Clark Appointed Clinical Project Leader for TCPi

Christina Clark recently was appointed clinical project leader for the transforming clinical practice initiative (TCPi) for USA Physicians Group.

In her new position, Clark will assist USA Physicians Group clinics in preparing for the transition from traditional fee-for-service reimbursement to value-based care.

“Payments with the value-based care model relates to the quality of care provided and rewards care that is both efficient and effective, changing the way health care services are delivered and reimbursed,” said Dr. Natalie Fox, director of nursing for USA Physicians Group. “I am excited that Chris joined our team and her knowledge of both quality improvement and health care informatics will support improvement in the quality of care, efficiency, timely access and patient engagement in our practices as we transition to a value-based model.”

According to Clark, her overarching goal is to bridge the gap between IT and medicine while helping practitioners overcome any challenges they face to continue providing high quality care to their communities. “I am familiar with CMS and watched doctors and practitioners deal with regulations and changes while trying to provide quality care to their patients,” she said. “The aim of TCPi is to assist providers with health care’s transformation while they take care of the day-to-day operations of patient care.”

Clark credits her clinical experiences as a nurse in acute care settings for providing her with useful tools she can now apply as clinical project leader. “I was a bedside nurse for many years and came to realize the benefit of patient engagement in their health care,” she said. “By addressing the importance of value of care provided we will eventually realize a stronger, healthier population.”

Previously, Clark served as medical staff quality assurance coordinator at the University of South Alabama Medical Center.

Prior to joining USA, Clark served as a quality specialist at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Ala. She earned her associate degree in nursing from Mobile College, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is currently completing her master of nursing informatics degree at USA.

USA Researchers Targeting Preventable Blindness With Local Lions Clubs' Support

Mobile Lions Club President Todd L. Denison presents a check to Dr. Robert Lausch, professor emeritus of microbiology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and a member of the University Lions Club. The grant award will be used to fund vision research.

Dr. Robert Barrington, president of the University Lions Club and associate professor of microbiology at the USA College of Medicine, gives a tour of research facilities to local Lions Club members.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine researchers recently received financial support from local Lions Clubs that will be used to fund vision research.

The check – totaling $18,460 – was presented to USA researchers Dr. Robert Barrington and Dr. Robert Lausch at a luncheon on Jan. 25, 2018.

Dr. Barrington, president of the University Lions Club and associate professor of microbiology at the USA College of Medicine, said the luncheon was a celebration to recognize local Lions Clubs and their long-standing support for eye research at the USA College of Medicine.

The University Lions Club, a part of Lions Clubs International, is a civic organization that supports projects focusing on diabetes and vision.

Lions Club International 2nd Vice President Choi Jung-Yul attended the luncheon and toured the research facilities that house instrumentation purchased for the College of Medicine through grants from the International Lions Foundation.

“The event gave us a chance to showcase the impact a charitable organization has made on eye research here at the USA College of Medicine,” Dr. Barrington said.

Dr. Barrington’s lab studies infectious blindness caused by herpes virus, which is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the developed world. “These funds provided by the Lions Clubs will help us develop better therapeutic means to prevent blindness.”

District Lions Clubs have supported eye research since 1991 when the USA Lions Eye Research Institute was established.

Since its inception, the USA Lions Eye Research Institute has received more than $350,000. In addition to the annual donations, local Lions Clubs have also supported matching grants through the Lions Clubs International for the purchase of state-of-the-art instrumentation, such as an Olympus fluorescent microscope with an imaging system.

“The financial support the Lions Clubs provide is key for our mission, which is twofold – to conduct high quality vision research and to train the future of vision scientists,” Dr. Barrington said. “We’ve used those funds not only to purchase necessary equipment, but also to support graduate student trainees that work in eye research.”

Click here to view more photos from the event.

Running for Hope - Help Dr. Phillip Fields Gain Entry into Boston Marathon

Dr. Phillip Fields speaks to runners at the start of the Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita, Kan., about finding their passion to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

 

Following his diagnosis of leukemia in 2008, USA College of Medicine professor Dr. Phillip Fields set a goal to run a marathon in every state.

His goal of running in 50 marathons across the USA– which he checked off in 2012 – became one of many.

Now, he’s raising money for the Dana-Farber Foundation in order to gain a charity entry into the Boston Marathon, which will be held on April 16, 2018. If he reaches his goal, the Boston Marathon will be his 100th marathon since his leukemia diagnosis.

To accomplish this, he applied to the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, a team from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Dr. Fields was selected for the marathon team, and by reaching his fundraising goal of $5,000, will receive entry into the Boston Marathon.

“As a cancer survivor, I cannot think of a more satisfying and selfless reason to run than to run for others with cancer,” Dr. Fields said.

He tells others to live each day as if it is your last; to challenge your limits instead of limiting your challenges; and to stop procrastinating on things that aren't important. “Someone once said, ‘We spend so much time making a living that we forget to live,’” Dr. Fields said. “I deleted the word procrastinate from my vocabulary.”

Dr. Fields said he is overwhelmed with the support he has gotten from friends, faculty and the medical and physician assistant students. “None of these people can begin to imagine how important the Boston Marathon is to me, but still they have been exceedingly generous,” he said.

“No donation is too small. A single grain of sand put together with countless others creates a beautiful beach,” Dr. Fields said.

To support Dr. Fields’ efforts and donate toward his spot at the Boston Marathon, click here.