Quality Care from Quality PeoPle » Summer 2013

Quick, Secure, ConvenientTaking the Next Step Toward Coordinated Care

AN E.R. ALTERNATIVE Urgent Care on Your Schedule | REmEmbERINg a Beloved Volunteer

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a gIFT CARD!Details on page 2.

Greetings! The theme of this issue of Major Matters is changes in health care, particularly how Major Health Partners is taking steps to make a person’s access to health care easier. We are moving toward a health maintenance model of coordinated care where we work with you to improve your health and keep you from getting sick. This model is represented by three overlapping areas that comprise a total health management system: preventive care, chronic disease management, and community involvement.

Another change that’s indicative of our new approach is our secure NextMD patient portal that allows online access to your personal health information and easier interactions with your primary care provider. This is just one example of how MHP is staying in step with the latest technological trends as well as offering flexible solutions for our patients.

This is a hardworking community, and we understand that people don’t always have time to call their physician’s office. The patient portal will make care partnerships more convenient for families, as they can request appointments, ask questions, and get lab test results all in one accessible, secure location from their home computer. This will be especially helpful during the evening hours, when most of us have more free time. On the physicians’ end, MHP’s doctors can send lab results and reminders for appointments, immunizations, services, and events. These reminders will help make sure patients are up-to-date on all their recommended care.

We are excited about the new possibilities this system will offer patients, and that it will make access to care easier, more effective, and more efficient. For additional information, please see the feature article on pages 4 and 5. Thank you for embarking with us on this exciting new journey in your care!

Sincerely,

PAulA GuSTAFSON, MD MeDicAl cHieF OF STAFF

Message froM the C.o.s.

All entries must be received by June 15, 2013. One entry per person. Correct entries will be entered into a drawing. Must be at least 18 years old to enter. MHP employees and their immediate family members are not eligible for the drawing.

reCeive Major Matters for free!To sign up, remove your name, or change your mailing

address, email majormatters@majorhospital.org.

Major Matters is published quarterly as a service of Major Health Partners. For more information

about MHP, visit www.majorhp.org.

This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before

undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

Chief exeCutive OffiCer Jack Horner

MajOr health Partners150 West WashingtOn st.

shelbyville, in 46176

summer 2013MajorMatters

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majormatters@majorhospital.org, or send a postcard with your name,

address, and phone number indicating the page number and location

of the clover to:

major Health Partners Attn: marketing Department

150 West Washington St. Shelbyville, IN 46176

Leadership in a New EraPaula Gustafson, MD, was recently named Medical Chief of Staff at Major Health Partners. The board-certified pediatrician, who founded MHP’s pediatric practice after joining the hospital’s staff in 1997, brings to the role a diverse background and boundless enthusiasm for tackling complex issues.

“The world of medicine is changing, and one challenge doctors and hospitals face is how to improve health care while keeping costs in check,” Dr. Gustafson says. “As Chief of Staff, my role is to lead others through this evolving process and help them partner with the community to manage and prevent disease.”

Before receiving her medical degree, Dr. Gustafson gained advanced degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. Both disciplines have shaped her approach to medicine.

“My MBA taught me to pay attention to what things cost,” Dr. Gustafson says. “Engineering taught me to analyze data. As we record more and more data, it is going to open our eyes to things we never understood before. It’s a very exciting time to be in medicine!”

Win !Find the hidden clover

for your chance to win one of three $25 gift cards.

reCeive Major Matters for free!To sign up, remove your name, or change your mailing

address, email majormatters@majorhospital.org.

Major Matters is published quarterly as a service of Major Health Partners. For more information

about MHP, visit www.majorhp.org.

This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before

undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

Leadership in a New Era

www.majorHP.org [ 3 ]

“We’ve taken strides to meet our goal of delivering the best possible care and are confident that we’ll see positive results quickly,” says Patty Scoville, CMA, Office Manager at Major Internal Medicine. “We’re delivering more prompt care by adding new providers and implementing a program that allows patients to be cared for more rapidly.”

Quality Care—on your sChedule“When you’re sick, being seen soon can mean the difference between discomfort and relief,” says Holly Furdge-White, MD, Internal Medicine Physician at Major Internal Medicine. “That is our guiding philosophy. Our ‘Sick? Get in Quick’ program helps patients connect with doctors and start feeling better faster. There is less delay,

and same-day appointments are often available for patients who call before 10 a.m.”

new FaCesIn the past two years, the staff at Major Internal Medicine has grown to better suit your needs. Recent additions include two nurse practitioners, Rachel Holcomb, FNP-BC, and Tammy Reed, FNP-BC. We’ve also brought on two new internists, Dr. Furdge-White and, our latest addition, Karim Yacoub, MD.

“With the addition of our four new employees, our providers have nearly 100 combined years of experience practicing medicine,” Scoville says. “We are now accepting new patients. It’s never been easier to access the care you need when you need it.”

From SiCk to Feeling Better QuiCkInternists, or internal medicine practitioners, are physicians specifically trained to assess, diagnose, and treat a full spectrum of health concerns for adults. This comprehensive care is more accessible than ever at Major Internal Medicine.

to make an appointment at major internal medicine, call 317.392.3651.

to schedule an appointment with Dr. Yacoub, call 317.392.3651.

Dr. Yacoub is board certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He completed his fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Dr. Yacoub, his wife, and their two sons currently reside in New Hampshire. He will join the staff of Major Internal Medicine this summer.

“I was looking for a place to

put down roots and grow with the community,” Dr. Yacoub says. “I want to look back 20 years from now and have patients who have been with me since day one.”

already Part oF the FamilyFor Dr. Yacoub, medicine is all about the opportunities to help people heal and the connections physicians make with patients. On his second visit to Shelbyville, he witnessed the Major

Health Partners difference firsthand when his youngest son accidentally swallowed a piece of plastic and was rushed to priority care.

“Everything was done well, but it was the moral support and little touches that made us feel relieved and comforted,” Dr. Yacoub says. “A lot of the employees came to check on my wife and gave the children stuffed animals. That’s something you don’t see everywhere.”

When Karim Yacoub, MD, went looking for a new community to care for and place to call home, the small-town feel and warm nature of Shelby County were a perfect fit for his young family.

Growing FamilyMajor internaL Medicine’s

At Major Health Partners, we pursue innovation. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the next generation of communication technology: NextMD, the new patient portal at MHP.

NextMD, also referred to as the NextGen Patient Portal, is a web-based portal that allows you to interact with your primary care provider (PCP) quickly, conveniently, and securely. Similar to email, the patient portal gives you the ability to electronically send messages to and receive messages from your care provider’s office. The difference is that NextMD is uniquely designed to connect you to your MHP provider and features a host of functions that helps you access health care in a safer, easier, and more meaningful way.

the nextmd diFFerenCeAs a communication tool, you can use NextMD to accomplish almost anything that would previously require a phone call to your PCP’s office. For instance, the portal allows you to:» Send a message to your PCP. Say you visited your PCP last week

with flu symptoms, and despite medication you still have a persistent cough. Using NextMD, you can send a quick note asking your PCP whether you should come in again or wait for the cough to clear up. Perhaps your PCP gave you instructions about a certain medication during your last visit, but you forgot what he or she said. Instead of trying to get your PCP on the phone, you can just send a message through NextMD and receive an answer quickly—often the same day.

» Refill a medication. If your prescription runs out, you have to get a new prescription from your PCP before you can refill

it. Using the patient portal, you can secure a medication refill and have it sent directly

to the pharmacy without having to schedule an appointment or even

call the office.» Request an appointment.

Your PCP’s office is a busy place, and as hard as staffers try, they are not always able

to answer the phone right away. Instead of waiting on hold, you can go online and request your next appointment with just a few clicks. Since NextMD is accessible 24/7, you don’t have to wait for normal office hours to request appointments. You can even have appointment reminders sent to you via email or text message.

» Access your health record. What is the name of that medication you were taking? How long ago did you have that procedure done? Sometimes it’s useful to see your medical history and review your medication lists, but gathering the information can be time-consuming. With NextMD, you can view your health record from your PCP’s office anytime and see test results as soon as they’re available. You can also download this information as a PDF and print it for your records.“Patients like having the option of looking up their health

information and contacting their provider from anywhere, at any time,” says Scott Monts, Patient Communications Manager at MHP. “This kind of convenience represents the future of health care.”

a win-win For Patients and ProvidersMonts, who helped launch the portal and uses it himself, says NextMD is already gaining popularity in the community. Within the first few weeks of its launch last November, approximately 1,500 adult and pediatric patients had signed up for the portal. Paula Gustafson, MD, Medical Chief of Staff at MHP and Board-certified Pediatrician at Major Pediatrics, says she hopes to have all of her patients’ parents using NextMD by the end of this year, as the patient portal provides unique benefits on both sides of the care exchange.

“As pediatric care providers, we’re just as busy as our patients’ parents,” Dr. Gustafson says. “Playing telephone tag to schedule an appointment or ask a question is inconvenient for everyone involved. The patient portal makes one-time interactions much easier and allows us to be more responsive to our patients’ needs.”

You can request to be signed up for the nextmD patient portal by calling your primary care provider’s office and providing an email address. once you’re signed up, visit www.nextmd.com to access the portal.

[ 4 ] MajorMatters

CommuniCationis Just a

Click Away

“As the premier healthcare provider for Shelby County, Major Health Partners has made it a priority to connect our

patients with the latest and most beneficial technologies. Our investment

in the NextMD patient portal is a testament to this commitment.”

—jack horner, ceo, Major health partners

www.majorHP.org [ 5 ]

NextMD: Myth vs. FactMore and more patients are enjoying the benefits of the NextMD online portal at Major Health Partners, but there may be a few reasons why you’re still hesitant to take the plunge. let’s clear the air about NextMD so you can make the most informed decision about this new technology.

myth: “i’m not good with computers. NextMD will just make my life more complicated.”

FaCt: NextMD is as user-friendly as it gets. To access the portal, visit www.nextmd.com and simply type in your username and password. The main page of the portal features a clean and simple design with clearly marked navigation tools. A taskbar on the left side of the page includes buttons with straightforward descriptions such as “compose Message” and “Request Appointment.”

myth: “if i sign up with NextMD, my personal information will be on the internet for anyone to see.”

FaCt: NextMD is a secure, password-protected portal. unlike a website, your portal page is not open to the public. Only you can decide who is allowed to view your health information.

myth: “NextMD is just another marketing tool.”FaCt: We never use our patient portal to

advertise hospital services or solicit you for fundraising purposes. NextMD’s only function is to facilitate better interaction between you and your healthcare provider.

[ 6 ] MajorMatters

major Priority Care is located on the second floor of the rampart Professional Building and is open monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.majorprioritycare.org for more information.

immeDiate CareCloSe to HomeFrom sprains to flu, earaches to bee stings, Shelbyville’s Major Priority Care, located in the Rampart Professional Building, provides prompt medical service for patients who are unable to see their primary care physician but need help right away.

“Our highly skilled staff treats acute injuries and illnesses rather than chronic medical conditions,” explains Rhonda Sawyer, Office Manager at Major Priority Care. “In addition to our urgent care services, we also specialize in occupational health and perform physicals for work, school, sports, and other activities.”

a Caring neighborThe only urgent care provider in Shelby County, Major Priority Care providers are experienced in family practice and internal medicine and are able to evaluate, diagnose, and treat injuries or episodic conditions, such as: » Coughs, colds, and sore throats» Difficulty breathing

(mild asthma cases)» Eye infections» Fever and flu-like symptoms» Minor burns, cuts, and injuries

» Rash or other skin irritations» Simple fractures» Sprains, strains, and broken bones» Sunburns» Urinary tract infections

“Because we are close to home and open six days a week, patients don’t need an appointment,” says Sawyer. “We care about our community and like to assist our local physicians by keeping patients out of the Emergency Department if they are not dealing with a life-threatening condition.”

HealtH at Work aND Playin addition to providing urgent care, Major Priority care offers a variety of occupational health services for both employees and employers throughout the Shelby county region. Services include: • DOT and cDl physicals• Drug screenings• employment physicals• Flu shots

• illness and injury management• Sports injury management• Vaccinations• Workers’ compensation

“We have been in occupational health since 1994 and provide a range of occupational health services to support employers in maintaining a healthy workforce,” says Rhonda Sawyer, Office Manager at Major Priority care. “We specialize in working with employees who are injured on the job, filing their claims, notifying their employer of their status, and taking care of all insurance forms and filings.”

For patients who suffer an unexpected illness or minor medical emergency, receiving quality health care quickly is of the utmost importance. Major Priority Care’s state-of-the-art facility offers patients a convenient alternative to the Emergency Department.

Calendar of Events

“When you have cancer, it can take over your life,” says Angela Gill, Executive Director of the Foundation. “This garden was designed to offer patients a positive means of refocusing their energy.”

The garden is broken into five sections, with private and social seating sprinkled throughout so patients can have a quiet moment alone, or

connect with others. Patients can relax by the bubbling fountain of the sensory garden while enjoying beautiful flowers and the peaceful buzz of hummingbirds during the springtime.

A kiva pit, based off of Native American traditions, offers patients another area to gather their thoughts and share with others. A labyrinth and meditation garden round out

the overall landscape, providing people many places to seek sunlight, light exercise, and solace.

“We’ve had many patients indicate the garden helped make treatment more manageable,” Gill says. “Medical studies suggest when patients are exposed to nature they feel less stressed and heal faster.”

A Refuge for Healing

cLasses at Major heaLth partners

www.majorHP.org [ 7 ]

In 2006, the Major Hospital Foundation began putting plans in place for a healing garden located by the Benesse Oncology Center. Today, the garden offers cancer patients and their families a place to reflect during treatment.

to learn more about upcoming and ongoing Foundation projects, visit www.majorfoundation.org.

Childbirth Class3rd Floor Classroom• 6:30–9 p.m., June 13; July 18; August 8This one-day class is recommended for all women giving birth at Major Hospital. Classes are designed for first-time mothers-to-be and their labor support persons. Also, if it has been more than five years since your last pregnancy, we recommend this class. Classes may let out early depending on content and class participants. To register or for more information, contact Kelly Wagoner at 317.398.5297.

Breastfeeding Class3rd Floor Classroom• 6:30–9 p.m., July 30Breastfeeding is the best way to provide nourishment for your newborn. This class covers breastfeeding basics to help make breastfeeding a success for you and your child. Your spouse and/or support person is encouraged to attend with you. A certified breastfeeding educator teaches the class, which is recommended for those who want to breastfeed or want more information regarding breastfeeding.

Basic Life Support (BLS) Initial Class3rd Floor Classroom• 9 a.m.–2 p.m., June 12; July 17; August 9This course covers core material such as adult and pediatric CPR, including two-rescuer and bag-mask methods. Foreign body airway obstruction and automated external defibrillator (AED) use are also covered. Participants will complete a written exam along with a skills evaluation to receive a completion card, valid for two years.

BLS Recertification Class3rd Floor Classroom• JUNE

8–11 a.m., June 4; noon–3 p.m., June 6; noon–3 p.m., June 18; 8–11 a.m., June 26

• JULY Noon–3 p.m., July 11; 8–11 a.m., July 22; noon–3 p.m., July 25; 8–11 a.m., July 31

• AUGUST Noon–3 p.m., August 15; 8–11 a.m., August 21; noon–3 p.m., August 26; 8–11 a.m., August 29

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Initial Class (two days)Classroom A & B• 8 a.m.–4 p.m., July 2;

8 a.m.–noon, July 3 The ACLS Provider course is for emergency, intensive, or critical care providers. Participants will complete a written exam along with a skills evaluation to receive a completion card, valid for two years.

ACLS Recertification ClassClassroom A & B• 8 a.m.–2 p.m., June 19 or August 23

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Initial Class (two days)Classroom A & B• 8 a.m.–4 p.m., June 24;

8 a.m.–noon, June 25 The PALS Provider course is for pediatricians, emergency personnel, pediatric healthcare providers, paramedics, and respiratory therapists. Participants will complete a written exam and skills evaluation to receive a completion card, valid for two years.

PALS Recertification Class 3rd Floor Classroom• 8 a.m.–4 p.m., July 8 or August 2

Heartsaver CPR/AED and First Aid Skills Check3rd Floor Classroom• 9 a.m.–noon, July 27 Heartsaver CPR/AED course teaches participants how to perform CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in adults and children, as well as infant CPR and choking relief. The course will also use barrier devices for all ages. Participants will complete a skills evaluation to receive a certification card, valid for two years.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PaIDPermit No. 830

mA

ILED

FROm ZIP CODE 24506

Major Hospital Foundation150 W Washington StShelbyville IN 46176

Honoring

Margaret “Tody” Dawson volunteered at Major Hospital for 26 years before passing away this year. Those who were touched by her service can honor her memory by making a donation to the Major Hospital Foundation through its Tree of Life memorial and tribute gift program.

“My mother worked at the front and side desk, as well as in the surgery waiting room,” says Karen Lane, Tody’s daughter. “She enjoyed seeing all the people come in and visiting with them. She always felt like she was needed when she could help somebody find their way around the hospital.”

a legaCy oF ComPassionOutside of her volunteer duties, Tody was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and attending church. Warm, caring, and compassionate, Tody’s service became an important part of her life, and Major Hospital wants to ensure her legacy of helping others lives on.

“My mother’s days at Major Hospital were some of the best days of her life, and many of her hospital colleagues and friends become part of her extended family,” Karen says. “Because of this, we’re so happy she’ll remain a part of the hospital with any money given in her name going to help the community she worked with on a daily basis.”

a Special Volunteer

to make a donation to the tree of life, visit www.majorfoundation.org or call the Foundation at 317.421.0361.