Page 11 - Mecklenburg_Medicine_November-December-2018

At the Hospitals
n Gene Woods Named One of the Most
Influential People in Healthcare
Atrium Health President and CEO, Gene
Woods, has been honored as one of “Modern
Healthcare” magazine’s 100
Most Influential People in
Healthcare, being named in the
top 25 of the most significant
innovators, trailblazers and
thought-leaders across the
GeneWoods field. Woods is the only North
Carolina health system executive on the list
and is ranked as the 12th most influential
health system executive in the nation.
In its 17th year, the recognition program
acknowledges and honors individuals
who are deemed by their peers and the
senior editors of “Modern Healthcare”
to be the most influential individuals in
the industry, in terms of leadership and
impact. The complete list is the main
feature in the August 20 issue.
Woods would be the first to say the
recognition is not about him, but rather about
celebrating Atrium Health’s accomplishments
and growing its national reputation.
He also has been named one of the
magazine’s Top-25 Minority Executives
in Healthcare for the fourth consecutive
year; one of the 50 Great African-
American Leaders; one of the 100 Great
Leaders in Healthcare by Becker’s
Healthcare; one of the Most Influential
Blacks in Corporate America by “Savoy”
magazine; one of the Most Powerful
Executives in Corporate America by
“Black Enterprise;” one of the Most
Admired CEOs of 2018 by the “Charlotte
Business Journal;” and Alumni of the
Year by Pennsylvania State University.
Please join Atrium Health in
congratulating Woods on this important
recognition. He will continue to lead
in a manner that puts patients and
communities first and enhances Atrium
Health’s reach and national reputation as
the System strives daily to improve health,
elevate hope and advance healing.
n Levine Cancer Institute Morehead
Pilots Service to Manage Symptoms,
Preventing Unnecessary ED Visits
The incidence of emergency
department (ED) visits for cancer
patients exceeds that of the general
population, ranging between 1 to 83
percent, according to research. Cancer
patients often present to the emergency
room because of symptom issues. A
population-based study of ED visits of
patients with cancer showed that the top
three complaints are pain, respiratory
distress and gastrointestinal (GI)
issues, such as nausea and vomiting,
diarrhea, constipation, anorexia or bowel
obstruction. Research shows more than
60 percent of these ED visits result in a
hospital admission.
With this in mind, in May 2017, the section
of Palliative Medicine under the Department
of Supportive Oncology at Levine Cancer
Institute (LCI) Morehead began piloting a
Rapid Access Service, by which providers
refer patients directly to the service to help one of America’s Best Employers for Women
them manage their symptoms.
Managing Symptoms Without an ED Visit
The goals of the service are as follows:
• Provide immediate assistance to
LCI Morehead patients with poorly
controlled symptoms related to their
cancer and/or treatments.
• Prevent unnecessary ED visits and
hospital readmissions of LCI Morehead
patients.
• Facilitate early palliative medicine
integration in cancer care.
The Rapid Access Service is staffed
by a nurse and a palliative medicine
physician. They see urgent referrals from
LCI Morehead providers who request
assistance in managing uncontrolled
symptoms of patients who are seen in
the clinic.
By referring patients from LCI
Morehead to the Rapid Access Service,
providers ensure patients receive prompt
treatment of their symptoms and help
avoid an ED visit and potentially a
hospital readmission.
Mecklenburg Medicine • November/December 2018 | 11
Early Results
In the first year, May 2017-May 2018, 183
patients were referred to the service. Of those,
75 percent had solid tumor malignancies,
15 percent had gynecologic cancers and 9
percent had hematologic malignancies.
The majority of patients referred were seen
on the same day or next day. The most common
reasons for referral were pain (83 percent) and
GI symptoms (6 percent).
Of the patients seen by the Rapid Access
team during that one-year period, only 4
percent needed to be sent to the ED. Since
the beginning of 2018 through August 8,
only 2 percent needed to be sent to the ED.
The Rapid Access Service is led by
Armida Parala-Metz, MD. Other members
of the team are Donna Baldassare, MD,
Beth Susi, MD, Paula Knight, RN, Melissa
Waller, RN, and Latoya Spencer, RN,
nurse manager.
n Atrium Health Honored as One of
‘Forbes’ Best Employers for Women
Atrium Health was ranked by “Forbes” as
2018. At No.
55 overall,
Atrium
Health ranks
as the top
organization
in the state
and is the
only North Carolina company in the top 100.
In addition, Atrium Health comes in at No.16
in health care.
The list was compiled based on surveys of
companies with more than 1,000 employees.
Some 40,000 employees across the country,
including 25,000 women, provided answers
regarding working conditions, diversity and
likelihood to recommend their employer
to others, as well as parental leave,
discrimination and pay equity.
“Diversity and inclusion is part of
the Atrium Health DNA,” says Kinneil
Coltman, Atrium Health’s chief diversity
officer. “Our education, resources and
dedication to a diverse staff help ensure
Atrium Health develops teammates and
leaders who can focus on understanding
one another and meeting the collective
needs of our patients.”