Above and Beyond Across the Coast Thanks, Bubba!

September 15, 2017

Above and Beyond Across the Coast

LEFT: SHHG's School Supply Drive in Port St. Joe saw associates and volunteers join together to provide lots of hand sanitizer, tissues, disinfecting wipes and bandages to the Gulf County School District.

Thanks, Bubba!

ABOVE: SHHEC associates

supported 80 students with

school supplies for the new

school year, including 46

SHHEC's Olson Women's Diagnostic Center team in Miramar Beach held Team SHHEC Volunteer Spirit Day and sold pink ribbons to raise Mike Opar braved foul money for the Women's Services Fund to weather on Sept. 11 to

children who attend Walton Academy in Defuniak Springs, a Title 1 tuition-free public charter school.

assist women in need.

help visitors and staff

reach their destinations.

Sacred Heart had a large representation at the Santa Rosa County Employee Health Fair this summer -- Pensacola and Pace Urgent Care, Dermatology (Dr. Rahul Chavan), Cardiology, Rehab, Pulmonology and Pace Primary Care. Physician specialists provided face-to-face consultations and SHMG associates provided information about services available in these specialty areas.

SHHS and professional golfer Bubba Watson announced a $1.6 million donation to The Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart on Sept. 8. It was also announced that Bubba will serve as an ambassador for the Children's Hospital.

To recognize the support and ongoing relationship with Bubba, Sacred Heart will name the entrance road to the new Children's Hospital (under construction) as Bubba Watson Drive.

"I always felt like this community helped shape me as a golfer and a person," said Bubba. "When I moved back to Pensacola I asked myself how I can make a difference, how I can help build something for generations to come. Our children are the world's next leaders, and every kid deserves a chance to grow up healthy. Being involved in our local children's hospital is the perfect way to do that."

Sacred Heart Health System

A Dream Comes True

Covenant Care hosted a grand opening

and ribbon-cutting of the new Covenant

Inpatient Hospice Center at SHHP on

Aug. 25. The 10,000-square-foot center is

located on the first floor and houses 17

patient rooms. Fully staffed by Covenant

Care, patients and families will receive round-the-clock hospice and palliative care services. Those typically admitted to

an inpatient center

One of the patient rooms open for viewing during the open house. Serene, coastal colors are used throughout the center.

need help controlling

pain and symptoms related to their diagnosis or have family

members who are in need of respite care.

"I can't imagine a project more consistent with our mission and values than this one," said Henry Stovall, SHHP President. "It's a dream come true."

"Opening the doors on this new inpatient hospice center

will help to relieve anxiety that families and patients who

A garden is located

need access to these special services often encounter," said

adjacent to the center. Jeff Mislevy, Covenant Care President and CEO. "This new

center allows us the opportunity to combine our expertise and

resources with one of the area's leading healthcare providers."

SHMG Opens Five Points Office

SHMG hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony in August for its new primary care office in Pace Five Points. Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce members attended the ceremony, which marks the latest expansion of Sacred Heart services for Santa Rosa County. The new office is located at 5607 Woodbine Rd. at the entrance of Stonebrook in Pace. Dr. Andrew Henson provides the full spectrum of family medicine from pediatrics to geriatrics. He has special medical interests in women's health, dermatology, musculoskeletal medicine and sports medicine. For appointments or more information, call 850-416-1390.

Revenue Cycle is Transitioning to R1 RCM, Inc.

In August, SHHS Revenue Cycle Supervisors and Managers transitioned to R1 RCM, Inc., as part of an Ascensionwide changeover. The remainder of the SHHS staff transitioned Sept. 10th. This includes the following departments: Scheduling, Pre-Registration, Patient Access, Financial Counseling, Billing and Follow-up, Customer Service, Health Information Management (HIM) and Revenue Integrity.

R1 RCM, Inc., reflects the one-stop suite of products that the company can provide to hospitals, physicians or other providers under any payment model.

"It is important to do this so that we can help ensure the financial viability of the ministry to continue to serve the poor and vulnerable," said Ginger Nowling, Regional Manager HIM and one of the R1 transition Change Champions. "Success looks like a seamless transition with no change in the service we provide the health system. We need everyone's patience, feedback and support of our team who have gone through this transition. What you can expect from us is continued excellence in the service we provide."

Approximately 200+ associates in the Pensacola, Destin and Port St. Joe areas were involved in the transition. "We specifically want to thank Revenue Cycle associates and other departments we work with for being flexible during the transition," said Michele Nelson, Patient Accounts Manager.

What's New?

Dr. Henson and family

SHHS has finalized an agreement with UF Health ShandsCair -- the critical care transport system of UF Health Shands Hospital -- to provide air and ground transportation for critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients. As a Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, SHHP uses helicopter and ground transport units to accept transfers from other hospitals across the region. Collaborating with ShandsCair will enable Sacred Heart to provide highquality, advanced care to more critically-ill patients with faster response times and an expanded geographic reach.

Ginger Nowling, Joshua Wilson and Michele Nelson are serving as Change Champions of the transition on site. Below are their new email addresses and other contact information: ? Michele Nelson, MNelson@

850-416-7099 ? Ginger Nowling, VNowling@

850-416-6773 ? Joshua Wilson, JWilson5@

850-416-4647

Sacred Heart Health System

Medicare Approval Opens Door for More Kidney Transplants in Pensacola

The kidney transplant program at SHHP, a collaboration with University of Florida Health, has received Medicare approval that will allow more area residents to have access to needed transplants. Medicare certification of the program became effective June 28.

"This expands the pool of patients who can potentially undergo transplants at Sacred Heart. It will also help decrease wait time for those who are already waiting for a new kidney," said Dr. Rick Brian Stevens, a professor in the division of transplantation surgery at UF College of Medicine who practices at Sacred Heart Hospital. "Getting Medicare approval is a pivotal event in developing a high-quality kidney transplant program to fully meet the needs of the community."

Dr. Stevens said the vast majority of patients in Northwest Florida who are receiving dialysis treatment for kidney disease are age 65 or older, and eligible for Medicare.

"There is a very big unmet need for kidney transplants in this region," he said. "Patients in this part of Florida have a lot of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Endstage renal disease is also prevalent among the Panhandle population."

Dr. Stevens said the Pensacola-based program currently has a long list of people referred for possible transplants, including 75 who have been on dialysis for more than five years.

Throughout the southeastern United States, the average time on a wait list for patients needing a kidney transplant is 73 months, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Previously, Northwest Florida residents had to travel to Gainesville, Birmingham or New Orleans for transplants. Most people cannot afford to be away from home in order to have transplant surgery, which also requires multiple tests and medical care before and after the surgery.

"More patients who live in the Pensacola area, hours away from other transplant centers, will clearly benefit from Medicare approval for kidney transplant services at Sacred Heart," said Dr. Kenneth Andreoni, an associate professor and chief in the division of transplantation surgery at the UF College of Medicine. "Traveling long distances can be quite difficult for people who are very ill, and the coordination of care can be daunting."

In October 2016, UF Health and Sacred Heart began a collaborative kidney transplant program. The first procedure was performed on Feb. 2. The new program had to perform three transplants before seeking Medicare approval.

Dr. Stevens said he anticipates Medicare approval will open the door to steady growth of the program in Pensacola. He estimated that within three years, the Sacred HeartUF team could be performing 50-80 transplants per year. Future steps include starting living donor transplants, where a healthy person donates a kidney to someone awaiting transplant, such as a family member or friend. Stevens added that one of his top priorities is to expand the program to treat children who need transplants.

Nationwide, more than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney transplant, and 13 people die each day while waiting for a kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney Foundation. For more information about Sacred Heart's kidney program, please visit kidney-transplant.

SHHP Using New Clot-Removing Device to Treat Pulmonary Embolisms

SHHP is one of only two hospitals in Florida utilizing a new device that treats pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal blood clot that travels to a lung artery where it suddenly blocks blood flow.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 to 30 percent of people diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism will die within a month. Until now, treatment options were limited to medications that dissolve clots, or prevent them from forming or growing in size.

Dr. Rohit Amin, an interventional cardiologist at SHHP, and interventional radiologist Dr. Christopher Bosarge are two of only a handful of doctors in the U.S. using the FlowTriever System to successfully retrieve blood clots and restore blood flow to patients' lungs.

"The FlowTriever System is a game changer in the treatment of pulmonary embolism," Dr. Amin said. "Through a small incision in the groin or leg vein I guide a catheter to the pulmonary artery with the clot, grab it with a medical mesh and suction it out of the body."

With this minimally invasive approach, Dr. Amin said patients can return home two to three days after having the procedure.

"The FlowTriever System does something that blood thinners can't ? it removes a large amount of clot from the main lung arteries before it can cause permanent damage to the heart and lungs," said Dr. Amin.

Sacred Heart Health System

Congratulations

Two Physicians Earn MD Anderson Certification

Services at SHHS Hospitals Honored at National Healthcare Conference

Dr. Rahul Chavan and Dr. Kurt Stockamp have become certified providers through the MD Anderson Cancer Network. Dr. Chavan is a specialist in dermatology and Mohs surgery, and Dr. Stockamp, a board-certified general surgeon at SHHP.

Dr. Chavan

To earn this certification, Drs. Stockamp and Chavan were nominated by the Sacred Heart Cancer Center, underwent a thorough review and were then presented to the MD Anderson Physicians Network Credentials Committee.

MD Anderson Cancer network is a quality-management and

best-practices organization with the goal of improving cancer care by providing world-class, MD Anderson-leveloncology services

Dr. Stockamp

to local hospitals in the U.S. This network of providers follows

MD Anderson Cancer Center clinical guidelines,which include an integrated approach to

education, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.

Providers Earn NCQA Recognition

Several SHMG providers have earned recognition from NCQA, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. The following providers earned recognition as Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) offices, which is the highest level possible: the office of Dr. David Martin and Tammy Jernigan, ARNP, and the office of Drs. John L. May, Wendy Osban and Adam P. Tarnosky. These offices join the SHMG Crestview Primary Care office, who also received PCMH Level 3 recognition late last year.

NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's website at contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed healthcare choices.

Florida Rep Meets with SHHS Caregivers to Get Insight into National Epidemic

Florida Rep. Frank White (R), on right, visited Sacred Heart to learn more about how the national opioid epidemic is impacting local moms and babies. Rep. White met with Drs. Julie DaCesare and Ramak Amjad and heard our recommended strategies for reducing the number of infants born addicted to narcotics. He is pictured with (L-R) Theresa Chmiel of Healthy Start Coalition; Anna Higgins, his Legislative Aide; Jules Kariher, Chief Advocacy Officer, Ascension Florida; and Dr. Julie DeCesare.

SHHS received several Excellence in Patient Care Awards, presented by Studer Group?, a Huron solution, in August during the "What's Right in Healthcare" national conference in Chicago, Ill.

The SHHP Infusion Center was recognized with an award. To be considered for an award in this category, an organization must rank in the 90th percentile or higher for overall Outpatient Services satisfaction as measured by patient satisfaction surveys.

SHHEC was recognized for demonstrating outstanding performance in patient care in Ambulatory Surgery in 2016. To be considered for an award in this category, an organization must rank in the 90th percentile or higher for overall Ambulatory Surgery satisfaction as measured by patient satisfaction surveys.

SHHG's Emergency Department also was honored with an award. To be considered for an award in this category, an organization must rank in the 75th percentile or higher for overall Emergency Department satisfaction as measured by patient-satisfaction surveys.

Excellence in Patient Care Awards are presented annually to a select group of organizations from Studer Group's partner base of hospitals, health systems and physician organizations. To be eligible for an award, an organization must demonstrate outstanding performance and achievement in patient care, employee engagement, or physician engagement.

Sacred Heart Health System

System-Wide Shout Outs and High Fives

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast ? Miramar Beach

? A patient sent the following note regarding staff at Sacred Heart Oncology Group in Santa Rosa Beach: "Thank you for being so very, very kind to me on each and every visit. I am most appreciative!" SHHEC Facebook Posts ? "We picked our retirement area near SHHEC because my husband had had a stroke and we thought he might need help sometime. Area residents raved about SHHEC. I never dreamed it would be my life they saved! The Emergency Department is professional, kind and obviously knowledgeable! Everyone I encountered was the same -- X-ray, nurses, techs! My seven-day stay was met by excellent care!" ? A patient writes: "This hospital is the best. I have been sick for over two months ... They have such caring doctors, and made me feel that I was not crazy something was wrong. The nurses are the best -- you would think that you were related to them. They showed me compassion, love and care. Not only are they giving you great care, they teach you how you can live with your illnesses. This is the only hospital I will go to again." ? The SHHEC ER team, PCU, Dr. Hill and nurse Jenny, and Dr. Moody are recognized in other Facebook posts by patients.

Cancer Center - Pensacola

? Facebook: A patient gave Sacred Heart Cancer Center in Pensacola a 5-star rating on Facebook and commented: "Dr. D. [Dissanayake] is the best! He is the reason I am here..."

Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola

? SHHP's Progressive Care Unit is recognized in the following note from Robin Dreadin of SHMG-Mobile Highway: "We would to thank the entire staff on the unit for caring for my father-in-law. He was extremely ill and they showed true compassion to him and our family. One nurse truly stood out to us. His name is Craig. He helped to have an understanding as to what was going on with my father in law. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a full understanding ... We had comfort in knowing he was being taken care by the staff. They made him comfortable in his last days before he was transferred to a Hospice care facility where he lasted only about 12 hours . . . Thank you from entire family of Otha `Jaye' Dreadin."

? Melissa Richardson, Neuroendovascular Biplane Coordinator, sent the following to Julia Blatz, Manager, SHHP MICU/SICU: "I spoke to a patient today who complimented your staff along with mine and I wanted to pass that along. He said that everyone was so nice and especially named Cydney Lawall and Jennifer Bolen. Here are the patient's remarks: `Jennifer and Cydney, I give a 200% on excellent care. To see them so dedicated to me like that and running around to other people. They need to get paid more! This is the first time I have been in the hospital where the doctors and everyone took time to explain everything to me and in a way I could understand. I will keep coming to Sacred Heart!" Melissa says: "Congratulations to your staff for a job well done! Thank you for your leadership and please thank your team for all they do in working with Interventional

? SHHP Painters Tommy Jordan, John Falke, Preston Jernigan and Ray Weigle are recognized in this note from Alex Morgan of the Call Center: "Please give a Shout Out to the painting team who are repainting the Bayou Garage. It is looking awesome!"

Continued on page 9 . . .

Medical Mission Event Set for Saturday, Oct. 7

In partnership with several state and local agencies, Sacred Heart will take healthcare to an underserved population in our community as part of an Ascension initiative. Our local Medical Mission at Home will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pensacola High School. It includes free health screenings and much more. Spread the word! For more information about this initiative, visit and click on "Pensacola." Questions? Call Arelia Laster, 850-416-6435 or 850-206-5661.

LAST CALL for Food Donations!

The Summer Food Drive for our Medical Mission at Home event will end this month. September needs are:

FO ? canned vegetables OD ? beans DRIVE! ? spaghetti sauce.

By Sept. 27, please drop off donations in bags at the Pastoral Care office, first floor, SHHP, or contact Arelia Laster for pickup, 850-416-6435.

Food also will be donated to the SHHP Food Pantry to assist associates who have emergency food needs, as well as patients who are discharged home and have no resources for food.

Thank you to all who gave so generously during our Summer Food Drive!

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