Our New Care Manager
We invite you to join us in welcoming Babette Burgan, RN, MSW, to our office staff as our new Care Manager. Supported by our clinical care teams and undergirded by a generous CMMI Practice Improvement grant, Babette brings her strong faith and a wealth of education and experience to her interdisciplinary position. As not only a Registered Nurse but as a trained and experienced Licensed Master Social Worker, she is already working with our care teams to identify and proactively manage the care needs of high risk patients in our practice. Among other tasks, her role includes providing assessment, care coordination, advocacy and coaching for identified patients that are at risk for hospital admissions or emergency room visits. Welcome aboard, Babette!
HBHS Awarded CMMI Grant
We’re delighted to announce that His Branches Health Services is one of several primary care sites chosen to participate in a generous one-year Practice Improvement grant administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Administrated by the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, the grant has allowed us to hire a half-time Patient Care Manager, Babette Burgan, RN, MSW, who joined our staff in July. In addition to Babette’s services, we’re being assisted by a Practice Improvement Adviser, Sue Swift, and a team of supportive advisers that are providing technical assistance and implement strategies to maximize Babette’s success and help us develop our data management system. What a gift!
Rooted
One of our dedicated Board Members, Michael Braun, and I just returned from a very energizing national conference in Atlanta, GA – the annual gathering of the Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF). Since the early days in the late 1970s when there were only a handful of centers like ours around the country, CCHF has grown to represent over a hundred clinics who are committed to living out the gospel through healthcare among the poor. We were inspired, challenged, and encouraged and have returned to Rochester with renewed vigor in carrying out our mission locally. Part of what was so encouraging was discovering other colleagues in our region who share our vision and calling and who have, in many ways, advanced beyond us in organizational development. We’re looking forward to networking with colleagues from Buffalo, Albany, Pittsburgh, New York City and beyond in the months ahead as we seek to advance and even expand the work we’ve been called to do in Rochester.
Blue Choice Option
“It could force us out of business.” That’s what some doctors are now saying about the fact that Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield may soon drop certain Medicaid patients. A week ago, Excellus announced, beginning in January, that it will no longer offer certain Medicaid plans. That includes 85,000 people in the Rochester area. It’s all because Excellus is already looking at $100 million in losses for 2013 and says it can’t afford that.
Local doctors say this is bad news for them. Patients who currently use the Blue Choice option for Medicaid will have to find another health care plan. Doctors say, under those new plans, they will not be reimbursed as much for their services. News10NBC spoke to a doctor who says about 20 percent of his patients have Medicaid through Excellus.
Dr. William Morehouse said, “If our patient transfer over to any of the other plans currently in town, our overall practice could stand to lose between five and ten of its income on an annual basis which is a substantial loss when you are an inner city practice that is already having a hard time making ends meet.”
Other doctors in the area have a much higher percent of Blue Choice Medicaid patients, some as high as 60 percent. It’s those patients who could feel the brunt of this. News10NBC sat down with Nancy Adams with the Monroe County Medical Society. She says doctors are worried about the people they care for. The first problem they see is with the transition. Patients may have less access to care because their current specialists may not be on their new healthcare plan’s network.
Doctors are also worried about the trickle down effect. Less reimbursement means less income. Some say they will have to close up shop all together. Others say they won’t be accepting new Medicaid patients. Nancy Adams, Monroe County Medical Society, said, “We’re already in short supply of adult primary care physicians and then when you throw into the mix that not all physicians may except these other health plans then it would make it even more difficult to find a physician.”
According to the Monroe County Medical Society, there is still a chance Excellus could work something out with New York State and continue to carry these plans. News10NBC will continue to follow this story and update you on any developments.
The Flu Vaccine has arrived!
Where:
Available now at both of our offices. Call today to get your shot!
Description:
The CDC recommends receiving the vaccination as soon as it is available this year. The vaccine is covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and all commercial insurance companies. We also have special plans for self-pay patients. Flu vaccines are designed to protect against three influenza viruses that experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season. Three kinds of influenza viruses commonly circulate among people today: influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine.
EO and Grace Family Medicine
Many of you know that Sandi and others at Embracing Options are busy quietly meeting with young women in crisis (over 200 this year), offering pregnancy tests, counseling regarding abstinence and STDs, and helping the girls find pro-life solutions to their dilemmas. These are complex problems in lives that are mixed up and sometimes appear hopeless. Many come to Christ as the gospel is shared and their lives turn around. What you may not be aware of is that often these girls find a safe place for prenatal care at Grace Family Medicine where Dr. Morehouse goes on to deliver their rescued babies. The young women continue to bring their new children for care at our office. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to continue the care and discipling that was begun upstairs at Embracing Options. What an amazing collaborative effort in His Kingdom! Isn’t God good? We need your help to keep this effort going!
Jen Celso, PA, joins HBHS
Jennifer Celso, Physicians Assistant
has just joined Wil George, NP, and Dr. Morehouse at Grace Family Medicine. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Geneseo with a BS degree in Biochemisty, Jen recently completed her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Daemen College at the head of her class. She is looking forward to putting her new skills into practice serving people of all ages and walks of life in the city.
In addition to her clinical interests, Jen and her husband Dan are active in youth work in their church.
Wil George, NP, joins GFM
We are very pleased
to announce that Wilfred (“Wil”) George will be joining our heath care team at Grace Family Medicine as a seasoned Adult Nurse Practitioner this month. Although we are all still working through our sadness about Dr. Auty’s recent departure, we are fortunate to have found a man of Wil’s character and qualifications to help fill the void she has left. To quote one of his previous supervisors:
“Wilfred is an extremely conscientious Nurse Practitioner who demonstrated clinical abilities far above average… his knowledge base was quite thorough… I felt I was able to trust Wilfred’s clinical judgment… I would highly recommend Wilfred for a Nurse Practitioner position in any medical field.”
In addition to assuming the clinical care of a number of Dr. Auty’s patients along with our other Nurse Practitioner, Billie Jo Young, Wil’s practice will be open to new patients from the community.
Whole Person Care
On September 25-27, 2006
Dr. Dan Fountain conducted a 3-day workshop on “Caring for the Whole Person” at Roberts Wesleyan College. Dr. Morehouse assisted him again this year. The course was open to pastors, counselors, students, and health professionals in our region and offered up to 21 hours of Category I CME credit for physicians who attended.
Dr. Fountain is the author of numerous books in English and French on community health, primary health care, and care for the whole person and served as a missionary physician in Kenya for 35 years before returning to the States where he currently serves as the Director of the Center for Global Health at King College.
Click here to view a PDF Brochure for the Workshop. PowerPoint presentations of many of the sessions are accessible through the schedule posted online here.
Dr. Auty Leaving GFM
Earlier this week
Dr. Auty shared the following letter with us:
Dear Bill, Billie Jo, His Branches Staff, and Board,
As you know, my husband has graduated and has been looking for a job for some time. After interviewing in and out of the Rochester area, he has received a job offer in Lexington, Kentucky. We have been seeking God for a while about this issue and His leading has been very clear throughout the process that we should accept the offer in Kentucky. What this means is that I am resigning my position and will be leaving the practice within the next 30 days.
Effective immediately I will no longer be accepting any new patients. Established patients may continue to make appointments for care up until 10/13/06, which is the last day I plan to be in the office. Other plans for transition of care are pending.
While I am grateful for God’s provision, I am sad to be leaving you and the patients. When I started here I never dreamed that I would be leaving. I am thankful for all of your prayers, your kindness, and the many ways you have demonstrated to me what it means to love and serve our Lord.
Blessings,
Clara L. Auty, MD
Meet Our CEO, Dr. Morehouse
I'm a happy person who loves getting to know and being able to help people of all ages. I connect with little children (and the little child in most adults) almost immediately. Sharing the joys and trials of relationships, pregnancy and delivery, and family life are the things about family practice that really light my fire. I've found that having a sense of humor and seeing God's love at work can see us through some of life's most difficult times, if we can keep the faith and hang in there together. 
