Healthcare Heroes Recognized

July 2015 · Toledo Business Journal · 25

CELEBRATING THOSE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE AREA’S HEALTHCARE!

2015 Healthcare Heroes recognized

The healthcare profession is one where Recognition Ceremony, held on June Achievement Award, a healthcare gion. acts of heroism often go unnoticed, because 30, 2015 at the Toledo Museum leader must have left a mark on A hero is usually an ordinary person they happen every day. Healthcare Heroes of Art Glass Pavilion, rec- healthcare through a career doing extraordinary things, distinguished do not act for praise, recognition, or job ad- ognizes the extraordinary (of at least 25 years) of for his or her courage or ability. They may vancement. Indeed, their stories are not al- contributions healthcare heroic acts, compassion, also be someone who is a model for others ways picked up by the local media or com- makes to the quality of honor, and integrity that that has performed a heroic deed and/or tire- municated outside of their organizations. life in northwest Ohio have helped to put our lessly given of his/her time, talent, and ex- Rather, Healthcare Heroes are motivated and southeast Michi- region at the forefront pertise to improve health. by a desire to make a difference in the lives gan. Each honoree has of healthcare. In ad- A Healthcare Hero could be a physician, they touch. received an award for dition, a collaboration nurse, allied health professional, researcher, Healthcare Heroes was launched in the honor. award has been present- administrator, educator, or caregiver that 2008 to recognize the extraordinary impact Healthcare Heroes ed to an area healthcare has gone above and beyond the call of duty. that exceptional healthcare professionals has honored ﬁ ve recipients organization. Healthcare Heroes should demonstrate hon- have on the healthcare industry and on the this year, including a Life- The Healthcare Heroes esty, integrity, humility, courage, and com- quality of life in their communities. time Achievement Award. exemplify the contributions mitment. The Seventh Annual Healthcare Heroes To qualify for the Lifetime Kristian Brown, 13ABChealthcare makes to the re- …continued on page 26

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ZZZEEWROHGRFRPȈ GJMLTD.COM 2266 · TOLEDOTOLEDO BUSINESSBUSINESS JOURNALJOURNAL · JJULYULY 22015015 HHEALTHCAREEALTHCARE HHEROESEROES Heroes Kenneth Bertka M.D., FAAFP, CPHIMS …Continued from page 25 For example, a Healthcare Hero Lifetime Achievement Award may be a healthcare professional who exemplifi es extraordinary quality and Chief Medical Officer and Vice President compassionate patient care; is break- Mercy Medical Partners ing new ground in the healthcare are- na through a new advancement, im- and Mercy Clinically Integrated Network provement of effi ciencies, or through a new initiative; is providing research While a senior at St. John’s Jesuit High School, Dr. and is on the cutting edge of clinical Kenneth Bertka spent a month volunteering in the emer- research to ultimately improve patient gency department at St. Luke’s Hospital. Being able to care; is an accomplished healthcare blend a love of science and service to others made medi- educator that is inspiring the next cine a natural choice for the Toledo native; the experi- generation of healthcare providers; is ence at St. Luke’s sealed his choice. a healthcare leader who exceeds all Four decades later, Dr. Bertka is a family physician expectations when it comes to infl u- who has cared for thousands of patients and their fami- encing growth and development of lies in the Toledo area. Dr. Bertka has spent 29 years in healthcare to meet the needs of the service to healthcare in Northwest Ohio, trying to keep a community; or is a healthcare provid- patient-centered focus and to do ordinary things in a more er making a meaningful contribution extraordinary way. to community health improvement, Besides continuing to provide direct patient care, Dr. Bert- including but not limited to increas- ka has held various leadership positions within family medicine ing access to healthcare for the low nationwide – including an elected position on the Board of Direc- income uninsured. tors of the American Academy of Family Physicians from 2007 to Sponsors for this year’s event in- 2010 – and for Mercy Health. He was Mercy’s fi rst Chief Medical clude: The Hospital Council of North- Information Offi cer, implementing the region’s fi rst computerized west Ohio; Shumaker, Loop & Ken- physician order entry system across the system’s four metro Toledo statewide. drick, LLP; Hylant Group; Gilmore, hospitals in 2004 and 2005. Dr. Bertka also has led the development of Mercy’s clinically Jasion & Mahler, LTD; and Tech- More recently, Dr. Bertka has been the physician lead for im- integrated network in northwest Ohio since 2013. The network of Solve. Toledo Business Journal is the plementation of the patient-centered medical home model of care more than 480 physicians and nurse practitioners promotes the In- media partner and Kristian Brown, across all Mercy primary care practices in Ohio and Kentucky. stitute of Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim – improving qual- 13ABC, is the host and emcee for the Mercy has more than 100 patient-centered medical home practices ity and patient service, improving the health of the community, and event. recognized by the NCQA, the largest number in any health system reducing the total cost of care.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are each a winner, as your Congratulations to all the 2015 extraordinary service to the Candidates and Award Recipients. community sets you apart.

SPONSORS: July 2015 · Toledo Business Journal · 27

To all our Healthcare Heroes: Your caring spirit inspires us all

True heroes just do it. They don’t expect praise or recognition. They give every patient everything they’ve got every day. And they come back tomorrow to do it all again.

Often these acts of heroism may seem to go unnoticed. So once a year we take this time to tell our heroes we did notice. We saw the hope you gave that patient who had given up. We saw you hold that patient’s hand in the middle of the night. We saw you take extra time to help that patient choose the course of treatment best for them.

Congratulations to our 2015 heroes. You show us the best of what healthcare can be. You keep the promises we make to our patients. In you we see the care we all aspire to.

Mercy is proud of all that our people do to make lives better here in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

mercy.com A Catholic healthcare ministry serving Ohio and Kentucky

Toledo Fire & Rescue Depart- ment Deputy Chief Brian Byrd not only helps save lives on the job. He is raising awareness about prevent- able diseases and working to make sure African American men – who typically do not seek primary healthcare for themselves – are getting health screenings. In 2013, Byrd established the African American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo to Congratulations to our help promote exercise, as well as encourage men to visit a doctor annually and “know their numbers.” Byrd coordinated 715 health screen- Toledo emergency communications opera- 2015 Healthcare Heroes! ings and analyzed the data to show results for tions; including 911-call taking and dispatch- blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, ing for both police and ﬁ re. He also serves as Thank you for everything that you do to improve the health body mass index and other categories at last Lucas County Coordinator for the Ohio Fire and well-being of our communities. We are proud to have you year’s 5K walk/run event. Chiefs’ Emergency Response Plan; proxy for as a part of the ProMedica team. Byrd is chairman for this year’s African the Fire Chief on the Lucas County Emergency American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo, Medical Services Policy Board; and proxy for which is scheduled for August 15 and modeled the Fire Chief on the Lucas County Emergency after an event in Columbus. He also has been Communications Board. invited to speak in other cities about the To- Additionally, Byrd is involved in various ledo project as events are created nationwide. organizations and initiatives, including the Sal- More information about the National African vation Army Advisory Board; State of Ohio Iracema Arevalo, MD American Male Wellness Walk Initiative can Emergency Medical Services Board; Toledo be found at www.aawalk.org. Community Coalition, Quality of Life Task ProMedica Memorial Hospital As Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Force; community Gang Violence Task Force; Services and Communications, Byrd provides and Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big oversight of all EMS operations and City of Sisters of Northwestern Ohio. M.Ed Kay Smith, CNM David Pollick ProMedica Bay Park Hospital Health Commissioner Sandusky County Health Department

Howard Stein, MD Managing the Juvenile Cancer ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital Cluster Investigation in the Clyde area – all while working with dis- traught families whose children were sick or dying – has been the most challenging undertaking in David Pollick’s professional career. Having children he met pass away during the Suzette Valiton investigation was especially challenging ProMedica Wildwood Athletic Club and frustrating to Pollick, Health Commis- sioner for the Sandusky County Health De- partment. Based on reports from school nurses and family members, Pollick took early action and sioner is creating and implementing a Com- began an investigation in 2006. Pollick brought munity Health Improvement Cycle. While in state, federal and academic resources to in- Sandusky County had made some attempt at Pierre Vauthy, MD vestigate a statistically signifi cant number of community health assessment, Pollick proved ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital child cancer cases in a small geographic area in that the process could to be more thorough and eastern Sandusky County. scientifi c, as well as produce results to create a Cancer clusters are diffi cult to analyze, healthier community. and investigations often result in inconclu- Pollick also worked with the Sandusky sive fi ndings. While the Clyde cancer cluster County Commissioners to reconstitute the peaked by 2009-2010, Pollick believes the in- Family and Children First Council, a forum for vestigation’s vigilance and thoroughness made all local public providers to work together to a difference. With only one new case reported improve family and child health and well-be- since 2011, attention caused by the investiga- ing. Among Pollick’s other accomplishments tion may have halted environmental practices is managing three successful levy campaigns promedica.org that played a role in the cluster’s genesis. in Sandusky County after doing more outreach One accomplishment of which Pollick is with fl u clinics and demolishing blighted resi- proud of during his tenure as Health Commis- dential properties throughout the county. WWEALTHEALTH MMANAGEMENTANAGEMENT JJULYULY 22015015 · TOLEDOTOLEDO BUSINESSBUSINESS JOURNALJOURNAL · 2299 Kay Smith MSN, WHNP-BC, CNM Director of Women’s Services ProMedica Bay Park Hospital

When breast cancer was found in a woman without contact information who was exam- 2015 Judges Panel ined at an event for underserved residents, Kay Smith worked Randy Dixon, tirelessly to ensure she was found and offered treatment for President, the disease. Otherwise, the wom- Toledo Bar Association an would not have known she had cancer until the lesion was physically Kyle Grefe, evident – and she became very sick. That’s just one example of how Retired Executive Director, Smith, Director of Woman’s Services at Family Outreach Community United Services ProMedica Bay Park Hospital, has worked certiﬁ ed nurse midwife. tirelessly to provide exceptional care for Helping those who are less fortunate Marie Huff , Ph.D., MSW, women regardless of their socioeconomic than her has been a hallmark of Smith’s status. Often that means going beyond the healthcare career, during which she Dean-College of Health and Human Service, hospital setting to work at health fairs and learned women don’t always know how Bowling Green State University free clinics, including providing breast they will feed their families or get to a exams such as the one funded through a medical appointment. Smith has gained an Clint Longenecker, Susan G. Komen grant where the woman understanding of the diversity and needs without contact information was exam- in the community while helping people Stranahan Professor of Leadership and Organizational Excellence in ined. access resources and medical care. The College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo Growing up, Smith often stayed with Smith is responsible for coordinating her grandmother to “help take care of” labor and delivery services, midwifery Karen Mathison, her grandfather, who was terminally ill programming, and the community health with cancer. She was 9 or 10 when she needs assessment at ProMedica Bay Park President, decided to become a nurse because she Hospital. She also is responsible for mid- United Way of Greater Toledo wanted to help people, and Smith is both wifery services in Port Clinton and at Pro- a women’s health nurse practitioner and Medica Memorial Hospital in Fremont. Pierre Vauthy M.D. Our diverse Medical Director of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit expertise is ProMedica Toledo your benefit. Children’s Hospital

Nearly 40 years ago, when the life expectancy of a child with cystic Are you responsible for managing employee fi brosis was less than 5 years old, Dr. Pierre Vauthy opened what is now the benefit plans for your organization? Do you need Cystic Fibrosis Center of Northwest an experienced benefits team that is interested Ohio. Now the Toledo center is a leader in research for such centers nationwide, in providing solutions customized for your and the life expectancy of those with cystic organization, that is responsive to your daily fi brosis is closer to 40 years old. Before the Swiss native moved to Toledo, needs and discloses all fees upfront? there was no specialty pulmonary care. Patients with cystic fi brosis and other pulmonary ail- included many roles with the health system ments had to go to Cleveland for care and hos- and in pulmonary medicine, ProMedica Toledo At Corporate One Benefits, we want to be pitalizations. Dr. Vauthy pioneered the pediatric Children’s Hospital’s pediatric intensive care pulmonary and cystic fi brosis programs for the unit has grown from four to 18 beds. He also your partner. Toledo area, making many national and inter- established the bronchoscopy program at the national contributions through his research and hospital and has taught the procedure to resi- publications. dents, fellows and pulmonologists from around An advocate for all children’s health issues the world. and leader in patient- and family-centered care, Since 1976, Dr. Vauthy has served as a Dr. Vauthy is known for the extraordinary level clinical professor of pediatrics at what is now the of dedicated personal care given to his patients University of Toledo Medical Center, training TM and their families. Measured health outcomes numerous pediatric pulmonary fellows who are for local patients with cystic fi brosis consistent- involved in the care of hundreds of patients with ly have been above the national average, indi- cystic fi brosis nationwide. He also has educated cating they are healthier than “average” under hundreds of medical students and pediatric resi- Dr. Vauthy’s care. dents across northwest Ohio in both pulmonary Archbold • Findlay • Fostoria • Tiffin • 888.435.1234 • CorporateOneBenefits.com Under Dr. Vauthy’s leadership, which has medicine and pediatric intensive care. 3300 · TTOLEDOOLEDO BUSINESSBUSINESS JJOURNALOURNAL · JULYJULY 20152015

Premium reimbursement is a costly violation

Beginning July 1, 2015, the continuation of this Small employers are policy exposes Company A to a $255,500 annual now “on the clock” excise tax ($36,500 tax for each of the seven full- time employees), regardless whether the reim- to ﬁ x this problem or bursement to the employees is with pre-tax or after-tax dollars. pay heavy taxes For a Limited Time Only: Temporary Relief for Small Employers Earlier this year, the IRS issued Notice 2015- Information taken from Employee Benefi ts News 17, which provided transition relief from this Collaboration Small employers that reimburse employees $100-per-day excise tax. In the notice, the IRS or pay directly for all or part of their health cov- recognized that many small employers provide Award erage have a short window to cease this prac- health coverage by paying directly or reimburs- tice, or they will be subject to an expensive ex- ing the cost of premiums for individual policies, cise tax. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and outlined the relief as follows: Activate Allen County Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Small employers with fewer than 50 full-time Health and Human Services (HHS) have each is- employees (for at least 6 consecutive months) sued frequently asked questions (FAQs) stating will not be subject to the penalty for either 2014 Lima Family YMCA that employer payment plans (sometimes re- or for the period January 1, 2015, through June The 2009 Allen County Community eral grants, including two from the Centers for ferred to as premium reimbursement plans) for 30, 2015. This means, however, that small em- Health Assessment showed that 77% of resi- Disease Control and Prevention. individual health insurance coverage fail to com- ployers are now “on the clock” to fi x this payroll dents were overweight or obese – and the Among Activate Allen County’s success- ply with the Aff ordable Care Act (ACA). Employ- practice before the middle of 2015. county also was ranked near the bottom of es are: ers that violate this rule are subject to an excise All hope is not lost for small employers that Ohio’s 88 counties for health behaviors in a Establishing a Mobile Produce Market to tax of up to $100 per day ($36,500 per year) for have this type of arrangement with their em- national report. Knowing that Allen County’s provide access to affordable produce to resi- each aff ected employee. ployees. Employers have the right to provide children might have shorter life spans if cur- dents living more than a mile from a supermar- rent conditions continued, and that economic ket. An employer payment plan is an arrange- compensation increases to their employees. So development efforts were suffering, Activate Establishing the Healthy Happens Here ment in which an employer reimburses employ- long as the employer does not require that an Allen County took action and is making prog- corner store program to further ensure residents ees or pays directly for all or part of the premium employee use the increase to purchase health ress. have access to affordable, nutritious food. for individual coverage. These employer pay- coverage, an employer payment plan is not cre- The county-wide coalition worked to Training 24 people to become Certiﬁ ed ment plans are considered to be group health ated. The extra pay will be subject to income and combat smoking and obesity by promoting Tobacco Treatment Specialists. plans that do not comply with the requirements payroll taxes. The employee can do whatever he healthy eating, active living, tobacco-free Assisting 12 workplaces and nine com- of the ACA. An employer cannot reimburse em- or she pleases with this extra pay, whether that lifestyles and high-impact clinical quality ser- munity venues in implementing breastfeeding ployees for the purchase of an individual mar- includes or does not include purchasing an indi- vices. Activate Allen County is comprised of friendly policies to support, promote and pro- ket policy, regardless of whether the employer vidual health insurance policy. community leaders from government, health- tect breastfeeding. treats the payment as a tax-free benefi t or as ad- Employers also may forward post-tax em- care, business, education, social service, public Establishing the YMCA National Diabe- health and faith-based organizations who have tes Prevention Program at the Lima Family ditional taxable wages to the employee. ployee wages to the health insurance carrier Example: set aside their natural competition to focus on YMCA. Company A has seven employees at the direction of the employee. This arrange- improving the county’s collective health. Training 55 students at a Youth Empow- and reimburses each employee for the cost of ment should not constitute an employer pay- The 2014 Allen County Community erment Summit with Youth Empowered So- his or her individual health insurance premium. ment plan. Health Assessment showed that less than lutions to become leaders in the areas of real 68% of residents were overweight or obese, a food, tobacco prevention and active living. Is Assurant Health an ACA casualty? marked improvement from the 77% in 2009. Helping re-establish the Downtown Lima Activate Allen County has been awarded sev- Farmer’s Market.

Parent company Assurant Inc. has said that they would be strong assets for new owners Serving children with Fetal it will sell off or shut down Milwaukee-based As- that are focused more exclusively on healthcare surant Health by the end of next year. Assurant and employee benefi ts,” said Alan Colberg, CEO Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Health is expected to post an operating loss of of the parent company. CongratulaƟ ons to and their families for 23 years. $80 million to $90 million in Q1 of this year, fol- Steven Schwartz, an analyst with Raymond lowing a $64-million loss in 2014. James & Associates, called Assurant Health a Sr. SuzeƩ e Fisher, SND, “While it is a diffi cult decision, we believe “casualty of the ACA.” co founder of For more information on complying with the Aff ordable Care Act Double ARC and or how it will aff ect your benefi t plans, please contact us. current Director of Roemer Health Insurance representatives are standing by: 419-475-5151 Please visit: www.Roemer-Insurance.com or www.toledobbb.org Client Services, for her compassion and experƟ se. 419.479.3060 Doublearc.org