A Recognition for Our Commitment to the Health of the Community

On Monday, I was invited to participate in the American Hospital Association (AHA) Recognition Luncheon, during which the AHA awarded the 2023 Foster G. McGaw Prize winner and finalists. GBMC was one of four finalists to receive the Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service national award, which recognizes healthcare organizations’ dedication to community service through a range of programs that demonstrate a passion and continuous commitment to making communities healthier and more vital. 

The GBMC HealthCare system was recognized for several of our programs that benefit the communities we serve, including: 

• Gilchrist’s “We Honor Veterans” Program, which serves veterans with serious illness, including providing end-of-life care in our community 
• GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) and Domestic Violence (DV) Program, which treats victims of all ages in a confidential setting at no cost. Evidence collected by the SAFE team has led to hundreds of guilty verdicts, and the program also provides advocacy and crisis intervention to more than 300 people a year. 
• Our Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Program, which identifies and screens patients whose health is at risk due to alcohol or drug usage and refers them to a treatment program through community partners 
• The Sheppard Pratt Behavioral Health Integration at GBMC, which connects patients to mental health providers immediately during primary care visits   
• Oncology Support Services, which collaborates with community partners to ease the burden for patients undergoing the complex daily regimens of cancer treatment 
• GBMC Pathways, our newest community initiative, focused on expanding access to primary care and combatting the social determinants of health in Baltimore City through our Jonestown practice and via our Gilchrist Elder Medical Care program, which provides primary care in homes of frail, homebound seniors.   

I’m so proud of the teams leading these programs and truly feel honored that we were recognized amongst peers across the country for our commitment to improving health outcomes and developing innovative partnerships with community organizations to address societal factors influencing health. I look forward to us continuing this work in the years ahead. 

Compassionate Caregiver Awards 

On Tuesday, GBMC HealthCare held its annual Nancy J. Petrarca Compassionate Caregiver Award
ceremony. We are fortunate to be in our 15th year of giving this award, which was established by Dr. John Adams, GBMC’s former chair of Pathology, and named in honor of his dear friend Nancy J. Petrarca. 

Every year, I’m inspired by the stories of how our colleagues in all roles across all work systems are positively impacting patients and their families and embodying our vision of providing every patient with the care we’d want for our loved ones. 

Congratulations to all 92 employees who were nominated this year. Across a workforce of thousands, your colleagues were so moved by your dedication that they took time to submit nominations on your behalf. That is truly exceptional. 

Special congratulations to our winner, sonographer Tracy Abell, for his commitment to providing prompt echocardiography services for timely, life-saving diagnoses, and our other four finalists: 

• Tiffany Austin, Mail and Print Production Coordinator
• Kayleigh Koehler, Child Life Specialist
• Pam Gillin, RN, SAFE & DV
• Luis Vila, Chaplain for Gilchrist 

Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations and to the award selection committee, comprised of representatives across our entire health system, for the careful consideration they give to each nomination. 

Also, in recognition of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, I’d like to thank our lab personnel for all they do to drive us toward our vision! These behind-the-scenes heroes are essential members of the patient care team who play a vital role in the diagnosis and prevention of disease. We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding team of pathologists, technicians, phlebotomists, and support staff. 

A Special Visit from Maryland’s First Lady

On Tuesday, GBMC had the privilege of hosting several of our state’s leaders to share information about our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence (SAFE & DV) Program. I appreciate that Maryland’s First Lady, Dawn Moore, as well as Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Secretary of Human Services Rafael Lopez, and Secretary of Health Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, took the time out of their busy schedules to learn about the crucial and unique care we provide and to tour our specially designed SAFE/DV suite.

Our SAFE & DV space spans more than 2,500 square feet and features two exam rooms equipped with diagnostic tests for forensic nurse examiners to use while providing care to patients. There is also an interview room with audio-video capability and extra security measures to protect privacy and maintain chain of custody. 

Prior to the tour, Laura Clary, MSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, our SAFE Clinical Program Manager, gave a fabulous overview of the services we provide, such as medical forensic examinations and counseling for victims of sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking, at no cost to the patient.

In addition to tending to the medical and emotional needs of patients, the SAFE & DV Program works closely with law enforcement and will often testify on behalf of its patients. Even if a team member is not taking the stand, they will sometimes still accompany patients to trial to help them feel more comfortable. As a father and a pediatrician, I could not be prouder of these services and the national model of care the team has built here at GBMC. 

Following the tour, the First Lady shared an important video message, which leads into my next
reminder about our Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event this Saturday.

A Chance to Support the SAFE & DV Program!

Our 8th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event, benefiting our 100% donor-funded SAFE &DV program, is being held this Saturday, April 22. I would be thrilled to have you join us. To register for the walk, please click here.

Several donors and local businesses have stepped up to make Walk a Mile in Their Shoes even more special this year. So, even if you can’t make it but would like to support the program, you can make a donation for a chance to win one of our amazing raffle prizes, ranging from sports and entertainment-related packages to gift cards and vacations. Every $6 donation is a chance to win. See the flyer for full prize details. Click here to enter the raffle. 

We appreciate all your support for our program!

Congratulations to Joe Hart

This week, we celebrated Reverend J. Joseph Hart, M.Div., BCC, CCISM, our Director of Spiritual Support Services, for his 3 decades of service to GBMC HealthCare and congratulated him on his well-deserved retirement. Joe first joined us in 1994 as the founding chaplain and coordinator of volunteers for the Hospice of Baltimore – which is now Gilchrist. In March of 1996, Joe became the first full-time chaplain and director of Spiritual Support Services at GBMC, a role he held up until his retirement on March 31 of this year.

During his time with us, Joe has had a profound impact on our health system – serving on numerous councils and committees, helping to design our Chapel, and implementing programs to enhance spiritual care for patients, their loved ones, and our staff. 

Thank you, Joe, for your many years of dedicated service. We are grateful for your guidance in how to best meet the spiritual needs of all we serve. We will miss you!

Recognizing Our Volunteers

This week, we are celebrating National Volunteer Week. GBMC HealthCare is fortunate to have one of the largest volunteer auxiliaries in Maryland. I am extremely grateful to our volunteers, who give their time so generously because they believe in our health system. Click here to view profiles of a few of our dedicated volunteers. And, once again, thank you to everyone who volunteers to help meet the needs of our patients, visitors, and health system overall.

Additionally, April 17-21 is Health Information Professionals Week. Our healthcare information staff are responsible for maintaining complete, secure, and confidential health records, in addition to coding health information, which ensures accurate data reporting and reimbursement. Thank you for all that you do!

Looking Ahead to a Bright Future

The future is bright for GBMC HealthCare. Although fiscal year 2023 was challenging, our leaders and their teams have worked tirelessly to reduce expenses and increase revenue. Though we must always keep our eyes on continually driving out waste, I’m excited that as we look towards fiscal year 2024, we are in a better position to focus on growth.

To that end, this has been an important week for GBMC HealthCare. Our strategic planning team, led by Cathy Hamel, President of Gilchrist and Executive Vice President of Continuing Care for GBMC HealthCare, and Gabby Mistichelli, Director of Strategic Planning, has been developing a 3-year strategic plan for our system. Jim Stradtner, the Chair of our Board Strategic Planning Committee, has been with us for weeks, helping us to develop our 3-year plan. During the week, we have held meetings to get input and further refine and finalize the plan prior to sharing with our full board of directors later this month.

As part of this process, we have been analyzing which services we can expand and enhance to best meet the needs of our communities as well as help us succeed as a health system.

One key area we know is crucial is oncology. As our population ages, high quality cancer services are essential. We eagerly await the opening our new state-of-the-art Sandra R. Berman Pavilion, which will be the new home of our Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. We are fortunate at GBMC to be able to offer a full range of cancer services right on our campus. It is our goal to make these services more accessible and convenient to patients undergoing cancer treatment and to provide the most advanced options possible. In addition to medical oncology and infusion therapy, radiation oncology, and surgical services, we have onsite imaging and extensive laboratory services available. We are especially proud that we recently introduced our Specialty Pharmacy, which spares our patients a trip to other pharmacies when filling their medications for cancer and other complex diagnoses.

This is just one of many areas we intend to focus on and grow as we plan for the next 3 years. I look forward to sharing more details about our strategic plan and our goals for serving the community in the coming months.

Recognizing Our Teams

Congratulations to Lisa Walker, GBMC HealthCare Chief Diversity and Learning Officer, for being recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal with the Leader in Diversity Award. I am proud of Lisa and grateful for her leadership!

April 9-15 is Occupational Health Nurses Week. Join me in thanking our occupational health nursing professionals, led by Occupational Health Director Sophia Powell, CRNP. They work hard to create a culture of health and safety in the workplace day-in and day-out.

What Do You Want in End-of-Life Care?

Do you ever consider the medical decisions you may need to make for yourself in the future? It's common for these conversations to be challenging, but they're crucial. Recent research shows that 71% of Americans would prefer to die at home if given the choice rather than in a hospital. Yet a significant percentage of people still die in a hospital setting against their previously stated wishes. It's disheartening that we invest many resources within the hospital setting to give people what they don't necessarily want at the end of their lives. Much of this can be changed with an open dialogue around advance care planning.

As we approach National Healthcare Decisions Day later this month, I encourage everyone to talk about and document their end-of-life desires or care preferences if they can't speak for themselves. It's best to make these decisions early, while you're still healthy. How would you want to receive care as you age or in the event you are diagnosed with a progressive chronic disease or life-limiting illness?

Advance care planning is a genuine gift to your loved ones who won't need to make difficult decisions on your behalf if you're unable to.

The 5 wishes covered within healthcare advance directives include:

• Choosing the person who will make care decisions for you.
• Deciding on the medical treatments you want or don't want.
• Determining how comfortable you want to be.
• Specifying how you want people to treat you.
• Expressing what you want your loved ones to know. You should share these wishes with your family and with your healthcare providers.

As I write this, I can’t help but also think about the stigma that is sometimes associated with hospice care, which was established to ensure that people can die with dignity – that their quality of life is as good as it can be with their goals in mind, that they are comfortable, and that their wishes are honored. Many people avoid hospice services in favor of seeking additional treatments that have harmful side effects and offer no curative or long-term benefit. They may feel as though hospice means giving up. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, some studies suggest that for certain terminally ill patients, hospice is associated with longer survival.

If you happen to be on GBMC’s hospital campus on Monday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can stop by our cafeteria to get resources and talk to some of our experts about advance care planning and creating your 5 wishes advance directive. Regardless, please take some time to make sure your loved ones and healthcare providers know your wishes!

Thank you to Dr. Robin Motter-Mast, our Chief of Staff, and Cathy Pauley, LCSW-C, APHSW-C, our Advance Care Planning Coordinator, for their leadership in educating patients about the importance of advance care planning and supporting patients and caregivers in having these critical conversations.

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We are currently in a time of ongoing religious observances, with the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish calendars filled with deep significance, spiritual introspection, and celebration. To all who celebrate Ramadan, Easter, and Passover, I wish you happy holidays.

I’d also like to take a moment to express gratitude to several of our teams, each of which is critical to providing the care we would want for our loved ones.

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and I’d like to thank our occupational therapists for their work to help patients regain their independence with activities of daily living following surgery or medical illness. 

This week is National Public Health Week. I’m grateful to our teams who are dedicated to making healthcare more accessible to all the communities we serve.

Patient Access Week is April 2-8. Our Patient Access representatives are the first point of contact for our Emergency Department, obstetrical and surgical patients. Thank you to these team members for your diligent attention to detail as you collect patient demographic information to ensure accurate patient identification as well as insurance information needed for billing.

National Cancer Registrars Week is April 3-7. Cancer registrars are truly unsung heroes in the fight against cancer. All our data on cancer survival, mortality and outcomes come from our tumor registrars and their work to document and abstract cancer data. We appreciate all you do!