Allegheny County Medical Society Announces Newly Elected Officers

Posted by on Feb 17, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

Rajiv R. Varma, MD, has been installed as the 2012 president of the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS). Dr. Varma is the 147th president of the local physician organization. Four other physicians will assume new leadership roles as elected officers (photos avaialable upon request). The 2012 ACMS officers are:

Rajiv R. Varma, MD
2012 ACMS President
Dr. Varma is a pediatric neurologist certified in pediatrics and neurology with special qualifications in child neurology. He is clinical director of the pediatric neurology division of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

A member of ACMS since 1987, Dr. Varma has been very active with the Society in addition to his service on the board of directors from 2003 to 2005 and again in 2008 to 2010. He was a member of the Legislative Committee from 1993 to 2006. He was chair of the Member Benefits Committee in 1999 and participated on the Membership Committee from 2000 to 2005, serving as vice chair in 2000 and chair from 2001 to 2005. Dr. Varma was the Board of Directors Presidential Appointee from 2000 to 2002. He served on the Nominating Committee in 2006 and the Finance Committee in 2008 and 2010. He was a member of the Awards Committee in 2009. He participated on the Peer Review Board in 2010 and was chair of the Bylaws Committee that same year. Dr. Varma served as ACMS treasurer in 2008, secretary in 2009, vice president in 2010 and president-elect in 2011, serving on the Executive Committee during that time. At the state level he served as an alternate delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1993 to 1995 and in 2002. Dr. Varma served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society from 1996 to 2001; 2003 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. Dr. Varma has also served on the PMS Strategic Planning Committee for several years.

(more…)

Read more

American Liver Foundation Announces Honorees Tribute to Excellence 2012

Posted by on Jan 27, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

American Liver Foundation recognizes dedicated individuals & organizations at annual awards luncheon

The American Liver Foundation (ALF) will recognize five individuals that have demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and commitment to the Allegheny Division of the ALF at their 6th annual awards luncheon.

This year the Allegheny Division will honor the following five people for their tireless dedication to the American Liver Foundation and the fight against liver disease.

  • Dr. George Mazariegos, Pediatric Transplant Surgeon, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
  • Dr. Paul Lebovitz, Division Director, Gastroenterology, West Penn Allegheny Health Systems
  • Donato Coluccio, Chef and owner of Donato’s Fox Chapel
  • Dr. Karl Williams, Allegheny County Medical Examiner
  • Richard Zelechowski, Western Pennsylvania PBC Support Group member

The Tribute to Excellence began in 2007 by honoring Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD, the “Father of Transplantation” and naming a research grant in his name. Since then the ALF has strived to honor those individuals and organizations that have demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and commitment, who have devoted time, talent and treasure to the American Liver Foundation in a meaningful way through advocacy, education and fundraising, and who forge paths of leadership for others to follow in the fight against liver disease.

The mission of the American Liver Foundation is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

The 6th Annual Tribute to Excellence will be held on Friday, March 2, at The Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel from 11:30am-1pm. Tickets are $45 each. For more information contact Amanda McDivitt, 412-434-7077.

Read more

Pennsylvania Physician Provides Free Health Care to Working Poor

Posted by on Jan 27, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

Dr. Zane Gates

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® Honors Zane Gates, MD, With a 2011 Community Health Leaders Award  

After completing medical school and a residency in internal medicine, Zane Gates ultimately returned home to Altoona, Pa., where he grew up poor in a public housing project. He opened his own free clinic in a van to provide care to the working poor—those who can’t afford to buy private coverage but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. After partnering with Altoona Regional Health System, Gates’ van-based clinic grew into Partnering for Health Services, which provides access to free health care to about 3,500 people in the Altoona area.

For his determination to provide compassionate health care to those most in need and his work throughout the Altoona community, Gates has been named one of 10 recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders Award. The award honors exceptional men and women who have overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities. Gates will receive the award during a ceremony at Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on November 9.

(more…)

Read more

Medical Director Key to Transition

Posted by on Jan 19, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

Dr. Paul Beck, MD, Interim Medical Director for ERMI, will lead the transition to ERMI in the emergency department at Southwest Regional Medical Center.

In December, Southwest Regional Medical Center announced an agreement to partner with Emergency Resource Management Inc. (ERMI).  ERMI, part of UPMC, is one of the largest employers of emergency medicine physicians in Pennsylvania.  The agreement also provides a medical director who will oversee the medical services provided.  Paul Beck, M.D., began serving as interim medical director beginning Jan. 1, 2012.

“We have a great team of physicians here serving the community,” said Dr. Beck, board certified in emergency medicine.  “Our priority is to make sure patients receive fast and quality care. Things are definitely moving in the right direction.”

The goal is for patients to be seen by a healthcare professional within 30 minutes of walking in the door.  The current average is 33 minutes and dropping since ERMI began. Dr. Beck will also provide administrative support to ensure quality and speed of service for patients presenting to the Southwest Regional Medical Center emergency department. He is assigned to Southwest Regional for approximately 6 months to ensure a smooth transition.  At the end of 6 months a permanent director will be named.

(more…)

Read more

What Clients Expect—Through the Eyes of a CEO

Posted by on Jan 19, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

By Jim Surman, CMC

One of my clients, Raymond Graeca, CEO of the newly-formed three hospital merged healthcare organization (Penn Highlands Health Care System) in Western Pennsylvania, recently shared the attributes and outcomes that he values in a consultant and a consulting relationship at a recent Institute of Management Consulting (IMC) meeting at the Engineers Society of W. PA.

He stated his main considerations included:

  • Technical competency – their grasp of the subject matter
  • Professionalism – are they serious or “semi-retired” or “in-between jobs”
  • Ability to communicate verbally and in writing
  • Ability to understand and adapt to a changing environment
  • No preconceived ideas and not let bias operate when analyzing problems or making recommendations
  • Good listening skills
  • Does not “turn the tables” and ask the client to weigh in on a description of their problems or root causes
  • Conforms to a very clear set of ethics
  • Brings new knowledge to the organization, new ways of analyzing and solving problems
  • Values the relationships that they formed
  • Helps the client structure the implementation to build accountability within their organization

(more…)

Read more

Community Needs Assessment Drives Planning and Improvement

Posted by on Jan 16, 2012 in Consulting, Leadership | 0 comments

By Chris W. Brussalis

The rapid and constant change in healthcare is daunting.  Current government regulation and the threat of future mandates are changing the landscape in policy, economics, and practice.  Add this to everyday, fast-paced advances in technology, workforce demands, and dynamic community needs, and healthcare leaders will be pressed to manage and allocate resources like never before.

For healthcare organizations to continue providing high quality services in a cost-efficient manner, it is paramount to follow a rigorous discipline of community needs assessment, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.  They provide a guide for any long-term decision-making or dynamic planning process.

Community Needs Assessment

A community needs assessment is a thorough review using research and data-rich analysis to enable healthcare organizations in developing compelling solutions that satisfy community needs, capitalize on market opportunities, and mitigate possible threats.  Successfully delivering on mission now and into the future requires an understanding of the community’s needs and projecting what those needs will be in the months and years ahead.

A thorough understanding of community healthcare status and needs is vital.  With this information, healthcare providers can compare current community needs with their capacity and ability to deliver to meet them.  A community needs assessment should also predict demographic and socioeconomic changes and subsequent healthcare needs of the community.  This data is critical to the effectiveness of a strategic planning process.  The community needs assessment is primary data to feed into the situational analysis of a healthcare provider’s strategic plan.

(more…)

Read more