HonorHealth Newsletter to the Medical Staff

June 2021

This is another installment of updates to the Medical Staff by the HonorHealth Chiefs of Staff, currently progressing through a series of topics to educate members of the various levels of Medical Staff governance.

This update will discuss the Division Executive Committees (DEC). The composition and duties of the DEC are detailed in the Medical Staff Bylaws.

Each of the six Divisions (or hospital campuses) has its own DEC, with membership comprised of:

Voting members
- Chief of Staff
- Vice Chief of Staff
- Secretary
- Immediate Past Chief of Staff
- Clinical Department Chairs
- One Physician At-Large Member
- One Physician from Ambulatory Medicine
Non-voting members
- Medical Director of Trauma Services (if applicable)
- Medical Director of Hospitalists
- Chief Executive Officer of HonorHealth
- Chief Medical Officer of the campus
- Chief Nursing Officer of the campus
- Chair of Critical Care Committee

DEC meetings may also be attended by HonorHealth Board members and other guests by invitation, without vote.

Some of the duties of the DEC, as outlined in the bylaws, include:

To provide leadership in the improvement of clinical processes at the division
To promote professional and ethical conduct and competent clinical performance of the Division Medical Staff
To coordinate and implement division policies
To act as a liaison between the Medical Staff and the Network Executive Committee (NEC), including referral of matters to the NEC regarding recommendations on Medical Staff Bylaws and Network policies, strategic planning, and appointment/reappointment for clinical privileges of Medical Staff members.

DEC meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of the month and are divided into three separate portions.

The first portion is campus-specific, with an agenda set by the campus Chief of Staff in conjunction with other campus leadership. The Chief of Staff also serves as chair of this portion of the meeting. This portion of the meeting generally addresses items of particular relevance to the local division that may have broader impact or relevance than topics discussed in individual department meetings. The second portion of the meeting brings together all of the campus DEC’s via teleconferencing, and is planned and chaired by one of the six Chiefs of Staff on a rotating basis. This portion of the meeting will generally address topics with broader network relevance. Finally, the third portion of the meeting is an Executive Session with only physician members of the DEC’s, and includes discussion and voting for approval of clinical privileging as recommended by the Credentials Committee.

Through this process the DEC serves as a step in the Medical Staff governance structure which progresses from the individual department, to the Division (DEC), to the Network (NEC), and ultimately to the HonorHealth Board. The next newsletter update will describe the composition and duties of the NEC.

Sincerely,
The HonorHealth Vice Chiefs of Staff, Chiefs of Staff, and Immediate Past Chiefs of Staff

Building a community of caring

Neuroscience studies and research

Long COVID guide

ADDITIONAL NEWS

Medical Staff Chiefs update

Arizona Health Equity Conference coming Oct. 2021, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Podcast series, Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network ECHO, 25th Michael Grossman Academic Excellence Day award recipients, Palliative Care ECHO Team achievements and more. +READ MORE

Updates from Academic Affairs

Going beyond

Watch as John Neil, MD, EVP, chief network strategy officer, and Kim Post, EVP, chief operations officer, discuss the patient experience and the role we all play in going beyond for patients

We now have 50 physicians trained as peer supporters
The pandemic has added to already-existing stressors for physicians
Literature shows that physicians experience distress and have equal or more mental health issues than matched controls, but do not tend to reach out for help
We surveyed HonorHealth physicians and their feedback, in addition to supporting literature, was that they would accept help from peers
Evidence also shows that peer supports helps improve the wellbeing for supporters as well as those providing support

Connect with a peer supporter
If you or a colleague might benefit from peer support, you can call the Care for Caregiver line at 480-587-6500 M-F, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., or you can contact:

Rachel Johnson (racjohnson@honorhealth.com)
Wendy Ellis (wellis@honorhealth.com)
Sarah Snell, MD (ssnell@honorhealth.com)

As part of the program, you’ll be provided with a choice of three physicians who you can pick from to connect with for support. You can find a mutually agreed upon time and place to meet in person or virtually. We welcome your participation!

Watch Atrial Fibrillation Cryoblation procedure

Updates from the Social Determinants of Health Committee

We’re happy to announce that the HonorHealth Peer Support Program launched last month. Here’s what you need to know:

The HonorHealth Research Institute was one of 30 sites globally awarded by Biogen the 233AS303 “ATLAS” study. This is the first trial ever designed to prevent patients from getting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial with a longitudinal natural history run-in and open-label extension to evaluate BIIB067 initiated in clinically pre-symptomatic adults with a confirmed superoxide dismutase 1 mutation. Led by Principal Investigator Todd Levine, MD, this exciting trial is designed to treat pre-symptomatic patients with the SOD1 genetic mutation.

Mutations in SOD1 were the first identified genetic cause of ALS. Mutated SOD1 is prone to misfold and can interfere in multiple cellular processes. Data indicates that toxicity of mutant SOD1 is derived from a gain-of-function mechanism. This study will evaluate the impact of initiating Tofersen (BIIB067) based on biomarker evidence of disease activity, prior to the emergence of clinical symptoms or signs that definitively indicate ALS. Tofersen (BIIB067) is hoped to delay the emergence of clinically manifested ALS and/or slow the decline in function once symptoms are observed compared to the initiation of Tofersen at the time of, or after, emergence of clinically manifested ALS.

For more information on how to refer patients to this study, please call the HonorHealth Research Institute Neuroscience Research Team at 602-258-2863 or email us at neuroscienceresearch@honorhealth.com.

HonorHealth librarians have created an extensive resource collection for Long-COVID and COVID-19. +VISIT WEBSITE

Welcome Abraham Kanate, MD, to the HonorHealth Cancer Transplant Institute

Abraham S. Kanate, MD, is board certified in oncology and hematology. He earned his medical degree from St. John’s Medical College in India, and then went on to complete his residency in internal medicine at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, where he also finished his fellowship in oncology/hematology. Dr. Kanate completed additional training at Stanford University Hospitals and Clinics, as well as trained in blood and marrow transplantation. Dr. Kanate specializes in lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia, and other hematological malignancies. He is a member of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), American Society of Hematology (ASH), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Meet Dr. Turner, associate director for the HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program

This past year, Dr. Turner and her colleagues have led projects focused on health equity and inclusivity.
She reflects, “By starting small and developing a diversity, equity and inclusivity curriculum rooted in evidence and the desire to enhance awareness and understanding, we have been able to reinforce a welcoming culture where it is safe to be vulnerable and learn from one another.”

Thank you, Dr. Turner, for your commitment to advancing the next generation of exceptional physicians.

Learn more about HonorHealth’s residency and fellowship programs.

Alethea Turner, DO, FAAFP, is an associate director for our Family Medicine Residency Program. Her long-standing and successful history with HonorHealth started when she volunteered as a high school student. Motivated to pursue a career in family medicine, Dr. Turner decided to complete her residency at HonorHealth.
“Despite rotating and interviewing at several other residency programs, the HonorHealth Family Medicine Program stood out to me because it truly felt like a family. The training was top-notch, and the resident voice was always welcomed,” she says.
Now, Dr. Turner leads the Family Medicine Residency Program. She teaches and supports the residents, helps develop the curriculum, provides oversight in both the hospital and ambulatory settings, and serves as an advisor.

Vaccines for vulnerable populations, health equity, food insecurity screenings, research and grants, data work group activities, and more. +READ MORE

Led by local experts, Rahul Doshi, MD, Thomas Mattioni, MD and Amy Kleinhans, NP, the virtual recording includes a live Atrial Fibrillation Cryoblation procedure performed at one of HonorHealth's hospitals and information on atrial fibrillation.

WATCH NOW

Dr. Kanate believes in respectful and compassionate care for patients with myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, and those undergoing blood and marrow transplantation and other forms cellular therapy, combining his expertise in established standards of care and clinical research driven state-of-the-art advances.

The HonorHealth Cancer Transplant Institute
10460 N 92nd St.
Suite 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

New Patient Referral
Phone: 480-323-1573
Fax: 480-882-5876

If there is a physician new to your practice that you would like to introduce to the HonorHealth community, please contact Gina Lopez, HonorHealth senior marketing specialist, at gilopez@honorhealth.com.