (LRMC), died Nov. 1 at the age of 45. Dr. Swygert had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition resulting in scarring of the lung tissue. According to local news reports, he was awaiting a lung transplant and had been airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.; however, doctors deemed him too sick for the procedure.
Dr. Swygert was most noted for his sense of humor and passion for the care of his patients. He is credited with jump-starting LRMC’s hospitalist program and was on the cutting edge of working to move the hospital to electronic health records.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and three daughters, Anna, Rachel, and Laura.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
President Obama has nominated 37-year-old Boston hospitalist Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, as surgeon general of the United States. Dr. Murthy has worked since 2006 as a hospitalist and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a Washington, D.C.-based group of 16,000 physicians and medical students that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care and has been a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Dr. Murthy would replace acting surgeon general Boris Lushniak. The surgeon general serves a four-year term. “We share a belief that access to quality health care is a basic human right,” Brigham president Dr. Betsy Nabel said in a statement about Dr. Murthy. “I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate and that he will have an extraordinary impact as our nation’s surgeon general.”
Dr. Murthy studied at Harvard, received his medical degree at Yale School of Medicine, and earned an MBA from Yale School of Management. In 2011, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. He was co-founder and is chairman of the board of TrialNetworks, formerly known as Epernicus, since 2007. He co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the United States, where he served as president from 1995 to 2000 and chairman of the board from 2000 to 2003.
Daniel Virnich, MD, MBA, has been named TeamHealth Hospital Medicine’s new chief medical officer. Dr. Virnich previously served as the company’s western region medical director. He currently serves on SHM’s Practice Management Committee and SHM’s Patient Experience Task Force. TeamHealth, based in Knoxville, Tenn., provides private hospitalist services in 47 states.
Dean Dalili, MD, FHM, is the new vice president of medical affairs at Hollywood, Fla.-based Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), a private hospitalist management company with services in more than 20 states. Dr. Dalili previously served as HPP medical director and regional medical director. He was recognized in 2012 and this year as one of HPP’s outstanding medical directors in the hospital medicine division for his operational and leadership excellence.
David Roe is the new executive director of IPC The Hospitalist Company’s Northeast Tenn./Southwest Virginia region, where he will oversee operations at both acute and post-acute care facilities throughout the region. Roe previously served as executive director of THS Physician Partners, a multi-specialty physician group based in Charleston, W.Va.
Robert Mickelsen, MD, has been appointed system medical director for Lovelace Hospitalist Services in Albuquerque, N.M. The programs at Lovelace’s three hospital facilities are all managed by Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), and Dr. Mickelsen will be charged with overseeing operations at all three hospitals. Dr. Mickelsen comes to his new role from Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, N.M., where he served as hospitalist medical director.
Francisco Loya, MD, MSc, has been named chief medical officer for EmCare Hospital Medicine. Dr. Loya earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He earned his master of science degree in healthcare management from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. After earning his master’s degree, Dr. Loya created a software tool (CMORx) that uses deductive algorithms to fill the gaps in medical records, which he will bring with him to EmCare. Based in Dallas, EmCare provides hospitalist and other services to more than 500 hospitals nationwide.
Business Moves
ECI Healthcare Partners, based in Traverse City, Mich., will now provide hospitalist services to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio. O’Bleness Memorial has been serving the neighborhoods in and around Athens since 1921. ECI Healthcare Partners provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in more than 30 states.
Michael O’Neal is a freelance writer in New York City.
President Obama has nominated 37-year-old Boston hospitalist Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, as surgeon general of the United States. Dr. Murthy has worked since 2006 as a hospitalist and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a Washington, D.C.-based group of 16,000 physicians and medical students that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care and has been a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Dr. Murthy would replace acting surgeon general Boris Lushniak. The surgeon general serves a four-year term. “We share a belief that access to quality health care is a basic human right,” Brigham president Dr. Betsy Nabel said in a statement about Dr. Murthy. “I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate and that he will have an extraordinary impact as our nation’s surgeon general.”
Dr. Murthy studied at Harvard, received his medical degree at Yale School of Medicine, and earned an MBA from Yale School of Management. In 2011, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. He was co-founder and is chairman of the board of TrialNetworks, formerly known as Epernicus, since 2007. He co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the United States, where he served as president from 1995 to 2000 and chairman of the board from 2000 to 2003.
Daniel Virnich, MD, MBA, has been named TeamHealth Hospital Medicine’s new chief medical officer. Dr. Virnich previously served as the company’s western region medical director. He currently serves on SHM’s Practice Management Committee and SHM’s Patient Experience Task Force. TeamHealth, based in Knoxville, Tenn., provides private hospitalist services in 47 states.
Dean Dalili, MD, FHM, is the new vice president of medical affairs at Hollywood, Fla.-based Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), a private hospitalist management company with services in more than 20 states. Dr. Dalili previously served as HPP medical director and regional medical director. He was recognized in 2012 and this year as one of HPP’s outstanding medical directors in the hospital medicine division for his operational and leadership excellence.
David Roe is the new executive director of IPC The Hospitalist Company’s Northeast Tenn./Southwest Virginia region, where he will oversee operations at both acute and post-acute care facilities throughout the region. Roe previously served as executive director of THS Physician Partners, a multi-specialty physician group based in Charleston, W.Va.
Robert Mickelsen, MD, has been appointed system medical director for Lovelace Hospitalist Services in Albuquerque, N.M. The programs at Lovelace’s three hospital facilities are all managed by Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), and Dr. Mickelsen will be charged with overseeing operations at all three hospitals. Dr. Mickelsen comes to his new role from Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, N.M., where he served as hospitalist medical director.
Francisco Loya, MD, MSc, has been named chief medical officer for EmCare Hospital Medicine. Dr. Loya earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He earned his master of science degree in healthcare management from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. After earning his master’s degree, Dr. Loya created a software tool (CMORx) that uses deductive algorithms to fill the gaps in medical records, which he will bring with him to EmCare. Based in Dallas, EmCare provides hospitalist and other services to more than 500 hospitals nationwide.
Business Moves
ECI Healthcare Partners, based in Traverse City, Mich., will now provide hospitalist services to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio. O’Bleness Memorial has been serving the neighborhoods in and around Athens since 1921. ECI Healthcare Partners provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in more than 30 states.
Michael O’Neal is a freelance writer in New York City.
President Obama has nominated 37-year-old Boston hospitalist Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, as surgeon general of the United States. Dr. Murthy has worked since 2006 as a hospitalist and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a Washington, D.C.-based group of 16,000 physicians and medical students that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care and has been a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Dr. Murthy would replace acting surgeon general Boris Lushniak. The surgeon general serves a four-year term. “We share a belief that access to quality health care is a basic human right,” Brigham president Dr. Betsy Nabel said in a statement about Dr. Murthy. “I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate and that he will have an extraordinary impact as our nation’s surgeon general.”
Dr. Murthy studied at Harvard, received his medical degree at Yale School of Medicine, and earned an MBA from Yale School of Management. In 2011, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. He was co-founder and is chairman of the board of TrialNetworks, formerly known as Epernicus, since 2007. He co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the United States, where he served as president from 1995 to 2000 and chairman of the board from 2000 to 2003.
Daniel Virnich, MD, MBA, has been named TeamHealth Hospital Medicine’s new chief medical officer. Dr. Virnich previously served as the company’s western region medical director. He currently serves on SHM’s Practice Management Committee and SHM’s Patient Experience Task Force. TeamHealth, based in Knoxville, Tenn., provides private hospitalist services in 47 states.
Dean Dalili, MD, FHM, is the new vice president of medical affairs at Hollywood, Fla.-based Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), a private hospitalist management company with services in more than 20 states. Dr. Dalili previously served as HPP medical director and regional medical director. He was recognized in 2012 and this year as one of HPP’s outstanding medical directors in the hospital medicine division for his operational and leadership excellence.
David Roe is the new executive director of IPC The Hospitalist Company’s Northeast Tenn./Southwest Virginia region, where he will oversee operations at both acute and post-acute care facilities throughout the region. Roe previously served as executive director of THS Physician Partners, a multi-specialty physician group based in Charleston, W.Va.
Robert Mickelsen, MD, has been appointed system medical director for Lovelace Hospitalist Services in Albuquerque, N.M. The programs at Lovelace’s three hospital facilities are all managed by Hospital Physician Partners (HPP), and Dr. Mickelsen will be charged with overseeing operations at all three hospitals. Dr. Mickelsen comes to his new role from Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, N.M., where he served as hospitalist medical director.
Francisco Loya, MD, MSc, has been named chief medical officer for EmCare Hospital Medicine. Dr. Loya earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He earned his master of science degree in healthcare management from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. After earning his master’s degree, Dr. Loya created a software tool (CMORx) that uses deductive algorithms to fill the gaps in medical records, which he will bring with him to EmCare. Based in Dallas, EmCare provides hospitalist and other services to more than 500 hospitals nationwide.
Business Moves
ECI Healthcare Partners, based in Traverse City, Mich., will now provide hospitalist services to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio. O’Bleness Memorial has been serving the neighborhoods in and around Athens since 1921. ECI Healthcare Partners provides hospitalist and emergency medicine services to hospitals in more than 30 states.
Michael O’Neal is a freelance writer in New York City.
10 Things Urologists Think Hospitalists Should Know
10 Things: At A Glance
- Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
- But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
- Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
- Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
- Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
- Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
- Diabetic patients require extra attention.
- Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
- Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
- Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
1: Intravenous Haloperidol Does Not Prevent ICU Delirium
Urology is an area in which hospitalists might not have much formal training, but because many of these patients undergo highly complicated surgical procedures with great potential for complications, hospitalists can be vital for good outcomes, urologists say.
The use of urinary catheters is a prime area of concern when it comes to quality and safety, making hospitalists’ role in the care of urological patients even more crucial.
The Hospitalist spoke with a half dozen urologists and well-versed HM clinicians about caring for patients with urological disorders. Here are the best nuggets of guidance for hospitalists.
Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
John Bulger, DO, FACOI, FACP, SFHM, a hospitalist and chief quality officer at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, says that, all too often, urinary catheters are left in too long. “There’s pretty good data to suggest that there’s a very direct relationship with the length of time the catheter’s in and the chance of it getting infected,” he says. “Upwards to half of the urinary catheters that are in in hospitals right now wouldn’t meet the guidelines of having a urinary catheter in.”
Dr. Bulger is chair of SHM’s Choosing Wisely subcommittee. One of SHM’s Choosing Wisely recommendations warns physicians not to place, or leave in place, catheters for incontinence, convenience, or monitoring of non-critically ill patients.1
2: But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
William Steers, MD, chair of urology at the University of Virginia and editor of the Journal of Urology, says there are risks associated with taking catheters out when it’s not appropriate, especially in patients who’ve undergone surgery.
“We’ve seen situations where we’re called into the operating room by another team,” Dr. Steers says. “Let’s say there was a bladder injury of another service. We’ve repaired the bladder with a catheter in for seven to 10 days. It’s taken out day one; the bladder fills and has the potential of causing harm.”
Early removal before the bladder wall heals can cause bladder rupture, requiring emergency surgery.
“So the devil’s in the details,” he says.
Mark Austenfeld, MD, FACS, president of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, which is dedicated to political action, advocacy, and best practice parameters, says catheters should remain in place for patients with mental status changes, or those who are debilitated in some way and can’t get out of bed or don’t have the wherewithal to ask for help from a nurse.
He says he realizes hospitalists are following pay-for-performance protocols, but he adds a caveat.
“Many times these protocols cannot take into account all of these specialized situations,” says Dr. Austenfeld, a urologist with Kansas City Urology Care. He stresses, though, that the hospitalists he’s worked with do high-quality work.
Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist and professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says that even with these issues, early removal should remain a priority when appropriate.
“There’s going to be anecdotal evidence that in some particular patients, when the catheter is removed, it needs to be reinserted when they haven’t urinated for a while,” Dr. Saint explains. “But I think, in general, the studies that have looked at reinsertion have not found a statistically significant increase in reinsertion of the catheter after some type of a stop-order or nurse initiative, protocol, or urinary catheter reminder system has been put in place.”2
Dr. Steers says most agree that urinary catheters are often “overutilized.”
“You do want to get them out as soon as possible,” he says. “But if it’s ever in doubt, there should be communication with the urology team.”
3: Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
Hospitalists should tread carefully with medications that might be difficult to handle for patients with kidney issues, like stones or obstructive disease, Dr. Bulger says.
“If they only have one kidney that works well, you have to pay particular attention to drugs that are toxic to the kidneys,” he says. He notes that the nature of the patient’s health “will change the doses of some drugs, as well, depending on what the function of their kidney is.”
Dr. Austenfeld says that drugs with anticholinergic side effects, including some cold remedies such as Benadryl, should possibly be avoided in patients who are having trouble emptying their bladders, because they might make it more difficult for a patient to urinate. Some sedatives, such as amitriptyline, have similar effects and should be used cautiously in these patients, Dr. Austenfeld points out.
“That class of drugs—sometimes I see patients on them for a long time, or placed on them, and they do have a little trouble emptying their bladders,” he says.
4: Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
“If patients are in the hospital and they’ve been taking narcotics post-surgically, or they’re a diabetic patient and they’ve had urinary catheter infections, we should be very careful that these patients are emptying their bladders,” says Dennis Pessis, professor of urology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and immediate past president of the American Urological Association. “You can do a very simple ultrasound of the bladder to be sure that they’re emptying. Because if they’re not emptying well, and if they’re going to go home, they may not empty their bladders well and may colonize bacteria.”
Dr. Pessis says it’s not common, but it does happen.
“It’s something that’s of concern,” he says. “It happens often enough that we should be very alert to watching for those problems.”
5: Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
“Sexual dysfunction is a significant issue,” Dr. Bulger says. “I think that it’s in the best interest of the patient to address that up front. Generally, urologists are pretty good at that as well. Because you’re co-managing with them, they’re going to help out with that. But it’s important to always remember what’s going to concern the patient.”
Incontinence can be similarly sensitive but important to discuss.
“I think it helps sometimes if the physician brings it up in an appropriate way and kind of opens the door to be able to have the discussion,” Dr. Bulger said.
—Dennis Pessis, professor of urology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, immediate past president, American Urological Association
6: Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
One rule of thumb is, if you try twice to put in a urinary catheter without success, call in someone else to do it.
“You don’t want what we call ‘false passages,’” Dr. Pessis says. “If you are having difficulty inserting the catheter, if it’s not moving down the channel well, then you should back off and either consult someone that has more experience in catheterizing or contact the urologist.”
Two reasons the placement might be difficult: strictures like old scar formations, within the urethra, or an enlarged prostate.
John Danella, MD, FACS, head of urology for the Geisinger Health System, says a coudé catheter, with a curved tip to help it navigate around the prostate, should be tried on male patients over 50.
“If that’s not successful, then I think you need to call the urologist,” he says. “It’s better to call them before there’s been trauma to the urethra than afterwards.”
Dr. Danella says he understands that attempts by hospitalists in the face of difficulty are made with “best intentions” to save the urologist the time. But when injuries happen, “often times you’re forced to take that patient to the operating room for cystoscopy.”
7: Diabetic patients require extra attention.
“They may have what we call a diabetic type of neuropathy for the bladder, which means that they don’t have the sensation and they may not empty their bladders,” Dr. Pessis explains. “They’re also susceptible to a higher incidence of bladder infection. So if you do have a diabetic patient, be sure they’re not infected before they leave. And be sure they’re emptying their bladders well.”
8: Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
After 72 hours, almost all urine cultures from a catheterized patient are positive. That doesn’t mean they all need antibiotics, Dr. Steers says.
“Unless the patient’s symptomatic, we don’t treat until a catheter comes out,” he says. “The constant use of antibiotics in somebody with an in-dwelling catheter is creating tremendous problems with resistance and biofilms, etc.”
Dr. Steers says hospitalists can be an educational resource for care teams, using the latest infectious disease literature to say, “Hey, this antibiotic should be stopped. You don’t need to continue this many days.”
“One of the problems we’re having with guidelines is every specialty has their own antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines,” he adds. “So it can be very confusing for the hospitalist.”
9: Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
Dr. Danella says that determination often is not made carefully enough. After initial treatment, follow-up with the urologist often can be done on an outpatient basis.
“Sometimes, they’re waiting around all day before we’re free and we can come see them. So I think in many cases, at least in our system, it would be helpful if folks could just place a phone call or just send a message and say, ‘Do you need to see this patient or can we send them home?’” Dr. Danella says. “I think it’s better for everybody if we can do that.”
One common example is an elderly patient who comes to the hospital, is put into a bed, and can’t void. Often, the patient would respond to a catheter and an alpha-blocker (if no contraindication), he says. But, that day, there’s nothing the urologist will be able to do to help make them void immediately, he says.
Another example is a patient with a small kidney stone, less than 5 mm, who probably would respond to medical therapy and won’t need an intervention, Dr. Danella says.
—Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist, professor of internal medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
10: Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
If a surgical patient’s note isn’t changed in three or four days, the hospitalist needs to ask the surgical team about what has changed in the case, Dr. Steers says.
“At the end of the day, it’s communication with urologists and surgeons,” he says. “And most would appreciate that. I think the [attitude from the] old days of ‘untold command of my patient, I want no other input,’ is really short-sighted.”
Hospitalist vigilance is especially important for complicated patients, such as those who’ve undergone radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. That’s the procedure with the highest mortality rate in urology, as patients are generally older, smoke, and often are obese. And they have high readmission rates—nearly 30 percent.3
Dr. Steers says hospitalists are needed to look for early warning signs in these patients.
“We look for that sort of input, especially when it comes to being the early eyes and ears of potential problems or somebody helping in discharge planning,” he says. “It might be a little too early to go home, and being readmitted is not very good for the hospital as a whole, but, more importantly, the patient.”
Tom Collins is a freelance writer in South Florida.
References
- Society of Hospital Medicine. Five things physicians and patients should question. SHM website. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/AM/pdf/SHM-Adult_5things_List_Web.pdf. Accessed October 24, 2013.
- Loeb M, Hunt D, O’Halloran K, Carusone SC, Dafoe N, Walter SD. Stop orders to reduce inappropriate urinary catheterization in hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(6):816-820.
- Stimson CJ, Chang SS, Barocas DA, et al. Early and late perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy: 90-day readmissions, morbidity and mortality in a contemporary series. J Urol. 2010;184(4):1296-1300.
- Saint S, Lipsky BA, Goold SD. Indwelling urinary catheters: a one-point restraint? Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(2):125-127.
10 Things: At A Glance
- Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
- But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
- Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
- Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
- Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
- Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
- Diabetic patients require extra attention.
- Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
- Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
- Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
1: Intravenous Haloperidol Does Not Prevent ICU Delirium
Urology is an area in which hospitalists might not have much formal training, but because many of these patients undergo highly complicated surgical procedures with great potential for complications, hospitalists can be vital for good outcomes, urologists say.
The use of urinary catheters is a prime area of concern when it comes to quality and safety, making hospitalists’ role in the care of urological patients even more crucial.
The Hospitalist spoke with a half dozen urologists and well-versed HM clinicians about caring for patients with urological disorders. Here are the best nuggets of guidance for hospitalists.
Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
John Bulger, DO, FACOI, FACP, SFHM, a hospitalist and chief quality officer at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, says that, all too often, urinary catheters are left in too long. “There’s pretty good data to suggest that there’s a very direct relationship with the length of time the catheter’s in and the chance of it getting infected,” he says. “Upwards to half of the urinary catheters that are in in hospitals right now wouldn’t meet the guidelines of having a urinary catheter in.”
Dr. Bulger is chair of SHM’s Choosing Wisely subcommittee. One of SHM’s Choosing Wisely recommendations warns physicians not to place, or leave in place, catheters for incontinence, convenience, or monitoring of non-critically ill patients.1
2: But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
William Steers, MD, chair of urology at the University of Virginia and editor of the Journal of Urology, says there are risks associated with taking catheters out when it’s not appropriate, especially in patients who’ve undergone surgery.
“We’ve seen situations where we’re called into the operating room by another team,” Dr. Steers says. “Let’s say there was a bladder injury of another service. We’ve repaired the bladder with a catheter in for seven to 10 days. It’s taken out day one; the bladder fills and has the potential of causing harm.”
Early removal before the bladder wall heals can cause bladder rupture, requiring emergency surgery.
“So the devil’s in the details,” he says.
Mark Austenfeld, MD, FACS, president of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, which is dedicated to political action, advocacy, and best practice parameters, says catheters should remain in place for patients with mental status changes, or those who are debilitated in some way and can’t get out of bed or don’t have the wherewithal to ask for help from a nurse.
He says he realizes hospitalists are following pay-for-performance protocols, but he adds a caveat.
“Many times these protocols cannot take into account all of these specialized situations,” says Dr. Austenfeld, a urologist with Kansas City Urology Care. He stresses, though, that the hospitalists he’s worked with do high-quality work.
Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist and professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says that even with these issues, early removal should remain a priority when appropriate.
“There’s going to be anecdotal evidence that in some particular patients, when the catheter is removed, it needs to be reinserted when they haven’t urinated for a while,” Dr. Saint explains. “But I think, in general, the studies that have looked at reinsertion have not found a statistically significant increase in reinsertion of the catheter after some type of a stop-order or nurse initiative, protocol, or urinary catheter reminder system has been put in place.”2
Dr. Steers says most agree that urinary catheters are often “overutilized.”
“You do want to get them out as soon as possible,” he says. “But if it’s ever in doubt, there should be communication with the urology team.”
3: Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
Hospitalists should tread carefully with medications that might be difficult to handle for patients with kidney issues, like stones or obstructive disease, Dr. Bulger says.
“If they only have one kidney that works well, you have to pay particular attention to drugs that are toxic to the kidneys,” he says. He notes that the nature of the patient’s health “will change the doses of some drugs, as well, depending on what the function of their kidney is.”
Dr. Austenfeld says that drugs with anticholinergic side effects, including some cold remedies such as Benadryl, should possibly be avoided in patients who are having trouble emptying their bladders, because they might make it more difficult for a patient to urinate. Some sedatives, such as amitriptyline, have similar effects and should be used cautiously in these patients, Dr. Austenfeld points out.
“That class of drugs—sometimes I see patients on them for a long time, or placed on them, and they do have a little trouble emptying their bladders,” he says.
4: Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
“If patients are in the hospital and they’ve been taking narcotics post-surgically, or they’re a diabetic patient and they’ve had urinary catheter infections, we should be very careful that these patients are emptying their bladders,” says Dennis Pessis, professor of urology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and immediate past president of the American Urological Association. “You can do a very simple ultrasound of the bladder to be sure that they’re emptying. Because if they’re not emptying well, and if they’re going to go home, they may not empty their bladders well and may colonize bacteria.”
Dr. Pessis says it’s not common, but it does happen.
“It’s something that’s of concern,” he says. “It happens often enough that we should be very alert to watching for those problems.”
5: Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
“Sexual dysfunction is a significant issue,” Dr. Bulger says. “I think that it’s in the best interest of the patient to address that up front. Generally, urologists are pretty good at that as well. Because you’re co-managing with them, they’re going to help out with that. But it’s important to always remember what’s going to concern the patient.”
Incontinence can be similarly sensitive but important to discuss.
“I think it helps sometimes if the physician brings it up in an appropriate way and kind of opens the door to be able to have the discussion,” Dr. Bulger said.
—Dennis Pessis, professor of urology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, immediate past president, American Urological Association
6: Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
One rule of thumb is, if you try twice to put in a urinary catheter without success, call in someone else to do it.
“You don’t want what we call ‘false passages,’” Dr. Pessis says. “If you are having difficulty inserting the catheter, if it’s not moving down the channel well, then you should back off and either consult someone that has more experience in catheterizing or contact the urologist.”
Two reasons the placement might be difficult: strictures like old scar formations, within the urethra, or an enlarged prostate.
John Danella, MD, FACS, head of urology for the Geisinger Health System, says a coudé catheter, with a curved tip to help it navigate around the prostate, should be tried on male patients over 50.
“If that’s not successful, then I think you need to call the urologist,” he says. “It’s better to call them before there’s been trauma to the urethra than afterwards.”
Dr. Danella says he understands that attempts by hospitalists in the face of difficulty are made with “best intentions” to save the urologist the time. But when injuries happen, “often times you’re forced to take that patient to the operating room for cystoscopy.”
7: Diabetic patients require extra attention.
“They may have what we call a diabetic type of neuropathy for the bladder, which means that they don’t have the sensation and they may not empty their bladders,” Dr. Pessis explains. “They’re also susceptible to a higher incidence of bladder infection. So if you do have a diabetic patient, be sure they’re not infected before they leave. And be sure they’re emptying their bladders well.”
8: Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
After 72 hours, almost all urine cultures from a catheterized patient are positive. That doesn’t mean they all need antibiotics, Dr. Steers says.
“Unless the patient’s symptomatic, we don’t treat until a catheter comes out,” he says. “The constant use of antibiotics in somebody with an in-dwelling catheter is creating tremendous problems with resistance and biofilms, etc.”
Dr. Steers says hospitalists can be an educational resource for care teams, using the latest infectious disease literature to say, “Hey, this antibiotic should be stopped. You don’t need to continue this many days.”
“One of the problems we’re having with guidelines is every specialty has their own antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines,” he adds. “So it can be very confusing for the hospitalist.”
9: Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
Dr. Danella says that determination often is not made carefully enough. After initial treatment, follow-up with the urologist often can be done on an outpatient basis.
“Sometimes, they’re waiting around all day before we’re free and we can come see them. So I think in many cases, at least in our system, it would be helpful if folks could just place a phone call or just send a message and say, ‘Do you need to see this patient or can we send them home?’” Dr. Danella says. “I think it’s better for everybody if we can do that.”
One common example is an elderly patient who comes to the hospital, is put into a bed, and can’t void. Often, the patient would respond to a catheter and an alpha-blocker (if no contraindication), he says. But, that day, there’s nothing the urologist will be able to do to help make them void immediately, he says.
Another example is a patient with a small kidney stone, less than 5 mm, who probably would respond to medical therapy and won’t need an intervention, Dr. Danella says.
—Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist, professor of internal medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
10: Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
If a surgical patient’s note isn’t changed in three or four days, the hospitalist needs to ask the surgical team about what has changed in the case, Dr. Steers says.
“At the end of the day, it’s communication with urologists and surgeons,” he says. “And most would appreciate that. I think the [attitude from the] old days of ‘untold command of my patient, I want no other input,’ is really short-sighted.”
Hospitalist vigilance is especially important for complicated patients, such as those who’ve undergone radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. That’s the procedure with the highest mortality rate in urology, as patients are generally older, smoke, and often are obese. And they have high readmission rates—nearly 30 percent.3
Dr. Steers says hospitalists are needed to look for early warning signs in these patients.
“We look for that sort of input, especially when it comes to being the early eyes and ears of potential problems or somebody helping in discharge planning,” he says. “It might be a little too early to go home, and being readmitted is not very good for the hospital as a whole, but, more importantly, the patient.”
Tom Collins is a freelance writer in South Florida.
References
- Society of Hospital Medicine. Five things physicians and patients should question. SHM website. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/AM/pdf/SHM-Adult_5things_List_Web.pdf. Accessed October 24, 2013.
- Loeb M, Hunt D, O’Halloran K, Carusone SC, Dafoe N, Walter SD. Stop orders to reduce inappropriate urinary catheterization in hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(6):816-820.
- Stimson CJ, Chang SS, Barocas DA, et al. Early and late perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy: 90-day readmissions, morbidity and mortality in a contemporary series. J Urol. 2010;184(4):1296-1300.
- Saint S, Lipsky BA, Goold SD. Indwelling urinary catheters: a one-point restraint? Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(2):125-127.
10 Things: At A Glance
- Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
- But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
- Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
- Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
- Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
- Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
- Diabetic patients require extra attention.
- Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
- Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
- Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
1: Intravenous Haloperidol Does Not Prevent ICU Delirium
Urology is an area in which hospitalists might not have much formal training, but because many of these patients undergo highly complicated surgical procedures with great potential for complications, hospitalists can be vital for good outcomes, urologists say.
The use of urinary catheters is a prime area of concern when it comes to quality and safety, making hospitalists’ role in the care of urological patients even more crucial.
The Hospitalist spoke with a half dozen urologists and well-versed HM clinicians about caring for patients with urological disorders. Here are the best nuggets of guidance for hospitalists.
Take out urinary catheters as soon as possible.
John Bulger, DO, FACOI, FACP, SFHM, a hospitalist and chief quality officer at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, says that, all too often, urinary catheters are left in too long. “There’s pretty good data to suggest that there’s a very direct relationship with the length of time the catheter’s in and the chance of it getting infected,” he says. “Upwards to half of the urinary catheters that are in in hospitals right now wouldn’t meet the guidelines of having a urinary catheter in.”
Dr. Bulger is chair of SHM’s Choosing Wisely subcommittee. One of SHM’s Choosing Wisely recommendations warns physicians not to place, or leave in place, catheters for incontinence, convenience, or monitoring of non-critically ill patients.1
2: But don’t carry the Choosing Wisely directive on urinary catheters—and in-house protocols—too far.
William Steers, MD, chair of urology at the University of Virginia and editor of the Journal of Urology, says there are risks associated with taking catheters out when it’s not appropriate, especially in patients who’ve undergone surgery.
“We’ve seen situations where we’re called into the operating room by another team,” Dr. Steers says. “Let’s say there was a bladder injury of another service. We’ve repaired the bladder with a catheter in for seven to 10 days. It’s taken out day one; the bladder fills and has the potential of causing harm.”
Early removal before the bladder wall heals can cause bladder rupture, requiring emergency surgery.
“So the devil’s in the details,” he says.
Mark Austenfeld, MD, FACS, president of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, which is dedicated to political action, advocacy, and best practice parameters, says catheters should remain in place for patients with mental status changes, or those who are debilitated in some way and can’t get out of bed or don’t have the wherewithal to ask for help from a nurse.
He says he realizes hospitalists are following pay-for-performance protocols, but he adds a caveat.
“Many times these protocols cannot take into account all of these specialized situations,” says Dr. Austenfeld, a urologist with Kansas City Urology Care. He stresses, though, that the hospitalists he’s worked with do high-quality work.
Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist and professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says that even with these issues, early removal should remain a priority when appropriate.
“There’s going to be anecdotal evidence that in some particular patients, when the catheter is removed, it needs to be reinserted when they haven’t urinated for a while,” Dr. Saint explains. “But I think, in general, the studies that have looked at reinsertion have not found a statistically significant increase in reinsertion of the catheter after some type of a stop-order or nurse initiative, protocol, or urinary catheter reminder system has been put in place.”2
Dr. Steers says most agree that urinary catheters are often “overutilized.”
“You do want to get them out as soon as possible,” he says. “But if it’s ever in doubt, there should be communication with the urology team.”
3: Beware certain types of medications in vulnerable patients.
Hospitalists should tread carefully with medications that might be difficult to handle for patients with kidney issues, like stones or obstructive disease, Dr. Bulger says.
“If they only have one kidney that works well, you have to pay particular attention to drugs that are toxic to the kidneys,” he says. He notes that the nature of the patient’s health “will change the doses of some drugs, as well, depending on what the function of their kidney is.”
Dr. Austenfeld says that drugs with anticholinergic side effects, including some cold remedies such as Benadryl, should possibly be avoided in patients who are having trouble emptying their bladders, because they might make it more difficult for a patient to urinate. Some sedatives, such as amitriptyline, have similar effects and should be used cautiously in these patients, Dr. Austenfeld points out.
“That class of drugs—sometimes I see patients on them for a long time, or placed on them, and they do have a little trouble emptying their bladders,” he says.
4: Don’t discharge patients who are having difficulty voiding.
“If patients are in the hospital and they’ve been taking narcotics post-surgically, or they’re a diabetic patient and they’ve had urinary catheter infections, we should be very careful that these patients are emptying their bladders,” says Dennis Pessis, professor of urology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and immediate past president of the American Urological Association. “You can do a very simple ultrasound of the bladder to be sure that they’re emptying. Because if they’re not emptying well, and if they’re going to go home, they may not empty their bladders well and may colonize bacteria.”
Dr. Pessis says it’s not common, but it does happen.
“It’s something that’s of concern,” he says. “It happens often enough that we should be very alert to watching for those problems.”
5: Broach sensitive topics, but do so gently.
“Sexual dysfunction is a significant issue,” Dr. Bulger says. “I think that it’s in the best interest of the patient to address that up front. Generally, urologists are pretty good at that as well. Because you’re co-managing with them, they’re going to help out with that. But it’s important to always remember what’s going to concern the patient.”
Incontinence can be similarly sensitive but important to discuss.
“I think it helps sometimes if the physician brings it up in an appropriate way and kind of opens the door to be able to have the discussion,” Dr. Bulger said.
—Dennis Pessis, professor of urology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, immediate past president, American Urological Association
6: Call in a urologist, or someone with more experience, when you have difficulty placing a catheter.
One rule of thumb is, if you try twice to put in a urinary catheter without success, call in someone else to do it.
“You don’t want what we call ‘false passages,’” Dr. Pessis says. “If you are having difficulty inserting the catheter, if it’s not moving down the channel well, then you should back off and either consult someone that has more experience in catheterizing or contact the urologist.”
Two reasons the placement might be difficult: strictures like old scar formations, within the urethra, or an enlarged prostate.
John Danella, MD, FACS, head of urology for the Geisinger Health System, says a coudé catheter, with a curved tip to help it navigate around the prostate, should be tried on male patients over 50.
“If that’s not successful, then I think you need to call the urologist,” he says. “It’s better to call them before there’s been trauma to the urethra than afterwards.”
Dr. Danella says he understands that attempts by hospitalists in the face of difficulty are made with “best intentions” to save the urologist the time. But when injuries happen, “often times you’re forced to take that patient to the operating room for cystoscopy.”
7: Diabetic patients require extra attention.
“They may have what we call a diabetic type of neuropathy for the bladder, which means that they don’t have the sensation and they may not empty their bladders,” Dr. Pessis explains. “They’re also susceptible to a higher incidence of bladder infection. So if you do have a diabetic patient, be sure they’re not infected before they leave. And be sure they’re emptying their bladders well.”
8: Practice good antibiotic stewardship.
After 72 hours, almost all urine cultures from a catheterized patient are positive. That doesn’t mean they all need antibiotics, Dr. Steers says.
“Unless the patient’s symptomatic, we don’t treat until a catheter comes out,” he says. “The constant use of antibiotics in somebody with an in-dwelling catheter is creating tremendous problems with resistance and biofilms, etc.”
Dr. Steers says hospitalists can be an educational resource for care teams, using the latest infectious disease literature to say, “Hey, this antibiotic should be stopped. You don’t need to continue this many days.”
“One of the problems we’re having with guidelines is every specialty has their own antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines,” he adds. “So it can be very confusing for the hospitalist.”
9: Determine whether the patient can be seen as an outpatient.
Dr. Danella says that determination often is not made carefully enough. After initial treatment, follow-up with the urologist often can be done on an outpatient basis.
“Sometimes, they’re waiting around all day before we’re free and we can come see them. So I think in many cases, at least in our system, it would be helpful if folks could just place a phone call or just send a message and say, ‘Do you need to see this patient or can we send them home?’” Dr. Danella says. “I think it’s better for everybody if we can do that.”
One common example is an elderly patient who comes to the hospital, is put into a bed, and can’t void. Often, the patient would respond to a catheter and an alpha-blocker (if no contraindication), he says. But, that day, there’s nothing the urologist will be able to do to help make them void immediately, he says.
Another example is a patient with a small kidney stone, less than 5 mm, who probably would respond to medical therapy and won’t need an intervention, Dr. Danella says.
—Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, FHM, hospitalist, professor of internal medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
10: Embrace your role as eyes and ears.
If a surgical patient’s note isn’t changed in three or four days, the hospitalist needs to ask the surgical team about what has changed in the case, Dr. Steers says.
“At the end of the day, it’s communication with urologists and surgeons,” he says. “And most would appreciate that. I think the [attitude from the] old days of ‘untold command of my patient, I want no other input,’ is really short-sighted.”
Hospitalist vigilance is especially important for complicated patients, such as those who’ve undergone radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. That’s the procedure with the highest mortality rate in urology, as patients are generally older, smoke, and often are obese. And they have high readmission rates—nearly 30 percent.3
Dr. Steers says hospitalists are needed to look for early warning signs in these patients.
“We look for that sort of input, especially when it comes to being the early eyes and ears of potential problems or somebody helping in discharge planning,” he says. “It might be a little too early to go home, and being readmitted is not very good for the hospital as a whole, but, more importantly, the patient.”
Tom Collins is a freelance writer in South Florida.
References
- Society of Hospital Medicine. Five things physicians and patients should question. SHM website. Available at: http://www.hospitalmedicine.org/AM/pdf/SHM-Adult_5things_List_Web.pdf. Accessed October 24, 2013.
- Loeb M, Hunt D, O’Halloran K, Carusone SC, Dafoe N, Walter SD. Stop orders to reduce inappropriate urinary catheterization in hospitalized patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(6):816-820.
- Stimson CJ, Chang SS, Barocas DA, et al. Early and late perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy: 90-day readmissions, morbidity and mortality in a contemporary series. J Urol. 2010;184(4):1296-1300.
- Saint S, Lipsky BA, Goold SD. Indwelling urinary catheters: a one-point restraint? Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(2):125-127.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Xavier Perez, MD, is the 2013 Hospitalist Medical Director of the Year at TeamHealth. Dr. Perez oversees the hospital medicine program at Sutter Solano Medical Center, a 102-bed acute care center in Vallejo, Calif. Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth has been partnering with hospital-based providers to provide hospitalist, emergency, and anesthesia staffing since 1979.
Christopher Sharp, MD, has been named the new chief medical information officer at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Stanford, Calif. Dr. Sharp is hospitalist at Stanford University Medical Center, clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, and chair of the Medical Staff Health Information Management (HIM) Committee.
Business Moves
Hospitalists of Northern Michigan (HNM), based in Traverse City, Mich., has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2013 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. The award has honored healthcare employers for economic development, employee satisfaction, and retention for the last six years. HNM provides hospitalist services to six hospitals in four different healthcare systems throughout Northern Michigan.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., recently announced that it will oversee hospitalist services at Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C. (MPHM), in Kansas City, Mo. This new agreement will place IPC management into two new Kansas City hospitals. IPC provides hospitalist services to over 350 hospitals in 28 states throughout the country.
WakeMed Health and Hospitals, a Raleigh, N.C.-based healthcare system, now provides pediatric hospitalist services to Central Carolina Hospital (CCH) in Sanford, N.C. WakeMed will begin by staffing three pediatric hospitalists at CCH to establish 24-hour pediatric inpatient care. Central Carolina Hospital is an acute care community hospital that already offers hospitalist services to its adult patients.
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Inpatient Physicians has partnered with CHRISTUS Health to provide hospitalist services at seven of its hospitals in Texas and Louisiana. The seven hospitals are CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-South in Corpus Christi, Texas; CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills, both in San Antonio, Texas; CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La.; CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles, La.; and CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport, La. Sound now provides hospitalist services to over 70 hospitals throughout the country. CHRISTUS Health is a Catholic hospital system made up of more than 40 hospitals throughout seven U.S. states and six Mexican states.
Carolinas Medical Center–Union in Monroe, N.C., will staff three 24-hour pediatric hospitalists thanks to an agreement with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Both hospitals are part of Carolinas HealthCare System, which is the largest public, non-profit hospital system in North and South Carolina.
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, Ore., is offering hospitalist services to inpatients at the flagship hospital of Curry Health Network, which is made up of seven hospitals and outpatient clinics serving the Wild Rivers Coast area of southwestern Oregon.
Xavier Perez, MD, is the 2013 Hospitalist Medical Director of the Year at TeamHealth. Dr. Perez oversees the hospital medicine program at Sutter Solano Medical Center, a 102-bed acute care center in Vallejo, Calif. Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth has been partnering with hospital-based providers to provide hospitalist, emergency, and anesthesia staffing since 1979.
Christopher Sharp, MD, has been named the new chief medical information officer at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Stanford, Calif. Dr. Sharp is hospitalist at Stanford University Medical Center, clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, and chair of the Medical Staff Health Information Management (HIM) Committee.
Business Moves
Hospitalists of Northern Michigan (HNM), based in Traverse City, Mich., has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2013 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. The award has honored healthcare employers for economic development, employee satisfaction, and retention for the last six years. HNM provides hospitalist services to six hospitals in four different healthcare systems throughout Northern Michigan.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., recently announced that it will oversee hospitalist services at Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C. (MPHM), in Kansas City, Mo. This new agreement will place IPC management into two new Kansas City hospitals. IPC provides hospitalist services to over 350 hospitals in 28 states throughout the country.
WakeMed Health and Hospitals, a Raleigh, N.C.-based healthcare system, now provides pediatric hospitalist services to Central Carolina Hospital (CCH) in Sanford, N.C. WakeMed will begin by staffing three pediatric hospitalists at CCH to establish 24-hour pediatric inpatient care. Central Carolina Hospital is an acute care community hospital that already offers hospitalist services to its adult patients.
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Inpatient Physicians has partnered with CHRISTUS Health to provide hospitalist services at seven of its hospitals in Texas and Louisiana. The seven hospitals are CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-South in Corpus Christi, Texas; CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills, both in San Antonio, Texas; CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La.; CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles, La.; and CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport, La. Sound now provides hospitalist services to over 70 hospitals throughout the country. CHRISTUS Health is a Catholic hospital system made up of more than 40 hospitals throughout seven U.S. states and six Mexican states.
Carolinas Medical Center–Union in Monroe, N.C., will staff three 24-hour pediatric hospitalists thanks to an agreement with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Both hospitals are part of Carolinas HealthCare System, which is the largest public, non-profit hospital system in North and South Carolina.
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, Ore., is offering hospitalist services to inpatients at the flagship hospital of Curry Health Network, which is made up of seven hospitals and outpatient clinics serving the Wild Rivers Coast area of southwestern Oregon.
Xavier Perez, MD, is the 2013 Hospitalist Medical Director of the Year at TeamHealth. Dr. Perez oversees the hospital medicine program at Sutter Solano Medical Center, a 102-bed acute care center in Vallejo, Calif. Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth has been partnering with hospital-based providers to provide hospitalist, emergency, and anesthesia staffing since 1979.
Christopher Sharp, MD, has been named the new chief medical information officer at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Stanford, Calif. Dr. Sharp is hospitalist at Stanford University Medical Center, clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, and chair of the Medical Staff Health Information Management (HIM) Committee.
Business Moves
Hospitalists of Northern Michigan (HNM), based in Traverse City, Mich., has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2013 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. The award has honored healthcare employers for economic development, employee satisfaction, and retention for the last six years. HNM provides hospitalist services to six hospitals in four different healthcare systems throughout Northern Michigan.
IPC The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., recently announced that it will oversee hospitalist services at Metropolitan Pulmonary and Hospital Medicine, P.C. (MPHM), in Kansas City, Mo. This new agreement will place IPC management into two new Kansas City hospitals. IPC provides hospitalist services to over 350 hospitals in 28 states throughout the country.
WakeMed Health and Hospitals, a Raleigh, N.C.-based healthcare system, now provides pediatric hospitalist services to Central Carolina Hospital (CCH) in Sanford, N.C. WakeMed will begin by staffing three pediatric hospitalists at CCH to establish 24-hour pediatric inpatient care. Central Carolina Hospital is an acute care community hospital that already offers hospitalist services to its adult patients.
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Inpatient Physicians has partnered with CHRISTUS Health to provide hospitalist services at seven of its hospitals in Texas and Louisiana. The seven hospitals are CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-South in Corpus Christi, Texas; CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills, both in San Antonio, Texas; CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La.; CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles, La.; and CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport, La. Sound now provides hospitalist services to over 70 hospitals throughout the country. CHRISTUS Health is a Catholic hospital system made up of more than 40 hospitals throughout seven U.S. states and six Mexican states.
Carolinas Medical Center–Union in Monroe, N.C., will staff three 24-hour pediatric hospitalists thanks to an agreement with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Both hospitals are part of Carolinas HealthCare System, which is the largest public, non-profit hospital system in North and South Carolina.
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, Ore., is offering hospitalist services to inpatients at the flagship hospital of Curry Health Network, which is made up of seven hospitals and outpatient clinics serving the Wild Rivers Coast area of southwestern Oregon.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Robert Wachter, MD, MHM, has been named to the board of directors and chair of the quality committee for IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Wachter currently serves as director of the division of hospital medicine and associate chair of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. A well-known and respected authority on quality and safety, he was recognized with the John M. Eisenberg Award for excellence in patient safety in 2004. He also pens the Wachter’s World blog at www.wachtersworld.com.
Raffi Hodikian, MD, a hospitalist and longtime member of SHM, was named the 2013 Physician of the Year at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, Calif. “Not only was this the greatest honor of my career, but I thought it further reaffirmed the vital role hospitalists play in our community hospitals,” Dr. Hodikian said of the award.
Kimberly A. Bell, MD, is the new associate vice president of hospital medicine for Franciscan Health System (FHS) in Tacoma, Wash. In her new role, Dr. Bell will oversee hospitalist services at five of FHS’ seven area hospitals. FHS employs nearly 100 hospital medicine providers, including physicians and physician extenders.
Felix T. Cabrera, MD, has been named associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) in Tamuning, Guam, after working as a hospitalist at GMH for more than two years. In his new role, Dr. Cabrera hopes to improve the technological infrastructure within the hospital. He will continue with his regular hospitalist rounds and private practice at International Health Providers Medical Group in Dededo, Guam. GMH is a 158-bed acute-care facility and the only hospital dedicated to civilian care on the island.
Troy Martin, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer for Questcare Hospitalists, based in Dallas. Dr. Martin comes to the Questcare executive team from the Medical Center of McKinney in McKinney, Texas, where he served as medical director of Questcare’s hospitalist program.
Robert Wachter, MD, MHM, has been named to the board of directors and chair of the quality committee for IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Wachter currently serves as director of the division of hospital medicine and associate chair of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. A well-known and respected authority on quality and safety, he was recognized with the John M. Eisenberg Award for excellence in patient safety in 2004. He also pens the Wachter’s World blog at www.wachtersworld.com.
Raffi Hodikian, MD, a hospitalist and longtime member of SHM, was named the 2013 Physician of the Year at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, Calif. “Not only was this the greatest honor of my career, but I thought it further reaffirmed the vital role hospitalists play in our community hospitals,” Dr. Hodikian said of the award.
Kimberly A. Bell, MD, is the new associate vice president of hospital medicine for Franciscan Health System (FHS) in Tacoma, Wash. In her new role, Dr. Bell will oversee hospitalist services at five of FHS’ seven area hospitals. FHS employs nearly 100 hospital medicine providers, including physicians and physician extenders.
Felix T. Cabrera, MD, has been named associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) in Tamuning, Guam, after working as a hospitalist at GMH for more than two years. In his new role, Dr. Cabrera hopes to improve the technological infrastructure within the hospital. He will continue with his regular hospitalist rounds and private practice at International Health Providers Medical Group in Dededo, Guam. GMH is a 158-bed acute-care facility and the only hospital dedicated to civilian care on the island.
Troy Martin, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer for Questcare Hospitalists, based in Dallas. Dr. Martin comes to the Questcare executive team from the Medical Center of McKinney in McKinney, Texas, where he served as medical director of Questcare’s hospitalist program.
Robert Wachter, MD, MHM, has been named to the board of directors and chair of the quality committee for IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif. Dr. Wachter currently serves as director of the division of hospital medicine and associate chair of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. A well-known and respected authority on quality and safety, he was recognized with the John M. Eisenberg Award for excellence in patient safety in 2004. He also pens the Wachter’s World blog at www.wachtersworld.com.
Raffi Hodikian, MD, a hospitalist and longtime member of SHM, was named the 2013 Physician of the Year at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, Calif. “Not only was this the greatest honor of my career, but I thought it further reaffirmed the vital role hospitalists play in our community hospitals,” Dr. Hodikian said of the award.
Kimberly A. Bell, MD, is the new associate vice president of hospital medicine for Franciscan Health System (FHS) in Tacoma, Wash. In her new role, Dr. Bell will oversee hospitalist services at five of FHS’ seven area hospitals. FHS employs nearly 100 hospital medicine providers, including physicians and physician extenders.
Felix T. Cabrera, MD, has been named associate medical director at Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) in Tamuning, Guam, after working as a hospitalist at GMH for more than two years. In his new role, Dr. Cabrera hopes to improve the technological infrastructure within the hospital. He will continue with his regular hospitalist rounds and private practice at International Health Providers Medical Group in Dededo, Guam. GMH is a 158-bed acute-care facility and the only hospital dedicated to civilian care on the island.
Troy Martin, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer for Questcare Hospitalists, based in Dallas. Dr. Martin comes to the Questcare executive team from the Medical Center of McKinney in McKinney, Texas, where he served as medical director of Questcare’s hospitalist program.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Hospitalist Robert McNab, DO, has been named the new medical education director of Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo. He will continue as a hospitalist and director of the internal-medicine residency program. Dr. McNab brings more than 10 years of teaching experience to the Freeman Graduate Medical Education Program.
Brian Harte, MD, SFHM, Cleveland Clinic hospitalist and president of South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, is now president of Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Dr. Harte is an SHM board member and serves as the board treasurer. In addition to his new role, Dr. Harte will continue to practice as a hospitalist at Hillcrest Hospital.
Anita Dhople, MD, is the new hospitalist medical director for the Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First health system. Dr. Dhople will oversee all hospitalist services at four affiliated hospitals. Dr. Dhople comes to Health First from the Piedmont Physicians Group in Atlanta.
Matthew Heinz, MD, has been appointed director of provider outreach in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA). Dr. Heinz is a practicing hospitalist at Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center and a former representative in the Arizona state legislature.
Business Moves
IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has announced the acquisition of two private hospitalist practices: Sound Senior Geriatrics LLC (SSG) in Mystic, Conn., and Cape Coral Hospitalists Inc. (CCH) based in Fort Meyers, Fla. IPC contracts hospitalist services in 28 states.
Bayhealth hospital network in Dover, Del., has partnered with Apogee Physicians to provide 24-hour hospitalist services at Kent General Hospital in Dover and Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford. Bayhealth has been serving communities in central and southern Delaware for more than 75 years. Phoenix-based Apogee Physicians has been providing contracted hospitalist services since 2002.
Cogent Healthcare is partnering with South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) to provide hospitalist services at the 285-bed acute-care nonprofit main campus and the 55-bed Smith Northview Campus in Valdosta, Ga. SGMC currently serves 15 counties in south-central Georgia and north Florida. Cogent provides contracted hospitalist services at more than 100 hospitals throughout the United States.
Cogent Healthcare Inc., based in Brentwood, Tenn., recently announced Dean Weiland as the private hospitalist staffing company’s new president and CEO. Weiland served as an executive during a merger between Renal Advantage and Liberty Dialysis in 2010. Before that, he served as CEO of The Work Institute.
Hill Country Memorial Hospital (HCM) in Fredericksburg, Texas, has announced plans to expand its 24-hour hospitalist service from only weekends to seven days a week. The decision comes as a reaction to the positive benefits HCM has experienced since it began its weekend hospitalist service in 2011.
Hospitalist Robert McNab, DO, has been named the new medical education director of Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo. He will continue as a hospitalist and director of the internal-medicine residency program. Dr. McNab brings more than 10 years of teaching experience to the Freeman Graduate Medical Education Program.
Brian Harte, MD, SFHM, Cleveland Clinic hospitalist and president of South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, is now president of Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Dr. Harte is an SHM board member and serves as the board treasurer. In addition to his new role, Dr. Harte will continue to practice as a hospitalist at Hillcrest Hospital.
Anita Dhople, MD, is the new hospitalist medical director for the Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First health system. Dr. Dhople will oversee all hospitalist services at four affiliated hospitals. Dr. Dhople comes to Health First from the Piedmont Physicians Group in Atlanta.
Matthew Heinz, MD, has been appointed director of provider outreach in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA). Dr. Heinz is a practicing hospitalist at Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center and a former representative in the Arizona state legislature.
Business Moves
IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has announced the acquisition of two private hospitalist practices: Sound Senior Geriatrics LLC (SSG) in Mystic, Conn., and Cape Coral Hospitalists Inc. (CCH) based in Fort Meyers, Fla. IPC contracts hospitalist services in 28 states.
Bayhealth hospital network in Dover, Del., has partnered with Apogee Physicians to provide 24-hour hospitalist services at Kent General Hospital in Dover and Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford. Bayhealth has been serving communities in central and southern Delaware for more than 75 years. Phoenix-based Apogee Physicians has been providing contracted hospitalist services since 2002.
Cogent Healthcare is partnering with South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) to provide hospitalist services at the 285-bed acute-care nonprofit main campus and the 55-bed Smith Northview Campus in Valdosta, Ga. SGMC currently serves 15 counties in south-central Georgia and north Florida. Cogent provides contracted hospitalist services at more than 100 hospitals throughout the United States.
Cogent Healthcare Inc., based in Brentwood, Tenn., recently announced Dean Weiland as the private hospitalist staffing company’s new president and CEO. Weiland served as an executive during a merger between Renal Advantage and Liberty Dialysis in 2010. Before that, he served as CEO of The Work Institute.
Hill Country Memorial Hospital (HCM) in Fredericksburg, Texas, has announced plans to expand its 24-hour hospitalist service from only weekends to seven days a week. The decision comes as a reaction to the positive benefits HCM has experienced since it began its weekend hospitalist service in 2011.
Hospitalist Robert McNab, DO, has been named the new medical education director of Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo. He will continue as a hospitalist and director of the internal-medicine residency program. Dr. McNab brings more than 10 years of teaching experience to the Freeman Graduate Medical Education Program.
Brian Harte, MD, SFHM, Cleveland Clinic hospitalist and president of South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, is now president of Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Dr. Harte is an SHM board member and serves as the board treasurer. In addition to his new role, Dr. Harte will continue to practice as a hospitalist at Hillcrest Hospital.
Anita Dhople, MD, is the new hospitalist medical director for the Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First health system. Dr. Dhople will oversee all hospitalist services at four affiliated hospitals. Dr. Dhople comes to Health First from the Piedmont Physicians Group in Atlanta.
Matthew Heinz, MD, has been appointed director of provider outreach in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA). Dr. Heinz is a practicing hospitalist at Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center and a former representative in the Arizona state legislature.
Business Moves
IPC: The Hospitalist Company, based in North Hollywood, Calif., has announced the acquisition of two private hospitalist practices: Sound Senior Geriatrics LLC (SSG) in Mystic, Conn., and Cape Coral Hospitalists Inc. (CCH) based in Fort Meyers, Fla. IPC contracts hospitalist services in 28 states.
Bayhealth hospital network in Dover, Del., has partnered with Apogee Physicians to provide 24-hour hospitalist services at Kent General Hospital in Dover and Milford Memorial Hospital in Milford. Bayhealth has been serving communities in central and southern Delaware for more than 75 years. Phoenix-based Apogee Physicians has been providing contracted hospitalist services since 2002.
Cogent Healthcare is partnering with South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) to provide hospitalist services at the 285-bed acute-care nonprofit main campus and the 55-bed Smith Northview Campus in Valdosta, Ga. SGMC currently serves 15 counties in south-central Georgia and north Florida. Cogent provides contracted hospitalist services at more than 100 hospitals throughout the United States.
Cogent Healthcare Inc., based in Brentwood, Tenn., recently announced Dean Weiland as the private hospitalist staffing company’s new president and CEO. Weiland served as an executive during a merger between Renal Advantage and Liberty Dialysis in 2010. Before that, he served as CEO of The Work Institute.
Hill Country Memorial Hospital (HCM) in Fredericksburg, Texas, has announced plans to expand its 24-hour hospitalist service from only weekends to seven days a week. The decision comes as a reaction to the positive benefits HCM has experienced since it began its weekend hospitalist service in 2011.
Movers and Shakers in Hospital Medicine
Chris Brown, MD, MPH, was elected one of Columbus Business First’s members of the Forty Under 40 class of 2013. Dr. Brown is the medical director of hospital medicine at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. The designation recognizes members of the Columbus, Ohio, community who demonstrate superior professional development, community involvement, and other awards and recognitions. Dr. Brown’s colleagues describe him as “a collaborative, attentive, and detailed physician as well as a capable leader.”
Thomas Gallagher, MD, is the University of Washington’s (UW) new director of the program in hospital medicine. This new position in UW’s division of general internal medicine will oversee all of the hospitalist programs at UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Gallagher also is a UW professor of medicine and bioethics and humanities.
Pawan Dhawan, MD, has been appointed medical director of the hospitalist programs at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., and Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Dr. Dhawan comes to Trident Health System from Bay Hospitalists in Newark, Del. Dr. Dhawan served on SHM’s Leadership Committee in 2011.
OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG) in Mauldin, S.C., has announced new medical directors of operations (MDOs) for five of its regions. Nicholas Kulbida, MD, MDO for OBHG’s northeast region, works at Bellevue Women’s Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. Susie Wilson, MD, one of two MDOs for the southeast region, is team leader at Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Sue Smith, MD, the other MDO for OBHG’s southeast region, works for Winter Haven Hospital-Regency Medical Center in Winter Haven, Fla. Matthew Conrad, MD, MDO for the Great Lakes region, serves as an OB hospitalist at both Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., and Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, Fla. Charlie Jaynes, MD, OBHG’s MDO for the south-central region, is an OB hospitalist at North Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, and Baylor All Saints Andrews Women’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Michael White, MD, the West Coast MDO, works as a hospitalist at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif.
Jetinder Singh-Marjara, MD, is the new hospital medicine program director at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Mo. Dr. Singh-Marjara has worked in Kansas City, Mo., and throughout the Midwest as a hospitalist for more than 10 years since completing his residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Boghara, MD Tien Vo, MD
Fred Guyer, MD, recently was awarded the Northeast Florida Pediatric Society’s Pediatric Hospitalist of the Year award. Dr. Guyer is a hospitalist at Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville. Dr. Guyer is faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
TeamHealth of Knoxville, Tenn., has announced three new medical directors.
Shelley Lenamond, DO, FHM, is the new facility medical director for TeamHealth’s hospitalist program at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, Texas.
Haresh Boghara, MD, is the new facility medical director of hospitalist services at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas.
Tien Vo, MD, is TeamHealth’s new facility medical director of its hospitalist program at El Centro Regional Medical Center in El Centro, Calif.
Michael O'Neal is a freelance writer in New York.
Chris Brown, MD, MPH, was elected one of Columbus Business First’s members of the Forty Under 40 class of 2013. Dr. Brown is the medical director of hospital medicine at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. The designation recognizes members of the Columbus, Ohio, community who demonstrate superior professional development, community involvement, and other awards and recognitions. Dr. Brown’s colleagues describe him as “a collaborative, attentive, and detailed physician as well as a capable leader.”
Thomas Gallagher, MD, is the University of Washington’s (UW) new director of the program in hospital medicine. This new position in UW’s division of general internal medicine will oversee all of the hospitalist programs at UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Gallagher also is a UW professor of medicine and bioethics and humanities.
Pawan Dhawan, MD, has been appointed medical director of the hospitalist programs at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., and Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Dr. Dhawan comes to Trident Health System from Bay Hospitalists in Newark, Del. Dr. Dhawan served on SHM’s Leadership Committee in 2011.
OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG) in Mauldin, S.C., has announced new medical directors of operations (MDOs) for five of its regions. Nicholas Kulbida, MD, MDO for OBHG’s northeast region, works at Bellevue Women’s Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. Susie Wilson, MD, one of two MDOs for the southeast region, is team leader at Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Sue Smith, MD, the other MDO for OBHG’s southeast region, works for Winter Haven Hospital-Regency Medical Center in Winter Haven, Fla. Matthew Conrad, MD, MDO for the Great Lakes region, serves as an OB hospitalist at both Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., and Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, Fla. Charlie Jaynes, MD, OBHG’s MDO for the south-central region, is an OB hospitalist at North Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, and Baylor All Saints Andrews Women’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Michael White, MD, the West Coast MDO, works as a hospitalist at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif.
Jetinder Singh-Marjara, MD, is the new hospital medicine program director at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Mo. Dr. Singh-Marjara has worked in Kansas City, Mo., and throughout the Midwest as a hospitalist for more than 10 years since completing his residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Boghara, MD Tien Vo, MD
Fred Guyer, MD, recently was awarded the Northeast Florida Pediatric Society’s Pediatric Hospitalist of the Year award. Dr. Guyer is a hospitalist at Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville. Dr. Guyer is faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
TeamHealth of Knoxville, Tenn., has announced three new medical directors.
Shelley Lenamond, DO, FHM, is the new facility medical director for TeamHealth’s hospitalist program at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, Texas.
Haresh Boghara, MD, is the new facility medical director of hospitalist services at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas.
Tien Vo, MD, is TeamHealth’s new facility medical director of its hospitalist program at El Centro Regional Medical Center in El Centro, Calif.
Michael O'Neal is a freelance writer in New York.
Chris Brown, MD, MPH, was elected one of Columbus Business First’s members of the Forty Under 40 class of 2013. Dr. Brown is the medical director of hospital medicine at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. The designation recognizes members of the Columbus, Ohio, community who demonstrate superior professional development, community involvement, and other awards and recognitions. Dr. Brown’s colleagues describe him as “a collaborative, attentive, and detailed physician as well as a capable leader.”
Thomas Gallagher, MD, is the University of Washington’s (UW) new director of the program in hospital medicine. This new position in UW’s division of general internal medicine will oversee all of the hospitalist programs at UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Gallagher also is a UW professor of medicine and bioethics and humanities.
Pawan Dhawan, MD, has been appointed medical director of the hospitalist programs at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., and Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Dr. Dhawan comes to Trident Health System from Bay Hospitalists in Newark, Del. Dr. Dhawan served on SHM’s Leadership Committee in 2011.
OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG) in Mauldin, S.C., has announced new medical directors of operations (MDOs) for five of its regions. Nicholas Kulbida, MD, MDO for OBHG’s northeast region, works at Bellevue Women’s Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. Susie Wilson, MD, one of two MDOs for the southeast region, is team leader at Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. Sue Smith, MD, the other MDO for OBHG’s southeast region, works for Winter Haven Hospital-Regency Medical Center in Winter Haven, Fla. Matthew Conrad, MD, MDO for the Great Lakes region, serves as an OB hospitalist at both Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., and Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, Fla. Charlie Jaynes, MD, OBHG’s MDO for the south-central region, is an OB hospitalist at North Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, and Baylor All Saints Andrews Women’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Michael White, MD, the West Coast MDO, works as a hospitalist at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif.
Jetinder Singh-Marjara, MD, is the new hospital medicine program director at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Mo. Dr. Singh-Marjara has worked in Kansas City, Mo., and throughout the Midwest as a hospitalist for more than 10 years since completing his residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Boghara, MD Tien Vo, MD
Fred Guyer, MD, recently was awarded the Northeast Florida Pediatric Society’s Pediatric Hospitalist of the Year award. Dr. Guyer is a hospitalist at Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville. Dr. Guyer is faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
TeamHealth of Knoxville, Tenn., has announced three new medical directors.
Shelley Lenamond, DO, FHM, is the new facility medical director for TeamHealth’s hospitalist program at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, Texas.
Haresh Boghara, MD, is the new facility medical director of hospitalist services at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas.
Tien Vo, MD, is TeamHealth’s new facility medical director of its hospitalist program at El Centro Regional Medical Center in El Centro, Calif.
Michael O'Neal is a freelance writer in New York.