I have featured Family Care Associates and their new office built to support PCMH in this blog and I have covered work done at Hunt Manor and Hunt Valley previously. Six months ago, Dr. Kevin Ferentz assumed the role of lead physician at our Owings Mills Primary Care Center and Kevin has led a number of improvements since then.
From his first day, Kevin started a change in culture at the office. He began by getting to know his staff and engaging them in a dialogue and he started addressing their concerns immediately. Kevin instituted monthly team and individual meetings where he shared data on the practice’s performance on our four Aims (clinical outcome data, work output, and patient engagement scores). He also began giving regular feedback to his colleagues on issues such as chart completion and following up with patients on lab values in a timely fashion. Kevin worked with his team to hold each other accountable for respectful behavior. A goal of this work is to transform the clinical staff into a cohesive, empowered group of “owners.” By creating an increased sense of pride and allowing the staff to practice at the top of their abilities and licensure, the team can accomplish more and get more joy from their work.
Dr. Ferentz and his team are proud of the increased hours of operation (Including Saturday and Sunday hours for all appointment types) and new services offered at the practice. These include well-woman services, care for children of all ages, and minor surgical procedures and cryotherapy. The practice now offers a broader range of treatments for those who are battling obesity. They now also have a Diabetic Clinic, the brainchild of Dr. Elena Ghiaur. The Owings Mills team has seen that their patients clearly appreciate the new services as evidenced by improvement in their patient engagement scores.
Dr. Ferentz attributes much of the improvement in the practice to his working relationship with his practice manager – Holly Carrington. Holly joined the practice at “the right time” and Kevin credits her with doing a great job of helping him implement the vision. Dr. Ferentz added that he and Holly make all decisions regarding the practice in tandem and their ability to problem solve is based on open and on-going communication, combined with mutual respect.
So, what are the goals for the Owings Mills practice for the next six months? Dr. Ferentz envisions an additional office on the first floor of the building to accommodate his new partner Dr. Kevin Carter. According to Dr. Ferentz, Dr. Carter’s arrival has already had a major impact, given his easy going attitude and his incredible work ethic. Both Drs. Carter and Ferentz share the same belief that “the secret to caring for the patient is caring for the patient.” Dr. Ferentz expects that Dr. Carter’s practice will be the beginning of a much larger family practice on the first floor.
Dr. Ferentz believes that his team has already created a better working environment and improved care for their patients. He is truly proud of his staff’s commitment and the practice’s achievements, but, acknowledges there is much work still left to be done! When you see Kevin, thank him and his team for their leadership.
This coming Saturday, Sept. 26 we will have the 15th annual Legacy Chase steeplechase event at Shawan Downs. This event has become an annual tradition of steeplechase racing and family-friendly fun that draws more than 7,000 equestrian fans, friends and families from across the region. Legacy Chase has become an annual social event; combining the excitement of steeple chasing with the beauty of the countryside. There’s more to the event than great horse races, there’s something for everyone – from live music to antique car displays and tons of kids’ activities including a stick pony race. Stretched across 300 acres of green meadows at Shawan Downs, Legacy Chase attracts visitors of all ages. Past attendees will gladly tell you that you don't need to be an avid steeplechase fan to have fun. Make it a family event and come and enjoy a day in the country.Proceeds from the event will benefit oncology support services at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. The Institute is the only comprehensive community cancer program certified with distinction by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer in the Baltimore region. GBMC has invested in talent and technology to provide the best for oncology patients. Whether they are in need of outpatient, inpatient, home care, hospice or survivorship services, the more than 2,000 new cancer patients annually at GBMC get the best care.
For more information, visit www.gbmc.org/LegacyChase. I hope to see you there!
Thank you & Congratulations!!!
Last week, we enjoyed a wonderful celebration – the annual Employee Recognition Dinner, where we recognized nearly 500 employees for milestones in their employment with the organization. This was a very important night, because we need to recognize our people for their dedication. It’s also a reminder to me of my duty to look to create opportunities for our staff to grow within our organization.
Fifty-nine employees were recognized for working at GBMC for 30 years or longer – including 38 recent retirees! This shows incredible dedication. In addition we also recognized 36 individuals who have been with us for a quarter of a century; 25 employees who have spent 20 years of their career at GBMC; 76 employees celebrating 15 years; 111 employees celebrating 10 years and a 159 employees celebrating five years of service (Including me, my how time flies!).
Ortiz-Rodriguez).
Many thanks to Benita Robinson and the planning committee for all of their hard work. You all did an outstanding job!
Congratulations once again everyone and THANK YOU for your commitment to GBMC and our patients!
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