Covenant HealthCare

Covenant HealthCare welcomes Mahir Sati, DO, FACC, RPVI, as a member of the Covenant Medical Group. Dr. Sati joins the Covenant Cardiology Team as an Invasive Cardiologist. He specializes in coronary angiography, pacemaker implantation, cardiac testing including echocardiography and cardiac stress testing, peripheral vascular testing including anklebrachial index (ABI), arterial Doppler and venous Doppler, and cardiovascular consultations. The office is located at 900 Cooper, Suite 4100 in Saginaw, and the team can be reached at 989.583.4700. Dr. Sati has additional practice locations in Marlette and Bay City.

Covenant HealthCare once again achieved top honors from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receiving the Get With The Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor

Award. The Award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, researchbased guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Recently a flag was raised by Bay City stroke survivor, Troy Tackett, in front of the Covenant main campus at 700 Cooper. The flag will fly in honor of the more than 600 patients who received stroke care at Covenant in the past year. “Two years ago, in 2018, I had a double stroke- a shower- on

both sides of my brain,” said Tackett at the flag raising. “I was at work and got to Covenant. When I was just arriving, I remembered that I went blind, and I thought ‘this is it.’ But I’m a man of faith, and I believe God puts me in the right place at the right time when tragedy strikes. And I’m going to tell you, the thirty minutes… it’s serious.” “I’m grateful to Melissa and Dr. Smith who were on that day [and all the nurses], that they reacted and that they had their program down solid so I can be here two years later. Not only to survive, but [also] come back from therapy, back playing my guitar, back playing my drums, I’m back working- and in fact got promoted. I’m a blessed man.” “This Award is tied directly to meeting quality measures for stroke care including providing lifesaving thrombolytic medication to patients within 30 minutes of arriving to our hospital,” says Melissa Duchene, RN, BSN, Stroke Program Administrator at Covenant HealthCare. “Our Stroke Team works diligently every day to ensure we provide the highest quality care to every patient who enters our hospital. This Award shows our dedication to patients and the community.” According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death, and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

The Covenant HealthCare Breast High Risk Assessment and Prevention Clinic specializes in the care of women who are at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. Our breast surgical oncology team of experts provide specialized care and increased access to the necessary resources for reducing breast cancer risk and ensuring early detection and prevention. Your visit will include a discussion of your risk level, education on risk reduction and a specific surveillance plan recommendation that is personalized to you and your lifestyle. The chances of a woman developing breast cancer in her lifetime is one in eight. For some women, the risk of developing the disease is considered much higher.

• Previous history of breast or ovarian cancer • Family history of breast cancer • Dense breast tissue requiring specialized examinations

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• Increased ethnicity risk (Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, San Luis Valley Hispanic) • Biopsy proven atypia

• Breast cancer risk counseling and education • Genetic risk assessment • Genetic testing • Screening services • Community outreach • Affiliation with MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center

Sanjeev Kaul, MD and the surgical team at Covenant HealthCare performed a robotic first for the area; a robotic cystectomy for bladder cancer. A robotic cystectomy is an extensive and complicated procedure that takes a highly skilled surgeon and team. The second most common urologic cancer after prostate cancer, bladder cancer is generally highly treatable, but often reoccurring. In some cases, it can be much more aggressive and spread to other organs. Surgery, alone or with other treatments, is used to treat most bladder cancers. Early-stage bladder tumors can often be removed. The procedure was performed in July using the da Vinci robotic surgery system and was a first for our area. Performing this surgery with the da Vinci robot improves the accuracy and cancer control while minimizing pain and discomfort, facilitating recovery and return to work more quickly. The Covenant Medical Group Urology Office of Dr. Kaul, Dr. Meldrum, Dr. Mills, and Dr. Rajpurkar is located at 3875 Bay Road, Suite 2S in Saginaw can be reached at 989.583.5370.

• Wounds that fail to respond to traditional treatment after 30 days, have become infected, or appear to heal but continue to recur • Diabetic ulcers, especially on the feet • Venous or lower leg ulcers • Pressure ulcers, such as bed sores • Skin tears or lacerations • Failing skin/muscle grafts or flaps • Slow or non-healing surgical wounds • Post-operative infections • Bone infections (osteomyelitis) • Radiation tissue injuries • Lymphedema • Burn care • Brown recluse spider bites

900 Cooper, Saginaw, Michigan 989.583.4401 covenanthealthcare.com

© 2020 Covenant HealthCare. All rights reserved. PK 1/20 11672

Dr. Veverka Announces Candidacy for 2021 MSMS President-Elect

It is with pleasure performs Trauma Center Level III and IV verification visits for the SCMS MDHHS. He also serves on the State Committee of Trauma in announces Thomas Michigan. J. Veverka, MD as Dr. Veverka is very passionate about addressing the the 2021 candidate opioid crisis through volunteer activities at MidMichigan for MSMS President-Elect. Medical Center, MiHIA and through his position on the Board Dr. Veverka is a board of Directors of MSMS. He also serves on multiple other certified General Surgeon, subcommittees. a fellow of the American Dr. Veverka received his medical degree from the University College of Surgeons, and of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He completed his surgical has received added certification in Surgical Critical Care. He residency at Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Inc., and returned served as the Associate Director of Trauma at North Memorial to the University of Minnesota for his Surgical Critical Care Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota before starting in Fellowship training. He maintains a passion for general private practice as a general surgeon and surgical intensivist surgery, trauma care and critical care, as well as, patient safety in Saginaw in 1994. While in Saginaw, Dr. Veverka served in issues. Dr. Veverka has held a clinical faculty appointment several physician leadership roles, primarily at St. Mary’s of with MSU College of Human Medicine Department of Michigan Hospital, as well as, on the Steering Committee for Surgery for over 25 years, as well as, holding a current clinical the General Surgery Residency program as the MSU surgical appointment with Central Michigan University College of coordinator for the medical students. Dr. Veverka has served Medicine. He is married to Cathleen and is the father of five. the SCMS as Director, Alternate Delegate and President over MSMS presidents have greatly impacted MSMS’ programs, the past 15 years, and currently as Region 7 Representative on position on policy issues and its prominence in Michigan. The the MSMS Board of Directors. Dr. Veverka is a board member of MSMS president typically serves a term of one year and works the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA). with the Board of Directors to set the strategic agenda for the Dr. Veverka has a special interest in trauma care and trauma Society. Past MSMS Presidents from Saginaw are: systems development, and served as the initial medical director of the trauma program at St. Mary’s of Michigan • James H. Jerome, MD (1867 and 1881) Hospital which eventually was designated as a Level II Trauma • Lyman W. Bliss, MD (1890) Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on • Vernon V. Bass, MD (1977) Trauma. He subsequently became the initial Trauma Medical • Jack L. Barry, MD (1994) Director for MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland, which also successfully underwent verification as a Level II Trauma The SCMS is pleased to endorse Thomas J. Veverka, MD as Center. He serves on the Michigan Committee of Trauma and candidate for 2021 MSMS President-Elect.

As a thank you for your loyalty as a member of the SCMS/MSMS and for paying early all physicians who pay their 2021 dues by November 30 will receive a $100 coupon towards a free CME course at an MSMS educational session. The strength and effectiveness of SCMS/MSMS as your professional association is predicated on strong membership. The free CME course is just a small token of appreciation for your continued support of organized medicine. For questions about membership or if you have not yet received your 2021 dues invoice, please contact Joan Cramer, SCMS Executive Director at jmcramer@sbcglobal.net.

118 Years of Caring for Saginaw County Residents Joan M. Cramer, SCMS Executive Director

The Saginaw County Medical Society (SCMS) is the professional association of physicians in Saginaw County, and a component of the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS). In order to be a member of one, you must be a member of both. I have been asked many times by both members and nonmembers “Why should I belong to the SCMS and MSMS?” “What do you do for me?” Some have responded they “don’t use their membership because they don’t attend SCMS meetings.” SCMS and MSMS membership is so much more than membership meetings. We are not only support for you, but for your office staff as well. I’m hoping the information below will help members who are on the fence about paying their dues decide to remain members, and also convince nonmembers why they should belong. We represent physicians in all specialties and in all types of practices – solo, group, employed, etc. Active membership is open to MDs and DOs. • Active physician dues are $795 per year ($495/MSMS and $300/SCMS). One hundred percent of SCMS dues

• The SCMS offers a discount for first year physicians, and MSMS offers discounts for first, second and third year physicians, as well as, physician spouses when both are members. • Resident and medical student memberships are also available.

• Five Membership Meetings per year where our members have an opportunity to network and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow physicians who love the practice of medicine and want to see progress made in the Saginaw medical community. In addition, our meetings include interesting speakers and an opportunity to earn

FREE CME credit. A few recent and future program topics include: - Surviving Acts of Violence - Physician Resiliency - Ethics - Suicide Awareness Training - Human Trafficking - Second Victim - Implicit Bias - What to do if a complaint - Opioids has been filed against you • Representation of physicians in all specialties and in all types of practices–solo, group, employed, etc. • Communication and camaraderie with physicians of other specialties in a neutral setting. • Liaison with MSMS for assistance on practice issues, billing and coding, health information technology, legal alerts, legislative issues, insurance and much more. • An independent voice for physicians on issues they face at the hospitals. • The Bulletin with articles and information pertinent to SCMS members and their staff. • Pictorial Membership Directory is published annually and used by members and their staff on a regular basis. Our Private Directory provides information on your practice to other member physicians outside your specialty. In addition, a Public Directory that includes office address and phone (but not fax numbers or email) is printed and distributed to 1,000+ households in Saginaw County. The response from the public on this listing of SCMS physicians has been extremely positive. • Website which is full of useful information and resources www.SaginawCountyMS.com. • Referrals to patients seeking a physician. • Contact with local, state and federal legislators regarding issues of importance in Saginaw County. The SCMS maintains contact with local legislators to provide issue education and help them understand the impact of healthcare legislation. • A unified voice on medical issues to our legislators, our area hospitals, insurance companies, etc. • Political activism in support of medicine-friendly candidates. • Loans and scholarships to local medical students, residents and nursing students. • Community service to actively and tangibly give back to the community where you live and work through SCMS sponsored projects, such as our annual Health Fair for the Saginaw community attended by 1,100+ offering free health screenings and information, plus the opportunity for residents to speak with our member physicians directly to answer questions and promote your practice. • An active Peer Review Mediation Committee to provide a forum for patient complaints to be heard. Peer Review reduces the number of malpractice lawsuits. • An active Peer Review Ethics Committee for physician to physician issues. • Confidential assistance for members with substance abuse or personal issues affecting their practice of medicine. • And more!

• Because all physicians need to “fund their voice.” • National polls show physicians as one of the most respected professions. Sadly, they don’t use their clout often enough to preserve their profession and protect their patients. • There is strength in numbers. Together we are stronger. If you or your office staff need assistance on an issue of any kind, please feel free to contact me at jmcramer@sbcglobal. net, (989) 790-3590 (office) or (989) 284-8884 (cell) and I will work with you to come up with a resolution for your problem through a variety of resources available to you as a SCMS/ MSMS member.