Celebrating New Horizons

It’s been a truly historic week for GBMC HealthCare! On Thursday, November 2, we held our official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building. Hundreds of our employees, volunteers, and community came together for this momentous occasion. I was also honored to be joined by Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, County Executive John Olszewski, Jr., Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Laura Scott, many of our elected partners, and many generous donors, including Louis and Phyllis Friedman. 

The grand opening of the Friedman Building symbolizes the next big step in fulfilling our vision and promise to always put the patient first. Following a Board visioning retreat about 13 years ago, we embarked on a mission to create a true health system that would be capable of delivering the care we would want for our own loved ones from birth to the end of life, and at every point along the way. 

Building upon the strength of GBMC hospital and Gilchrist, we added our patient-centered medical homes, with physician-led teams that hold themselves accountable for managing our patients’ health. We now have the best performance in the state for keeping our patients with diabetes in control of their A1C levels and out of the hospital. And, Gilchrist has expanded beyond its exceptional hospice and bereavement services to also offer early support to individuals with serious illnesses, providing primary care for frail elders at home well before the end of life. 

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Friedmans shared details about their relationship with GBMC, which spans four generations. Hearing the stories of how our health system has affected them, their loved ones and friends was impactful. Also poignant to me was their explanation of “Tikkun Olam,” a Hebrew term that translates to “Repairing the World.” In their remarks, the Friedmans explained that the term speaks to our collective responsibility to heal, mend, and transform the world for the better. They shared their belief that health is fundamental to anything you want to accomplish and that investing in the health of our community is one of the best ways they could participate in repairing the world.  

The features of this new building, which they and many others have so generously supported, will undoubtedly benefit the health of our community. With larger, state-of-the-art patient rooms and spaces that foster spiritual and emotional wellbeing in addition to medical needs, we will be able to enhance the care experience for our patients, their loved ones, and our staff, and we look forward to serving our community in this capacity for years to come. 

I would like to recognize our incredible teams who meticulously planned, thoughtfully designed and built The Promise Project: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Stacey McGreevy; Senior Director of Planning, Construction and Energy Russ Sadler; and Director of Project Management Becky Stover.  

Under the leadership of our Campaign Chair, Dr. John Saunders, Jr., Chair of our Philanthropy Committee Heidi Kenny-Berman, and Vice President for Philanthropy and Marketing, Jenny Coldiron, we’ve seen a truly unprecedented number of community supporters to the Promise Project. Although the first phase of the Promise Project is complete with the opening of the Friedman Building, we are not stopping here. The next step of the project is to complete the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion, which we expect to open in about 12 months. The Berman Pavilion will connect to the Friedman Building and consolidate cancer care services for the convenience of our oncology patients. I look forward to sharing updates and sneak peeks into the Berman Pavilion as progress continues! 

Providing More Resources to Help You Find Your Way

At the beginning of this week, we reopened the former main corridor, which had been closed for some time due to construction, and the difference is amazing! While it is bright, open, and beautiful, it also looks unfamiliar because it is so new, and that adds to navigation challenges we already face. 

Recognizing that this evolution will continue as we fully open the Louis and Phyllis Friedman building in the next couple of weeks, we’re taking action to make it easier for patients and visitors to get to where they need to be. 

First, we’ve already stepped up our in-person wayfinding efforts. Additional staff and volunteers are stationed in the main hospital during peak hours to answer questions and help people to and from their destinations. And don’t forget that in advance of your visit, you can also download the GBMC wayfinding app by clicking here. 

I’m also pleased to share that beginning November 9, GBMC will offer a patient and visitor shuttle as well as additional valet services to assist in campus transportation and wayfinding. We hope these services will be helpful to all patients and visitors, especially those with appointments in Physicians Pavilion West (PPW) since they can no longer park in Daffodil, which was much more convenient than current options. 

Valet services will be available Monday through Friday at the following times and locations: 

• 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building entrance, Maternal Newborn Health (MNH) at the Yaggy Atrium, the Bus Loop outside Einstein Bros. Bagels (Note: Valet service at this location will end once the Berman garage opens for patient and visitor parking later this year.)  
• 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.: PPW 

GBMC will provide shuttle services on a continuous loop Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. The shuttle can accommodate 4 passengers at a time and will pick up from the Friedman Building entrance, PPW, and the bus loop. 

We also know that these solutions are temporary fixes. As our campus dramatically changes, we are taking a fresh look at our signage and approach to helping people navigate. We look forward to working with our Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFAC) to get feedback on what would be most helpful in the long term. 

Congratulations to Dr. Melvin Blanchard! 

Dr. Melvin Blanchard, our Chair of Medicine, has been honored with the prestigious title of Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP) by the ACP Board of Regents. This accolade is among the highest recognitions in the field of Internal Medicine, granted to individuals who have demonstrated remarkable accomplishments in practice, leadership, research, and other medical-related pursuits. It celebrates those who have made significant contributions to the science and art of medicine through their integrity, positions of honor, and positive impact on their communities. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Blanchard on this honor! 

Celebrating Our Teams 

October 23-29 is National Respiratory Care Week. A simple 'thank you' will never be enough for the life-changing and lifesaving work our respiratory therapists do every day at GBMC. Please take a moment to thank our fabulous respiratory team for their dedication! In addition, we are observing National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week. Though I’m always grateful to our facilities team and engineering professionals across the health system for their central role in ensuring a safe and efficient environment for all patients, residents, visitors, and staff of the GBMC HealthCare system, I’m especially thankful for all they have accomplished (and have yet to accomplish) through our Promise Project. It is also Pastoral & Spiritual Care Week. Thank you to our Spiritual Support team, led by Reverend Saundra “Sandy” Rector, M.Div., BCC, CCISM, for their hard work and dedication to meeting the spiritual needs of our patients and staff. Our Spiritual Support team is always there to provide compassion and comfort to staff, patients and their families. 

Filipino American History Month 

On Tuesday, October 24, we celebrated Filipino American History Month, complete with incredible food, Pandanggo sa llaw and Bulaklakan dance, language education, and a panel interview with our own staff of Filipino heritage. Thanks once again to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion planning committee and all staff who were involved in planning this very entertaining and educational event! 

Honoring Baltimore City’s Fallen Firefighters 

Last week, a large rowhome fire in northwest Baltimore tragically resulted in the deaths of two courageous firefighters, EMT/firefighter Rodney W. Pitts, III, and Baltimore fire Lt. Dillon Rinaldo.  

Our thoughts are with their loved ones, fellow first responders and the entire community as we collectively reflect, grieve, and celebrate their lives. 

GBMC HealthCare is grateful to our fire protection and emergency medical service partners for their integral and courageous roles in maintaining the public health and safety of our community. 

Top Docs, Again, and Our New Building Is Becoming a Reality!

I’m proud to once again have the privilege of congratulating our physicians who were named “Top Docs” by Baltimore magazine. This year, more than 50 members of GBMC’s medical staff across 45 specialties have been recognized because they understand the power of not only treating what’s bothering their patients but also treating them as people. Click here to view GBMC medical staff who were included on the list. 

In addition to our Top Docs news, it’s also been a milestone week for GBMC, as we unveiled the first finished spaces within the Promise Project’s Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building! On Monday, we opened the doors of our wonderful gift shop – better known as The Corner Shop - in its new location. And on Tuesday, we introduced our brand-new Outpatient and Retail Pharmacy. Kudos to our Promise Project team, led by Russ Sadler, MS, MBA, Senior Director of Planning Design, and Energy Management, and to all those who played a part in these major accomplishments. 

The Corner Shop 

Congratulations to Patty Leaverton, gift shop manager, and her dedicated team of staff and
volunteers, on the opening of their beautiful and bright new shop! There is now more space, an expanded inventory, new greeting card lines, and even a dressing room to try on clothing before purchasing. There are really too many new features to list, so I hope you’ll stop in to see for yourself.  

For many years, Patty has been known for keeping The Corner Shop stocked with an impressive array of merchandise to cater to our patients, visitors, and staff alike. Whether you’re looking for flowers or a unique gift to brighten a loved one’s day, purchasing toiletries, or in need of a sweet treat, you can find it in this shop. I should know – I bought my favorite candy in the new location for the first time this week! 

To add to the vibrant new environment, the team that staffs the shop are second to none. I’m always in awe of their commitment to customer service, whether it’s through Patty compassionately guiding a caller to the perfect gift for a hospital patient or a helpful staff member providing complimentary gift wrapping after a purchase. 

Operating hours are 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon - 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, November 4 only, we’ll open a little earlier than usual at 10 a.m.  

The Outpatient and Retail Pharmacy 

GBMC’s new Outpatient and Retail Pharmacy is officially open in the Friedman Building and will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. We are thrilled to finally have our very own retail pharmacy in addition to our specialty pharmacy services. It’s a great convenience to patients as well as staff to have this option right on the main hospital campus. I hope you’ll stop by to see all the Pharmacy has to offer. 

In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, the new Pharmacy provides: 

• Medication management support 
• Medication delivery to patient rooms upon discharge 
• Access to specialty medications 
• Financial advocacy to help with out-of-pocket costs 

I’m grateful to Yuliya Klopouh, PharmD, Executive Director of Pharmacy Services, and her entire team for all the work they have done in planning the endeavor. Although it’s important to always appreciate our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians for ensuring safe and effective medication use, it seems doubly fitting to honor them today as we celebrate National Pharmacy Week in addition to the introduction of our new Pharmacy. Thank you to our pharmacy team for all you do! 

Raising Awareness and Thanking our Teams 

October 15-21 is International Infection Prevention Week, and it’s a great time for all of us to reflect on the importance of preventing the spread of germs. Of course, in healthcare, we are always keenly aware of infection prevention and its key role in patient safety. I’d like to take a moment to thank our team of infection preventionists for ensuring that we always keep infection prevention top of mind to keep our patients (and staff) safe. 

Physician Assistant Week was October 6-12, and I'd like to recognize our PAs for their important roles on our healthcare teams across the system. We are so thankful for their dedication to providing the best care and enhancing patient experience. In addition, Medical Assistants Recognition Week is October 16-20. Thank you to all our medical assistants whose patient care skills, versatility, adaptability, and compassion ensure top-notch, efficient care. 

We’re Almost There: An Update on Our New Building

We’re quickly approaching the 1-month countdown of welcoming our first patients into the Promise Project’s Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building. I recently talked about ways our operational readiness team was preparing for the actual move of inpatients on November 14. On October 11, that team performed a mock drill to test how long it would take to move a patient from the old unit to the new unit in the Friedman Building (which took approximately 5 minutes, in case you’re curious). In addition to timing tasks such as transporting the patient, they practiced other duties of patient care, from orienting patients to their rooms to taking them to the physical/occupational therapy alcove on the unit. 

Teams and staff members who will work in the new space have begun their training and orientation, becoming acquainted with all the new state-of-the-art equipment and the location of important items within the rooms and throughout the unit. The education team has gone the extra mile to make this orientation interesting and interactive, with activities such as team scavenger hunts that allow staff to walk the floor while discovering key features. We have also started educating our leaders so they can become more familiar with all the new building has to offer. 

Additionally, I’m thrilled that next week we will open our very first spaces within the Friedman Building to the public!  

• The Corner Shop will open in its new location on Monday, October 16, with operating hours of 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon - 4 p.m. Saturday* and Sunday. *Note that hours for Saturday, November 4 are different than usual: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
• The Retail Pharmacy will open on Tuesday, October 17. It will be open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Stay tuned next week, when I’ll share more details about The Corner Shop and Retail Pharmacy. 

Hispanic Heritage Month 

On October 5, we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with an interactive event that featured delicious food, a cooking demonstration, dance instruction, and storytelling. Thank you to everyone who supported this memorable event, especially the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion planning committee led by Lisa Walker, Chief Diversity and Learning Officer, and Angela Wu, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Manager! 

Thanking Our Staff 

October is full of healthcare worker observance weeks, and I always appreciate the opportunity to recognize our incredible teams. Emergency Nurses Week is from October 8-14. I’m thankful for our Emergency Nurses for their year-round dedication to taking care of our patients in their time of critical need. Sterile Processing Professionals Week is also being observed this week. Our Central Sterile Processing (CSP) department processes instruments for over 40 departments across the hospital and Health Partners practices, and I'm grateful for their integral contributions to safe patient care. In recognition of National Case Management Week, I’d like to thank our Care Management team, consisting of care coordinators, social workers and nurse case managers who support our patients throughout the entire GBMC HealthCare system. 

Grieving for Israel 

Our hearts go out to Israel and all the innocent civilians physically impacted by tragic events happening in the Middle East. Our thoughts are especially with members of our GBMC HealthCare community who are connected to Israel in any way – through family, friends, loved ones, acquaintances or by heritage. We recognize that, for many, these acts of terror are painful reminders of prejudice, mistreatment, and inhumanity that has lasted for generations for Jewish people. To all who are hurting during these uncertain times, please know you have our support. 

Our Commitment to Equitable Care

I recently had the opportunity to participate in our annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Summit, where members across our health system came together to learn about our DEI efforts, share successes, and review our goals moving forward. 

I’m proud of the work all our GBMC HealthCare teams have been doing to prioritize health equity and ensure we have a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. 

Today, I would like to highlight two of our initiatives that are focused on our commitment to health equity. 

Maternal Newborn Health 

Racial disparities in maternal health are a nationwide concern, with studies revealing higher pregnancy-related mortality rates among black women compared to white women. I’m proud of our Maternal Newborn Health (MNH) team for taking proactive steps to address these disparities and attaching an equity component to every quality improvement initiative they undertake. 

At the core of their work is patient data, which they are analyzing to identify and reduce health disparities. In fiscal year 2023, they participated in a statewide collaborative focused on timely treatment of severe hypertension across races and also investigated our data on maternal morbidity. MNH is grateful to have engaged with a grant-funded collaborative called MDMOM to receive education, review cases of morbidity, and work on equity. Our MNH nurses and providers have completed an implicit bias module and received education on reducing bias in the care of patients with substance use disorder. MNH is also providing free BP cuffs through MDMOM to patients in need as part of the hypertension collaborative. 

Additionally, GBMC is participating in the Maryland Hospital Association Birth Outcomes Accountability Workgroup, which is providing implicit bias education to staff and providers who may care for pregnant and postpartum patients in the Emergency Department. 

This fiscal year, our goals are expanding to include identifying and decreasing C-section and postpartum hemorrhage rates. We look forward to learning ways we can improve patient experience through our new MNH Patient Family Advisory Council. As we look further into the future, the team hopes to tackle ways to improve health prior to pregnancy and/or during the prenatal period, well before they see us in Labor and Delivery. 

Thank you to the entire MNH department for following protocols that ensure equity and especially to Jodie Bell, MSN, RN, IBCLC, Assistant Director, for leading this important work. 

Managing Diabetes  

For several years, our GBMC Health Partners patient-centered medical homes throughout Baltimore and Harford counties have provided advanced primary care services focused on building relationships, managing chronic conditions, and keeping patients healthy and out of the hospital. More recently, we opened GBMC Health Partners Jonestown to make our advanced primary care services accessible to underserved populations in Baltimore City. 

One of our aims since opening the practice was to reduce the percentage of our Jonestown patients with uncontrolled diabetes. That is, we want to make sure all our patients with diabetes have an A1C level lower than 9%. We do this work by committing to being accountable with our patients. Members of our team partner with patients, checking in between visits to make sure they have the insulin they need and that they are checking their glucose levels as prescribed. I’m thrilled to share that our percentage of patients with uncontrolled diabetes is almost half of what it was when we started! We’re going to continue working with our patients to improve this even more and are fortunate to have this opportunity to help improve the overall health of the community. 

Thank you to Gregory Small, MD, Medical Director of GBMC Health Partners - Primary Care, and Ericka Easley, Primary Care Service Line Administrator, for their leadership in expanding our advanced primary care services from the counties to communities in Baltimore City that didn’t have this level of access to care previously.

Our Thoughts Are with Morgan State 

We were devastated to hear about the violence that took place at Morgan State University earlier this week. Please know we stand with Morgan State as they grieve this upsetting and serious incident, and we recognize many of our employees, their family members and our patients are a part of this preeminent, longstanding institution in our community. For those within our workforce family who may be struggling following this incident, please remember we have resources to support you through our Employee Assistance Program, CARES program, and Spiritual Support Services. You can learn how to access these resources through your work email account and on the Infoweb. Gun violence is a public health issue, and we need understanding and unity so this does not continue to happen to our communities. 

Recognizing Our Teams 

This month is filled with many observances honoring specialties within healthcare, and I want to take a moment to thank several groups. October is Physical Therapy Month, and I’d like to thank the physical therapy teams that work hard to improve the lives of our patients. Thank you to our partners from Active Life Physical Therapy for being there for our community. Additionally, October 1-7 is National Health Care Supply Chain Week. Please join me in recognizing the important role our healthcare supply chain professionals play in patient care and the innovative ways they support GBMC patients and staff. October 5 was Vascular Access Specialty (VAS) Day, and I want to recognize our VAS team for the exceptional vascular access insertion, care, and maintenance with the intention of improved outcomes, enhanced safety, and improved patient satisfaction. 

And, finally, once again, LET’S GO O’s!! 

Celebrating Great Saves

High reliability organizations are constantly evaluating and designing systems that enhance patient safety. Simply put, they want to make sure that what should happen…happens and what shouldn’t happen…doesn’t happen. We always encourage staff to report when things go wrong or even when they could have gone wrong so that we can analyze the incident, identify errors, and prevent harm down the line. Embracing this culture of safety brings us closer to our vision of providing all patients with the care that we would want for our own loved ones. 

We like to celebrate when we hear real stories of how staff within our system have used behaviors and systems associated with high reliability to prevent harm. I’d like to share one of these stories with you today. 

You may know that in the U.S., heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. Heart disease can lead to myocardial infarction (also known as a heart attack). Knowing the prevalence of heart disease and dire implications of heart attack, we must always take potential heart attack symptoms seriously.  

The GBMC Health Partners Communications Access Team received a call from a patient complaining of severe and worsening chest pain, shortness of breath, and arm numbness. Landri Hardiek, a Patient Services Assistant, recognized the severity of the symptoms as outlined in the GBMC Health Partners Policy for Patient Access and Scheduling. She immediately contacted the patient’s primary care office and transferred the call. She also sent a secure message to the patient’s primary care provider through our electronic health record system.  

Patient Services Assistant Linda Kirby assumed the call and kept the patient on the phone while the practice called 911. In the meantime, Landri notified the patient’s sister as requested. The patient was transported by EMS to a local hospital, was diagnosed with a myocardial infarction, and underwent a cardiac catheterization for a stent placement. Thanks to Landri’s attention to detail, adherence to the policy, clear communication with her team, and effective handoff, this patient received timely and lifesaving cardiac care. Thank you to Landri and Linda (and all others involved) for this great save! 

I am grateful to all our employees for reporting errors, as well as great saves, to help us make improvements that keep our patients safe! 

As a quick side note: I know I always tout the importance of advanced primary care and being good stewards of emergency department (ED) resources. That is, not using the ED for basic primary care or sick visits. However, if you ever experience symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or other medical emergency (chest pain or discomfort, feeling weak or lightheaded, short of breath, etc.), please don’t hesitate to call 911. Calling 911 will ensure you get the fastest intervention possible. 

And lastly, congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles for clinching the AL East! Let's go O's!

A Re-Imagined Space for GBMC Health Partners Owings Mills

On September 12, we held a ribbon cutting to commemorate the naming of the Sandra R. Berman Medical Office Building in Owings Mills, home to one of our GBMC Health Partners advanced primary care practices. Advanced primary care is a fundamental building block of the GBMC HealthCare System, and we are grateful that longtime supporters Sandra and Malcolm Berman understand the true difference we can make in people’s long-term health with this type of accountable primary care. 

Owings Mills facility; photo credit: CRGA Design

Their generous donation has allowed us to remodel our Owings Mills practice to more closely mirror our Family Care Associates practice, located in Physicians Pavilion North on GBMC’s main campus. The innovative design of these practices allows for a more patient-centered experience that is also more streamlined and efficient for the providers. 

For those who regularly read this blog, you’ll remember that with advanced primary care, we don’t focus on the number of visits; rather, we focus on building our relationships between patients and providers. Our goal with this renovation (and our primary care philosophy overall) is to make it as easy as possible to access this coordinated care, with weekend, holiday, and extended hours, on-site blood drawing, and 24/7 access to an online patient portal for prescription refills, test results, appointment requests, and more. 

I’m excited that we now have the updated amenities to care for patients even better and support our talented Owings Mills team of six family medicine physicians and a nurse practitioner. They are all steadfastly focused on preventive care and managing acute and chronic illness to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations.  

Thank you again to Sandy and Malcolm for helping to ensure that we can continue to provide innovative, personalized, and attentive care to the Owings Mills community and beyond. I’d also like to thank Elie Miller, MD, family medicine physician with GBMC Health Partners, for his work in championing this improvement for our patients and care team. I'm also grateful for the work of Kevin Ferentz, MD, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, and Nihkolle McGirt, Senior Ambulatory Practice Manager, and the entire team.  

If you’d like to become a GBMC Health Partners at Owings Mills patient or learn more, please click here. 

Honoring a Dedicated Physician 

It is with sadness that I share the news that Dr. Frank Sanzaro passed away on September 19. More than 40 years ago, Dr. Sanzaro started his own private medical practice, which later became GBMC at Hunt Manor. He was well-loved by his patients. His dedication and expertise as a family medicine physician was critical to the patient-centered medical home model that we developed in the various advanced primary care practices across our health system. We are grateful for his service to GBMC HealthCare, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this time. 

Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Week 

Please join me in recognizing our CDI professionals for their continued accomplishments of service by celebrating CDI Week, September 18 – 22. GBMC’s CDI Specialists ensure the medical record reflects a clear, accurate, and complete picture of the resources utilized for the care received and the complexity of the condition of the patient. 

Surgical Technologists Week 

September 17-23 is Surgical Technologists Week! Thank you to our surgical technologists for their hard work and for making the operating room efficient while ensuring patient safety.