In October, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and the entire Penn Medicine system celebrated PMX Week, a system-wide celebration that recognizes our successes and the critical role each of us plays in delivering an extraordinary experience for our patients, their families and each other.
Throughout the week-long celebration, LG Health employees were invited to participate in different themed events, including “Wear Red for Ambassador Day,” watching (and participating!) in the health system’s talent show, “Penn’s Got Talent,” and PMX Bingo.
At the conclusion of PMX Week, LG Health hosted its second annual Advocacy Awards. The Advocacy Awards recognize employees who embody one or more of the Penn Medicine Experience (PMX) Standards – Compassionate, Present, Empowered, Collaborative, Accountable and Cultural Humility.
“These awards celebrate the behaviors we do every day to connect with our patients and to each other,” said John J. Herman, Chief Executive Officer, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, during the ceremony. “Each of you positively impacts the lives of our patients, their families, and your colleagues.”
Among the 36 nominations submitted by LG Health team members, seven winners were identified in 2022. Each was nominated, some multiple times, for their unwavering commitment to making Lancaster the healthiest it can be through acts that define the Penn Medicine Experience.
LG Health’s 2022 PMX Advocacy Award Winners are:
- Kristen Hartmann, Advanced Care Program manager
- Adam Lake, MD, Comprehensive Care physician
- Jon Lepley, MD, physician, Behavioral Health – Addiction Medicine
- Jesse Main, PsyD, manager, Neuropsychology
- Deb Ohrel, practice manager, LGHP Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Ismael Rivera, patient navigator, Ambulatory Collaborative Care Team
- Camden Towne, DO, resident, Family and Community Medicine Residency Program
Summaries:
Kristen Hartmann, Advanced Care Program manager, received multiple nominations recognizing her leadership in promoting LG Health’s Advance Care Planning (ACP) and Serious Illness Care Program. While ACP conversations can be challenging, Kristen focuses on creating an environment that is compassionate and focused, ensuring the patient understands their condition and is a partner with their provider in identifying the quality-of-life goals and medical care goals.
Jon Lepley, MD, physician, Behavioral Health- Addiction Medicine, was nominated for his work to address opioid addiction within the community. In addition to working individually with patients, Dr. Lepley supports more than 20 LGHP practices with providers who prescribe medication for opioid addiction.
Deb Ohrel, practice manager, LGHP Diabetes & Endocrinology, was recognized for advocating for her practice’s patients and her team. To help address burnout within the practice setting and improve the response time to patients in MyLGHealth, Deb is working with key stakeholders to pioneer a new staffing model that supports timely communications in a virtual care setting.
Camden Towne, DO, resident, Family and Community Medicine Residency Program, was nominated for his work to provide care to homeless populations in the community. With the COVID-19 pandemic creating unique and challenging circumstances, Dr. Towne created the Sidewalk Doc program to “bring the doctor to the patient, instead bringing the patient to the doctor.”
Ismael (Izzy) Rivera, Jr., patient navigator, Ambulatory Collaborative Care Team, was nominated for his relentless advocacy of patients in their time of need. In one instance, Izzy worked with several local organizations and churches to arrange a specialty transport for a patient with unique care needs. Thanks to Izzy’s persistence, the patient was able to attend a surgical follow-up appointment.
Adam Lake, MD, Comprehensive Care physician, also received multiple nominations for his work within LG Health’s Comprehensive Care practice and as an LGBTQ+ ally. When Dr. Lake is not providing direct patient care, he advocates within the community to address healthcare disparities among Lancaster’s LGBTQ+ population.
Jesse Main, PsyD, manager, Neuropsychology, was nominated for being present and compassionate to his colleagues and patients. Under his leadership, his department exceeded its projected patient satisfaction goals, as evidenced by Press Ganey analytics. The neuropsychology team was recognized as the recipient of the 2022 Specialty Medicine LGHP Innovation Award for improving the patient experience.