Sept. 15-17 • Healthcare Deal Making Summit 2014 • Nashville Music City Center
This annual event brings together senior executives from some of today’s most innovative and leading healthcare organizations along with investors and financial service providers to explore a variety of business models and strategies for success in the evolving post-Affordable Care Act world. For more information or to register, go online to informationforecastnet.com.
Oct. 4 • Greater Nashville Heart Walk • Festival Starts 8 am • Walk Begins 10 am • Vanderbilt Campus, Corner of Natchez Trace & Blakemore
More than 10,000 walkers are expected to participate in the annual 5K Nashville Heart Walk, which is the area’s largest fundraiser for the American Heart Association with a 2014 goal of raising $2 million. Ben Leedle, president and CEO of Healthways, and Peter Weien, manager of Gaylord Opryland Resort and Attractions are co-chairs for the 2014 campaign. For more information or to register as a team, go online to nashvilleheartwalk.org. There is no registration fee.
MissionPoint, Monroe Carell Join Forces
The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has signed on to be part of the hospital and physician network run by MissionPoint Health Partners, the accountable care organization launched by Saint Thomas Health Services in 2012. As part of the agreement between two of the region's largest healthcare providers, the 271-bed main Monroe Carell facility and its more than 20 outpatient centers around the region will be the exclusive provider of pediatric care to MissionPoint's more than 100,000 members.
Bowers Named Corizon President, COO
Effective Aug. 4, Scott A. Bowers will assume the role of president and chief operating officer of Brentwood-based Corizon Health. Most recently, Bowers was president and CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee. He brings 18 years of healthcare management experience to the correction healthcare industry company. Past experience includes serving as president and CEO of Unison Health Plan in Ohio and as executive director of Harmony Health Plan in Illinois. Bowers earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton and his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
Corizon recently announced it had retained the Missouri Department of Corrections healthcare contract and expanded to include the behavioral health component. The contract, which was awarded through a competitive bid process, is for three years with four potential one-year renewals and is valued at $1.1 billion over the seven-year term.
Mathis Named VUMC Chief Compliance Officer
Recently, Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced James Mathis has been promoted to chief compliance officer. Previously he served as the chief clinical enterprise compliance officer and assistant vice chancellor for Health Affairs at VUMC.
Mathis, who has been with Vanderbilt almost 18 months, has also served as chief compliance officer at Omnicare and held positions at Waller and Fresenius Medical Care. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt.
Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About!
Awards, Honors, Achievements
The LUNGevity Foundation has awarded a 2014 Career Development Award for Translational Research to Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Lovly is one of three recipients of the annual grants, which provide $300,000 over three years for lung cancer research.
Jim Moore, CEO of Cumberland Heights, has been awarded the prestigious Administrator of the Year award by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). Moore is nationally recognized as an administrator in alcohol and drug treatment with over 30 years experience in addiction treatment.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of six medical centers around the country to be selected to participate in a network to develop effective approaches for diagnosing hard-to-solve medical cases. Undiagnosed diseases are conditions that even skilled physicians can’t diagnose despite extensive clinical investigation. They may not be recognized by doctors because they are rarely seen, are previously undescribed or are rare forms of more common diseases. Vanderbilt received a $7.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to assist in scientific investigation and clinical evaluation. The six new sites join a clinical site already established at the NIH in Bethesda, Md., that has been active for six years.
H. Newton Williams of Nashville has been named to the American Heart Association’s Greater Southeast Affiliate board of directors for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. The Greater Southeast Affiliate services the region covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Williams has worked with the AHA for a decade in various advocacy roles and was named “Volunteer Advocate of the Year” for the nation in 2011.
Locally, Angela Humphreys, partner, Bass, Berry, & Sims, has been named the 2014-15 board chair for the Greater Nashville chapter of the American Heart Association.
Last month, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a Nashville-based national nonprofit organization, announced it was one of 39 Health Care Innovation Award recipients from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The $2.6 million award is administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) and will be used to demonstrate improved health outcomes and reduced spending when homeless patients have access to medical respite care following a hospital stay.
Murfreesboro dentist William R. "Roy" Thompson, DDS, MAGD, received the national Academy of General Dentistry's Humanitarian Award during the AGD 2014 Annual Meeting at the end of June in Detroit. Thompson, who is currently chairman of Nashville’s Interfaith Dental Clinic, was honored in part for his work to bring low-cost, comprehensive care to low-income and uninsured individuals. The AGD has only given this national award out 16 times in the past 32 years.
HCA recently announced that for a sixth consecutive year the company has earned national recognition as one of the best workplaces for information technology professionals. HCA, which has 165 hospitals and 115 surgery centers in 20 states, ranked No. 42 on Computerworld’s 2014 “Best Places to Work in Information Technology” list of 100 companies.
Kelly A. Carden, MD, a sleep medicine expert with Saint Thomas Sleep Specialists, has been named president of the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). She is also beginning her second year serving on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Carden previously served as chairman of the AASM’s Committee on Coding and Compliance, vice chairman of the Health Care Policy Committee, and was named a fellow of the AASM in 2005 for her accomplishments in the field of sleep medicine.
Michael Moran, a vice president for Interim HealthCare, recently announced Interim HealthCare of Middle Tennessee was the recipient of the Ownership Group of the Year – New Franchise Award. The Award was presented for the fastest growing new franchise in 2013 at the company’s annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Owner and CEO Carol Penterman and her team achieved over 240 percent overall growth in one year after opening in December 2012. The greatest increase in sales was in Interim HealthCare of Middle Tennessee’s staffing of skilled care for long-term care insurance companies, which increased by 1,205 percent.
Ardent Appoints Miller VP of Physicians Services
Nashville-based Ardent Health Services recently announced the appointment of Marc Miller, MBA, FACHE, FACMPE, as vice president of Physician Services, a newly created position dedicated to building strong relationships with the company’s growing network of physician clinics.
Miller brings more than 25 years of practice management experience to Ardent, where he will assist market leadership in establishing new strategies, opportunities, and options for enhancing physician practices throughout the company. Most recently, he served as president of Physician Health Partners ACO/CIN and senior vice president of Physician Services and Business Development at Munroe Regional Health System in Ocala, Fla.
Moves & Expansions
Several area practices have made moves or announced expansions over the last few months.
Last month, Nashville-based AmSurg Corp. effectively doubled its size with the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Florida-based Sheridan Healthcare in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.35 billion. Sheridan provides anesthesia and other specialty services to more than 300 facilities in 25 states. Through this transaction, AmSurg significantly diversifies its revenue streams as both the operator of the largest number of ambulatory surgery centers in the country and as a leading provider of outsourced physician services.
Brookdale Senior Living is leasing 28,000 square feet of space previously occupied by LifePoint in the Highwoods Properties’ building Harpeth on the Green V.
Garza Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery has expanded operations to downtown Nashville, complementing the Belle Meade practice that was established in 2009. The downtown location is at 3rd and Church Health Care on the corner of Third Avenue South and Church Street.
Podiatry practice Neuhaus Foot & Ankle, which has four Middle Tennessee locations, has moved its Brentwood office from TriStar Medical Plaza on Nolensville Pike to 10644 Concord Road and extended office hours so that it is now open until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday in Brentwood. The practice has also added staff, including welcoming new doctor Aaron Allred, DPM, who begins with the practice this month. Allred earned his doctorate from Des Moines University and completed his residency training in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in St. Louis.
Nix Joins LBMC, Lawson Promoted
Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, PC (LBMC) recently announced Lisa Nix, CPA, has joined the firm as a partner leading the Transaction Advisory Services Practice Division with a focus on healthcare services. Prior to joining LBMC, Nix was a director with Deloitte’s National Health Care and Life Sciences Transaction Services practice.
She has over 20 years of public accounting experience with more than 10 years of experience in healthcare transaction services, including leading multi-functional healthcare M&A teams on transactions ranging in size from several million to over $7 billion dollars for both strategic and financial buyers. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Nix has been named a Power Leader in Accounting and is a past recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award from Leadership Health Care.
Additionally, Lauren Lawson in the Human Resources division of LBMC has been promoted to manager. She has more than 8 years of experience in HR and recruiting. Prior to her role at LBMC, Lawson served as an agent with Randstad General Staffing. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources through the HR Certification Institute.
VUMC Names Marnett Associate Vice Chancellor of Research
Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently announced Larry Marnett, PhD, has been named associate vice chancellor for Research and senior associate dean for Biomedical Sciences where he will support the operations and strategic development of basic sciences throughout the medical center. He succeeds Susan Wente, PhD, who is transitioning to provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt University.
Marnett is also the Mary Gedds Stahlman Professor of Cancer Research, director of the A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Chemical Biology and professor of pharmacology. He received his undergraduate degree from Rockhurst College and a doctorate in chemistry from Duke University. Marnett completed post-doctoral work at the Karolinska Institute and Wayne State University and joined Vanderbilt in 1989.
Tackett Joins Sumner Regional
Megan Tackett, MD, has joined Sumner Regional Medical Center’s medical staff and is offering pediatric services to patients throughout Gallatin and the surrounding communities at both the hospital and local VIP MidSouth Children’s Clinic locations.
Tackett received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis and completed her residency at Emory University in Atlanta. She is a member of the Kids Health First Pediatric Alliance and is board certified in Pediatrics.
SVMIC Declares $7.5 M Dividend
State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $7.5 million to be returned to all policyholders renewing in the 12-month period following May 15, 2014. This is the seventh consecutive year SVMIC has declared dividends for its physician policyholders. Policyholders will receive the dividend in the form of a credit on the renewal premium. Additionally, rates will remain unchanged for 2014.
In other news, SVMIC was again awarded an “A” (Excellent) financial strength rating from A.M. Best Company. SVMIC has maintained an “A” or better rating for more than 30 years.
Schneider Joins Tennessee Retina
Tennessee Retina recently announced the addition of Eric W. Schneider, MD, to its physician staff. Schneider graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency and served as chief resident at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. He then completed his two-year Retina Fellowship at Duke University. Schneider’s award-winning research has primarily focused on diseases of the vitreoretinal interface and novel applications of ophthalmic imaging technology. He is seeing patients at multiple Tennessee Retina locations, including Nashville, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Cookeville.
News from TriStar Summit
In late May, the State of Tennessee’s Health Services and Development Agency approved a Certificate of Need for TriStar Summit Medical Center to add eight new medical surgical beds due to growth of their cardiac and neuroscience service lines. The project will cost approximately $1.8 million and will increase the hospital’s licensed bed count from 188 beds to 196 beds.
The medical center also recently named Bryan E. Shepherd as CFO. Shepherd was previously the division controller at TriStar Health. Prior to moving to Tennessee, he was controller at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. A graduate of Ohio University, Shepherd is a certified public accountant.
In late July, TriStar Summit became the first community hospital in Middle Tennessee, and one of the first hospitals in the state, to implant the Medtronic Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) System, also known as a loop recorder, in a patient. The monitor, used in patients with irregular heartbeats or fainting episodes, is the smallest device available that continuously monitors cardiac rhythms coming in at about one-third the size of a AAA battery, which makes it 80 percent smaller than other ICMs. In addition to its continuous and wireless monitoring capabilities, the system provides remote monitoring through the Carelink® Network. Through this network, physicians can request notifications to alert them if their patients have had cardiac events.
Meharry Medical College Unveils Henry Schein Cares Graduate Programs Residency Center
Through the collaboration of Meharry Medical College and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., the world's largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, Meharry’s School of Dentistry now has a newly renovated, advanced general practice residency clinic. The cost of the Henry Schein Cares Graduate Programs Residency Clinic, inclusive of equipment and renovations, was $1.1 million dollars.
Healthcare Partner Perry, Life Sciences Litigator Goodman Joins BABC
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP recently announced the addition of two partners to the Nashville office.
John M. Perry, Jr. has joined the firm’s local office as a partner in the Health Care Practice Group. Highly experienced in advising not-for-profit health care providers, Perry had been working from the firm’s Birmingham, Ala., office since rejoining the firm in January 2014. He began his legal career in the Birmingham office as an associate in 1997. Perry has over 14 years of experience advising and representing not-for-profit integrated health systems, healthcare providers, and physician practices. He earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
William F. Goodman, III, a partner and nationally known life sciences litigator has also joined the Nashville office, moving from the firm’s Jackson, Miss. office where he has worked since joining BABC in January 2014. A member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry Team, Goodman has more than 35 years in practice, serving as lead national defense counsel to life sciences companies involved in complex commercial and personal injury litigation. He earned his undergraduate degree from Millsaps College and his law degree from the University of Mississippi.
Gold Skin Care Adds New Products
Gold Skin Care Center (GSCC) now offers the newly FDA-approved Ultherapy Décolletage Treatment to patients to improve lines and wrinkles on the chest through the Ulthera System, which was previously only approved for the neck, eyebrow and under the chin. The treatment is the only non-invasive procedure specifically indicated by the FDA to improve lines and wrinkles on the chest and is delivered in a single treatment that takes about 30 minutes.
Advanced Aesthetics Medical Spa at GSCC became one of the first providers in the state to offer the Clarisonic Smart Profile, which removes skin-damaging pollution 30 times better than hands alone and has brush heads that are individually programmed to engage when the device is on. “This will be a professional only model — and we are glad to bring it to the area for our clients and patients to benefit from,” said Michael Gold, MD, medical director of GSCC.
Bank of Nashville/Synovus Expands Mortgage Division
Two mortgage bankers with extensive experience working with medical professionals have joined the Bank of Nashville/Synovus Mortgage Division. Carolyn Daniels joined as vice president in the Green Hills location, and Alene Gnyp joined as vice president in the West End location. Both more than 20 years of mortgage lending experience and were previously consultants with SunTrust Mortgage.
Net Health Acquires ReDoc
Pittsburgh-based Net Health, a leading provider of software solutions for outpatient specialty care, recently announced its acquisition of Brentwood-based The Rehab Documentation Company (ReDoc), a provider of integrated clinical EMR and management solutions for the physical, occupational, and speech therapy markets.
Net Health is a portfolio company of Spectrum Equity and is advised by Healthcare Growth Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Brentwood Capital Advisors LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to ReDoc in the transaction.
Tennessee Chapter of HIMSS Names New Board
Last month, the Tennessee Chapter of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced its new 2014-2015 board of directors. Officers include:
President – Connie McGee, principal PYA/PYA Analytics,
Past-President: Brian Moyer, EVP & CIO Gaffey Healthcare
Treasurer: Kyle Duke, CIO, Bureau of TennCare
Secretary: Mary Silva Doctor, Consulting Partner, The Table Group
LBMC Strategic Staffing, LLC Launches a New Website
LBMC Strategic Staffing, LLC, (LBMC SS) a member of the LBMC Family of Companies, recently announced the launch of its new responsive website www.lbmcstaffing.com to better assist finance, accounting, IT, human resource, executive administrative and marketing job seekers and employers. This update includes an interactive website with a searchable job list, industry resource blog, top qualified candidate listing, salary trends and free resources for candidates and employers all accessible via desktop, tablet or mobile device.
Rutherford Regional, Duke LifePoint Finalize Joint Venture
The Rutherford Regional Health System Board of Trustees (Rutherfordton, N.C.) and Duke LifePoint Healthcare have finalized the transaction to jointly own and operate Rutherford Regional Health System (RRHS).
Under the terms of the joint venture, Duke LifePoint owns 80 percent and RRHS has a 20 percent ownership stake. The joint venture will invest $60 million in new equipment and technology and facility maintenance and renovations at RRHS over the next decade. The retained assets and proceeds from the transaction allow RRHS to pay off its debt. The remaining proceeds, approximately $30 million, will be available to fund projects to meet community health and wellness needs.
2014-15 Board of Directors Named for AHA’s Greater Nashville Chapter
In July, the members of the 2014-15 board of directors for the American Heart Association’s Greater Nashville chapter were named:
2014-2015 Board Chairman
Angela Humphreys, Partner, Bass, Berry and Sims
2014-2015 Board President
Gregory G. Bashian, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., Centennial Heart Cardiovascular Consultants
Executive Cabinet
Keith B. Churchwell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute
Clay Bright, VP, Brasfield and Gorrie, Past Board Chairman
Dick Cowart, Health/Public Policy Chair, Baker, Donelson
George Crossley, M.D., Saint Thomas Heart
Marilyn Dubree, Chief Executive Nursing officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Past Board President
Ken Harms, COO, UPS MidSouth District, Board Chairman Elect
Dick Miller, President, Earl Swensson and Associates
Deborah Pitts, Past Board Chairman
James C. Seabury III, CEO, Enterprise Electric, LLC.
A. Brian Wilcox, M.D., Saint Thomas Heart, Board President Elect
Keith Wolken, CEO, SMS Holdings Corporation