Page 14 - Mecklenburg_Medicine_May-2018

At the Hospitals
n Novant Health Becomes One of
the First CMS Health Equity
Award Recipients
Novant Health has become one of the first
healthcare systems to receive the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Health
Equity Award. The national award, which was
established in 2018, recognizes organizations
that demonstrate a commitment to health equity
by reducing disparities among racial and ethnic
minorities, people with disabilities, sexual and
gender minorities, and residents in rural areas.
To receive this award, Novant Health had
to demonstrate results in disparity measures
related to, but not limited to, CMS Quality
Strategy priorities over the past calendar year.
These priorities include:
• Making care safer by reducing harm.
• Strengthening personal and family
engagement.
• Promoting effective communication and
coordination of care.
• Promoting effective prevention and
treatment of chronic disease.
• Working with communities to promote
best practices of healthy living.
• Making care affordable.
Led by Tanya S. Blackmon, Novant Health’s
executive vice president and chief diversity and
inclusion officer, the healthcare system organized
a comprehensive team to focus on health equity.
Through its research, the team identified
a disparity in the hospital readmission rate
of African-American patients who were
discharged with a diagnosis of pneumonia.
They had a 4 percent higher readmission rate
than other patient populations. The goal was
to decrease avoidable readmissions, while also
improving the patient experience.
Through a variety of system changes, Novant
Health closed the gap in readmission rates by
50 percent among its African-American patient
population diagnosed with pneumonia. This
project created a framework and blueprint that
is being used for other health equity initiatives
within the system and in the communities that
Novant Health serves.
“This honor recognizes the exceptional work
being accomplished across Novant Health.
Our organization has a strong focus on health
equity and ensuring that patients, families,
14 | May 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
communities and team members receive high
quality care and services when and where
they need them, regardless of their ability to
pay,” says Blackmon. “We’re confident that,
in partnership with other organizations, we
can make a significant impact on healthcare
disparities, ensuring everyone has access to the
excellent care they deserve.”
n Vincent J. Pompili, MD, Named
Service Line Lead for Heart and
Vascular Care
Novant Health has appointed a new physician
service line leader, Vincent J. Pompili, MD, as it
continues to expand its heart and
vascular capabilities. Dr. Pompili
will lead heart and vascular
services across Novant Health’s
footprint, including cardiac,
VincentJ.Pompili,MD thoracic and vascular surgery.
Pompili will serve as physician executive
director of the Novant Health Heart & Vascular
Institute after an already distinguished career
in leadership roles that includes some of the
country’s most prestigious academic medical
centers. He also will perform clinical duties in
interventional cardiology and structural heart
disease at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical
Center in Charlotte and Novant Health Forsyth
Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
n Scott M. Schneider, MD, Accredited
for Center of Excellence in Minimally
Invasive Gynecology
Scott M. Schneider, MD, has been honored
as a provider in North Carolina
accredited for the Center of
Excellence in Minimally Invasive 3-5 through fun and engaging lessons.
Gynecology (COEMIG) by the
Surgical Review Corporation. positively impacts girls and families in our
Scott M.Schneider,MD SRC develops and administers
best-in-class accreditation programs for
surgeons, hospitals and freestanding outpatient
facilities throughout the world. The COEMIG
program recognizes hospitals and surgeons
around the world who provide exceptional
minimally invasive gynecologic surgical care
and are dedicated to continuously improving
healthcare quality and patient safety.
Dr. Schneider, a physician with Novant
Health Bradford Clinic OB/GYN, has
completed more than 125 minimally invasive
surgical cases (more than 35 annually), and
also receives more than 24 hours of additional
training per year in his field.
n Charlotte Independence Extends
Partnership With Novant Health
Novant Health has re-signed as presenting
sponsor of the Charlotte Independence soccer
team through the 2020 season. Under the
agreement, Novant Health will remain the
exclusive provider of medical care to Charlotte
Independence players, provide an athletic
trainer, team primary care and sports medicine
physicians (Kyle Pope, DO, and Karan Shukla,
MD), team orthopedist (James Romanowski,
MD) and onsite medical services on game
days. Additionally, a team performance coach
will be provided by Novant Health Sports and
Performance Medicine powered by EXOS.
“Novant Health is proud to expand
its partnership with the Charlotte
Independence,” says Jason Bernd, vice
president of Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital.
“It’s been an honor to support the team
since they first kicked off their program in
2014. We are excited to support professional
soccer in Charlotte, and we look forward to
continuing to care for its players.”
n Girls on the Run Launches New Camp
Program With Novant Health
For more than 21 years, Girls on the Run
Charlotte has provided life-changing after-school
programming to girls ages 8-13. As a current
sponsor of Girls on the Run Charlotte’s fall and
spring program and their end of season 5K series,
Novant Health is excited to further confirm
its commitment to empowering local girls by
signing on as the first sponsor of Camp GOTR.
Launching this summer, the camp will
provide an opportunity for girls to develop self-
confidence and learn life skills. Led by caring
and qualified Girls on the Run coaches, this
week-long camp is designed to address physical,
emotional and social development in girls grades
“As both a pediatrician and a parent, I
have seen first hand how Girls on the Run
community,” says Catherine Ohmstede,
MD, pediatrician at Novant Health Dilworth
Pediatrics and pediatric service line leader
for Novant Health in the greater Charlotte
market. “I am thrilled Novant Health is
working with our local Girls on the Run to
launch this fun and engaging summer camp
program, helping our girls develop self-
confidence and learn life skills even when
school isn’t in session.”