The Rounds

Medical Staff Committee Spotlight: Professionalism and Well-Being 

The Professionalism and Well-Being (PAW) Committee was created in January 2019 as a joint Baylor and UTHealth Houston medical staff committee to promote physician professionalism and wellness. The committee is co-chaired by Asim Shah, MD (Psychiatry/Baylor), and David Robinson, MD (Emergency Medicine/UTHealth Houston), and meets at noon the third Friday of each month. It has seven medical staff members in addition to the two co-chairs.

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​Shah	​Robinson

The PAW Committee is focused on physician well-being and protection, and upholds our medical staff standards of professionalism via a supportive and non-punitive approach. Committee proceedings are confidential, and there is no reporting outside of Harris Health System. The committee may also offer trainings for the medical staff on topics such as well-being and burnout prevention. Its function is to help physicians regain optimal performance by addressing professionalism.

Physician Wellness

Helpful Numbers, if you feel overwhelmed:

Seminars, Events and CME Activities:

Quality/Safety Digest: Drug Safety

 

QT prolongation is a heart conduction system disorder that can be congenital or acquired. Acquired causes include electrolyte abnormalities and, more commonly, certain medications (listed below).

 

Practice Considerations: 1) Consider obtaining a baseline EKG prior to initiating medications known to affect QT interval 2) Consider serial EKGs or placing telemetry orders for patients receiving high-risk medications or multiple moderate-risk medications, 3) Involve nursing staff in the patient’s plan of care, including monitoring requirements.

 

Clinical Documentation Improvement Tip – Pathology

Best Documentation Practices: 

• ​Unable to code from the Pathology report
• Review the Pathology report and document the diagnosis throughout the record
• Update discharge documentation if the pathology report is received post-discharge
• Confirm diagnoses when clarification queries are submitted post-discharge

 

 

Remember to clinically validate your diagnosis within the medical record with justifiable, supported clinical criteria. See examples in attached reference sheet. 

Informatics Update

Eight important updates for the Epic EHR 

 

1. Ebola Update

2. Transparent Lockdown: Nov. 29-Dec. 4

3. Optimize Your Activity Tabs

4. Getting Started & Requesting Access for 3M Fluency Direct (Mobile Dictation)

5. Update to PICC Line Placement Order

6. Allergy Deletion Reason Options Updated

7. New Consult Order for Medical ICU

8. Avoiding Duplication of Hypoglycemia Orders

 

Physician Kudos 

Exceptional feedback from our patients about our doctors

 

Homayoun Ataei, MD 

Family Practice

Vallbona Health Center

Baylor College of Medicine

 

“This is my first time being a patient at Harris Health System and I was very much impressed by the staff and cleanliness of the clinic. Dr. Ataei has impeccable bedside manners with a very compassionate heart of gold. He literally understands the importance of bed rest when it comes to illness and work. Kudos to Dr. Ataei for his compassion towards his patients. “I had to drive 30 minutes to Vallbona Health Center. Nevertheless, I had a very good first time experience.” 

 

Reeva Yogesh Patel, MD

Emergency Medicine 

Ben Taub Hospital Emergency Center

Baylor College of Medicine

 

“I thought Dr. Patel was very professional. She was great. She made me feel a lot more comfortable about the situation that I have. The facility was very clean. The other staff were great. It was just a great facility, through and through. It was a different experience than I thought it was going to be, but I was glad that it was what it was. I really appreciate you all. Thank you.” 

 

Jessica L. Wilson, MD

Emergency Medicine

Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital Emergency Center

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston 

“The doctor who saw me last week, she was good. She was precise and kind. She is a sweet physician, and also professional.”

 

Thank you for your service!