Priscilla Stecher, MD
Graduating Class:
Class of 2027 Executive Mentor:
TBD
Project Title:
TBD
Penn Radiology HLQ Track - Alumni
Hossein Nejadnik, MD
Class of 2024
Coulter Cranston, MD
Class of 2024
Nnamdi Udeh, MD
Class of 2023
Executive Mentor: Friedrich Knollman
Project Title: Optimization of Whole-Body CT Technique for Trauma at PPMC
Cathal O'Leary, MD
Class of 2023
Executive Mentor: Nikhil Mull, MD, Director of Center for Evidence Based Practice
Capstone Mentor: Friedrich Knollmann, MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Medical Imaging at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Project Title: Reducing Low Quality CT PE Studies
Nathaniel Linna, MD
Class of 2022
Executive Mentor: David Horowitz, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania
Capstone Mentors: Hanna Zafar, MD and Chuck Kahn, MD, MS, FACR
Project Title: Decreasing Inappropriate and Outside of Guideline MSK MR Lumbar Spine Orders
Rupal Parikh, MD
Class of 2022
Executive Mentor: Neil Fishman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Penn Medicine
Project Title: Virtual Follow-up of Patients with Percutaneous Abscess Drains in Interventional Radiology
Track Highlights:
- Unique opportunity for inter-disciplinary collaboration with peers and leaders across the institution during the 2-year longitudinal curriculum
- Formal training on approach to improving quality and safety in health care using proven QI methodology
- Resident’s specific QI project enables real time implementation of QI methodology and leading and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team
The most valuable part of my HLQ experience thus far has been learning how to navigate the QI methods to be set-up for a successful project. As I implemented the PDSA cycle initially, I learned quickly that my initial project plan was skewed to a problem that no longer existed. I back tracked in curating a new project plan and re-implemented the QI methods learned which engaging feedback from my departmental and executive mentors to pursue a different, but related quality issue with more stakeholder interest.
Gregory Parker, MD
Class of 2022
Executive Mentors: Hanna Zafar, MD and Chuck Kahn, MD, MS, FACR
Project Title: Decreasing Inappropriate and Outside of Guideline MSK MR Lumbar Spine Orders
Yadiel Sanchez-Padilla, MD
Class of 2022
Executive Mentor: TBD
Project Title: TIA Pathway
It is a project that aims to evaluate the use of MRI in the initial evaluation of patients presenting with TIA symptoms in the ED at the Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania. The goal is to see if using an MRI first approach rather than traditional evaluation with CT, will decrease overall LOS, decrease inpatient admissions, and overall decrease imaging utilization.
Jessica Fried, MD
Class of 2020 (Assistant Professor, Abdominal Imaging and Cross Sectional Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Michigan Medicine)
Executive Mentor: Pat Sullivan, PhD, Chief Quality Officer, Penn Medicine
Project Title: Rapid Oncology MR Access Pathway
Project Description:Thoracic oncology patients are a unique population with a high risk of metastatic disease to the central nervous system, which confers increased morbidity and mortality. These patients frequently present to clinic or by telephone with new symptoms concerning for metastatic disease to the brain or spine; however, it can be difficult or impossible to schedule same-day MRI to rule-out brain or spine metastases, resulting in these patients being referred to the Emergency Department for expedited imaging workup.
The Rapid Oncology MR Access Project involved the creation of a specialized pathway with reserved scanner slots and fit-for-purpose rapid-imaging protocols to provide protected same day imaging access to these high risk patients. The goals of this project were to reduce unnecessary ER visits for these patients presenting with concerning symptoms for CNS metastases and to decrease time to diagnosis for this population who can benefit from early intervention.
After sixteen months of pilot data collection and three PDSA cycles, the pathway has proven successful by these benchmarks without compromising the financial interests or operational efficiency of the Department of Radiology. A sustainability plan has been identified and the Cancer Service Line and Department of Radiology have agreed to expand the availability of this pathway to all Cancer Service Line providers and patients in the Spring/Summer of 2020.
Teresa Martin-Carreras, MD
Class of 2020 (MSK Imager, Orlando Health System)
Executive Mentor: Keith Kasper, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Penn Medicine
Project Title: Improved Uniform Communication and Documentation of Adverse Events in CT and MRI
Project Mentor: Hanna M. Zafar, M.D., M.H.S.
Project Description:Prior to the implementation of this project there was no uniform policy for the documentation of contrast-related adverse events in our department. Radiology departments should have a streamlined workflow in place to recognize, treat, and document these events due to the inherent risks of contrast-related extravasations and allergic-like events. This quality improvement project assessed how the development of standardized progress note templates in the electronic medical record (EMR) affected the consistency of radiologist documentation of initial patient evaluation following contrast-related adverse events, with special attention to contrast extravasations and allergic-like reactions.
Shaun McLaughlin, MD, MS
Class of 2021 (Clinical Instructor, Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine)
Executive Mentor: Neil Ravitz, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Penn Medicine
Project Title: Development of evidence-based guidelines for bone marrow biopsy requests in IR: A retrospective comparison of the outcomes of 2800 biopsies done at the bedside versus under image guidance
Project Description: At our institution bone marrow (BM) biopsies have traditionally been performed bedside by the Heme/Onc service with local anesthesia. Because this can be technically challenging and painful, particularly in morbidly obese patients, in 2014 the IR service agreed to offer image-guided BM biopsies with sedation for select patients with either an elevated BMI or sedation requirement. This study tracked the utilization of this service from 2014–17. It also compared diagnostic rates between bedside and fluoroscopic guided BM biopsies to define decision criteria for determining which patients might benefit most from image guidance.
Sarah Thomas, MD
Class of 2021 (Abdominal Fellow, Duke Radiology)
Executive Mentor: Dr. Ronald Barg, MD. Executive Director of Clinical Care Associates, Penn Primary Care, Penn Medicine
Project Title: Implementation of ‘Macro Recommendation’ in the Musculoskeletal Division of the Department of Radiology
Track Highlights: The track begins with two weeks of didactics spanning topics from quality improvement to healthcare finance to human factors engineering. Learning from and forming relationships with residents across the health system is an important part of that initial experience.
I have met with my executive mentor several times in person and by phone over this past year. I spent a day shadowing him in his executive role and learned so much about the challenges of ensuring success of numerous primary care clinics across the Delaware Valley. He has given me invaluable advice on my project, career path, and personal challenges as well.
My capstone project involves improving documentation and follow up of incidental findings in musculoskeletal CT and MRI reports. My team will be working to incorporate language into our current reporting structure that allows clear follow up recommendations for incidental lesions and tracking to ensure follow up is completed in an attempt to increase referrer satisfaction and patient outcomes.
Stephanie Wu, MD
Class of 2020 (Wake Radiology)
Executive Mentor: Phil Okala, Chief Operating Officer for the Philadelphia Region of Penn Medicine
Project Title: Improving the Radiographic Evaluation of Acute Fractures with Musculoskeletal Pain Markers
Project Description: Understanding a patient’s location of focal musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is an important factor in the radiographic evaluation for acute fractures. However, a patient’s clinical symptoms can be difficult to ascertain due to limited clinical information provided or limited time to search the medical record. The goal of this project was to increase the availability of information on a patient’s MSK symptoms through utilization of pain markers (BB skin markers) corresponding to a patient’s area of acute focal pain. An online simulation of cases with and without the pain marker demonstrated that MSK pain markers are associated with statistically significant shorter turnaround times and improved diagnostic accuracy.
Award: Selected as the 13th annual Sridhar Charagundla lecture presentation at the Penn Radiology Pendergrass Research Symposium.
Penn Medicine Healthcare Leadership in Quality Track
First Year Core Didactics Schedule
Track members always look forward to an exciting and challenging program schedule and this year is no different.
WEEK 1: Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Reading & Movie Day
|
9:00 - 10:30
Overview of Track |
9:00 - 11:00
Healthcare Quality
Lee Fleisher
|
9:00 - 10:30
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
PJ Brennan |
9:00 - 10:00
Corporate IS Infrastructure
Michael Restuccia |
10:30 - Noon
Quality Improvement Methods
Neha Patel
|
11:00 - Noon
Break |
10:30 - 11:30
CPUP Quality and Safety Goals
Patti Macolino |
10:00 - 11:00
Innovation in Informatics
Bill Hanson |
|
Noon - 2:30
Patient Safety
Jen Myers, Justin Ziemba |
11:30 - 12:30
Break
|
11:00 - Noon
Break |
12:30-2:00
Networking & To Err is Human
Debrief |
Noon - 1:30
Healthcare Informatics and Compliance
Christine Vanzandbergen |
2:30 - 3:30
Human Factors in Healthcare
Susan Regli |
|
1:30 - 2:30
Data Gathering at Penn
Eugene Gitelman |
2:30 - 3:30
Data Science
Michael Draugelis |
|
|
WEEK 2: Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
9:00 - 10:00
Healthcare Quality Measures
Neha Patel |
9:00 - 11:00
Healthcare Finance Primer Chad Johnston |
8:30 - 4:00
Performance Improvement In Action Training (PIIA)
Course Directors:
Mike Posencheg Scott Falk
Facilitators:
Cynthia Line Erin Lightheart Scott Crespy Caitlin Friel Andrew Keser
|
8:30 - 4:00
Performance Improvement In Action Training (PIIA)
Course Directors:
Mike Posencheg Scott Falk
Facilitators:
Cynthia Line Erin Lightheart Scott Crespy Caitlin Friel Andrew Keser
|
9:00 - 10:30
Leadership
Neil Ravitz |
10:00 - Noon
Patient Reporting Measures
Ilona Lorincz |
11:00 - 12:30
The Revenue Cycle
Tom McCormick |
10:30 - 11:30
Track Resident Networking |
Noon - 1:00
Break |
12:30 - 1:00
Break |
11:30 - 2:00
Debrief
Neha Patel and Jia Lapointe |
1:00 - 2:00
Ambulatory Performance Programs
Ashley Hopkins |
1:00 - 2:30
Center for Healthcare Innovation and QI IRB
Shivan Mehta |
2:00 - 3:00
Population Health
David Horowitz |
2:30 - 3:30
Innovation Accelerator
David Resnick
Michael Begley |
3:00 - 4:00
Evidence Based QI
Nikhil Mull |
Penn Medicine Healthcare Leadership in Quality Track
Advanced Didactics Schedule
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
9:00 -10:00
Welcome
Neha Patel |
9:00 - Noon
Advanced Data Measurement
April Taylor
Erin Lightheart
|
9:00 - 10:30
Healthcare Finance
Chad Johnston |
9:00 - 11:00
Risk Mitigation and Disclosure
Keah Buck
Pat Sullivan |
10:00 - 11:30
Quality Improvement Methods
Neha Patel |
10:30 - Noon
Connected Health
Srinath Adusumalli |
11:30 - Noon
Capstone Project Report Out |
11:00 - 12:00
Capstone Project Report Out |
Noon - 1:00
Break |
Noon - 1:00
Break |
Noon - 1:00
Break |
Noon - 1:00
Break |
1:00 - 2:30
Leadership in Safety
Justin Ziemba
|
12:30 - 1:30
QI Scholarship
Jennifer Myers |
1:00 - 4:00
Capstone Project Report Out
|
1:00 - 2:00
Capstone Project Report Out |
2:30 - 4:00
Capstone Project Report Out
|
2:00 - 4:00
Capstone Project Report Out
|
2:00 - 3:00
Debrief
Neha Patel |