January 2024

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month 

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, an annual observance highlighting the importance of early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, a disease affecting thousands of women each year.  

In recognition of Cervical Health Awareness Month, Drs. Jim Jeakle and Caitlyn Monks shared recommendations to promote cervical health:  

• Regular screenings are important in the prevention of cervical cancer, including pap smears and HPV testing. Women are advised to start pap smears at 21 years old and continue at regular intervals as recommended by their healthcare provider. 
• HPV testing is often done at the same time as a pap smear and helps to identify HPV strains that may lead to cervical cancer. 
• HPV vaccination is recommended for both males and females, ideally before any sexual activities begins. Vaccination can protect against several high-risk HPV strains and reduce the risk of cervical cancer. 
• Safe sex practices, including the use of condoms and limiting sexual partners can contribute to overall cervical health. 
• Healthy lifestyle choices, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco use leads to a healthy immune system that is better equipped to combat infections, including HPV. 
• Regular check-ups and discussions with a healthcare provider about sexual health, family planning, and any other health concerns are key to preventative care. 

Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Women's Health sees patients in Boyne City, Charlevoix, and Harbor Springs. For more information call 231-547-4477.  

SERVICES

Traverse City Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic Updates

Due to limited capacity, the MMC Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic in Traverse City is currently closed to new patient referrals for psychiatry services (only).

• Dr. Molly Britton, Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison, is available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4 pm for consultation questions. She can be paged through the MMC Switchboard at 231-935-5000.

• We continue to actively recruit psychiatry providers to work in our outpatient clinic.

Substance Abuse, Recovery Coach, and MOUD services remain open to new patient referrals.

On Monday, January 15, the Munson Healthcare Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic and Partial Hospitalization Program in Traverse City relocated to the Copper Ridge complex (4230 Copper Ridge Dr., Building E). All in-person services will be held at this location. All virtual sessions will continue to be offered through the same media platforms.    

For questions, please email Kelly Bedford or call the clinic at 231-935-6382.

Updates to MHC’s East Region Leadership Team

With Jennifer Standfest's acceptance of the position of MHC Chief Nursing Officer, several key individuals have assumed expanded roles. 

• Mike Hodnett, MBA, BSN, RN, will continue as the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Grayling Hospital and serve as the Chief Nursing Officer for Charlevoix Hospital.
•  Jason Baerlocher, MBA, BSN, RN, has assumed the role of Director of Nursing at Grayling Hospital and will maintain his position as Emergency Department Manager. 
• Bernadette Herzog, MHA, MSN, RN, CCM, ACM-RN, has taken on the role of Director of Nursing at Charlevoix Hospital in addition to her existing position as Director of Inpatient Services.
• Dawn Halleck, MSN, RN, NE-BC, will continue her role as Chief Nursing Officer at Otsego Memorial Hospital. 

Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology

As was previously communicated, Northwood Obstetrics & Gynecology will be closing effective January 26, 2024.  Below is the transition information.

• Diana Novak, MD - Starting January 31, Dr. Novak will practice at Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital as an obstetrics hospitalist. Dr. Novak will not be taking appointments in this new role.
• Caitlin Schmidt, DO - Dr. Schmidt will be providing specialized gynecologic services at Traverse Bay Internal Medicine effective April 1, 2024. Her expertise and focus includes: well-woman annual exams, menopausal and perimenopausal care, contraceptive management, management of abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, and postpartum services. To schedule an appointment, please call 231-392-5161. 

Additional Gynecology and Obstetrics Care Options

The teams at Grand Traverse Women’s Clinic, Munson Family Practice Center, and Munson Healthcare regional OB/GYN clinics will also continue to provide safe, high-quality care without interruption at these clinics. Labor and delivery will still take place at Munson Medical Center as well as Cadillac, Charlevoix, Grayling, and Otsego Memorial hospitals.

Grand Traverse Women’s Clinic can be reached at 231-392-0650 and Munson Family Practice Center can be reached at 231-935-8000.

CLINICAL UPDATE

Healthcare Team Guidance: Increase in Respiratory Outbreaks

• As we are seeing an increase in respiratory illness (COVID-19, influenza) outbreaks among our Healthcare Team,  staff with any upper respiratory symptoms are required to mask while at work. Read the Work Restrictions Because of Illness or Special Condition policy.
• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and running water, or alternatively with hand sanitizer.
• As disinfection significantly reduces transmission of respiratory viruses, perform high-touch cleaning:
  • Clinical/patient care areas: every four hours.
  • Public areas: during high traffic times of operation.
  • Non-clinical departments, non-public areas, and offices: twice daily.
• Regional respiratory illness data is available on our For Providers website.
  
  

Opioid Prescribing Updates

• Effective Jan. 1, prescribers will now be reimbursed for substance use disorder (SUD) consultations in the inpatient hospital or emergency department setting and SUD treatments provided in an office-based primary care setting.
• The FDA recently approved the 1^st test using DNA to assess whether certain individuals may have an elevated risk of developing opioid use disorder (OUD). READ MORE
• For provider resources, visit MHC's Controlled Substances & Opioids Toolkit.
  
  

Vitamin D Assay Testing

• Munson Medical Center (MMC) was recently audited for Vitamin D Assay Testing (CPT 82306) orders as part of Medicare’s Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program, which is designed to reduce claim errors and denials.
• For the audited Vitamin D Assay Test records, MMC had an error rate of 23.4%, with 8 denials. Due to this error rate, MMC will be audited again.
• The most common reason for denial was test frequency. In one instance, the patient’s medical condition (Stage 2 CKD) is not a covered diagnosis.  

Medicare (CMS): Vitamin D Assay Test Ordering Guidance for Providers

• Vitamin D testing may NOT be used for routine screening and is subject to frequency limitations. 
• If the patient is Vitamin D deficient, further testing may be medically necessary only to ensure adequate replacement has been accomplished for this vitamin deficiency, although generally, other parameters are measured. Annual testing of the Vitamin D status may be appropriate depending on indication and other mitigating factors.
• For more detailed information, including the covered conditions, refer to:
  • • LCD - Vitamin D Assay Testing (L34658) | cms.gov
    • Article - Billing and Coding: Vitamin D Assay Testing (A57736) | cms.gov

Breastfeeding and Medicine Resources for Providers and Patients

Here are new breastfeeding and medicine resources to understand which medications are safe, can be used with caution, or should be avoided: 

• Providers (form# 12718)
• Patients (form# 12719)

These forms are available on our For Providers website.

A reminder MHC offers free, virtual breastfeeding, childbirth, and baby care classes, with some in-person offerings available by location. In addition, small-group maternity tours are now available at Munson Medical Center. Patients may register on our website.

RESOURCES

Provider Moves

Munson Healthcare's Provider Moves webpage has been updated for December including new providers, location changes, retirees, providers no longer on staff (or practicing), and other updates (e.g., name changes, practice moves, new phone and fax numbers).

For a complete directory of MHC-credentialed providers, go to Find A Doctor.

Please join us in welcoming the following new MHC-employed providers:

• Michelle Amore, NP | Grayling Community Health Center
• Morgan Gardner, MD | Pediatrics | Grayling Community Health Center
• Sarah Eberhard, CRNA | Munson Healthcare Anesthesia
• Hadley Knudsen, CRNA | Munson Healthcare Anesthesia
• Curt Ward, MD | Family Medicine | Munson Family Practice Center

The following MHC-employed providers are new to the following MHC locations:

• Susan Cogswell, PA | Munson Healthcare Foster Family Primary Care
• Jessica Zionskowski, NP | Munson Healthcare Rheumatology
  
  

EVENT

Upcoming MHC CME Virtual Conferences ^*CME

• Heparin Use at Munson Medical Center
• Dylan Walton, PharmD | Pharmacy Resident
• Friday, Feb. 2, 12:30 - 1:30 pm | Register

• Well-Being in Health Care Professionals: Caring More About the Caretakers
  • Nicholas (Nick) Rohde, PharmD | Pharmacy Resident
  • Friday, Feb. 9, 12:30 - 1:30 pm | Register

These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit our website.