APP Spring 2024 Newsletter

Independence Health System

APP Newsletter

Greetings to our marvelous fellow Advanced Practice Providers! Spring has sprung! We hope this Newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the sunshine.

We would like to continue to thank the Advanced Practice Providers for all of their hard work and contributions to our health system. We are making some great progress in our APP organization. We have some new educational opportunities, new community engagement opportunities and new connections with the Excela health APP’s in the works. As we move forward into the summer we are excited to watch our plans and collaborative efforts unfold. Enjoy your summer and again thank you!

Sincerely,

Rachel, Lindsay, and Katelyn

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; that is to have succeeded.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

APP Spotlight

Corinna Weaver, CRNP and Maggie Spingola, CRNP

CorinnaWeaverisanursepractitionerwithpulmonarywhohasbeenwithourhealth systemsince2010.ShefirstworkedasanurseintheIntensiveCareUnitatBMHfor aboutfiveyearspriortohertransitiontotheCRNProlewhereshecontinuestoofferher wealthofpulmonaryknowledge.Sheisknownforpayingcloseattentiontodetail,seeing thatherpatientsgetthebestcarepossible.

What is your favorite thing(s) about your career?

Our familiar yet diverse patient population. Caring for many of my same patients consistently over the continuum of my career.

What is your current role like?

Busy but variable with a good mixture of inpatient rounding and outpatient office practice. What inspired you about your career?

My initial inspiration to enter into the CRNP role was admiration of the knowledge and care provided by the ICU NP’s who were present when I worked in the ICU as an RN. I aspired to function in the role as well as they did.

What are your favorite activities outside of work?

Spending time with my two daughters, Camila aged 5 and Evelyn aged 1.

What are your future goals?

Continue in my career with the Pulmonary group and possible pursuit of my DNP eventually.

If you came with a warning label what would it say?

If asked a question, I am going to give an honest answer.

Corinna Weaver, CRNP

Independence Health System, Butler: Pulmonary Medicine

MaggieSpingolaisanursepractitionerwithelectrophysiologywhohasbeenwithour healthsystemsince2008whensheworkedasanurse’saidinthefloatpoolatBMH.She thenworkedasanRNintheERpriortocompletingherCRNPtraining.Shethenbegan workingwithCardiologyasanursepractitionerpriortohertransitiontoElectrophysiology whereshenowremains.Herclinicalinterestsincludethetreatmentofatrialfibrillationand strokeriskmanagement.SheworksintheEPClinicandalsocoordinatestheLeftAtrial AppendageOcclusion(WatchmanandAmulet)Program.

What is your favorite thing(s) about your career?

My favorite thing about my career is the ability to help others and also the opportunity to apply my passion for education in caring for patients and their families.

What inspired you about your career?

My first CRNP job was with Butler Health System Cardiology. It has been the foundation of everything I've learned in caring for patients in Electrophysiology.

What are your favorite activities outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, reading, sewing, and crocheting.

What are your future goals?

My future goals are to continue to grow as a nurse practitioner and to help build awareness of cardiac conditions with the goal of disease prevention in the community.

Maggie Spingola, CRNP

Independence Health System, Butler: Electrophysiology

SPECIALTY SPOTLIGHT: Pulmonary Medicine

Pulmonary APP Q&A

What are the most common consults you see (inpatient and outpatient)?

Inpatient: AE COPD, AE ILD, AE asthma, OSA, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, pneumonia, pleural effusions, PE, lung masses. Outpatient: COPD, ILD, OSA, lung nodules/masses, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, asthma, recurrent pneumonia, pulmonary HTN

Are there any specific consults that you feel could often be managed by the primary service? Or is there anything you wish other services knew about your specialty?

This is tough. I'd say a straight forward CAP (no other pulmonary hx) or perhaps a mild AE COPD or asthma could be managed by them. Those that are not seen by us though I worry about follow up, repeat imaging, etc. Patient's with dyspnea without hypoxemia while inpatient or those with OSA that needs managed/worked up can both be deferred to outpatient (if meant to be those managed by primary in the inpatient setting)

What are some of your favorite things about your specialty?

The variety of patients/diagnoses. The exposure to both inpatients and outpatients. Each day looks different which avoids a lot of redundancy. What are the biggest challenges of your specialty? Patient compliance with smoking cessation, medication adherence, follow up, etc.

Pulmonary pearls

Ensure all smokers have their lung cancer screening CT scans yearly - aged 50-77 (sometimes 80), 20 pack/year history, quit smoking in the last 15 years or still smoking ALL should have LDCT

If any form of diagnostic sleep testing is ordered inpatient or outpatient, there must be a face to face encounter with documentation of such reporting OSA symptoms prior to the study being ordered/done or else the treatment portion of the study and/or the actual treatment (i.e. CPAP/BiPAP) is being delayed and/or denied by insurance.

Test your pulmonary knowledge!

(Answers on last page of Newsletter)

1.) Which patient is most likely to have COPD based on their smoking history?

a. Tina age 52, who has smoked socially since her teens

b. Jim age 35, who has smoked ¾ PPD since he was 18

c. Michelle age 61, who has smoked 1 PPD since she was 14

d. Dan age 50 who smoked 2 PPD for 11 years but quit when he was 40

2.) Which symptom is NOT diagnostic of an exacerbation of COPD?

a. Wheezing

b. Increased cough

c. Increased chest tightness

d. Worsened purulence of sputum

Dermatology: Adrienne Marie Genovese, CRNP

Pain Medicine: Marlene Margaret Wise, PA-C

Hematology/Oncology: Brian Gabriel Cenci, CRNP

Psychiatry: Isabella Zonna, PA-C

Contract Locum Anesthesia: Angela Marie Bacon, CRNA, Todd Andrew Henderson, CRNA, Kristin C. Tarr, CRNA,

Anesthesia, Excela: Jenifer L Ellena, CRNP, Cara Leigh Haines, CRNA, Amanda R. Pierce, CRNA, Natalie Boehm, CRNA

Additionally, we have had several providers from the Butler and Excela areas expand their privileges to other sites.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND CME

Upcoming Ethics CME

The Surgical Pause: Measuring Frailiy and Doing Something About It

Daniel E. Hall, MD, Mdiv, MHSc, FACS

Wednesday June 19, 2024

12 – 1 pm

Virtually via Zoom

Meeting ID: 994 9679 7263

Passcode: 753270

APP sponsored donation food drive in collaboration with BHS Food Institute

Collections taking place June 17-21

Looking for fresh produce and other grocery items

Be on the look out for collection bins at your sites! Contact Angie Como with any questions

APP Committee Meeting

Wednesday July 10, 2024 12 – 1 pm

Tower Conference Room and Zoom

Independence Health System: Medical Staff Social Event

Sunday July 28, 2024

PNC Park 2 – 6 pm

RSVPs to be requested at a later date Answers

questions- 1: C, 2: C