Sister Pat
Sr. Patricia A. Eck (MHA ’81), C.B.S., Congregation Leader for
the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris since 2009 and chairperson of Bon Secours
Ministries, the sponsor for Bon Secours Health System, received the Papal
award, Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal on November 20, 2011. This award
is the highest honor given to a member of a religious community by the
Vatican. Instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, the honor is bestowed
upon lay people and clergy who have provided distinguished service to the Roman
Catholic Church. Sr. Eck received the medal at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
in Baltimore.
Link to full article: http://bonsecoursvocations.org/blog/sr-patricia-eck-receives-high-honor-from-vatican/
Marilyn Tavenner
On December 5, 2011, the Grant House community was pleased to
welcome Marilyn Tavenner (MHA 1989), the newly appointed Acting Administrator
and Chief Operating Officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. In her remarks to the HAD audience, Ms. Tavenner outlined
activities underway in each of the six platforms of her organization:
"classic" CMS (Medicare and Medicaid), program integrity, The Center
for Innovation, quality, private Insurance, and exchanges. Most of
the activities she discussed revolved around the implementation of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, either as new initiatives or
reactions to the impact of the Act. Ms. Tavenner emphasized the importance
of partnerships with states and the private sector, especially with regard to
creating insurance exchanges that provide meaningful and affordable choices for
eligible individuals. Ms. Tavenner's nomination to replace Dr. Don
Berwick as CMS Administrator has won praise from many bi-partisan
corners.
Link to full article: http://www.had.vcu.edu/news/Tavenner.html
Richard Bracken
Richard Bracken (MHA '77) was the recipient of Virginia Commonwealth
University’s 2011 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on December 10, 2011. The
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters is Virginia Commonwealth University’s highest
form of recognition. Awarded by the President at Commencement, it
recognizes the Commencement speaker as well as others who have made outstanding
contributions to society through scholarship, public service, humanitarianism,
science and art.
Link to full article: http://www.had.vcu.edu/alumni/news/Bracken%20Honorary%20Degree.pdf
Michael McCue
Michael McCue, professor, along with Michael Hall from Wake
Forest University Medical School was awarded a $130,000 grant by
Commonwealth Fund for the period January to December 2012. Under health
reform commercial health insurers are required to spend a percentage of their
premium dollars on medical services and for activities that improve health care
quality for its members. Starting in 2011, health insurers that do not comply
with this regulation are required to provide rebates to their
members. This grant study will estimate the potential rebates for
2011 across individual, small group and large group policies as well as
assess the impact on whether health insurers will exit the state markets as a
result of the regulation.
Colin Banas
Dr. Colin Banas (MSHA ’08), Chief Medical Information Officer,
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has been named in Modern
Healthcare as one of the Top 25 Clinical Informaticists for 2011. In his
current role, and in his previous role as assistant CMIO, Banas, who also is a
hospitalist, helped to create a program that allows physicians to use
smartphones to improve charge capture. He also led the rollout of the health
system’s electronic health record in its 60 outpatient clinics, and spearheaded
a medication reconciliation project that raised levels of discharge medication
reconciliation to 90%.
Link to full article: www.modernhealthcare.com/gallery/20111114/PHOTO/111409999/PH&Params=Itemnr=2
Bullets
- Reaching Excellence in Healthcare Management, by Ken White and
John Griffith won the 2012 James A. Hamilton Book of the Year award given by
ACHE. The award will be presented at the ACHE meeting in March.
- Art Layne (MHA ’76) served as Executive in Residence the week of
January 23-27, 2012. Mr. Layne is the President of Intellimed
International Corporation, a Healthcare specific Decision Support Software
provider focused on Business Development, Strategic Planning, Marketing,
Physician Relations & Recruitment. During his week in residence Mr.
Layne gave a presentation for faculty, staff and students entitled:
“Data: What Physicians Don’t Know Can Hurt Them.”
- Four MHA students, Adria Vanhoozier , John Neidenbach, Katie
Troxler and Melanie Decker attended the VA HIMSS Annual Conference held in
Williamsburg, Virginia in November. Three of the students entered the
poster competition, John Neidenbach was awarded second place and
Katie Troxler third place for their posters.
- Professor Jon DeShazo and PhD student Naleef Fareed published
Hospital EMR Enterprise Application Strategy: Do They Matter? Health Care
Management Review.2012. 37, (1), 4-13.