Information from your UNC Physicians Network partners
Spring 2012
Cognitive Dissonance
I
(TPN will officially be UNCPN as of July 9th)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Letter from the President
TPN Transition to UNCPN
Communication Guide
Provider Spotlight
Dr. Sheila Allison
Dr. Sachin Gupta
The Next Level of Patient
Communication
Rex Unveils New Vein Center
Occupational Health
We Listen to Our Referring
Physicians—UNC Eye
New Practices and Physicians
UNCPN Practices
UNCPN Practice Map
By Robert Giaforcaro, D.O.
defensive in order to justify their positions.
n psychology, the
The sputtering attempts to reform health
theory of cognicare over the past two decades are another
tive dissonance
example of cognitive dissonance. Everyone
has been extensively
studied. Cognitive dis- agrees that change is needed. Many feel it
sonance is viewed as a will never come. Physicians, patients, insurers and political parties all participate in
bias toward a certain
cognitive dissonance and share a portion of
belief or decision
the bitterness that has come to be associated
even though other information and factors
with the topic.
may suggest otherwise. As a result, internal
conflict arises, and cognitive dissonance can
The fundamental question of how to
lead to irrational perceptions or rejection or
achieve a more rational system of health
denial of information. We attempt to reduce care that engages providers, hospitals and
the conflict by reducing
the patient population still
the importance of facts,
“The more we are comremains. UNC Physicians
finding new facts to
Network (formerly Triangle
mitted to a belief, the
create a consistent belief
Physician Network), as an
less likely we are to besystem, seeking support
important member of the
lieve that its opposite
from others with similar
UNC Health Care System,
beliefs or attempting
is true even in the face
provides a unique opportuto persuade others to
nity for our physicians and
of clear evidence that
agree.
providers to redefine the
shows we are wrong.”
fundamental principles of
Smoking is often
— Marshall Goldsmith, author
health care on a local and
cited as an example of
What Got You Here Won’t Get
national level. By adopting
cognitive dissonance
You There: How Successful People
“best practices”, implementbecause it is accepted
Become Even More Successful
ing the use of electronic
that cigarettes cause
medical records and collecting and reportlung cancer, and smokers must quit their
ing quality measures, physician involvement
habit because of its health risks. The desire
will improve patient care, impact reimto live a long life contradicts engaging in an
bursement and elevate public esteem for
activity that will most likely shorten one’s
our profession.
life. The individual attempts to reduce the
contradiction by changing their beliefs and
Our cognitive dissonance must not prebehaviors, such as quitting smoking, denying vent us from understanding and engaging
the medical evidence or presenting justificain the health care reform process. It is not
tions for their behavior.
whether there will be reform but what shape
Unresolved cognitive dissonance causes
people to become increasingly angry and
reform will take. We can either lead or be
left behind. ■
LETTER From the President
T
hank you
to those
who
came to our SemiAnnual Provider
Meeting May 8
at Brier Creek
Country Club.
Provider meetings of the UNC Health
Care System Community Based Clinics,
the precursor of TPN, fit in a banquet
room of Maggiano’s. We are now 150
providers strong and need an entire
dining room. I am very impressed with
all of the good work that our physicians,
advanced practice providers and staff
are doing to improve safety, efficiency
and quality of care for our patients.
UNC belongs to a national group
called the American Medical Group As-
sociation (AMGA.org) whose members
include large practices and health care
systems such as Mayo, Geissinger, InterMountain, Kaiser, etc. At their annual
meeting a few weeks ago, Robert Nesse,
M.D., the C.E.O. of Mayo and Board
Chair of AMGA, shared with us what
he thought physician groups needed for
the future. He believes that there are
five essential attributes needed:
is a critical component. No matter what
happens with the Supreme Court decision around the Affordable Care Act,
reform continues, and in North Carolina, it is probably happening faster in the
private sector than the public, driven by
employers and insurers wanting to pay
for value instead of volume. The lives
for which we manage care are the new
currency instead of visits and charges.
• Provider network
This will be a bumpy transition
for all of us and our patients. We want
UNCPN, supported by the entire UNC
Health Care System, to be the safe
harbor that allows your practice ship
to be redesigned and equipped to sail
these new waters. I look forward to the
voyage with you.
• Aligned purpose
• Coordinated care
• Aligned financial model
• Practice analytics
The leadership of the UNC Health
Care System agrees. We are working on
all five of these, and TPN (transforming into the UNC Physicians Network)
Allen Daugird, M.D., M.B.A.
TPN Transition to UNCPN Communication Guide
T
riangle Physician Network’s
planned name change to
UNC Physicians Network
(UNCPN) is designed to better leverage the reputation and name recognition of UNC statewide as our expansion moves outside of
the Triangle. The change is in name alone and will not affect
day-to-day operations. We will continue to conduct business
as usual with no changes to employment status, benefits or
job functions.
• UNC and Rex will continue to have the same roles in the
organization with regard to IT, Accounting, Marketing, etc.
• Our practices will continue to be represented in the community and operate under their current names, with UNCPN
2
Spring 2012
being secondary to the existing
practice name as TPN is now.
• We have a team of co-workers
working to legally transition
the name, notify our vendors and partners and update all
materials, signs, etc. that currently reference the TPN name
and logo. We are taking a proactive approach, so this will not
affect business operations including reimbursements, employee
benefits and payroll.
• The official kickoff announcement was May 8, 2012. The
change will be effective as of July 9, 2012.
• If you have any questions about the TPN transition to
UNCPN, please contact your manager or Jan Hutchins at
(919) 804-5068. ■
PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Sheila Allison
Sheila Allison, M.D. of Southpoint
Medicine and Women’s Health
Associates is a strong proponent
of women’s health. A gynecologist
specializing in the regulation and
balancing of hormones, Dr. Allison feels
that hormone balance is the
basis for optimal functioning
and healthy aging. The
hormone spectrum is not limited to sex hormones
(male and female), but includes adrenal and
thyroid hormones as well. Neurotransmitters
also are involved in this web. Dr. Allison finds this
hormonal matrix fascinating and appreciates the
intricacies of how one hormone may affect another.
In addition to other aspects of general gynecology,
she also has a strong interest in pediatric and adolescent
gynecology. She feels that early gynecologic care is an
opportunity to get in on the ground level and educate the
patient. This, she hopes, will lead to healthy lifestyle choices in
the future.
If Dr. Allison hadn’t gone down the path toward medicine, she
may have explored her creative side with dance or interior
design. Many elements of interior design are fascinating to
her, specifically how color combinations, as well as furniture
placement and accessories, make all the difference in the mood
and function of any room.
When she is not practicing medicine, you’ll find Dr. Allison in
the kitchen, whipping up delicious Mediterranean dishes, with
spices that are interesting as well as medicinal. She also enjoys
working out, doing cardio four to five times a week and working
with a trainer twice a week. Dr. Allison is also an independent
film enthusiast, with Bollywood films being one of her favorites.
According to Dr. Allison, the two greatest challenges that her
practice will face in the future are keeping costs down while
providing quality and comprehensive services and keeping up
with government mandates of meaningful use and accountable
care. She is prepared to overcome these challenges. She has a
very frugal office manager who is great at prioritizing and will
help keep those costs down. She is also confident that updating
EMR, as well as the administrative staff, will be instrumental in
addressing the government mandates. Dr. Allison is grateful
for this support because she “wanted to be a physician, not an
administrator.” ■
Dr. Sachin Gupta
Dr. Sachin Gupta believes that it is his
and other physicians’ responsibility
to help keep the cost of patient
care down. “We must be cognizant
that every test we order has a cost
associated with it, and we are on
the front lines to keep that
expense in control.” His
practice works according
to Evidence Based Guidelines to help keep costs
in check. According to Dr. Gupta, keeping these
costs in check will be the greatest challenge his
practice will face in the near future.
Presently, Dr. Gupta enjoys the primary care
aspect of family medicine by effectively
treating conditions such as hypertension,
diabetes and hyperlipidemia, but he also enjoys
being able to perform in-office procedures. As a
family physician at Rex/UNC Family Practice of
Panther Creek, he has the unique opportunity to
see and treat a wide variety of conditions.
Dr. Gupta believes that knowledge shared
among physicians is important. He suggests
Sermo.com to all of his colleagues. He
acknowledges that it is a great forum where
physicians can interact with their peers and
share ideas. They can discuss all matters
ranging from patient care to present challenges
in health care.
If Dr. Gupta had not chosen to be a physician,
he would’ve been a teacher. He has always
admired those who dedicate their lives to
educating children. He can still remember his
grade school teachers who made an impact on his
life. His jokingly admits that his other fallback career
would’ve been professional wrestling.
“Treat every patient as you would want a family
member treated” is the greatest piece of
advice from Dr. Gupta’s mentor that he
still uses today. When he is not treating
patients, Dr. Gupta enjoys spending time
with his own family, as well as playing
soccer and traveling. ■
To reach Dr. Gupta, please call his office at (919) 481-4997.
To reach Dr. Allison, please call her office at (919) 405-7000.
3
The Next Level of
Patient Communication
By Lauren Dupere, Marketing
G
one are the days of making house calls, but physicians
are still finding innovative ways of personally connecting
with patients. Some have created public forums to
reach patients, by holding special events or by contributing their
thoughts and opinions to local publications. By harnessing the
power of social media, physicians are able to reach out to their
patients, give them advice and even offer up their own personal
stories via the Web. Rex physicians have also created virtual
spaces where patients can give advice and support to each
other—another way of adding a personal touch to health care.
Rex recently held an Ask the Expert event on March 24 at Rex
Family Practice of Wakefield. Dr. Amy Walsh and Dr. Robert
Gardner hosted this Q&A forum where parents and their teens
could participate in an open and honest discussion with the
physicians on adolescent health.
Another way that physicians can educate patients is by expressing their views in writing. Dr. David Tsai of Rex Primary Care of
Holly Springs contributes monthly columns to the Holly Springs
Sun and the Fuquay-Varina Independent newspapers. His general
health articles are his way of connecting with the community.
Blogging is another, very personal, way of connecting.
Dr. Grace Tang of Rex Family Practice of Wakefield publishes
her own blog series on Rex Connects called “A Day in the Life.”
She provides positive and upbeat health advice in the context of
personal anecdotes to which patients can really relate.
Physicians have also found that patients can be a great sounding
board and support network for each other. Rex Surgical
Specialists bariatric surgeons have taken this peer-to-peer
communication and merged it with social media to create a
private Facebook group just for their patients. Those patients in
the bariatric support group can communicate with each other
and share stories in this online venue.
For more, visit
rexhealthblog.com
Whether in print, online or face to face, today’s health care
providers are discovering new ways of making the doctor-patient
relationship more personal. ■
Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update
Rex Unveils New Vein Center
Rex is offering a new option for vein care. Physicians or patients
can refer to the Rex Comprehensive Vein Center for everything
from spider and varicose veins to complex vein disease.
The Rex Comprehensive Vein Center was started by a group
of physicians who came together with a common goal–use
collaboration to provide the best patient care no matter how
simple or complex the case. With the Rex Comprehensive Vein
Center, patients aren’t just getting one physician. They are getting an entire team that can be a resource in developing their
treatment plan.
These physicians specialize in noninvasive vein treatment,
vascular surgery, cardiology, interventional radiology, peripheral
vascular diagnostics and more. They are trained in the latest
therapies and techniques, so if they are treating the smallest
2
4
Spring 2012
(855) REX-VEIN
rexhealth.com/vein-center
spider veins or the most complex peripheral vascular disease,
they offer the best options for each individual patient.
The Rex Comprehensive Vein Center has three convenient locations at Rex Healthcare campuses throughout Wake
County in Raleigh, Knightdale and Holly Springs. While patients
can expect hospital-quality treatment, consultations and some
procedures can be done in physician offices with easy access
and a quiet, private setting.
Rex Comprehensive Vein Center Physicians:
Robert Mendes, M.D. – Rex Vascular Surgical Specialists
David Powell, M.D., R.P.V.I. – Rex Surgical Specialists
David Smith, M.D. – Rex Surgical Specialists
S. Wayne Smith – Rex Peripheral Vascular Lab
Seth Weinreb, M.D. – Rex Surgical Specialists
Occupational Health and You
I
n February, Debbie Fuldner joined UNCPN as an occupational
health coordinator. Debbie is a registered nurse with over
25 years of experience in occupational health. She is a
certified occupational health nurse-specialist and has a Master of
Public Health from the University of North Carolina in Chapel
Hill. Debbie’s office is located in the UNCPN Administrative
Building in Morrisville.
Occupational health nursing is a specialty practice
that provides for and delivers health and safety
programs and services to workers, worker
populations and community groups. The
practice focuses on promotion and restoration of health, prevention of illness and
injury and protection from work-related
and environmental hazards. Occupational health nurses (O.H.N.s) have a
combined knowledge of health and
business that they blend with health
care expertise to balance the requirement for a safe work environment with
a “healthy” bottom line.
The role of the O.H.N. includes but is
not limited to the following:
• Work-related injury and illness case
management: coordinate and case manage the care
of ill and injured workers in conjunction with workers’
compensation, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and
short-term/long-term disability benefits.
• Counseling and crisis intervention: counsel workers about
work-related illnesses and injuries, psychosocial needs, wellness/
health promotion concerns and other health or work-related
concerns.
• Health promotion and risk reduction: design programs that
support positive lifestyle changes and individual efforts to lower
risks of disease and injury and create an environment that
provides a sense of balance among work, family, personal,
health and psychosocial concerns. Immunization, smoking
cessation, exercise/fitness, nutrition and weight control,
stress management, monitoring of chronic diseases
and effective use of medical services are just a few of
the preventive strategies to keep workers healthy and
productive.
• Worker and workplace hazard
detection: O.H.N.s recognize and identify
hazards; monitor, evaluate and analyze these
hazards by conducting research on the effects of workplace exposures; and gather
and use health and hazard data to select
and implement preventive and control
measures as a continual process. Examples
include an analysis of workplace design, the effects of toxic chemical exposure and the development
of plans to prevent work-related accidents and exposures. ■
Debbie Fuldner, R.N., M.P.H., C.O.H.N.-S.
Office: (919) 804-5108 | Cell: (919) 412-7506
E-mail: [email protected]
Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update • Health Care System Update
We Listen to Our Referring Physicians–UNC Eye
oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus, uveitis, vitreoAs UNC’s Department of Ophthalmology celebrates its 60th year of
retinal surgery and medical retinal care.
service and education, we are leaders in ophthalmic care in many
subspecialty areas with nationally recognized
UNC Eye provides several avenues of
physicians and researchers. We are leading the
contact through our electronic portal at
way with translational research efforts, giving our
myunchealthlink.org where referring physipatients access to leading clinical and research
cians can request appointments for our shared
advancements to enhance the successful outpatients. Visit notes are quickly posted in our
comes that positively influence their health care. electronic medical record (EMR) systems,
Our strength is being able to develop relationmaking diagnoses accessible to the referring
ships with increasing communication avenues
Dr. Seema Garg and Dr. Don Budenz discuss a
physician and patients with computer access.
retina scan image sent in for review.
with all care providers across North Carolina.
Our subspecialty areas are comprehensive ophthalmology, contact
lens, optometry, corneal and anterior segment disease, glaucoma,
neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery, ocular
For appointments, call UNC Eye at (919) 966-5509, or go to
myunchealthlink.org. For more information on our specialists
and service locations, visit our website at unceye.org.
5
New Practices and Physicians
New practices
Clinton Medical Clinic
Garner Family Practice
Gibbons Family Medicine
clinton-med.com
garnerfamilypractice.com
gibbonsfamilymedicine.com
New Physicians
Clinton Medical Clinic
Arthur Apolinario, M.D
Family Medicine
John Smith, Jr., M.D.
Family Medicine
Jason Jones, M.D.
Family Medicine
Ted Bauman, M.D.
Family Medicine
Lawrence Watts, M.D.
Family Medicine
Gregory Pleasants, M.D.
Family Medicine
William Carr, M.D.
Pediatrics
Ken Yang
Family Medicine
David Spivey, Jr., M.D.
Family Medicine
Garner Family Practice
Ada Conway, M.D.
Pediatrics
Rufus Herring, Jr., M.D.
Pediatrics
John Newton, M.D.
Family Medicine
Gilbert Palmer, M.D.
Family Medicine
John Rouse, III, M.D.
Family Medicine
6
2
Spring 2012
Johnny Bagwell, M.D.
Family Medicine
Jodi Winkel, M.D.
Family Medicine
Gibbons Family Medicine
Thomas Brammer, M.D.
Family Medicine
Elizabeth Gibbons, M.D.
Family Medicine
Randall Crumpler, M.D.
Family Medicine
Greg Gibbons, M.D.
Family Medicine
Rolesville Family Practice
Suzanne Eaton Jones, M.D.
Family Medicine
Michelle Benton, M.D.
Family Medicine
Erin Ennis, M.D.
Family Medicine
UNCPN Practices
CHATHAM
LEE
WAKE
Chatham Crossing Medical Center
Manns Chapel Road & US 15-501
11312 US 15-501N, Suite 308
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 960-6094
Sanford Hematology Oncology
1212 Central Drive, Suite 201
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-8183
Boylan Healthcare (Browning Place)
3900 Browning Place, Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 781-9650
Chatham Medical Specialists
421 N. Holly Avenue
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-3360
Chatham Primary Care
163 Medical Park Drive, Suite 210
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 742-6032
Sanford Specialty Clinics
1301 Central Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-9512
William E. Hall, M.D.
1911 K M Wicker Memorial Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-1000
ORANGE
Pittsboro Family Medicine
855 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 545-0911
DURHAM
Carolina Advanced Health
6101 Quadrangle Drive, Suite 100
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 445-6000
Carolina Primary Care
6011 Fayetteville Road, Suite 104A
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 405-2100
Highgate Family Medical Center
5317 Highgate Drive, Suite 117
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 361-2644
Southpoint Medicine and Women’s
Health Associates
6216 Fayetteville Road, Suite 105
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 405-7000
UNC Urgent Care at Carolina Pointe II
6013 Farrington Road, Suite 101
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 957-6610
University Pediatrics at Highgate
5322 Highgate Drive, Suite 144
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 806-3335
Chapel Hill Internal Medicine
940 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-5123
Executive Health (The Carolina Clinic)
315 Meadowmont Village Circle
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 962-2862
UNC Family Medicine at Hillsborough
2201 Old NC Highway 86
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-2909
University Internal Medicine
at Chapel Hill North
1838 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Suite B19
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 960-7461
University Pediatrics at Chapel Hill North
1838 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Suite B19
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 960-5154
PERSON
Cardiovascular Care of Northern Carolina
(Roxboro)
3762 Durham Road
Suite B
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 599-1077
GRANVILLE
SAMPSON
Cardiovascular Care of Northern Carolina
(Oxford)
102-A Professional Park Drive
Oxford, NC 27565
(919) 603-1665
Clinton Medical Clinic
403 Fairview Street
Clinton, NC 28328
(910) 592-6011
Boylan Healthcare (Health Park)
8300 Health Park, Suite 309
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 781-9650
Garner Family Practice
801 Poole Drive
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 779-1440
Gibbons Family Medicine
114 Brady Court
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 469-1252
Heart & Hand Family Medicine
800 W Williams Street, Suite 200
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 363-9363
Knightdale Family Medicine
6905 Knightdale Boulevard, Suite 106
Knightdale, NC 27545
(919) 261-8760
Rex Family Practice of Knightdale
6602 Knightdale Boulevard, Suite 202
Knightdale, NC 27545
(919) 747-5270
Rex Family Practice of Wakefield
11200 Governor Manly Way, Suite 205
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 570-7700
Rex Primary Care of Cary
1515 SW Cary Parkway, Suite 200
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 387-3176
Rex Primary Care of Holly Springs
781 Avent Ferry Road, Suite 206
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 552-8911
Rex/UNC Family Practice of
Panther Creek
10030 Green Level Church Road, Suite 808
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 481-4997
Riverbend Family Medicine
1006 Procure Drive, Suite 100
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
(919) 577-9952
Rolesville Family Practice
102 Southtown Circle
Rolesville, NC 27571
(919) 554-9412
7
UNCPN LOCATION MAP
501
20
CHATHAM
ROXBORO
158
1
2
3
4
11
158
OXFORD
PERSON
VANCE
Chatham Crossing Medical Center
Chatham Medical Specialists
Chatham Primary Care
Pittsboro Family Medicine
DURHAM
GRANVILLE
501
ORANGE
ALAMANCE
Carolina Advanced Health
Carolina Primary Care
Highgate Family Medical Center
Southpoint Medicine and Women’s
Health Associates
9 UNC Urgent Care at Carolina Pointe II
10 University Pediatrics at Highgate
5
6
7
8
FRANKLIN
CREEDMOOR
70
HILLSBOROUGH
GRANVILLE
17
DURHAM
18
19
54
10
7
1
3
16
9
4
2
Chatham
Hospital
ORANGE
22
27
540
31
32
25
PERSON
64
RALEIGH
20
28
26
64
24
1
WAKE
GARNER
70
CLAYTON
JOHNSTON
33
LEE
12
FUQUAY-VARINA
HARNETT
14
Clinton Medical Clinic
WAKE
30
421
Cardiovascular Care of Northern Carolina
SAMPSON
21
APEX
PITTSBORO
13
Chapel Hill Internal Medicine
Executive Health (The Carolina Clinic)
UNC Family Medicine at Hillsborough
University Internal Medicine at
Chapel Hill North
19 University Pediatrics at Chapel Hill North
15
16
17
18
401
Rex Healthcare
Main Campus
540
CHATHAM
Sanford Specialty Clinics
Sanford Hematology Oncology
William E. Hall, M.D.
WAKE FOREST
540
CARY
SILER
CITY
29
1
70
15
501
87
34
23
6
8
UNC Hospitals
Main Campus
12
13
14
LEE
WAKE
CHAPEL
HILL
Cardiovascular Care of NC (Oxford)
DURHAM
5
15
11
21
SAMPSON
22
21
23
22
24
23
25
24
26
25
27
26
28
27
29
28
30
29
31
30
32
31
33
32
34
Boylan Healthcare (Browning Place)
Boylan Healthcare (Health Park)
Garner Family Practice
Gibbons Family Medicine
Heart & Hand Family Medicine
Knightdale Family Medicine
Rex Family Practice of Knightdale
Rex Family Practice of Wakefield
Rex Primary Care of Holly Springs
Rex Primary Care of Cary
Rex/UNC Family Practice of Panther Creek
Riverbend Family Medicine
Rolesville Family Practice
UNCPN will be
making tracks
this summer and
you will benefit!
Details to come
1600 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 225, Morrisville, NC 27560 • phone: (919) 804-5064 • fax: (919) 804-5081