Grand Rounds Tri-Cities June on East Tennessee Medical News

Grand Rounds Tri-Cities June

Watson Named Corp. Director of Public Relations

JOHNSON CITY — Mountain States Health Alliance has named James Watson to the position of Corporate Director of Public Relations for its 14-hospital system.

Watson has been with Mountain States since 2004, previously serving in the positions of Public Relations Manager and Communications Reporter inside the health system’s Marketing Department. His new role will be to lead the Public Relations Department at Mountain States to help increase awareness throughout Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina of the services offered by the healthcare system.

Formerly a newspaper reporter for the Johnson City Press as well as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, Watson is in the Fellowship Program with The Advisory Board, a healthcare think tank based in Washington, D.C., and he served in 2007 as an Examiner for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. A native of Roan Mountain, Tenn., he is working on a master’s degree at East Tennessee State University, focusing on Appalachian Studies. He received an undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida.

HMG Welcomes Family Physician Chad Bates, MD

KINGSPORT, TN—Holston Medical Group is pleased to announce the addition of family physician Chad Bates, MD. Dr. Bates comes to HMG from the Medical Associates of Big Stone Gap and Lonesome Pine Hospital. He will be caring for patients at HMG’s MeadowView Lane Professional Center location.

Board certified by the American Board of Family Practice, Dr. Bates graduated summa cum laude from The College of William and Mary prior to receiving his doctorate of medicine from the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va. He completed residency training through the Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program, Spartanburg, SC.

The recipient of numerous academic and professional awards, patient satisfaction surveys recognize Dr. Bates’ provision of outstanding service.

He and his wife, a pediatrician, Gayle Bates, MD, make their home in Kingsport with their two children.

Jacqueline Laraway, NP, joins Blue Ridge

SMYTH COUNTY, VA — Jacqueline Laraway has joined Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp. (BRMMC) as a Nurse Practitioner at Heart & Vascular, Smyth County, Va.

Laraway received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mobile (Alabama) and a master’s degree from the University of South Alabama.

She previously served as an Adult Health Nursing Instructor at Spring Hill College and has extensive clinical experience in the acute and critical care areas of adult health nursing. She has worked as a staff critical care nurse, case manager, hemodialysis nurse, unit-based educator, team leader and adult acute care cardiology nurse practitioner.

Mountain States Team Member receives THIMA Rising Star Award

JOHNSON CITY — Seth Johnson, planner, organizer, director and monitor of the Medical Records/Health Information Management Department for five medical facilities in the Mountain States Health Alliance system, has been named the 2008 Rising Star Award winner by the Tennessee Health Information Management Association (THIMA).

Johnson received the award at the THIMA annual meeting in Memphis. The Rising Star Award recognizes and encourages individuals who have the potential to make significant contributions to the profession as his/her career unfolds.

Candidates for the award must be credentialed as an HIM professional within the past seven years and have demonstrated significant potential for future leadership, innovations, creativity and administrative capacity.

Johnson joined Mountain States and received RHIA credentials in 2006. He has demonstrated team-building skills as his team physically transformed the MR/HIM department, a transitioning process for electronic health records.

In his professional organization, Johnson has taken part in the THIMA strategic planning process and serves as Vice President of the Upper East Tennessee Health Information Association (UETHIMA).

A resident of Erwin, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health information management from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He is enrolled in the Master of Business administration program at Milligan College.

Mountain States Names Director of Emergency Services

JOHNSON CITY—Mountain States Health Alliance has named Janet Eckhart as Director of Emergency Services for Washington County. Eckhart comes to Mountain States from Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where she was Service Director of the Emergency Medicine Trauma Services and Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team.

Eckhart earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree as a clinical nurse specialist, both from California State University. In December, she hopes to complete a doctorate in healthcare education from Nova Southeastern University.

She is certified as an emergency nurse, is a critical care registered nurse and has earned certification as a provider and instructor of various healthcare classes.

Eckhart is a member of the American Heart Association as well as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Emergency Nurses Association, NREMT Instructors/Coordinators Committee, the American Cancer Society and other health and nursing care organizations. She is a resident of Jonesborough.

Shubha Chatra, MD, joins Blue Ridge

KINGSPORT — Shubha Chatra, MD, has joined Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp. (BRMMC) as a physician at Hospital Internal Medicine Associates, Kingsport.

Chatra received a medical degree from Karnatak Medical College in India and completed her residency at Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y. She previously served at Kingsport Medical Associates and Bristol Regional Medical Center.

Chatra is board-certified in Internal Medicine.

Cariten Healthcare Account Executives Qualify for Top Health Insurance Award

KNOXVILLE—Two Cariten Healthcare Senior Account Executives have qualified to receive a prestigious award from the Leading Round Table (LPRT) of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Jana Davison of Seymour and Penny Collins of Knoxville have each qualified to receive the Golden Eagle Award, the highest recognition bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated professional excellence in the sale of health and disability income insurance.Davison and Collins are two of only 14 insurance agents from across the state of Tennessee to receive the award and the only two agents representing the Knoxville area.

Mountain States Team Member promoted to Assistant VP

JOHNSON CITY—Mountain States Health Alliance has announced the promotion of Tamera Fields to the role of Assistant Vice President. Fields has been promoted for her leadership capability and for her successful contributions to the healthcare system, including past performance in her duties.

Fields joined Mountain States in 2001. As Assistant Vice President for Quality and Business Excellence, she is responsible for the development, deployment, monitoring and improvement of organization-wide improvement approaches and initiatives.

Her previous jobs at Mountain States have included PI Outcomes Manager (2001-04) and Director of Quality (2004-08). She is a four-year member of the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award; a member for nine years of the Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence; and an instructor for Board of Examiner training for TNCPE. She has been a Certified Quality Manager, ASQ, since 1998.

Fields earned a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College. She is a resident of Johnson City.

Jennifer Tate, NP, joins Blue Ridge

KINGSPORT—Jennifer Tate has joined Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp. (BRMMC) as a Nurse Practitioner at Blue Ridge Internal Medicine.

Tate received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from East Tennessee State University. She previously served as a staff Registered Nurse at Indian Path Medical Center and was a student Nurse Practitioner under the supervision of Dr. Marta Wayt at Blue Ridge Internal Medicine.

She received the Critical Care Nursing Excellence Award from Mountain States Health Alliance in 2006.

Dr. Maurice Nida Forges New Wellmont Physician Educator Role

BIG STONE GAP, VA — Dr. Maurice Nida is the new director of medical education for Wellmont Health System. Through this new teaching program, medical residents will be allowed to train at Wellmont hospitals in Southwest Virginia and Southeast Kentucky.

“Studies show that as many as 80 percent of resident physicians stay within 100 miles of where they train,” said Dr. Nida, who is board certified in internal medicine. “I think our area needs this, and Wellmont realizes how important this is.”

Dr. Nida received his bachelor’s degree at Clinch Valley College in Wise before graduating from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and is a professor of medicine at Pikeville College School of Medicine, where is a past recipient of that school’s award for Clinical Medical Educator of the Year.

Mountain States Team Member Promoted to Assistant VP

KINGSPORT—Mountain States Health Alliance has announced the promotion of John Doyle, a Team Member since 2002, to the role of Assistant Vice President.

Doyle has been promoted for his leadership capability and his successful contributions to the healthcare system, including past performance in his duties.

He joined Mountain States as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Administrator at Indian Path Medical Center (IPMC), Woodridge Hospital and Kingsport Day Surgery Center. He is Regional CFO for Southwest Virginia facilities in the Mountain States system, including Norton Community Hospital, Dickenson Community Hospital, Smyth County Community Hospital and Russell County Community Hospital. Prior to his employment with Mountain States, he was Chief Financial Officer at Logan Memorial Hospital in Russellville, Ky., from 1998-2002.

Doyle earned an undergraduate degree in accounting, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA from East Tennessee State University in 1992. He is a Kingsport resident and a member of the Kingsport Kiwanis Club. He has served on the Finance Committee for the United Way.

Amputee Support Group Cookout

JOHNSON CITY—The James H. and Cecile C. Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital invites all to attend the Quillen Amputee Support Group “Celebrate Summer” Cookout on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at 6 pm at the Meredith Pavillion, Winged Deer Park (on Boone Lake) in Johnson City, TN.

Friends and family are invited for some fun and food. There will be discussion of current events and time for open discussion. Please call Marie at 423-952-1700 for a proper estimate of the food.

Holston Valley Receives National Award for Outstanding Quality, Customer Service

KINGSPORT–Holston Valley Medical Center has joined the ranks of some of the nation’s most prestigious hospitals as a national Hospital of Choice Award winner.

Holston Valley is one of only 13 hospitals to be named a national Hospital of Choice during the first quarter of 2008. The award, which recognizes exemplary quality and customer service, is presented by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare organization established to identify effective ways to improve patient care.

AAHCP President Ric Vincent Parr said the Hospital of Choice Awards are designed to identify America’s most customer-friendly hospitals and to recognize those hospitals “that go beyond the walls in pursuit of excellence and quality care.”

This quarter’s recipients, Parr said, were especially recognized for unparalleled commitment to good citizenship and community service. The organization also emphasized the importance of a hospital’s collaborative relationship with physicians in evaluating award nominees.

Last year’s Hospital of Choice Award recipients included The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Duke University Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Holston Valley is one of only two Tennessee hospitals to receive the award this quarter. Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin is the other.

Mountain States Projects Receive Komen Foundation Grants

JOHNSON CITY—Underserved and minority breast cancer patients in rural areas of Carter, Johnson, Sullivan and Washington counties in Tennessee have been given a new show of support from grants just bestowed by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Two projects presented by Mountain States Health Alliance – “Knowledge is Power” and “Fueling the Journey” – that serve these patients have been presented with grants by the foundation.

The Knowledge is Power program, led by Susan McAuley, Project Director, won $15,656; the Fueling the Journey program, led by Vicki Hinton, Project Director, was awarded $7,250. Both programs promote breast health education for all women, but the Knowledge is Power program spotlights the rural population and those in the aforementioned counties.

Indian Path’s Digital Mammography Services receive accreditation

KINGSPORT — Indian Path Medical Center (IPMC) has received accreditation for its Digital Mammography Services, based on a recent site survey by inspectors from the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The ACR awarded the accreditation to IPMC after ACR experts evaluated the hospital’s imaging equipment and the qualifications of IPMC medical imaging staff. After the peer review, the ACR concluded that IPMC met the guidelines for high practice standards and awarded a three-year term of accreditation.

The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services.

Crymble Attends Women’s Leadership Summit

WASHINGTON — Vivian Crymble, Community and Government Relations Manager for Mountain States Health Alliance, recently attended the Business and Professional Women’s Leadership Summit in Washington.

The two-day conference provided a forum for approximately 350 professional women from across the country to discuss a range of policy issues with members of the United States Congress, the Administration and experts in the fields of health care, education and business. The conference participants were nominated to attend by their members of Congress.

A host of leaders from the U.S. Congress joined prominent women to address the summit, including keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky, addressed the delegates and welcomed them to the Summit. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Arkansas, and Rep. Kay Granger, Texas, updated participants on legislative priorities in the 110th Congress, followed by Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina, who outlined plans for expanding access to affordable health care.

Sen. Hutchison led a session on leadership and legislative proposals to secure America’s economy and housing industry. Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee, spoke on initiatives to improve education and U.S. competitiveness. Participants also discussed ideas to strengthen opportunities for entrepreneurs, and they engaged in informative question-and-answer sessions following each panel.

Other notable speakers included Carly Fiorina, chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co. (1999-2005); Meg Whitman, former president and CEO of eBay Inc.; Bernadine Healy, MD, health editor for U.S. News and World Report; Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, founder and CEO of Pace Communications and chairman of the American Red Cross; Angela Braly, president and CEO of WellPoint Inc.; Dr. Elsa Murano, president of Texas A&M University; and Dr. Mary Evans Sias, president of Kentucky State University.

Frontier Health Nets Two Healthcare Advertising Awards

JOHNSON CITY—Frontier Health received a Bronze Award and a Merit Award from Healthcare Marketing Report in their 25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards for Frontier Health’s internal employee newsletter and its Fiscal 2007 annual report, “Building on a Half Century of Service.”

The Bronze Award was given for the Frontier Times newsletter, published six times a year. The newsletter covers employee accomplishments, information about outcomes and services, and corporate news. Awards were presented to six healthcare systems for annual reports in the same category. There were only five awards presented for newsletters in the same category. There were only 328 Bronze Awards given.

The Healthcare Advertising Awards is the oldest, largest and most prestigious advertising awards competition, with a record 4,400 entries submitted, making it the largest health care advertising awards competition in the United States. Entrees were judged on creativity, quality, message effectiveness, consumer appeal, graphic design, and overall impact.

A national panel of judges reviewed entries based on creativity, quality, message effectiveness, consumer appeal, graphic design and overall impact. The awards are sponsored by Atlanta-based Healthcare Marketing Report, the leading publication covering all aspects of healthcare marketing, advertising, and strategic business development.

Pulmonologist Joins Jenkins Community Hospital Staff

JENKINS, KY — Dr. Antoine Habre has joined the medical staff at Jenkins Community Hospital as a pulmonologist.

Dr. Habre completed his residency in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, and also a fellowship in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He received his medical degree from Lebanese University School of Medicine, Beirut.

Dr. Habre, who is accepting new patients by referral, holds memberships in the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians. He maintains office hours at Jenkins Family Care Clinic.

Mountain States Heaton promoted to Assistant VP

JOHNSON CITY—Mountain States Health Alliance has announced the promotion of Lisa Heaton to the role of Assistant Vice President.

Heaton has been Administrator/CNO at Johnson County Community Hospital (JCCH) in Mountain City since 1998. She has previously held the positions of Clinical Manager for Johnson County Health Center through Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp. as well as Clinical Service Leader at the Johnson County hospital. Prior to that position, she was Clinical Manager of Surgical Services and Infection Control there.

Heaton earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and an associate degree in nursing, both at East Tennessee State University, and a master of arts degree in organizational development from Tusculum College. In 2006, she earned a master’s degree in nursing administration from Canyon College, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Heaton has been instrumental in the development, construction and implementation of JCCH. She is a past president of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee. She has received more than $430,000 in grant funding for the hospital. She is a past Forty Under 40 winner, a Health Care Hero award recipient and won the coveted Betsy Brogan Award in 2007. She is a resident of Elizabethton.

Hawkins County Memorial Adds ENT Specialist

ROGERSVILLE — Residents in and around Rogersville who are experiencing medical issues related to the ear, nose and throat can now turn to their hometown hospital for help, as Hawkins County Memorial Hospital recently added a new physician specialist to its medical staff.

Dr. Michael Dillard, who is board certified in otolaryngology, recently joined Hawkins County Memorial as an ear, nose and throat specialist, the first to practice at the hospital. A graduate of East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine, Dr. Dillard has a special interest in allergy and sleep medicine. He is now accepting new patients.

Dr. Dillard completed an internship and residency in otolaryngology, or head and neck surgery, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

June 2008