Knoxville Medicine Magazine Spring 2022

Volu m e L X X I X , N o. 1 • Sp ri n g 2 02 2

Ser v in g t h e G rea t er Met ropolitan Kno x vi l l e A r e a

A Day at the Smokies Sunday, April 24, 2022 For members and their families Gates open 1:00 pm Lunch 1:30 pm Game Starts at 2:00 pm Register at knoxvillemedicine.org

Sponsored By:

KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

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KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Academy Officers Brian Daley, MD PRESIDENT

David Harris, MD PRESIDENT ELECT

Melissa Chiles, MD SECRETARY

Daniel Bustamante, MD TREASURER

Jeff Ollis, MD

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Kimberly Weaver, PhD CEO

Board of Trustees Greg Curtin, MD Matt Doppelt, DO Carley Fowler, MD Jeff Gilbert, MD Patrick McConville, MD Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, MD

Ex- Officio Board Members Mark Browne, MD Richard Briggs, MD Debbie Christiansen, MD Randal Dabbs, MD Elise Denneny, MD Richard DePersio, MD Keith Gray, MD Robert Page, MD Nancy Sewell -KAMA Alex Kattran - LMU Chassidy Sumler - LMU

Publisher Kim Weaver, PhD

Editor Jonathan Weaver

Production/Advertising

KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

“Nothing in the world can one imagine beforehand, not the least thing, everything is made up of so many unique particulars that cannot be foreseen.” ― Nostradamus While there are those that say history repeats itself, if we reflect on these last two years, there is nothing we could have predicted. As physicians though we are asked to predict, to prophesy and to prognosticate every day. This is a heavy burden, and often made light of by our patients and vaudevillians.

We have therefore all become very good at as my wife calls it “doctor double talk.” We have ways to prevaricate over any and every question, sometimes even far better than a politician.

I propose that this load is a large part of the reason doctors are leaving. We live in a world of instantaneous information – the average Google search takes less than a second and Google always has an answer. IT may not be right, but there are numerous links to follow, many of which are predicated on your “history”– it either fits your narrative or fits the narrative of the highest bidder.

Our Tennessee Medical Foundation presents burnout not as a singular event, but the culmination of many small personal insults: minor loses in autonomy or authority, minute events and infrequent times where we are wrong, or told we are wrong, or the repetitive inane but mandatory fill in the blanks. It is truly a death by a thousand paper cuts.

Of course, every article that addresses burn-

out has a solution. I will offer three.

Having read the book Sleep by Nick Littlehales, the answer is to tune out, make sleep as disciplined as exercise, and wake up fully. I highly recommend the book as it is a short read and has simple easy to apply solutions. Littlehales is best known as a sleep coach for many elite athletes, and it is comforting to know that you and superstars can perform the same in bed.

Secondly, feel free not to know it all. Along with the patients Google searching everything, I use the all-powerful allknowing smartphone that can not only get me the answer to the side effects of a drug I have never heard of, but also pictures from the Mars Rover Perseverance in nanoseconds. “Never memorize something you can look up”- Albert Einstein.

Lastly and along the same vein, I say “I don’t know.” But it is always followed by “we.” We will be there with you; we will work on this together. The benefits of physicians' kind and consoling words are scientifically demonstrated in a paper from Stanford (J GEN INTERN MED 33, 2051–2052 (2018)).

In conclusion, how will we deal with our current situation? I do not know, but we will get through this together. We must be fully awake to the resources available to use – through KAM, and TMA and the many medical societies to which we belong, and to each other with kind and consoling words.

- Brian J. Daley, MD, MBA, FACS

David Caudill

ADVERTISING: For advertising information, call the Academy offices at (865) 531-2766. The magazine is published four times per year by the Knoxville Academy of Medicine (KAM). All rights reserved. This publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the KAM. The appearance of advertising in KAM publications is not a KAM guarantee/endorsement of the product or the claims made for the product by the manufacturer.

The fact that an advertisement for a product, service, or company has appeared in a KAM publication shall not be referred to in collateral advertising. The KAM reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising in

KAPA Volunteer Network Update After successfully serving our Knoxville community since 2005, we are proud to announce our expansion beginning on February 28th, 2022. With the help of our providers, we will now be serving the following communities: Knox, Roane, Anderson, Monroe, Scott, Campbell, Loudon and Morgan. KAPA currently has over 2,466 volunteering in our program and more are being added weekly! We are excited and grateful to have recently added the following practices to the network serving our East Tennessee neighbors in need: Knoxville Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Pain Consultants of East Tennessee, Atlas Medical LLC, Tennessee Eye Care, Knoxville Neurology Specialists, Pinnacle Neurology, Appalachian Audiology, OB/GYN Professionals of East Tennessee, Center for Sight, Ft. Loudoun Primary Care, Parkway Cardiology Associates, Internal Medicine Associates, Oak Ridge Surgeons, Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, MMC Anesthesia Group and Roane Surgical Group.

For information on becoming a provider or learn how to refer a patient, please contact: Laura Culotta, Director of Provider Relations (865) 531-2766 ex2500

the publication.

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KNOXVILLE MED CINE | 3

ACADEMY NEWS New Members

A big welcome to our newest members!

We are excited that you have decided to join the Knoxville Academy of Medicine.

QUINN DUNLAP, MD OTOLARYNGOLOGY Greater Knox Ear, Nose and Throat Associates 7557 Dannaher Dr, Ste 220 Powell, TN 37849 ___________________________________

KATHRYN COOMBES, MD INTERNAL MEDICINE Internal Medicine Associates 7744 Conner Rd Powell, TN 37849 ___________________________________

GEORGE BADDOUR JR, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY University Orthopedic Surgeons 1926 Alcoa Hwy, Ste F-210 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

DENISE SEMASHKO, MD EMERGENCY MEDICINE TeamHealth Southeastern Emergency Physicians 1431 Centerpoint Blvd, Ste 100 Knoxville, 37932 ___________________________________

BRIAN BUSH, MD RHEUMATOLOGY Rheumatology Consultants 4707 Papermill Dr, Ste 200 Knoxville, TN 37909 ___________________________________

ERICKA HERRERA, DO FAMILY MEDICINE Norwood Family Medicine 1208 Merchants Dr Knoxville, TN 37912 ___________________________________

AMY BARGER-STEVENS, MD FAMILY PRACTICE University Family Physicians 1924 Alcoa Hwy Knoxville, TN ___________________________________

SCOTT SMITH, MD ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY University Orthopedic Surgeons 1926 Alcoa Hwy, Ste F-210 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

MELISSA EGGERT, MD ANESTHESIOLOGY American Anesthesiology of TN- Knoxville 501 20th St, Ste 606 Knoxville, TN 37916 ___________________________________

NEIL BARRY IV, DO CARDIOLOGY Tennova Heart Turkey Creek 10810 Parkside Dr Knoxville, TN 37934 ___________________________________

RAJIV DHAND, MD PULMONARY DISEASES University Pulmonary & Critical Care 1940 Alcoa Hwy, Ste E-210 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

WESLEY WHITE, MD UROLOGY University Urology 1928 Alcoa Hwy, Ste B-222 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

MARK PEACOCK, DO FAMILY MEDICINE Farragut Family Practice 11130 Kingston Pike, Ste 7 Knoxville, TN 37934 ___________________________________

GAYLE SUZUKI, MD FORENSIC PATHOLOGY Knox Co Regional Forensic Center 2761 Sullins St Knoxville, TN 37919 ___________________________________

LISA DUNCAN, MD PATHOLOGY University Pathologists 1924 Alcoa Hwy, Box 108 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

BRIAN WISEMAN, MD NEUROLOGY University Neurohospitalists 1924 Alcoa Hwy, Box 56 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

SAVANNAH SCHULTZ, DO INTERNAL MEDICINE West Knoxville Internal Medicine 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd, Ste 301 Knoxville, TN 37922 ___________________________________

ANN MARIE FREDERICK, MD CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCH Knoxville Psychiatry 310 N Forest Park Blvd, Ste 202 Knoxville, TN 37919 ___________________________________

BLAINE ENDERSON, MD TRAUMA/CRITICAL CARE Blaine Enderson, MD 1924 Alcoa Hwy, Box 11 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

SAEED AHMED, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY Abercrombie Radiology 1112 E Weisgarber Rd, Ste 201 Knoxville, TN 37909 ___________________________________

RACHEL WILSON, DO FAMILY MEDICINE Halls Family Physicians 4117 E Emory Rd Knoxville, TN 37938 ___________________________________

MOHAMMED QURAISHI, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY University Radiology 2240 Sutherland Ave, Ste 107 Knoxville, TN 37919 ___________________________________

KIMBERLY FORTNER, MD MATERNAL & FETAL MEDICINE High Risk Obstetrical Consultants 1930 Alcoa Hwy, Ste A-435 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

COURTNEY DEY, MD DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY Abercrombie Radiology 1112 E Weisgarber Rd, Ste 201 Knoxville, TN 37909 ___________________________________

JORDAN LAKIN, DO FAMILY MEDICINE Emory Family Practice 201 E Emory Rd Powell, TN 37849 ___________________________________

ANDREW ANZELJC, MD OPTHALMOLOGY Baptist Eye Surgeons 4528 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

MICHAEL FREEMAN, MD VASCULAR SURGERY University Vascular Surgeons 1940 Alcoa Hwy, Ste E120 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

New LMU DCOM Student Members

PATRICK MASTIN, MD RHEUMATOLOGY Rheumatology Associates of East TN 8975 Executive Park Dr, Ste 200 Knoxville, TN 37923 ___________________________________

TY HEATH, MD ANESTHESIOLOGY American Anesthesiology of TN – Knoxville 501 20th St, Ste 606 Knoxville, TN 37916 ___________________________________

JANO JANOYAN, DO HOSPITALIST UT Hospitalists 1924 Alcoa Hwy, Box 56 Knoxville, TN 37920 ___________________________________

WILLIAM BROOME, DO PEDIATRICS Children’s Faith Pediatrics 1341 Branton Blvd, Ste 102 Knoxville, TN 37922

AUSTIN STEPHENSON, DO ANESTHESIOLOGY American Anesthesiology of TN – Knoxville 501 20th St, Ste 606 Knoxville, TN 37916

LARRY KILGORE, MD GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY University Gynecologic Oncology 1926 Alcoa Hwy, Ste F-410 Knoxville, TN 37920

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Jennifer Domnitz Jeremy L. Naylor Sarah J. Kreider Crystal Lemus Torres Arisa Gonzalez China Pierrelus Elijah Miller

Tennessee Community Resource Network (TCRN) The Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation (KAMF) has been a vehicle for community health and well-being projects for many years. KAMF has undertaken projects which include education on disease prevention, implementation of ventilator bundles to reduce ventilator associated pneumonia, development of rapid response teams in all participating hospitals, Knoxville Area Project Access (KAPA), our physician wellness program the Vitality Initiative Project (VIP), and most recently the Tennessee Community Resource Network (TCRN).

TCRN a program which connects all health supporting providers and social services to improve individual health and well-being. The ultimate goal is to connect our medical, behavioral, and social services systems state wide through a common referrals platform. TCRN will establish the first truly effective means for these three sectors to communicate and coordinate care; thus achieving improvements in healthcare outcomes as well as re-

KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

ducing healthcare expenditures for Tennessee businesses and governmental entities.

The tool which we are utilizing consists of several key components: closed loop referrals, individualized profiles, and the real-time resource directory. In addition, TCRN will have System Navigators to assist in directing individuals who are referred to resources they need.

TCRN will allow communities and the State to look more upstream; addressing factors which will improve overall health, identify gaps in resources, provide insights to community health, gain cost savings for businesses and government agencies, and reduce duplicative work and spending on technology and siloed initiatives.

Stay tuned for the latest updates regarding the Tennessee Community Resource Network. If you would like additional information or would like to participate in the pilot, please contact Danielle Sims at 865-531-2766 ext. 2430.

Travis S. McCurry Principal, Partner

J. Todd Williams Principal, Senior Partner

865-556-5873 Email: travis@wbginsights.com

865-368-1946 Email: todd@wbginsights.com

Serving the members of KAM for over a decade!

Helping you solve your financial puzzle 9700 Westland Drive, suite 103 Knoxville, TN 37922 Office: (865) 690-9590 Fax: 865-690-9052 Securities and Investment Advisory Services Offered Through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Benefits Group, LLC is independently owned and operated.The material on this site is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider.The Benefits Group, LLC and its representatives are presently licensed to sell traditional life insurance in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, NC, PA, VA and TN. Insurance services are limited to residents of the above listed states. Residents of other states should consult with a local agent for insurance services.Variable life and annuity products, as well as other securities products, may be sold in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, NC, PA, VA and TN. Residents of other states should consult with a local registered representative for securities products.he Benefits Group, LLC is a member of M Financial Group. Please click here for further details regarding this relationship.Check the background of this Firm and/or investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.For important information related to M Securities, refer to the M Securities’ Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) by navigating to https://mfin.com/m-securities

KNOXVILLE MED CINE | 5

V

ITALITY KAM Knoxville Academy of Medicine’s

Initiative Project

KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

Studies report 42% or more of physicians are or have experienced “burnout”.

If you are feeling symptoms of burnout, Knoxville Academy of Medicine offers TOTALLY anonymous counseling at no charge for members.

A Free Program to Support KAM Members Call this confidential and secure number at

(865) 9999-KAM

to schedule your first telemedicine appointment.

Build a plan to equip yourself with the tools necessary to become the best physician you can be.

The first step to solving a problem is to recognize it and consider its ramifications. Unaddressed burnout can result in: • Lower quality of care • Higher medical error rate • Staff turnover within a practice • Physician substance abuse • Physician suicide

Brought to you by:

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KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

FOUNDATION

ACADEMY NEWS

KAM KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

Promote your practice with Knoxville Medicine’s DocTalk, a free KAM membership benefits that spotlights our members!

KAM is producing a weekly podcast focused on various medical issues. Each week our host, Rob Page, M.D., will feature a KAM Physician Member to address hot topics surrounding health and well-being. These candid conversations are recorded, as both audio and video, in a relaxed setting and allow the viewer/listener to learn from discussions. These segments will aid in fulfilling the gap in medical literacy on various subjects.

Our goal is to educate patients in East Tennessee, while offering a better understanding of how to treat and manage the illnesses and chronic conditions that many in our community are facing. These featured pieces will be approximately 15 to 20 minutes long and pushed out weekly through our social media sites. Additionally, they will be accessible on our YouTube Channel for a minimum of one year.

Featured physicians of these productions will be identified by name, specialty, practice name, location, as well as appointment contact information. Not only will this be an FREE ongoing advertising opportunity, it will also be a production that you can link to and utilize on your website and social media free of charge as well! This is a great opportunity to build awareness and educate those in our community with the most frequently asked questions that you receive on various topics. Some of our latest topics have covered Sleep Apnea, Interventional Cardiology, Gallbladder Surgery, Weight Loss Surgery, Robotic Surgery to just name a few.

Scan the QR code below to get to the DocTalk YouTube channel.

If you would to be a guest on DocTalk contact us at: DocTalk@knoxvillemedicine.org

KAMA Corner

By: Nancy Sewell, KAMA President

Here is a snapshot of what KAMA has been up to!

Dr. Michael Baron, from the Tennessee Medical Foundation, was our special guest speaker for our February meeting. We felt very fortunate to have him give us information about how they are helping Tennessee licensed health professionals who are struggling or in crisis.

Thank you to Lorraine Johnson and Arpakorn “Tom” Walker for planning this program.

Our Holiday Sharing card raised $9324.99 that will be disbursed to our three endowed scholarships: UT Medical School-$4,1088.33, UTK Nursing -$2,908.33, and TN Wesleyan Nursing- $2,308.33. Special thanks to Cynthia Gash and Mary Weiss for their dedication to this program and to our physicians who so generously donate to the scholarships.

Due to the uncertainty of being able to gather for Doctor’s Day this year, the chairs of the committee, Ellen Evancho and Robin Hutchins, requested KAMA make a donation of $500 to KAPA to honor our retired physicians.

Barbara Crist has done a great job heading KAMA’s Medication Task Force Committee. Our trained volunteers work closely with the Metro Drug Coalition to reach out to Knoxville’s youth, teaching a program called Generation Rx. We received a $500 grant for the improvement of the program materials. The program is being expanded to include middle school children about medication safety.

Our KAMA Health Promotions Chair, Shelia Barnett, set up an AHA Lifesaver CPR Adult/Child/Infant & AED for February 14, a great way to celebrate our hearts! We have received two $500 TMAA Health Grants to provide funds for the Vine School Health Center for needed equipment - an AED, a new otoscope and a BP cuff. KAMA members are also providing small supplies as an ongoing project.

Our annual KAMA Retreat was held at the Buckhorn Inn on February 27 and 28, 2022. President-Elect Donna Brunson shared her vision for the coming year.

Our membership drive began in January. With the hard work and dedication of our Membership Co-Chairs, Judy Akers and Laura O’Connor, we have had an excellent response, so far. Membership forms are available on our website: kamalliance.org and can be printed and mailed to the KAMA P.O. Box. Our Winter Membership “Just for Fun”event was at Craft Axe Throwing. We didn’t kill anybody and we had fun!

We also have had great ways for our members to get together and enjoy each other’s company by attending small group activities like our Bookclub and KAMA Klimbers hiking group. We have started a new Lunch Bunch for members to meet the third Wednesday of the month for fellowship.

KAMA members truly do work hard to promote health education programs that impact our community and encourage friendships!

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Calendar of Events APRIL 24 29

Day at the Smokies, Smokies Stadium, 1:00 pm LMU Pizza & Politics, LMU DCOM Knoxville, 6:00 pm

MAY 20-22 TMA House of Delegates, Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN

SEPTEMBER 30

KAPA's Boot Scootin' Ball - Save The Date!

Pizza And Politics TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS, VISIT KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 6:00 - 8:00 PM LMU DCOM KNOXVILLE

COMPLIMENTARY PIZZA AND SODAS! MUST RSVP AT KNOXVILLEMEDICINE.ORG

Join your legislators at this informal gathering to learn how to effect important legislation and what bills are expected next session that will have an impact on medicine.

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LEGAL NEWS

KAM

HACKING HEALTHCARE: PROTECTING OUR PATIENT’S INFORMATION

KNOXVILLE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE

By: Karin Anderson & Grace Ewell

Why do hackers target physician practices?

The combination of vulnerable systems and the dollar value for selling patient information for identity theft makes physician practices and health care facilities a desired target for hackers. Although we think of a hacker as an individual, typically they operate like any other business, determining the investment and potential profit of each venture. The hacker’s investment is lower if the system has minimal security, taking less time to invade and take control of the system. The hacker’s profit is higher if the data stolen results in two payments, the ransom for release of the data and the sale of patient information.

How do hackers access a practice’s electronic medical record system?

Ransomware is a type of malware that attempts to hold data hostage, usually by encrypting the data with a key known only to the hacker who deployed the malware, until a ransom is paid. Hackers may wait for months after infecting the network before activating the ransomware, allowing adequate time to compromise data backups to prevent a practice or facility from restoring the data on its own.

What is the impact on my practice or facility?

The impact of a hacker was felt by an Alabama hospital, Springhill Medical Center of Alabama, and its patients in 2019. When the electronic medical records system was hacked and held for ransom, a physician did not order a c-section for an infant born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck because he could not see the fetal heart rate monitor. This is the first known death related to hacking, and is the subject of a lawsuit against the hospital.

A provider that is faced with loss of access to systems and patient information will need to urgently: 1. Determine how to obtain data that was lost and resume operations and patient care. Identify back up data, remove malware and repair systems to prevent hacker’s re-entry (requires forensic investigator) and implement emergency plan to operate without systems/data.

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2. Report the Crime to the FBI. 3. Notify your cybersecurity insurance carrier for coverage of forensic investigators and healthcare lawyers. The average cost of a data breach in 2021 for the healthcare industry was 9.23 million.

4. If patients’ protected health information (PHI) was compromised, comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state law requirements, including: a. Within 60 days, report the breach of patients’ PHI to the Office of Civil Rights b. Notify patients, HHS and if applicable, the media c. Comply with the terms of contracts regarding breach of patients’ PHI (Business Associate Agreements).

Under HIPAA’s Breach Notification Rule, unless you can demonstrate that there is a “low probability that the PHI has been compromised,” a breach of PHI is presumed to have occurred.

How does my practice/facility prevent hackers from accessing the electronic medical records system?

• Comply with HIPAA’s Security Rule requiring steps to prevent malware and protect PHI through a comprehensive security management process (risk assessments and gap analysis) • Update your policies and procedures • Implement access controls to system • Develop an offline, encrypted backup of data • Implement system to block phishing emails and train employees • Create a proactive preparedness plan, as recommended by HHS. • Identify cybersecurity resources including HHS https://405d.hhs. gov/public/navigation/home and the AMA https://www.ama-assn. org/practice-management/sustainability/physician-cybersecurity Questions? Contact London Amburn at (865) 637-0203.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for general informational purposes only and are not to be construed as legal advice. You should consult an attorney regarding any specific legal questions.

FINANCIAL NEWS Double The Inheritance, Double The Planning By: Rhett Lankford, CRC®, Vice President - FirstBank

Women may be in for double the planning when it comes to managing windfalls.

Inheritances are a blessing that can relieve old debts while opening doors you didn’t know existed. However, as fortuitous as an influx of wealth can be, the emotional and administrative complexities that often come along with sudden wealth can be overwhelming.

Did you know that roughly 80% of women outlive their husbands, according to the U.S. Census Bureau? Considering women are also expected to inherit $28.7 trillion in intergenerational wealth over the next 40 years, it seems likely that many married women may receive not one, but two inheritances in their lifetime – from their parents as well as their husbands.

So what exactly does this mean for your life and future?

Sudden wealth, especially as a result of a loss, can add a host of complicated feelings to an already difficult time. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the complexities alone. Whatever events your life may have in store, your advisor can help you factor in practicalities and prepare for what lies ahead.

don’t have one already, get a team of professionals in place, including an estate attorney and CPA, as they can work in accord with you and your financial advisor to help ensure all your wealth and life management details are accounted for.

Many women view money as a way to care for themselves and their families. You might see an inheritance as an opportunity to set aside funds for a child’s or grandchild’s education or as a means to help ensure your family’s financial confidence. As you think about your goals for your wealth, don’t forget to take your own longevity into account. Not only do women generally live longer than men, but people are leading longer lives in general, making it an important consideration as you update your financial plan.

Beyond planning for your longevity, your professional advisors can help you manage the other nuances of significant wealth, as well. For example, while some liquidity can be useful, too much idle cash can be vulnerable to depreciation instead of being thoughtfully invested. Further, your advisor and CPA can work together to implement taxefficient strategies to help preserve your wealth for you and your family.

Whatever life or wealth events might come up, don’t forget that in this situation and countless others, your advisor can serve as a knowledgeable sounding board as you explore your options and prioritize goals.

PLAN NOW, BREATHE EASIER LATER Many women are already playing a proactive role in their household’s finances. Research from RBC Wealth Management found that 98% of women are joint or sole family banking decision-makers, while 84% take joint or full responsibility for family investments. Still, receiving an inheritance from a spouse could mean that for the first time some women have to make financial decisions all on their own.

A survey found that only 14% of widows were making solo decisions about their wealth before their spouse died.

Fortunately, you and your spouse can plan proactively and mitigate some of the stress either of you could experience in such an event by putting together a survivor’s plan. Work with your financial advisor to discuss what should happen in the event that either of you becomes the sole bearer of your household’s wealth. Be sure there are no gaps in your long-term wealth strategy that could create complications, such as a shortage of liquidity. As always, don’t forget to periodically make sure the details in your estate planning documents are up to date, particularly your beneficiaries.

NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS If and when you do receive an inheritance, there are several factors to keep in mind as you go about incorporating it into your life and financial plan. For starters, don’t rush to make any decisions. A significant wealth event not only comes with strong emotions but can trigger requests for loans from friends or family or a deluge of unsolicited advice from the well-intentioned. You may even find yourself with an intense urge to give or spend it all at once. Not so fast.

Rather than immediately going down any of those avenues, set a holding period for yourself – perhaps six or 12 months – before you decide what next move feels best for you. Take this time to think about what’s most important to you and how your new assets might support those goals, whether they involve your career, your family or your community. If you

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