Building Relationships through Advanced Primary Care

There are some things in life we don’t think about much until we really need them. Healthcare can be one of those things, and this is why I’ve often discussed the importance of advanced primary care. Even if you are otherwise healthy, it is critical to build a relationship with a primary care provider who gets to know you and commits to being accountable with you for your health over time. When this type of relationship does not exist, the patient is often left to fend for themselves, and this can be very confusing. It often results in inefficient or unnecessary hospital visits, which are not in the best interest of patients or caregivers. 

Recently, a friend called to let me know their loved one was heading to our emergency department with symptoms that likely could have been effectively managed in the primary care setting. Unfortunately, this person’s loved one did not have an advanced primary care physician and was left to connect the dots on their own. 

Advanced primary care, which is offered in each of our GBMC Health Partners patient-centered medical homes, differs from typical primary care. Although both care models feature excellent physicians and staff, advanced primary care is designed to be available to help you when you need it and to be accountable with you for your long-term health.  

In advanced primary care, it’s not about a visit; it’s about a relationship. The healthcare team focuses on preventive care and managing acute and chronic illness to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital. They connect patients to specialists for their medical and mental health needs and check in with patients following other healthcare encounters, such as emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

Extended hours and accessibility ensure patients get the appropriate care, at the appropriate time, in the appropriate setting. Our advanced primary care network is available 24/7, whether through MyChart (our electronic health record system), extended hours or an on-call provider. Our teams embrace telehealth and video visits when appropriate as another means of accessible care. Our model is designed to see you when you are sick and not having an emergency, so you don’t have to visit an emergency department or urgent care, where they have no pre-existing relationship with you and may not have your medical records.  

I encourage everyone to develop a relationship with an advanced primary care practice. You deserve this type of well-rounded, highly coordinated, and long-term care. Click here to learn more about GBMC Health Partners primary care and to find a physician or advanced practitioner and team that is right for you. 

Top: Dr. Jayashrei Sairam; Bottom: Dr. Fatima Halilu

Congratulations to Our Internal Medicine Residents! 

Elisabeth Carr, MD, Director of GBMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, shared a wonderful story of success about our residents at the Maryland American College of Physicians (ACP) Mullholland Muller Residents Meeting. Our residents took 1st place in both oral presentation and poster presentation, out of more than 180 posters submitted by residents across the state! 

Congratulations to Dr. Jayashrei Sairam, currently a PGY-2 (incoming chief medical resident for 2024-2025), who won first place as she presented on a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) presenting as hemoperitoneum. Congratulations also to Dr. Fatima Halilu, a current PGY-3, who wrote about a case of renal medullary carcinoma associated with sickle cell trait. 

Photos from our AAPI Heritage Month event

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month 

Once again, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Planning Committee, led by Lisa Walker, Chief Diversity and Learning Officer, planned a great event in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. While I was not able to attend this time, colleagues shared how engaging and educational the program was. Thank you to those who shared their AAPI heritage stories during the event, specifically Angela Wu, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager; Elizabeth Yee-Hess, Physician Compensation Analyst; Sabrina Gurwah, BS, CRCST, CSP Manager; Roel Tiberio, BSN, RN, CGRN, Nurse Manager; and Fred Chan, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer. 

In Observance of Memorial Day  

As Monday approaches and we prepare to observe Memorial Day, I’d like to take a moment to pay tribute to the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation in the military. Let us not forget those who have given their lives for our freedom and security. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to all veterans, living and deceased, for their dedication to our country. 

A Major Milestone for the Promise Project

A quick team photo in the new atrium

Monday marks 100 days until we complete construction on the Promise Project’s Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building! While we won’t begin seeing patients in the new building until late in November, the completion of construction will be a major milestone. Earlier this week, I had the chance to tour the building and was astonished to see the progress. Rooms are taking shape. The atrium is nearly complete, and its modern feel and natural lighting are spectacular. The whole notion that we’re going to have a new, proper grand entrance with the window space to see our beautiful campus is exciting. 

As we get closer to this milestone, I’m inspired to reflect on the “why” behind this endeavor: to better serve our patients, their families, and our staff. The 60 new state-of-the-art rooms in the building are supportive of true patient- and family-centered care. They are spacious, private, and accommodate visitors. They will be equipped with all the tools care teams need to provide the most seamless and efficient care. It is a true healing environment – from the patient rooms to the ancillary features, including a retail pharmacy, beautiful chapel, a new food court, calm respite areas and peaceful outdoor garden spaces.

The Sandra R. Berman Pavilion construction is also well underway. The bottom floors will be our new parking garage and the two top floors will eventually be the new home of the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute. When the garage opens in November, it will be directly connected to our radiation oncology center, making it easier for our patients to access this service.

Thank you for your patience as we navigate this final phase of construction. If you’ve been on campus lately, you have likely noticed some significant detours in the main hospital because we’ve had to close what was once our main corridor. We’re doing this to connect firewalls from our “old” building to the new building and expect to reopen this corridor by early June.

Central Sterile Processing equipment

Speaking of improved facilities, I’d like to recognize everyone who played a role in planning and redesigning our new Central Sterile Processing space, which opened in April. The area is truly impressive, and we are fortunate to have an incredible Central Sterile team in addition to the most up-to-date equipment to ensure thorough sterilization of medical supplies for the safety of our patients. And, we are happy to have said “goodbye” to the Central Sterile trailers! 

Celebrating Our Marvelous Nursing Staff

As we’ve been moving through Nurses Week and Hospital Week, celebrations have been abundant! Every day has included a special activity to thank staff. On Tuesday, we even had food trucks on campus to add bonus dining options, as well as Kona Ice, which provided free treats to all our employees in honor of Hospital Week.

Chief Nursing Officer Angie Feurer and several other colleagues
joined me in welcoming nurses to campus on Monday morning.

Throughout the week, I also had the honor of participating in multiple surprise “cavalcades” to various units and departments to join my colleagues in congratulating Art of Nursing Award winners as they enjoyed celebrations with their peers.

Our Art of Nursing Award Program was developed several years ago to recognize our staff for their
contributions in the field of nursing, which is often referred to as the art of science, knowledge, and caring.

Congratulations to this year’s Art of Nursing Award winners in the following categories:

• Clinical Assistant Support – Inpatient: Robert Monaco, OR Control Clerk – WOSC
• Mrs. H. Norman Baetjer, Jr. Nursing Graduate of the Year: Kate Burgess, RN – MICU 
• Nurse Clinician of the Year: Katherine Pasqualini, BSN, RN – Unit 36
• Clinical Assistant Support – Outpatient: Abigail Benden, NRCMA
• Diversity in Nursing: Evette (Evie) Matthews, MA, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P
• Nurse Leader: Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A
• Evidence-Based Practice: Katherine (Katie) Robbins, BSN, RN
• Patient- and Family-Centered Care: Jessica Dunn, BSN, CRN
• Nightingale: Liz Fennell, BSN, RN - SICU

Click here to view videos from the surprise cavalcades and to view a full list of nursing staff who were nominated for an award.

Congratulations to Our 2023 Health Care Heroes

Karen Thompkins and Wayman Scott

I am proud to announce that several GBMC HealthCare team members and programs were named 2023 Health Care Heroes by The Daily Record!

Congratulations to Wayman Scott, Associate Director of DEI and Community Relations, and Karen Thompkins, Director of Community Partnerships, for being recognized as Health Care Heroes in the Community Outreach (Individual) category. They were recognized for their efforts as part of the GBMC Pathways Program, which focuses on addressing health inequity in the Jonestown and Waverly communities in Baltimore City.

Kelly Truax out providing education in the community.

In addition, GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) and Domestic Violence (DV) Program, led by Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, was recognized in the Community Outreach (Organization) category. Our specially trained SAFE and DV team tends to the medical and emotional needs of patients, in addition to working closely with law enforcement and testifying on behalf of patients. I’d like to recognize and thank Kelly Truax, our SAFE & DV Community Outreach Coordinator, for all her efforts in educating the community about our program, available resources, and how to identify and prevent instances of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Laura and her team were also highlighted today on the front page of The Baltimore Sun!

Baltimore Magazine's Excellence in Nursing Winners

May 6-12 – also known as National Nurses Week – is a time I look forward to every year. Although we aim to recognize and thank our nursing staff year-round, Nurses Week gives us an extra opportunity to shine the light on our amazing nursing staff, which makes up the largest portion of our workforce.

As we gear up for Nurses Week, it seems fitting to congratulate eight of our GBMC HealthCare nurses who are being recognized publicly for their leadership, compassion, and excellence in providing patient care of the highest quality. Out of hundreds of nominations, the following nurses were selected as 2023 Excellence in Nursing winners by Baltimore magazine and are featured in the May issue of the magazine.

• Claire Cafirma, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director - Perioperative, Interventional Radiology & Endoscopy
• Jennifer D., BSN, RN, CEN, FNE-A/P, Sexual Assault Examination Program
• Judith Doverte, BSN, CMSRN, Women's and Outpatient Surgical Center
• Diane Fish, BSN, RNC, Labor & Delivery
• Nancy McAleer, BSN, RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Stephanie R., MSN, RN, CNOR, FNE-A/P, Sexual Assault Examination Program
• Holly Thorn, MSN, RN, CRN, Interventional Radiology
• Courtney Charest, BSN, RN, Gilchrist

I’m excited to congratulate even more members of the nursing staff next week. As part of our Nurses Week celebration, we’re presenting the annual Art of Nursing Awards, which is composed of nine categories: nurse clinician of the year, clinical assistant support (inpatient and outpatient), nurse leader, nursing graduate, evidence-based practice, patient- and family-centered care, diversity and inclusion, and the Nightingale Award (which is our voter’s choice award). Click here to watch videos about each of our Nightingale Award nominees and cast your vote by Wednesday, May 10 at 5 p.m.

We’ll be making daily Art of Nursing Award winner announcements next week, so I encourage employees to stay tuned to their email to stay updated. Or, anyone can follow our social media channels for winner announcements and photos we’ll share as we celebrate our nurses.

A number of activities are lined up to bring more joy during Nurses Week, including surprise cavalcades to the units of our Art of Nursing Award winners, food trucks on campus, GBMC HealthCare employee discounts, and much more. Employees, please be sure to check your email and the Infoweb (or talk with your leader) for details and timing of activities.

Kudos to Our Cochlear Implant Center and Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center

I’d like to take a moment to recognize our Cochlear Implant Center and Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center teams. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recently shared two videos featuring GBMC to tell the stories of interprofessional practice teams helping two patients: one who received cochlear implants and one recovering from head and neck cancer. For ASHA – a large national professional, scientific, and credentialing association – to spotlight our programs is a testament to the quality of the services led by Brian Kaplan, MD, Chair of Otolaryngology; and Regina Presley, Au.D., FAAA, CCC/A, Director of Audiology; Ray Blanco, MD, Medical Director of the Dance Center; and Brandon Costantino, Administrative Practice Manager of the Dance Center. The multidisciplinary teams they lead are truly impressive.

A Successful Golf Classic

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this year’s GBMC Golf Classic a success. Even though the weather didn’t fully cooperate, I enjoyed the day of golf, good company, and raising necessary funds for Continuing Medical Education, Clinical Education and The John E. Savage Medical Library. Special thanks to Morgan Varley, Director of Annual Funding, for organizing the Golf Classic and to this year’s chairs, Laurie Beyer, MBA, CPA, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Yuliya Klopouh, MH, PharmD, Executive Director of Pharmacy Services.