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Connect With Us Hello, welcome to our newsletter! Our goal for this newsletter is to inform you of what our recruitment team does, who we are and what new and upcoming things are going on at SOMC. We will highlight new providers, new service lines and job opportunities, as well as what is going on in the community. We hope that this newsletter is beneficial and we look forward to sharing it with you quarterly. Sincerely, the SOMC Recruitment Team
Medical Sta Practice Opportunities Current Physician Opportunities
Current Advanced Practitioner
Endocrinology Family Practice Gastroenterology Neurology PM&R Urgent Care Rheumatology
Opportunities
Call Center CRNA Family Practice Palliative Care
More Information
If you are interested in shadowing or completing a rotation, please contact Jill Martin at martinji@somc.org for further details.
SOMC Adopts New EMR
After more than a year of preparation, design, and build, Southern Ohio Medical Center went live with Meditech Expanse, the new electronic health record. At midnight on August 1, Meditech Expanse went live with all interfaces and functionality available. Final preparations are being made on public communication to assist in spreading the word to our patients. Flyers and signs are placed around the organization letting our patients and their families know that we are updating our electronic health record system to upgrade their experience. It has truly taken many teams within the organization to build and complete this new system. Your dedication to see this project through has not gone unnoticed. “It is hard to believe we are just days away from our go-live date,” said Julie Irwin, SOMC Administrative Director of Performance Improvement. “We have successfully stayed on track even through a global pandemic, and this is due to all of the teams’ hard work on this project. We look forward to seeing the implementation of this new system.”
SOMC Earns 2020 NRC Health Excellence Award for Care Transitions
Southern Ohio Medical Center recently earned the National Research Corporation (NRC) Excellence in Care Transitions Award. This accomplishment recognizes the high degree in which the SOMC staff responded to patient needs and assisted those patients in reaching a resolution. The NRC is the parent company of Connect, SOMC’s automated discharge call-back system. This system allows the organization to reach nearly 20,000 patients per year following their inpatient and outpatient visits. The NRC awarded SOMC with the Excellence in Care Transitions Award based on the high number of “alerts” closed during the period of April 1, 2019 to March 30, 2020. The “alerts” are messages that result from the automated discharge call-back through the Connect system. SOMC’s Clinical Case Management (CCM) team is then notified of these alerts, which allows them to followup with the patients about their needs via a live call. These calls address concerns such as medications and prescriptions, discharge instructions, worsening of symptoms, followup appointments and service. “One of the strategies that has made the CCM team successful is that they respond to the alert queue in real time during the 11:00am call window, seven days a week,” said David Richard, SOMC Manager of Performance Improvement and Clinical Case Management. “Our goal is to respond to these calls within minutes, addressing patient needs when they request it.” Richard said the CCM team stepped up a few years ago when SOMC partnered with Connect. When deciding who would field the patient alerts, the CCM team volunteered to tackle the workload. He said the degree to which the team problem solves and meets patient needs is inspiring. Richard named multiple ways in which the team has gone the extra mile, in addition to their daily duties, to serve the patients who they have reached through the Connect system. He said they call some of these patients back over days or weeks to check in on them. The CCM team members also provide daily support to patients struggling to manage their disease processes. Additionally, they serve as the last point of contact after an encounter, provide service recovery and improve perceptions of care, he said. “This is a great achievement for the CCM team and SOMC,” Richard said. “This award shows that we take all these patient needs seriously by addressing them as timely as possible. Thank you to the CCM team for your patient-centered approach in responding to patient needs after discharge. It truly makes a difference!”
Southern Ohio Medical Center Earns URAC Accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy
Southern Ohio Medical Center is proud to announce that it has earned URAC accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy. URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement, and innovation. By achieving this status, Southern Ohio Medical Center has demonstrated a comprehensive commitment to quality care, improved processes, and better patient outcomes. This accomplishment makes Southern Ohio Medical Center one of nine health systems in Ohio to earn URAC accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy. Other accredited health systems include the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, MetroHealth, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Staff members involved in making this achievement possible include: Jason Baier, Sarah Leist, Staci Duncan, Aaron Williamson, Nathan Curnutte, Sara Morrison, and Dani Mounts Southern Ohio Medical Center began offering specialty pharmacy services in January 2018 in partnership with Trellis Rx to enhance care and outcomes for patients with chronic and complex conditions which include cancer, Hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Today, pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons with advanced clinical training provide high-touch support to nearly 2,000 patients across seven specialties. Monthly out-of-pocket costs for specialty medications can reach thousands of dollars, making it challenging for patients in Southern Ohio to afford treatment. The Southern Ohio Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy addresses this challenge by helping patients access financial assistance from patient assistance and free drug programs. “The Southern Ohio Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy makes it possible for patients in our community to access high quality specialty pharmacy care right here Portsmouth, Ohio,” said Ben Gill, President and CEO of Southern Ohio Medical Center. “Achieving URAC accreditation in Specialty Pharmacy is a milestone that signifies our dedication to providing the highest quality of care to our patients.” “It’s necessary for specialty pharmacies to provide a higher level of treatment for patients so desired outcomes are achieved. Southern Ohio Medical Center shows a dedication to patient education and safety through the recognition of quality it received with URAC’s independent accreditation,” said URAC President and CEO Shawn Griffin, M.D. “With URAC accreditation, people know that Southern Ohio Medical Center strives to adhere to industry best practices.”
Given the impact of the Southern Ohio Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy, the health system recently expanded its partnership with Trellis Rx to offer clinically-integrated pharmacy care to patients with chronic conditions including diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hyperlipidemia. The new service launched in one clinic this June and will expand to additional clinics throughout 2020.
Welcome South Shore Family Practice
Earlier this summer, the ribbon was cut on the SOMC South Shore Family Practice! We are thrilled to have Jennifer Atkins, PA-C and Sara Reed, APRN, FNP-C and the rest of the incredible team joining us. The facility is now open and is accepting new patients. The SOMC South Shore Family Practice is located at US 23 and Indianola Avenue and can be reached by calling 606-932-3159.
SOMC LIFE Center Celebrates 35 Years!
July 1 marked a special day for the SOMC LIFE Center as they celebrated 35 years of operation! The LIFE Center has grown in size and services over the years to promote the health and wellness of the community. Below is a list of what the LIFE Center offers today. The LIFE Center has updated their group fitness schedules to accommodate the temporary closures of the three LIFE Center locations due to COVID-19 to enable members the opportunity to continue attending their favorite group fitness classes, as well as give a sneak peek to non-members virtually. For more information about what classes are being offered and other information, please visit www.somc.org/life or the SOMC Life Center Facebook page.
Hospice Expansion Project One Year Later
August 2, 2020 marks one year since the Hospice Expansion Project Groundbreaking Ceremony. One year ago on this special day, community members and donors of the project celebrated reaching the $3 million milestone to begin the hospice expansion. One year later, construction is well underway. A special thank you to all who have made this project possible in order to serve hospice patients and their families for years to come!
See to a video of the expansion, please copy and paste this link: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOhioMedicalCenter/posts/352554038745 7633
Provider Spotlight We would like to take a moment to introduce our physicians and advanced practitioners that have joined SOMC in the past three months. They range in their talents and specialties, but one thing that they all have in common is their passion to provide excellent care to our patients.
Anniversaries We would also like to recognize our physicians and advanced practitioners that have celebrated their one year anniversary at SOMC in the last three months.
Meagan Beery, CNP Stacia Boyer, PNP Andy Dittenhofer, DO Adam Evans, DO Usreesha Gourneni, MD Misty Hawk, CNP Danielle Johnson, CNP Jami Lyon, DO Michael Martin, MD Taylor Newman, CRNA Doug Ringenberg, CSFA Matt Watson, DO Chase Wiler, CNP
Student Spotlight
SOMC Medical Staff Recruitment and Education is excited to welcome medical students from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The students started in July and will be at SOMC for their third and fourth years of medical school. A few students are from the area, but for some this may be their first time at SOMC, and maybe even Portsmouth. The Medical Staff Recruitment team is dedicated to making them feel at home as much as possible, and they invite you to join in this effort with them! Help us welcome the students and wish them luck as they embark on their journey at SOMC!
Updates
Sherry Young, CNP, relocated to SOMC South Webster Family Practice on July 5, 2020. Dana Beck, CNP, specializing in Endocrinology relocated to the SOMC Portsmouth Family Health Center on August 24, 2020. Andy Stegman, PA-C, will transition to SOMC Neurology Associates on September 13, 2020.
Community & Hospital Events September 19th- Yoga at Barker Farm 19th- Portsmouth Cleanup Day
26th- Comedy Night with Henry Allen
October 3rd- 4th- Noble Farms Fall Vendor Market 3rd- Battle of the Bar Benders at Bar Benders Gym 24th- Dreamland Games at Iron Body Fitness
Portsmouth Named 2020 All- American City
After a collaborative effort of city officials and local businesses, Portsmouth was named an All-American City by the National Civic League. Joining a list of 10 cities nationwide, it was the second time the city received the award, first being honored in 1980. According to their website, the National Civic League’s award, “recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.” Portsmouth was noted for addressing the opioid epidemic in the area with initiatives and resources for the community to fight against substance abuse. Portsmouth was also recognized for community development and actively working to create activities for community engagement. The submission included the following events that earned Portsmouth this award recognition: » Winterfest includes activities such as ice
» Christmas Caroling highlighted 1,880
skating, Christmas lights, snow tubing,
community members breaking the world
carriage rides, a vendor village, a gift shop
record for the most people Christmas
and a children’s museum pop-up.
caroling.
» Glocktoberfest is the celebration of the
» Present wrapping featured 1,482 people
city’s past, present, and future from the
breaking the record for most people
perspective of the Glockner Family and
wrapping presents together. » Portsmouth
their 170+ year journey to the present.
Block Party includes free food, inflatables, a dunk tank, a petting zoo and live music.
» River Days festival offers a daytime parade in which contestants from each
» Final Friday in Boneyfiddle is a free
local school compete with themed floats.
outdoor concert series that enhances commerce and community in the Historic
» Blues, Brews and Barbecue festival
Boneyfiddle shopping district.
includes live music, craft beer and a barbecue competition.
» The Southern Ohio Senior Games
encourage older people to have healthier » Plant Portsmouth featured 1,405
lifestyles.
residents coming together to break the Guinness World Record for the most
» Annual Service Day involves churches
people potting plants simultaneously.
and organizations providing community service.
Many SOMC team members have been involved in these events and have helped Portsmouth earn a spot on this year’s All-America City List! Thank you for your involvement and efforts in making Portsmouth what it is today.
Healthcare Personnel & First Responders: Hope to Cope with Stress and Build Resilience During COVID-19 Pandemic Providing care to others during the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to stress, anxiety, fear, and other strong emotions. How you cope with these emotions can affect your well-being, the care you give to others while doing your job, and the well-being of the people you care about outside of work. During this pandemic, it is critical that you recognize what stress looks like, take steps to build your resilience and cope with stress, and know where to go if you need help. Recognize the symptoms of stress that you may be experiencing: Feeling irritation, anger, or denial
Feeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious Feeling helpless or powerless Lacking motivation Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out Feeling sad or depressed Having trouble sleeping Having trouble concentrating Know about stress-related disorders, compassion fatigue, and burnout: Experiencing or witnessing life-threatening or traumatic events impact everyone differently. In some circumstances, the distress can be managed successfully to reduce associated negative health and behavioral outcomes. In other cases, some people may experience clinically significant distress or impairment, such as acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or secondary traumatic stress (also known as vicarious traumatization). Compassion fatigue and burnout may also result from chronic workplace stress and exposure to traumatic events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tips to cope and enhance your resilience: Communicate with your coworkers, supervisors, and employees about job stress. Talk openly about how the pandemic is affecting your work. Identify factors that cause stress and work together to identify solutions. Ask about how to access mental health resources in your workplace. Remind yourself that everyone is in an unusual situation with limited resources. Identify and accept those things which you do not have control over. Recognize that you are performing a crucial role in fighting this pandemic and that you are doing the best you can with the resources available. Increase your sense of control by keeping a consistent daily routine when possible — ideally one that is similar to your schedule before the pandemic. Try to get adequate sleep. Make time to eat healthy meals. Take breaks during your shift to rest, stretch, or check in with supportive colleagues, coworkers, friends and family. When away from work, get exercise when you can. Spend time outdoors either being physically active or relaxing. Do things you enjoy during non-work hours. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and mentally exhausting, especially since you work with people directly affected by the virus. If you feel you may be misusing alcohol or other drugs (including prescriptions), ask for help. Engage in mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation. If you are being treated for a mental health condition, continue with your treatment and talk to your provider if you experience new or worsening symptoms. For more information and resources please copy and paste this link: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/mental-health-healthcare.html
Why SOMC?
$80,000 Student Loan Reimbursement for CRNA's Did you know that SOMC is now offering up to $80,000 in student loan reimbursement to CRNAs? This amount is divided into $10,000 per year for each year of service commitment. For more information on our CRNA opportunities, please contact Ashley Musser at (740) 3568141 or mussera@somc.org.
 Our Team
Ken Applegate, SHRM | Administrative Director of Human Resources
Dallas Miller, MBA, CHCR | Manager of Recruitment
Ken can be reached at 740.356.8594 or
Dallas can be reached at 740.356.8898 or
AppgateK@somc.org.
MillerDa@somc.org.
Katie Shirey, CPRP | Lead Recruiter
Ashley Musser, CPRP | Recruiter
Neurology, PM&R, and Rheumatology. Katie
Anesthesiology, Hospitalist, and
can be reached at 740.356.8152 or
Gastroenterology. Ashley can be reached at
ShireyK@somc.org.
740.356.8141 or MusserA@somc.org.
Jill Martin, CPRP | Recruiter & Medical Education Coordinator
Megan Gleadle, CPRP | Recruitment Coordinator
Endocrinology, Primary Care physicians, and
Coordinates any locums needs that are needed
Advanced Practitioners. Coordinates rotations for
throughout the organization.
visiting residents, medical students, NP, and PA
Megan can be reached at 740.356.8714 or
students, as well as shadowing opportunities. Jill
GleadleM@somc.org.
can be reached at 740.356.8841 or MartinJi@somc.org.
A Note from Our Team We hope that you enjoyed the 9th edition of our newsletter! We would be happy to answer any questions that you have about job opportunities, student rotations, shadowing or events. Be on the lookout for our next newsletter at the end of November. Enjoy the beautiful weather and cooler temperatures as Fall approaches!
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