HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH S 2016 DOCTORS’ NOTES

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH'S

2016

DOCTORS' NOTES

U.S. News & World Report Names Hackensack Meridian Health Among Best in New Jersey and New York Metro Area

Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and Ocean Medical Center, have been recognized as three of the best hospitals for 2016-2017 in New Jersey and the New York metro area by U.S. News & World Report. The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 27th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients.

Hackensack University Medical Center is once again ranked #1 in New Jersey and #4 in the New York metro area. Additionally, HackensackUMC is nationally ranked in four specialties for providing superior care for the most complex clinical procedures, which include: Cardiology and Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose and Throat; Orthopedics; and Urology. HackensackUMC is also deemed a high-performing hospital among all nine common adult procedures and conditions.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center moved up to #4 in New Jersey, and is ranked #13 in the New York metro area. Jersey Shore is deemed a high-performing hospital in two specialties, Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Urology, a recognition reserved for the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation. Additionally, Jersey Shore is deemed high performing across eight common adult procedures and conditions.

New this year, Ocean Medical Center is ranked #8 in New Jersey and #18 in the New York metro area. In addition to Ocean's Best Regional Hospital ranking, it is also recognized as a high-performing hospital in five common adult procedures and conditions.

Riverview Medical Center is deemed high performing in three common adult procedures and conditions, while HackensackUMC Mountainside and Raritan Bay Medical Center ? Perth Amboy are each deemed high performing in two.

Standard and Poor's Global Ratings Makes Positive Upgrades to Hackensack Meridian Health Entities

Hackensack Meridian Health is pleased to report that Standard & Poor's Global Ratings has made several positive upgrades to the bond ratings of Hackensack Meridian Health entities. Legacy Meridian Health System has been upgraded from an `A' to an `A+' on its fixed rate bonds with an outlook of stable. Hackensack University Medical Center has been upgraded from `A-' to `A+', also with an outlook of stable. In addition Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its rating on bonds issued for Palisades Medical Center to `A-' from `BBB-', also with a stable outlook. The upgrade on Palisades reflects three notches of group support provided by the `A+' ratings of HackensackUMC and Meridian Health. To the community at large, these ratings by Standard & Poors are validation that Hackensack Meridian Health is operating in a financially responsible manner, which allows for continued investments in people, technologies, programs, research and facilities.

Epic Advisory Committees are Underway

The Epic Steering Committee recently began sponsoring four new advisory committees that are serving key roles in the Epic decision-making process. The committees include: the Epic Clinical Advisory Committee (ECAC), the Epic Ambulatory Advisory Committee (EAAC), and the Epic Revenue Cycle Advisory Committee (ERAC). The fourth committee is specific to physician concerns, and is aptly coined the Epic Physician Advisory Committee (EPAC).

Particular areas of interest for EPAC ? an interdisciplinary committee comprising providers and other leaders across the organization ? include ensuring patient safety, clinical excellence, and practice efficiency; patient, provider, and staff satisfaction; and effective medical education using state-of-the-art computing technology. Naturally, EPAC will be collaborating closely with the Epic Clinical Advisory Committee.

Among other things, EPAC is responsible for:

? E nsuring the clinical content, order sets and documentation templates are developed to support:

? T he quality and efficiency goals for the health network;

? Reduced clinical variability through best practice and evidence-based workflow; and

? C apture of data to facilitate use of analytics to support a culture of accountability.

? D eveloping, implementing, and overseeing provider adoption strategies (e.g., training, support, application/device integration, remote access, etc.);

? O verseeing workflow-specific subcommittees with review and approval of subcommittee recommendations;

? C ollaborating with other health network committees including but not limited to: Medical Executive Committees; Pharmacy and Therapeutics; Patient Safety; Medication Safety; Order Sets Workgroup; Compliance; Benefits Realization and Quality Council.

? S upporting implementation of Enterprise EHR solutions through direct or subcommittee execution by:

? A ssisting with development, ongoing measurement and analysis of EHR clinical IT application-specific benefits realization metrics and clinical reporting;

? S upporting processes for appropriate exchange of clinical information with independent providers utilizing IT solutions; and

? D eveloping proficiency with, and direct others to, the Epic Community Library and User Web to evaluate content and best practices from other organizations.

This committee is being co-led by Ken Sable, M.D., Epic Champion and president of Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, and Michael Kirk, M.D., a hospitalist at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

For any questions pertaining to the Epic project, please contact badaboom@.

CMEs: Please Join Us for This Upcoming Event

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 ? Department of Medicine Oncology Symposium, 8:00 a.m. ? 12:00 p.m., Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Lance Auditorium

Learn more by visiting the CME calendar at CME.

Reminder: ACO Participants Satisfy PQRS Requirements

As a reminder, ACO participant TINs do not have to register for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) via the registration portal. ACO participants and the eligible professionals, who bill through the TINs, will meet PQRS reporting requirements to avoid the 2018 PQRS payment adjustment when the ACO satisfactorily reports the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) Web Interface measures for the 2016 reporting year.

We provide PQRS with a list of the ACOs and all of the TINs on the ACOs' 2016 certified lists of ACO participants. Therefore, only the TINs participating in an ACO that are not on the 2016 certified list of TINs will need to register for PQRS group reporting through the registration portal.

The Committee on Medical Education Grants Six-Year Accreditation with Commendation

The Medical Society of New Jersey through its Committee on Medical Education has certified that Legacy Meridian Health hospitals have fulfilled the accreditation requirements set forth by the society and has granted Accreditation with Commendation as an Intrastate Provider of Continuing Medical Education for Physicians through August 31, 2022. This accreditation verifies that Legacy Meridian has mechanisms in place to record and when authorized, verify participation of a physician for six years from the date of CME activity. It also confirms that Legacy Meridian consistently retains activity records/files for the current accreditation term or for the last 12 months, whichever is longer.

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH'S DOCTORS' NOTES

2016

Joint Venture with Rite Aid's RediClinic Formed to Open Retail-Based, Convenient Care Clinics

RediClinic, a leading operator of retail clinics, and Hackensack Meridian Health have announced the formation of a joint venture to open convenient care clinics inside select Rite Aid pharmacies in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey. The first of 10 clinics, which will be cobranded as Hackensack Meridian Health RediClinics, are expected to begin opening later this year.

The Hackensack Meridian Health RediClinics will be staffed with nurse practitioners who will be licensed to diagnose, treat, and, when appropriate, prescribe medications for common medical conditions. The nurse practitioners, who will be HMH team members, also will administer a broad range of preventive services, including health screenings, medical tests, immunizations, and basic physical exams, including back-to-school and sports physicals. RediClinic's acclaimed Weigh Forward? weight/ lifestyle management program will also be available. The nurse practitioners will be overseen by local medical directors who are affiliated with HMH. The clinics will be open seven days a week, including extended weekday hours. No appointments will be necessary, but online appointments will be available.

The clinics will join nine urgent care centers and four AfterHours walk-in care centers currently operating throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties in partnership with HMH as convenient and cost-effective alternatives to going to an Emergency Room. For more information about clinic locations, hours of operation, services, insurance coverage, and prices, visit .

Diagnostic Imaging: Critical Results and Significant Findings

The Imaging Departments at Jersey Shore, Ocean, Riverview, Southern Ocean, and Bayshore are now utilizing the Powerscribe 360 Voice Recognition System allowing finalized reports to be available quicker. The system has the ability to track the delivery of Critical Results and Significant Findings.

Critical Results will still require direct communication from the radiologist to the ordering physician or direct care giver. However, our hospitals will now be utilizing the dictation system to relay Significant Findings. The Joint Commission and American College of Radiologists are now mandating that all Imaging Departments have a method of documentation of communication of these results to ensure that clinically significant information does not "fall through the cracks."

The dictation system will allow the communication of Significant Findings to you by fax, a text message to your phone, or an email. The choice is yours. Here's how it all works:

? If we send a fax to your office, someone from your staff needs to call a phone number to acknowledge receipt of the fax and results.

? If we send you a secure text, you can click on a link within the text that takes you to the voice version of the report, and automatically indicates to the system that the result was picked up.

? Lastly, and probably most simple, is to set up an email account for your office through Yahoo, Gmail, or any other free email service. We would then email that account with a notification and a link. Clicking the link will take you or your office staff directly to the result, and automatically acknowledges receipt.

Enhanced communication of Significant Findings will be implemented soon. The communication method is your choice. Please make sure you have selected your preferred method of communication, or your office will default to a fax to your office. Once you have decided on the communication selection for your practice, please contact your local hospital's Imaging Department.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recognizes Organ Donor Enrollment Accomplishments

Hackensack Meridian Health is among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for reaching platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels of achievement for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries. HMH is part of a national hospital campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The campaign has added 400,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide since 2011.

Awareness and registry efforts took place at HMH hospitals to educate staff, patients, visitors and community members about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors. The hospitals earned points for each activity implemented between May 2015 and April 2016 through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.

Of the 995 hospitals and transplant centers participating in the campaign, Hackensack University Medical Center received platinum level recognition. Bayshore Community Hospital, HackensackUMC Mountainside, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center received gold level recognition. Silver level was presented to HackensackUMC Palisades, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy and Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley attained bronze level recognition.

For more information about organ donation and registration, visit .

Center for Integrative Health & Medicine Now Open

Hackensack Meridian Health formally launched its Integrative Health & Medicine program in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties with the recent opening of the Center for Integrative Health & Medicine in Meridian Health Village at Jackson. This new center and program empowers patients to reach the highest expression of themselves, engaging their mind, body, and spirit to achieve optimal health and improved quality of life.

The Center for Integrative Health & Medicine couples traditional clinical medicine with healing therapies, treating the whole patient and not just their illness or disease. It is the only integrative health program to be built upon five Pillars of Wellness ? Sleep, Activity, Purpose, Nutrition, and Resilience. At the Center for Integrative Health & Medicine, patients can address their health concerns and goals, and receive a customized health and wellness plan developed by the center's integrative specialists. The center's integrated health physician, health coaches, nutritionist, health psychologist, acupuncturist, and other professionals work with the patient and their specialty physicians to help each patient achieve their health and wellness goals.

The center is open from 8:00 a.m. ? 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 27 South Cooks Bridge Road, Suite 2-3 in Jackson. For more information on the center's offerings, please call 732-994-7855 or visit .

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH'S DOCTORS' NOTES

2016

New Vaginal Atrophy Trial

Do you have patients who suffer from moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with menopause? They may be eligible for a new research study that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of a generic form of medication that can help with this condition. The study will investigate the benefits of a generic medication versus a drug that is currently FDA approved and on the market. Study qualifications require that participants be post-menopausal (age 30 to 75), and have one or more of the following symptoms: vaginal dryness, vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching, painful or difficult urination, vaginal pain associated with sexual activity, or the presence of vaginal bleeding associated with sexual activity. For more information, please contact Yuliya Riley, study coordinator, at 732-776-3312.

Clinical Trial for Reflux Available

Jersey Shore and Riverview are participating in a trial for individuals who suffer from GERD and troublesome symptoms like heartburn or regurgitation. Hackensack Meridian Health is one of the only organizations in the mid-Atlantic to offer this clinical trial. The clinical trial involves the LINX Reflux Management System, which is an FDA-approved device. The device is a small band made of titanium beads with magnetic cores placed around the esophagus, just above the stomach. The LINX strengthens the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), preventing the sphincter from staying open after eating and stomach acid entering the esophagus. The clinical trial compares the outcome of patients receiving LINX to patients receiving a twice daily dose of Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) therapy, called Prilosec. It was designed for patients that have not found relief for their GERD symptoms despite taking once a day PPI's.

LINX is implanted during a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure which requires no alteration to the stomach. The titanium beads open and close to let food down, and it preserves normal function so you can belch or vomit as needed. It helps to reduce gas and bloating, does not require dietary changes in most patients, and 87 percent of patients have found that they no longer need medication after having the LINX procedure.

Eligible participants will receive all study-related medicine, study device and study-related care at no cost. Individuals who are not eligible may still explore options to receive the device outside of the clinical trial. To learn more about the LINX clinical trial, call Christopher DeBari in the Office of Clinical Research located at Jersey Shore at 732-776-3198.

Care Management Update

Please be aware that we have updated our Admission Criteria on Meridian Dashboard for 2016. It can be found by scrolling with the cursor over Physician Resources on the upper task bar and then clicking on the first item, Admission Criteria, which appears on the drop-down list. This is an excellent resource in aiding your decision-making process for observation versus inpatient status for your patients. Here, you can find information for both traditional Medicare and commercial payor cases as the rules for both differ. Becoming familiar with the information provided will make one fairly knowledgeable with regards to when a patient should be observation versus inpatient.

Though now delayed beyond its original start date, CMS will be requiring that all Medicare and Medicare Advantage observation patients here greater than 24 hours receive notification (the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice) of being placed in observation. CMS will be providing the actual form and we are waiting for their finalized version. We have a process in place for Access Services to distribute this form to these Medicare observation patients, as well as another observation notification form of our own that will be distributed to the non-Medicare patients. For now, the latter form is being utilized on all observation patients until the Medicare notification is finalized.

Please do not use the terms "admit to observation" or "admit for observation" anywhere in your documentation. Observation patients are outpatients and outpatients are never actually admitted to the hospital. Only inpatients are admitted patients. Please use the term "place in observation" or alternatively, state the patient will be hospitalized for observation.

Jersey Shore is First Hospital in New Jersey to Offer Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS)

Jersey Shore is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) ? a non-invasive treatment for depression that provides new hope for patients who have experienced side effects from medications or for whom medications have proven ineffective. Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation ? FDA approved in 2013 ? is a new effective treatment option. dTMS is a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to painlessly penetrate the cranium and target the prefrontal cortex of the brain, where mood is regulated. It works by stimulating neurons responsible for depressive symptoms and restoring neuronal conduction, along with equilibrium of brain chemicals, in the neural pathways of the brain. The outpatient treatment is comprised of short 20 minute sessions with almost no side effects, and does not disrupt a patient's daily activity. Most patients experience improvement after four to six weeks of treatment.

Legacy Meridian Recognized for Bringing Innovation to Palliative and End-Of-Life Care

Legacy Meridian's Palliative Care Services were recognized with a 2016 Circle of Life Award? from the American Hospital Association, receiving a Citation of Honor for innovations in new delivery structures and payment models, with a focus on community-based and long-term care and advance care planning education for our community. The Circle of Life Award celebrates programs across the nation that have made great strides in palliative and end-of-life care. Circle of Life Award nominations were reviewed and site-visited by a selection committee that included leaders from medicine, nursing, social work and health administration. The Circle of Life Award honors palliative programs that serve people with life-limiting illness, their families and their communities, and address medical, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs throughout the disease trajectory.

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH'S DOCTORS' NOTES

JERSEY SHORE NEWS

Welcome New Medical & Dental Staff Members

Arif Asif, M.D., Medicine

Suman Jain, M.D., Pediatrics

Richard A. Callahan, M.D., Psychiatry

Vivian A. Kominos, M.D., Medicine

Catherine L. Churchill, DPM, Orthopedics

Julie G. Laurente, D.O., Emergency Medicine

Tobechukwu A. Clouden, M.D., Psychiatry

Young J. Lee, M.D., Anesthesiology

Elizabeth T. Corbo, M.D., Pediatrics

John M. McElroy, DMD, Dentistry

James P. Cosentino, D.O., Medicine

Andrew D. McInnes, M.D., Pediatrics

Normy Dessalines, M.D., Medicine

John Mikhail, M.D., Medicine

Valeria M. DiStefano, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology

Kevin D. Miller, M.D., Anesthesiology

Howard Eisenbrock, D.O., Surgery

Mrugesh L. Panchani, M.D., Medicine

Michael Fakhry, M.D., Anesthesiology

Gary B. Rosenberg, M.D., Psychiatry

Jeffrey P. Goldman, M.D., Radiology

Ziad Sergie, M.D., Medicine

Mark P. Goldstein, M.D., Emergency Medicine

Katy M. Statler, DPM, Orthopedics

John W. Gorechlad, M.D., Surgery

Steve J. Stavrellis, M.D., Pediatrics

Deepali Gupta, M.D., Anesthesiology

Christopher R. Wright, DMD, Dentistry

Jonathan A. Hinds, M.D., Emergency Medicine

2016

Gold Plus Award for Heart Failure Care

Jersey Shore University Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines?-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation's secondary prevention guidelines for patients with heart failure. Launched in 2005, numerous published studies have demonstrated the program's success in achieving patient outcome improvements, including reductions in 30-day readmissions.

Jersey Shore earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients. These measures include evaluation of the patient, proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies, such as ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, diuretics, anticoagulants, and other appropriate therapies. Before patients are discharged, they also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Center

Jersey Shore University Medical Center has been recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association as meeting The Joint Commission's standards for Disease-Specific Care Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification, which means it is part of an elite group of providers focused on complex stroke care. Complex Stroke Centers are recognized as industry leaders and are responsible for setting the national agenda in highly-specialized stroke care.

Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes those hospitals that have state-of-the-art infrastructure, staff and training to receive and treat patients with the most complex strokes. Jersey Shore underwent a rigorous onsite review in May. Joint Commission experts reviewed Jersey Shore's compliance with the Comprehensive Stroke Center standards and requirements including advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and staff with the unique education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients.

For more information on The Joint Commission and American Heart Association's Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Center visit or MyHospital.

Trauma Center Receives Re-verification from the American College of Surgeons

For more than 25 years, Jersey Shore's Level II Trauma Center has been dedicated to providing optimal care for more than 25,000 injured patients. Now, it has extended its prestigious accreditation as the only Trauma Center in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Re-verification was made official by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the COT's.

Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH'S DOCTORS' NOTES

2016

Telemedicine for Acute Stroke Call

The new Telestroke program has launched! The integration of technology into patient care has become an integral part of improving stroke outcomes and providing all patients with real-time specialized services, 24 hours a day. The intent of this program is to enhance the exceptional level of care that our Neurology team currently provides, by utilizing telemedicine to eliminate the physical distance between a board-certified neurologist and a patient experiencing an acute stroke ? when time matters most. The Telestroke neurologist is one piece of the Acute Stroke Team, and he/she will work hand in hand with our staff physicians and nurses to provide superior care. All Hackensack Meridian Health staff neurologists will assume the role of patient care provider following the initial Telestroke consultation. As the program ramps up across the system, we know that questions will arise. Should you have any questions, please contact Alan Colicchio, M.D., at alan.colicchio@.

Advanced Certification in Inpatient Diabetes Care from The Joint Commission

Jersey Shore has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval? for Advanced Certification in Inpatient Diabetes Care. The Gold Seal of Approval? is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. Jersey Shore underwent a rigorous on-site review in April. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with inpatient diabetes-specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed. Established in 2006 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission's Advanced Certification in Inpatient Diabetes Care is based on the American Diabetes Association's Clinical Practice Recommendations and addresses standards related to:

? Staff education requirements

? Written blood glucose monitoring protocols

? Plans for the treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia

? Data collection of incidences of hypoglycemia

? Patient education on self-management of diabetes

? An identified program champion or program champion team

Looking for the Latest News?

The Meridian Physician Extranet is your resource for the latest physician news and events across legacy Meridian Health. If you have any news you would like to share with other physicians, please contact Michael McCauley, vice president of Communications, at michael.mccauley@.

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