Lawsuit throws spotlight on chaos surrounding Anderson cardiology practice
The “toxic” office environment at a small St. Vincent Health office had broken out during an unprecedented wave of acquisitions of physician practices in central Indiana.
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Indiana health care execs focusing more on IT security
Even excluding the 78.8 million records stolen from health insurer Anthem, the number of patient records stolen from Indiana health care organizations spiraled to 4.3 million from about 69,000 in 2014.
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Dr. Terene Varghese, an internist, has joined St. Vincent Medical Group in Fishers. She earned her bachelor’s degree from St. George’s University in Grenada and her medical degree from St. George’s University of School of Medicine. Louisville-based benefits brokerage Assured Neace Lukens has named Matt Heincker a senior account executive for employee benefits in the […]
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Dr. Brian Aguilar, a pediatrician, has joined St. Vincent Medical Group in McCordsville. He worked at St. Vincent’s Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital as a pediatric hospitalist. Aguilar earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a medical degree from Texas A&M University Health Science Center in the College of Medicine.
Phil Baker has joined the Community Health Network hospital system as chief financial officer for Community Physician Network. He previously worked as a financial executive for other multi-specialty physician practices. Baker holds a bachelor’s degree from Park College, a master’s degree in information science from Indiana University, and a doctoral degree in management from Walden University.
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Holly Goe, a registered nurse, has been named vice president of Indiana University Health Cancer Centers, a large group of oncologists that is part of the IU Health hospital network. Goe has been serving as interim vice president since October after being named the program’s executive director for clinical operations last April. Goe will work with Dr. Doug Schwartzentruber, the medical director for cancer services at IU Health, to retool how the entire IU Health system manages cancer patients. Before coming to IU Health last year, Goe worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., and before that, worked at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne.
Dr. Douglas Wallace, a cardiothoracic surgeon, has joined St. Vincent Medical Group in Lafayette. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California,Davis, and his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.
The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center has added six new researchers: Dr. Gary Dunnington, who studies surgery outcomes for breast cancer patients; Reginald Hill, a researcher who studies how inflammation contributes to pancreatic cancer; Janaiah Kota, who studies the role of micro RNAs (ribonucleic acids) in cancers and develops microRNA-based cancer drugs; Dr. Sophie Paczesny, who studies complications from bone marrow transplants; Jenifer Prosperi, who studies breast cancer development; and Dr. Chandru Sundaram, whose research focuses on the outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgery for kidney and prostate cancers.
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Elizabeth Simpkin has been named president of the accountable care consortium formed in October by Community Health Network, St. Vincent Health and six hospitals within the Suburban Health Organization. Simpkin previously was senior vice president of the consulting practice at Valence Health in Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in health care economics from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University.
Dr. James Callahan, the former chief of neurosurgery at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, has joined Community Physician Network and is now working at Community Hospital Anderson. Callahan, who was formerly part of the neurosurgery practice of Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Dr. Kay Eigenbrod, an OB-GYN, has joined St. Vincent Medical Group in Indianapolis. She was chief of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Vincent Frankfurt Hospital. Eigenbrod holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
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Safis Solutions LLC has hired Thomas Stergar as director of business development. Stergar previously founded Diabco Life Sciences LLC, a nutraceutical ingredient manufacturer for diabetes, malnutrition and immune system enhancement. He holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Indiana University.
Richard Ashby will join St. Vincent Medical Group on Jan. 7 as director of physician recruiting. Ashby comes from Houston-based Intercede Health, a national medical management organization, where he oversaw physician recruiting business operations. Ashby holds a degree from Ball State University.
The Anson Group added Sharon Kvistad as a senior regulatory consultant. Kvistad, who has worked on regulatory issues for medical device companies for three decades, holds a degree in biology from the University of Minnesota.
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State Health Commissioner Dr. Greg Larkin will become chief medical officer of Indianapolis-based OurHealth, a provider of employer on-site clinic services, after he ends his service with the state in early January. Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is leaving office in January, appointed Larkin to the position in 2010, replacing Dr. Judy Monroe. Larkin previously spent much of his career as Eli Lilly and Co.’s director of corporate health service and served as global medical director. After retiring from Lilly in 2007, Larkin served as the first chief medical officer of the Indiana Health Information Exchange, which promotes health information technology for the advancement of patient and community care.
Terri S. Ruff has been appointed executive director of Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, starting on Jan. 6. Ruff will succeed Michael Hertel, who had led the heart center since 2006. Since 2002, Ruff has overseen all radiological programs at Franciscan St. Francis Health. Ruff holds a bachelor’s degree in health arts, a master’s degree in health care administration and an MBA from the University of St. Francis.
Indiana University Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine named Dr. Walter Virkus as its director of orthopedic trauma services. He will be based at IU Health’s Methodist Hospital. Virkus spent the last 12 years in Chicago at Rush University Medical Center. He also served as chairman of orthopedics at the Stroger Hospital of Cook County. Virkus holds a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., and a medical degree from the New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
Dr. Todd McKinley, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, has joined IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Before joining IU Health, McKinley served as a professor and orthopedic surgeon for trauma services at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology and received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Dr. Anthony Sorkin, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, has joined IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Before joining IU Health, Sorkin served as director of orthopedic traumatology for Rockford Orthopedics, an orthopedic multi-specialty physician group, and as a professor at both Rush University Medical Center and the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Miami and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Dr. Michael Zlowodzki, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, has joined IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Hamburg in Germany and his doctorate from Humboldt University in Berlin.
St. Vincent Medical Group recruited three orthopedic surgeons to provide care at Monroe Hospital in Bloomington, St. Vincent Dunn Hospital in Bedford and St. Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon. The practice of Dr. Michael Ferrell, Dr. John Hammerstein and Dr. Brian Murphy will change its name from PremierOrtho to St. Vincent Medical Group Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and will be based in Bloomington. Ferrell is a former commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He did his medical training at Virginia Commonwealth University. Hammerstein and Murphy did their medical training at the Indiana University Medical School.
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Franciscan Alliance, the hospital system based in Mishawaka, has established Franciscan Physician Network to unite the system’s growing number of employed doctors under one name. Franciscan Physician Network has more than 750 physicians at 260 practice locations. The rebranding changes the name of Franciscan’s 200 employed doctors in central Indiana, who went by the name St. Francis Medical Group. Franciscan Alliance operates three hospitals in central Indiana—in Indianapolis, Mooresville and now a short-stay hospital in Carmel. Other groups that are also part of the Franciscan Physician Network include Sigma Medical Group in West Central Indiana, the Woman’s Clinic, Lafayette OB/GYN and Premier Healthcare for Women in Lafayette, Athens Medical Group in Crawfordsville, and HealthPartners Medical Group, Medical Associates and Hammond Clinic in Northern Indiana.
An Indiana University study has found that what people studied in college had a direct effect on their chances of employment during the Great Recession. According to the Associated Press, people with degrees in health, education and biology/life sciences had the best chance of getting and holding a job from 2009 to 2010. Only one out of every 44 graduates in those fields found themselves unemployed, according to data analyzed by the Indiana Business Research Center at IU's Kelley School of Business. By contrast, one out of every 13 people with degrees in architecture, industrial arts, consumer services and engineering suffered unemployment in 2009 and 2010. The study used data from the Indiana Workforce Intelligence System to examine the employment history of 178,000 people living in Indiana who graduated from state public colleges and universities.
The Cancer Care Group in Indianapolis said a laptop computer bag containing private information on as many as 55,000 patients has been stolen. The bag was stolen from a Cancer Care Group employee's locked vehicle on July 19, the physician group said in a prepared statement. The Cancer Care Group, headquartered at 6100 W. 96th St., is one of the largest radiation oncology private physician practices in the country, with more than 20 oncologists. The bag also contained similar information about the group’s employees. The group said the bag has not been recovered, but there has been no evidence to suggest the information has been used. Patients and employees have been notified of the theft.
Family Physicians of Carmel, a three-doctor practice, has joined St. Vincent Medical Group. The new physicians joining St. Vincent are Dr. Daniel Crabb, Dr. Rhys Jones and Dr. Stephen Lang. Crabb and Lang earned their medical degrees from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Jones earned a degree from the University of Western Ontario Medical School of London in Ontario, Canada.
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Community Physician Network, an arm of Indianapolis-based hospital system Community Health Network, recently hired five physicians. Dr. Anna Edwards, a family practice physician, received her medical training at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Melissa Holt, an obstetrician/gynecologist, received her medical training at State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. Dr. Michael Nader, a family medicine physician, received his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Dr. Sara Pierce, an OB/GYN physician, received her medical degree from IU medical school. Dr. Derrick Walker, a family physician, completed his medical degree at Cornell Medical College in New York.
Fairbanks, the Indianapolis-based hospital for drug and alcohol addicts, named hospital executive Mark Monson as CEO. He will replace the retiring Helene Cross on Aug. 31. Monson serves as chief operating officer of Beaver Dam Community Hospitals in Wisconsin. Before that, he served as vice president of clinical services operations for Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, Calif. He began his career in 1980 as a substance abuse counselor. Monson earned a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in addiction studies from the University of Arizona.
St. Vincent Medical Group named Dr. Bruce Bethancourt as chief medical officer for the multi-specialty physician group of primary care and specialty health providers. Bethancourt comes to St. Vincent from Arizona-based Banner Medical Group, where he served as chief medical officer of the 650-physician practice. Bethancourt received his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Dr. Rodney Benner has joined the staff of The Shelbourne Knee Center. The center has two other orthopedic specialists, Dr. Donald Shelbourne and Dr. Scott Urch. Benner did his medical training at IU medical school.
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Dr. Jeffrey Kyrouac, an internist, has joined the St. Vincent Medical Group in Indianapolis. Kyrouac received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana and his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Before joining St. Vincent, he was an instructor and director of the University of Illinois Residency Outpatient Clinic.
Indianapolis-based MJ Insurance has expanded its local employee benefits team by hiring Kimberly Balling as a client communication specialist. Balling most recently served as senior client services and communication specialist with McGohan Brabender, an employee benefits provider in Dayton, Ohio.
2010 CFO OF THE YEAR: Brian D. Morris
The St. Vincent Medical Group chief financial officer is the winner in the private companies (revenue $100 million or less) category.