A Message from Executive Community Physician Shelly Voet
December 12, 2023
Hello to my fellow PCPs!
This has been a busy month for all of us, as respiratory illness season picks up. At CCHMC, inpatient and emergency room volumes have been very high. Thanks for all you do to provide care for your patients every day. I hope all of you can enjoy time with family and friends over the December holidays.
This issue of Synapse has updates on the following:
Hospital Medicine – On December 5, we had our annual Hospital Medicine update virtually. I appreciate all the work Dr. Michelle Parker, the HM team, and Kim Hunt from Physician Outreach did to plan the event. This issue has a summary of the updated GINA asthma guidelines presented by Dr. Dan Herchline, as well as a link to the recording.
Dermatology - Save the Date for March 15, 2024, for a hands-on dermatology educational event. Thanks to Dr. Kalyani Marathe and her team! This event will be co-hosted by the Cincinnati Pediatric Society. Look for additional information in the January edition of Synapse.
Clinisync – As all of you are aware, The Health Collaborative will be ceasing to provide Healthbridge HIE services. Clinisync HIE will begin providing service effective 12/21/23. This issue includes an update on the transition to Clinisync.
Read the full issue for additional details on literacy resources for your office, changes coming to Epic Link, Sports Medicine, a new Mason Surgery clinic, and more!
Other noteworthy updates:
PIRC and Integrated Behavioral Health – This month, our Community Practice Advisory Council met with Linda Richey from PIRC and Dr. Jessica McClure from BMCP (Psychology) to discuss coordination of care for children with mental health conditions. We wanted to share a few updates:
1. PIRC – PIRC has expanded efforts in the last year to provide mental health crisis support for patients. Their Crisis Assessment Team has been in place for one year. PIRC now has integrated psychiatry specialists within their team. For crisis support options, contact PIRC at 513-636-4124 before referring to the ED.
2. Mental Health Continuum of Care – This guide, developed by CCHMC BMCP, psychiatry and physician outreach, helps providers determine the next best step for patients who require an increased level of care. Several community providers also provide services such as IOP and PHP.
3. Epic Link access – IBH providers can obtain Epic Link access to assist with coordination of care after ED or hospitalization. Several community BH providers are now linked within Epic as part of the Care Team as well.
4. IBH – IBH through CCHMC is in place in 12 practices in the community. BH providers have training in crisis management which has been shown to decrease the need for MH ED utilization. For more information about the CCHMC IBH program, contact Dr. Jessica McClure at Jessica.mcclure@cchmc.org. Our January Coffee with Colleagues event will be a BMCP overview on crisis management.
5. Mindpeace website – If you have not looked at www.mindpeacecincinnati.com in a while, please check it out. Mindpeace has listed local BH providers searchable by region or specialization as well as mental health supports for patients and families.
Medical Staff - Thank you to all community associate medical staff who completed their reappointment applications. Beginning in January of 2024, we will welcome Dr. Lesley Breech from Gynecology as the new President of the Medical Staff. We look forward to sharing more about Dr. Breech in the next issue of Synapse. I am extraordinarily grateful to our outgoing president, Dr. Elena Duma, who has not only served as President of the Medical Staff, but also serves as Associate Chief of Staff for Emergency Services. Thank you, Elena, for your leadership and partnership with community PCPs!
Thanks again for all you do every day,
Shelly
Shelly F. Voet MD
Pediatric Associates PSC
CCHMC Executive Community Physician Leader