August - Munson Healthcare

August 2014
News for Physicians affiliated
with Munson Medical Center
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More Beds Opened
for High Patient Census
Work on the Cowell Family Cancer Center continues. Here a workman
unloads blocks for the elevator shaft.
Cancer Research Group
Receives NCI Funding
Munson Medical Center
along with 10 other hospitals, health systems, physicians, and researchers in
west Michigan now form a
new consortium – the Cancer Research Consortium
of West Michigan, formerly
known as the Grand Rapids
Clinical Oncology Program.
As a member of this new
consortium, Munson will
continue to bring the highest level of clinical trials
from the National Cancer
Institute to the region.
The National Cancer Institute recently designated the
consortium a National Cancer Institute Community
Oncology Research Program (NCORP), bringing
$1.9 million annually to the
consortium for the next five
years. The money will be
used to provide new clinical
trials and complete existing
clinical trials that feature
more than 1,800 patients
across west Michigan.
The west Michigan consee Research, page 4
As a means to continue to
manage the ongoing high
census, Munson Medical
Center has opened C2 North
today in the space formerly
occupied by the Preoperative
Assessment Clinic (POAC).
The POAC has moved to
Munson Community Health
Center and which will allow
for easier access for patients.
“We’ve been experiencing a
high census for the past few
months and are trying to
get a better understanding
of whether this is a summer phenomenon, or if it is
permanent due to the health
care exchanges and Medicaid expansion,” said Derk
Pronger, COO, of Munson
Medical Center.
C2 North can accommodate inpatients, isolation, or
observation patients. It will
initially help with overflow
Med-Surg patients; telemetry
is expected to be added in
October.
Pronger said the hospital is
asking for understanding and
patience from all physicians
and staff. The hospital has
created the following initiatives to address this high
census: l Created an Incident Command structure that meets
regularly to review and act
on needs related to the high
census.
l Created an incentive bonus
for extra shifts that are
picked up.
l Approved additional positions for hire.
l Staffed overflow beds on
A4, B3, and B4. l Contracted with traveling
nurses to augment staffing
needs.
Physician’s Corner: Karen Speirs, DO, President of Medical Staff
Munson Medical Staff
President Karen Speirs, DO,
joined Munson Medical Center in Septemer 2005
to practice at Infectious
Disease Consultants.
She is married to a “great
husband” and has two grown
sons. She enjoys gardening,
rock hounding, and travel.
Karen Speirs, DO
Page 1 | MedNews | August 2014
As president of the Medical
Staff, are there any specific
goals you hope to accomplish in the next two years?
My goals are to:
• Maintain high quality of
care and improved safety
• Facilitate a culture transition for enhanced communication
• Promote physician partnership with administration concerning organization, medical staff issues,
etc.
What would you like Munson Medical Staff to understand about the Medical
Executive Committee?
This committee consists
of physician leaders along
with administration working together to accomplish
quality care, patient safety,
and financial stability while
maintaining regulatory compliance and the flexibility
Continued on page 2
continued from page 1,
Physician’s Corner
to position our medical
staff and hospital strategically for what is ahead in
health care.
What are the challenges
you see facing the Medical Staff?
Reimbursement challenges
from evolving health plan
organizations and embracing value based care are
challenges, as are information system programs such
as iPATH, complying with
ICD-10 in 2015, meaningful use, pay-for-performance measures, and
still seeing patients and
remaining profitable.
What are the strengths
you see in the Medical
Staff?
By far the majority of
physicians are caring,
quality-conscious people
who are here to serve the
community. We live in the
community we care for, as
do our family and friends.
The representatives on the
MEC put in a tremendous
amount of time to ensure
fairness and quality among
the medical staff.
Anything else you would
like physicians to know
about you?
I was elected by the medical staff to serve as their
leader and point person.
I am humbled and honored to serve in this role.
I would like the staff to
know that I will be accessible, work hard, and
continue to strive for fairness in all aspects of the
position.
Page 2 | MedNews | August 2014
MSU College of Human Medicine Class of 2017
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine’s Traverse City Campus’ Class of 2017 arrived at
Munson Medical Center in late June to begin their studies. The class has 12 members.
Resident Class of 2014 Start Their Careers
Six of seven Munson
Family Practice residents of
the Class of 2014 will stay
in Michigan to begin their
careers.
Caralyn DeHaan, DO, a
Monroe native, will practice
in the South Haven area.
Jacob Flynn, MD, has joined
Crystal Lake Clinic’s Interlochen location. He is a native
of Benzonia.
Nicholas Orow, MD,
originally from southeast
Michigan, has joined a Family Medicine practice with
Downriver Community
Services that provides health
care in Algonac, New Haven,
and Port Huron.
Nathan Sailor, DO,
a native of the Jackson
area, has joined Kalkaska
Medical Associates, formerly
Graduates of the Family Practice Residency Class of 2014 include from
left, Nicholas Orow, MD; Jacob Flynn, MD; Emily Vogt, MD; Taylor Thelen,
DO; Laura Lei Zhong, MD; Nathan Sailor, DO; and Caralyn DeHaan, DO.
Kalkaska Family Practice, in
Kalkaska.
Taylor Thelen, DO, originally from Westphalia, Mich.,
will practice in St. Johns.
Emily Vogt, DO, born in
Sault Ste. Marie, has joined
a Spectrum Health practice
near Grand Rapids.
Laura Lei Zhong, MD, who
was raised in Texas, has
relocated to Portland, Ore.,
to practice.
Munson Family Practice Residents Class of 2017 Arrives
New residents for the Class of
2017 Munson Family Practice
Residency program recently
arrived at Munson Medical
Center. They are:
watching movies, and spending time with family.
Ethan Morrical, MD
Dr. Morrical was born and
raised in Yorktown, Ind. He
Cyrus Ghaemi, DO
earned his Bachelor of Arts
Dr. Ghaemi was born in
in political science from Hope
Royal Oak and earned his
College. He graduated from
Bachelor of Science degree in the Indiana University School
brain, behavior, and cogniof Medicine. He has
tive science, with a minor in
an interest in international
the environment. He recently medical and development
graduated from Michigan
work, serving in Haiti, the
State University College
Dominican Republic, and
of Osteopathic Medicine,
Kenya. He enjoys paddle
spending his clerkship years
boarding, sailing and all
in southeast Michigan. His in- watersports, mountain
terests include nutrition and
biking, and downhill and
diet, cooking and gardening, cross country skiing, as well
and the effects of nutrition
as container gardening and
on health. He enjoys hiking,
cooking.
backpacking, biking, kayakGrace Burkheimer, DO
ing, and foraging for wild
Dr. Burkheimer was born
food. He is an avid home
in Kalamazoo and lived in
brewer and has kept honeyOtsego, Mich. She earned
bees for several years.
her Bachelor of Science
Samantha Johnston, DO
degree in human biology,
Dr. Johnston grew up in
with bioethics, humanities,
Houghton Lake, Mich., and
and societies specialization
earned her Bachelor of Scifrom Michigan State Univerence degree in chemistry and sity. She recently graduated
biology from Central Michifrom Michigan State Univergan. She recently graduated
sity College of Osteopathic
from Michigan State Univer- Medicine, spending her
sity College of Osteopathic
clerkship years in the Grand
Medicine. She was based
Rapids area. Her hobbies and
at Munson Medical Center
interests include volleyball,
for her clerkship. She enjoys
tennis, hiking, mountain
exercising, listening to music, biking, travel, and reading.
The Family Practice Residency Program’s Class of 2017 are from left:
Cyrus Ghaemi, DO; Samantha Johnston, DO; Ethan Morrical, MD; Grace
Burkheimer, DO; Anthony Vida, MD; and Kathryn Krezoski, DO.
Anthony Vida, MD
Dr. Vida was born in Flint,
and his family moved to
many cities throughout the
United States. He earned his
Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of
Michigan. He graduated from
the Michigan State University
College of Human Medicine
and spent his clinical years in
Flint. He has an identical twin
brother who also is a student
at MSU College of Human
Medicine. He enjoys the
martial arts, canoeing, working on cars, photography, and
video games.
Kathryn Krezoski, DO
Dr. Krezoski was raised in
Milwaukee, Wis., and earned
her Bachelor of Arts degree
in Health Sciences from
Kalamazoo College. She
graduated from Michigan
State University School of
Osteopathic Medicine, where
she spent some of her time in
Malawi, Africa. She was based
at Munson Medical Center
for her clerkship. She enjoys
outdoor activities, running,
swimming, board games,
and cooking or baking from
scratch. She is engaged to a
man from Honor and plans to
make northwest Michigan her
home.
Convenient, Child-Friendly Lab Opens on West Front Street
Munson Outpatient Services
recently opened the doors to
a new lab location at 3643 W.
Front St., Suite B.
highly trained staff, and a
child-friendly environment
to help take the pain out of a
blood draw.
It offers patients easy parking, minimal waiting times,
The West Front location also
continues to offer quality
Page 3 | MedNews | August 2014
physical therapy services.
Lab hours are Monday
through Friday from 7 am
- 3:30 pm. Physical therapy
hours are Monday through
Friday from 7 am - 6 pm.
Munson Outpatient Services
– West Front may be reached
at (231) 935-0590.
More information is at
munsonhealthcare.org/
outpatient.
IN BRIEF
POAC Relocates
to MCHC
The Preoperative Assessment Clinic
(POAC), formerly located at Munson
Medical Center, has moved to Munson
Community Health Center.
The new and permanent location
offers patients easier access and more
convenient parking. Patients should
park in the south lot and use the
south entry door. POAC is located on
the right, the same entrance as the
Outpatient Lab.
The POAC may be reached at (231)
935-2686. Its fax is (231) 935-2687.
Cardiovascular Update
for Primary Care Providers
The Second Annual Cardiovascular
Update for Primary Care Providers
is set for Saturday, Oct. 2, from 8:30
am - 4:30 pm at Grand Traverse Resort
in Acme.
For more information and to register,
go to munsonhealthcare.org/
cardiovascularupdate2014.
Physicians also may register by calling
Munson HealthLink at (231) 9355886 or 1-800-533-5520.
Mich. She completed a residency in
internal medicine at Naval Medical
Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif.,
and a fellowship in rheumatology
at University of Chicago Hospitals,
Chicago, Ill.
surgery at Chang Gung Memorial
Hospital, Taiwan; Hospital for Sick
Children, Toronto, Canada; and Institute
for Aesthetic and Reconstructive
Surgery, Nashville, Tenn.
Rheumatologist Joins
MMC Medical Staff
Plastic Surgeon Joins
MMC Medical Staff
Jennifer M. Lyon, DO, has relocated
to Partners in Health, 3074 N. US 31 S.
in Traverse City. She is accepting new
patients and may be reached at (231)
935-0535.
Nicole Gunn,
MD, has joined
the staff of
Munson Medical
Center as a
specialist in
rheumatology.
Dr. Gunn
practices at 1221 Sixth St., Ste. 212,
Traverse City. Her office can be reached
at (231) 935-2130, and she is
currently accepting new patients with
physician referral. She is not accepting
patients with a primary diagnosis of
fibromyalgia or osteroporosis, but is
available by phone or email for any
specific questions.
Dr. Gunn graduated from Wayne State
University School of Medicine, Detroit,
Save the Date: Physician Welcome
Reception Set for Sept. 25
Physicians and their spouses
are encouraged to save the
date Thursday, Sept. 25,
for the Physician Welcome
Reception.
The reception is set for
6 - 8:30 pm at Hagerty Concontinued from page 1,
Research
sortium was one of just 46
community sites selected
for funding from applicants
across the country. It is one
of three in Michigan to receive funding.
“Munson Medical Center’s
participation in the consortium gives patients in northPage 4 | MedNews | August 2014
ference Center. It will honor
new and retiring physicians.
For more information, or to
RSVP, please contact Robin
Wodek at (231) 935-5892 or
rwodek@mhc.net.
ern Michigan access to more
clinical studies,” said Peter
Kohler, MD, principal investigator for Cancer Research at
Munson.
Over the past five years, cancer research at Munson Medical Center has involved 200
patients. There were 17 new
patients involved in clinical
trials in 2013 and 11 patients
since June of this year.
John W. Polley,
MD, has joined
the staff of
Munson Medical
Center as a
specialist in
plastic surgery.
Dr. Polley
practices at JP
Center for Plastic Surgery, which is
located at 3529 W. Front St., Traverse
City. His office can be reached at
(231) 346-1047, and he is currently
accepting new patients.
Dr. Polley graduated from Northwestern
University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.
He completed a residency in general
surgery at Butterworth Hospital, Grand
Rapids, Mich. and fellowships in plastic
In the Spotlight
Abbigale Wilson, MD, has relocated
to Bay Area Family Care, 906 Business
Park Drive in Traverse City. She is
accepting new patients and may be
reached at (231) 935-8750.
Psychiatrist David Riddle, DO, has
retired.
Infectious Disease specialist Carmen
Tichindelean, MD, has left the area.
Family Practice physician Mark
Barber, DO, has left the area.
Oncologist Judith Ramsdell, MD, has
retired.
Michael Barry, DO: 1952 - 2014
A Funeral Mass for Michael
Barry, DO, was held Saturday, Aug. 16, in Saint Joseph
Catholic Church on the Old
Mission Peninsula.
Dr. Barry died on July 16,
2014. He had been diagnosed
with ALS in February 2011
and continued caring for
patients until Oct. 2011.
In 2001, Dr. Barry was among
the founding members of the
hospitalist program at Munson Medical Center. In 2009,
he was co-founder of Patient
Care Specialists, a hospitalist
consulting practice.
During his tenure at Munson, he served on the Medical Ethics Committee and
in the Family Practice Residency training program. He
was awarded the Teacher of
the Year award in 2011 for
dedicated service to educate
residents and internal medicine students.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the fund for
the new Science and Health
Education Facility at Aquinas
College, 1607 Robinson Road,
SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49506,
Attn: Patricia Castiglioni,
Advancement Office.