During our first meeting, BreAnne asked, `So

welcome
Message from the President
As we anticipate our hopes and dreams for a New Year, I would be
remiss to brush over the certain angst caused by our quite uncertain
healthcare climate.
In the midst of this highly emotional debate, this I can tell you: At
Holston Medical Group, we’re continuing to focus on that which has
made us the region’s leading provider of medical excellence—You.
Quite simply, you are our focus.
Sure, you can rest assured we’re at work, making our voices heard
on your behalf—talking to our senators and representatives, even
visiting the White House. We’re active in this vital discussion.
Yet, the very heart of our efforts is that of working to make sure HMG
continues to provide you with access to unsurpassed excellence in
healthcare.
In fact, we’re quite pleased with the recent national attention we’ve
received for our continued efforts in innovation. As you’ll see within
this issue of the HMG Health Line, Holston Medical Group’s provision
of excellence has been recognized within both the USA Today and
Medical Economics. Most incredible!
I also marvel at the success of Breck Habegger, the gentleman
featured in our lead story of the very magazine you’re holding in your
hand. Mr. Habegger is a shining example of the health benefits that
can be achieved through our Lose it 4Good initiative—yet another
example of compassionate excellence.
From the provision of digital mammography to the expansion of
services in Duffield, Va., to the continued success of our clinical
research efforts, Holston Medical Group never has been and never
will be satisfied with mediocrity.
Top
Stories
This
Edition
Kingsport Banking Executive
Discusses His Weight-loss Success
HMG Lose it 4Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
HMG Offers Digital Mammography
. . . .7
National Publications Feature
HMG Services
HMG Integrated Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
HMG Launches New Website
. . . . . . . . .10
Specialty Spotlight:
Clinical Research with Dr. David Morin . . . . . . .15
HMG Welcomes New Providers . . . . . . .16
We always pursue the best … for you.
Other top stories....
In closing, I encourage you to take a few
moments to read through this issue and
learn more about a team of healthcare
providers and employees committed to
your very best. It is indeed our privilege
to serve you.
Scott Fowler, JD, MD, FACOG as
Chair of Legal Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Wishing you a lifetime of excellent health,
Mary Pat Francisco, MD, elected as
HMG Chairman of the Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Duffield Offers Expanded Services . . . . . . . . . .14
Heart Healthy Minestrone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Jerry L. Miller, MD
HMG President & Founder
HMG in the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Lose it 4Good
One man’s victory
For 50 year-old Breck Habegger, weight
has been a lifelong battle. Growing up
in rural, northern Ohio, Habegger says
he developed a “bad relationship with
food” at a very early age.
“Food was my best friend,” says
Habegger, who, at his heaviest, weighed
370 lbs. “I was the kid that when my
mother would take me into a clothing
store, the clerk would immediately size
me up and say, ‘Yep, he’s a husky.’ So,
all my life, I’ve just thought, ‘Yep, I’m a
husky.’
Habegger, who has always used humor
to lighten difficult situations jokingly
...losing more than 116 lbs.
with HMG’s “Lose it 4Good.”
quipped, “I didn’t know if that meant I
was big or if I was a dog.”
As the years passed, Habegger became
active in sports, thinned out a little, and
played football for the Bearcats at the
University of Cincinnati. Yet, after a
knee injury and resulting subsequent
inactivity, Habegger started gaining
again—only this time, as an adult.
“I still had a poor relationship with food,”
explains Habegger, who says he would
covertly sneak through fast-food drivethrus on his way home from work, only
to discard the evidence before arriving
home. “I can really identify with people
who have addictions. For me, food was
an addiction and I closed my eyes to
this reality.”
Habegger says he tried countless
weight loss diets, fads, and gimmicks
only to experience yo-yo weight loss
and weight re-gain. After a lifetime of
frustration, he was finally ready to lose
the weight. Only this time, he wanted to
lose it for good.
The trigger? A book Habegger
stumbled across while clandestinely
scanning self-help resources in the
health and wellness section of a local
bookstore.
3
Lose it 4Good
“There was a point in the very beginning of the book, Eat This and Live, where
the author told of Moses talking to the Israelites, explaining that life and death
was being set before them. Moses told the Israelites to ‘choose life so that
you and your children may live.’”
According to Habegger, this was a turning point.
“How can I relate this to myself? My weight battle was not only about the food
choices that I was making and the quantity of food I was consuming, but also
in understanding “why” I was eating. I had to learn to choose life. I was
slowly killing myself.”
“
“
“During our first meeting, BreAnne asked, ‘So,
what’s your current exercise plan?’ And, I
thought, ‘You’ve got to be joking! I barely made
it up the escalator to your office and you’re
asking me about my exercise plan!’”
Habegger, an executive with a regional bank, relocated to the
Tri-Cities area in January of 2009.
“With a new start in a new area, I knew the time was right,”
explains Habegger, who says he would lay awake at night and
imagine life at a healthy weight.
“I would imagine what it would be like to fit comfortably in a chair
or to walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath,”
says Habegger. “Or, I’d imagine how great it would be for
people not to have that look of ‘please, please, please not by
me’ as they watched me make my way down a plane aisle”.
That’s when he saw the
advertisement for HMG’s Healthy U
“Lose it 4Good,” a health and
wellness weight management
initiative.
“I wanted something medicallysupervised where I could learn and
have a vested interest. And, I wanted
my family to be a part of it.”
Habegger says that is just what he
found within HMG’s Healthy U.
Beginning his journey in April 2009,
Habegger’s first “Lose it 4Good”
4
Before beginning Lose it 4Good, Habegger
says he tried most every gimmick diet,
only to experience yo-yo weight loss and
weight re-gain.
encounter was with HMG Healthy U’s
David Talley, MS, RD.
“The first thing I saw was the dreaded
scale. But, it didn’t look like a scale, it
looked more like something from Star
Wars,” jokes Habegger,
who didn’t know his exact
weight because his
scales at home only went
to 350. “I’d step on the
scales at home and
would hear the scale go
‘bam,’ very decisively.”
Talley, who offers a
balance of nutrition
education and
encouragement when
coaching Lose it 4Good
participants, says his first
goal in counseling a new
participant is assessing
the changes he or she
wants to make. The next
step is that of
determining the
individual’s metabolic
rate and caloric needs.
she could be onboard with my plan and
better able to choose the foods best for
me and our family.”
Habegger’s personalized plan began
with goal setting, nutrition education,
“During our first meeting, BreAnne
asked, ‘So, what’s your current exercise
plan?’ And, I thought, ‘You’ve got to be
joking! I barely made it up the escalator
to your office and you’re asking me
about my exercise plan!’” laughed
Habegger, who walked
with a constant limp
stemming from arthritis
from his college football
knee injury.
Habegger’s custom
activity plan began with
simple steps such as a
commitment to stop
using the elevator.
Habegger says one of his favorite aspects of the Lose it 4Good initiative is the ability
to involve his family. Habegger’s wife, Donna, worked one-on-one with HMG’s David
Talley, MS, RD, in learning to better read food and nutrition labels and in menu
planning.
Interestingly, Lose it
4Good wellness plans
are not based on a strict counting of
calories nor are the plans one-size-fits
all. Instead, each individual nutrition
layout is custom according to the needs
and goals of the patient.
“Instead of stringently counting calories,
one distinction of the Lose it 4Good
approach is that of balancing meals
according to the four food groups and
teaching portion control,” advocates
Talley. “We’re teaching lifestyle
changes, not tricks and gimmicks.”
“David really worked out a great plan for
me, teaching me what to look for and
how to read nutrition labels,” says
Habegger, who says he eats three,
tasty, balanced meals a day, along with
healthy snacks. “David even went
grocery shopping with my wife so that
and the use of a journal. Then daily
activity instruction was added. He also
began care with HMG vascular
specialist William Bestermann, MD, to
address vascular-related health
concerns.
“During my second visit, I met with
BreAnne Rogers,” says Habegger. “Her
smile, warmth and encouragement were
such a breath of fresh air.”
An exercise specialist, Roger’s role
within HMG’s Healthy U is that of
providing personalized exercise
instruction. In the event a participant
has any medical or physical limitations,
Rogers works closely with medical
providers and physical therapists to
develop an exercise activity plan that is
medically appropriate.
“I started walking up the
five flights of stairs to my
office in Johnson City.
Many times I halfseriously joked with coworkers saying, ‘I’m
going up this flight of
stairs and if I don’t come
out in ten minutes, you’ll
find my body in the
stairwell. Tell my family
‘I loved them.’”
Yet, at Roger’s
encouragement and persistence,
Habegger gradually increased his
exercise.
“I’d proudly announce that I’d been
walking five flights of stairs and
BreAnne would say, ‘Great. Now, try
seven.” She was pushing me because
she knew I could do more.
Today, at 254 lbs., Habegger is well on
his way to his goal weight of 250 lbs.
His waist size has gone from 58 to 38
inches and his knee pain has all but
diminished. Even his chronic sleep
apnea has been completely resolved
with weight loss.
Now, with a routine that includes
exercising at least five times a week,
including twice weekly with his wife, and
5
Lose it 4Good
even enjoying an occasional
hike with his son, Habegger
reports that his blood pressure
is now excellent without any
medications.
“Any sort of physical activity
was out of the question,
especially something like hiking.
I was morbidly obese with a
family history of vascular
disease,” explains Habegger.
“With my poor relationship with
food, I was flying toward a
coronary event—choosing
death instead of life.”
“My children were watching me
slowly kill myself,” continues
Habegger, describing a recent
tender moment when his
daughter took his hand,
thanking him for the health
changes he was making.
“She said, ‘Dad, I didn’t want to
saying anything, but I was
afraid I was going to lose
you soon.’”
Now firmly committed to
choosing life for he and his
entire family, Habegger has even Eric Rouse, Manager of HMG’s Healthy U
program, reviews Breck’s weight–loss results
begun introducing those
while Breck has his routine weigh-in.
he loves to his Healthy U team.
importantly, to God, for opening
my eyes.”
“I’ve taken my son to meet the
Healthy U team and also Dr.
Bestermann. I want my children to His advice to others?
understand that though they may
“I know the hopelessness and the
be active and thin now, they need
lonely existence of being
to begin to choose life by
overweight. I understand,”
understanding portion control,
empathizes Habegger. “If you are
eating the right types of foods and
at that place, I encourage you to
committing to exercise.”
choose life for you and
Habegger acknowledges that even your family.”
when he reaches his goal weight,
For more information about
he’ll never fully “arrive.” Instead,
HMG Healthy U initiatives,
he says it is a lifelong journey of
including “Lose it 4Good,”
total lifestyle transformation.
contact the Healthy U Center at
(423) 578-1588.
“I have to give credit to my family
for their encouragement, and more
6
HMG’s Lose it 4Good
offers several options to
best accommodate an
array of family budgets,
ranging from group
sessions to one-to-one
individual coaching visits.
Each plan includes
personalized metabolic
assessment and behavior
modification coaching with
a registered dietitian, an
exercise specialist, a
lifestyle coach and a nurse
practitioner.
In addition to the options available
within the Lose it 4Good family of
options, Healthy U offers many “ala
carte” services such as menu
planning, nutritional consults,
grocery shopping tours, and exercise
prescriptions. For a complete listing
of services within Healthy U, please
visit www.holstonmedicalgroup.com
and click on “Services” and then
“HMG Healthy U.”
Digital Mammography
Incredibly sharp, virtually-instant
images. Less radiation than film
mammography. Ease of electronic file
sharing with providers and medical
facilities. Not to mention, improved
imaging of “dense” breasts.
Mammography is central to early
detection of breast cancer because it is
able to detect changes in the breast that
may be early signs of cancer, greatly
enhancing the ability to detect breast
cancer at earlier stages.
Without doubt, digital mammography
offers a multitude of advantages over
conventional film mammography.
“Digital mammography offers
tremendous benefit to women who are
younger and who often have breasts
that are more dense. In this group of
women, the images from digital
mammography are superior and provide
improved detection,” begins Sizemore.
“This is of extreme importance in that
early detection is crucial in younger
women who often present with more
aggressive types of breast cancer.”
“While the procedure for digital
mammography is similar to that of
conventional film mammography in that
both use compression and x-rays to
create the images inside the breast,
digital mammography produces images
that appear on the technologist’s
monitor in a matter of seconds,”
explains HMG’s Samantha Sizemore,
director of HMG Radiology.
The benefit of this rapid transmission?
“Women will spend less time in the
breast imaging suite since they are not
waiting for film to develop. Additionally,
there’s a greater ease of image
manipulation.”
Another benefit of digital mammography
is the provision of computer-aided
detection. Suspicious areas of
pathology are automatically highlighted
with various electronic symbols,
signaling potential concern areas for the
radiologist to note.
Selenia™ digital mammography is now
available at both of HMG’s outpatient
diagnostic centers (Each of HMG’s
ODCs are certified as Pink Ribbon
Facilities, a distinction awarded only to
an elite group of healthcare facilities.)
Breast cancer is the second leading
cause of cancer death among women,
exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics
indicate that one in eight women will
develop breast cancer sometime in her
life. The stage at which breast cancer is
detected influences a woman’s chance
of survival. If detected early, the fiveyear survival rate is 97%.
Holston Medical Group is committed to
the fight against breast cancer. In
offering digital mammography, HMG
provides the latest in imaging quality. If
you would like to schedule a routine
mammogram or have questions about
this important breast health procedure,
please contact either the ODC (Bristol)
at (423) 990-2440 or the ODC
(Kingsport) at (423) 857-2800.
If you have concerns regarding your
breast health, please first talk with your
women’s health or primary care
provider.
7
Integrated Health Management
William H. Bestermann. MD
and Brian Cross, Pharm.D., CDE
Medical Economics features cover story on HMG
for “turning the tide against cardiometabolic disorders.”
Holston Medical Group’s ongoing
success of “turning the tide against
cardiometabolic disorders” within its
HMG Integrated Health Management
department landed the Group a cover
story in the Nov. 7 issue of Medical
Economics. With a bi-monthly circulation
of nearly 175,000 office-based
physicians, the magazine is showcasing
practices across America that are
implementing creative solutions to their
practice management challenges.
According to the article’s introduction,
“The provider team at Holston Medical
Group is heartened by the results of its
integrated approach to managing
8
cardiometabolic disorders. But perhaps
none of them are as pleased as the
45,000 patients with the disorders who
are under their care.”
The article details the success of
treating Tri-Cities’ patients with
cardiometabolic disorders—prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, elevated blood lipids, and
obesity—within HMG Integrated Health
Management, a highly-diversified team
that includes a vascular medicine
specialist, three pharmacists (two of
them certified diabetes educators), a
dietitian, an RN, and a consultative
endocrinologist.
Together, the team is achieving
outstanding results, especially in a TriCities patient population where “onethird have high-cholesterol and another
third have hypertension.” On average,
patients have lost “nine pounds each
and reduced their hemoglobin A1C
(HbA1C) levels by an average of 20
percent, systolic blood pressures by
11 points, and diastolic by 9 points.”
“Unless you understand the difficulty of
achieving these types of results within
patients, you might miss the significance
of these numbers. We’re adding years
to lives,” explains Jerry L. Miller, MD,
HMG founder & president. “Our life
expectancy here in the Tri-Cities is
seven years less than if you live in the
Midwest, and it has a lot to do with
lifestyle, obesity, smoking and lack of
access to what I call ‘the new facet of
medicine.’”
manage cardiometabolic disorders to
HMG Integrated Health Management.
This team of multi-specialty providers,
focused on achieving vascular success
is a tangible example of “the new facet
of medicine.”
And, according to Dr. Miller, with HMG
Integrated Health Management, that’s
exactly what HMG’s nearly 80 primary
care providers are offering patients
when they refer those with difficult-to-
“We’re trying to create a cardiometabolic
medical home,” says William H.
Bestermann, the vascular medicine
specialist who leads the HMG Integrated
Health Management team. “We’re
focused on that thing that’s going to kill
half the people in this region.”
If you have a cardiometabolic condition
and are interested in intensified
management that works side-by-side
with your HMG primary care provider,
call HMG Integrated Health
Management at 423-857-2790. You
may also talk with your HMG primary
care provider, asking whether HMG
Integrated Health Management might be
a good step for you.
USA Today features HMG’s success in fighting
obesity in patients who battle chronic disease
The Oct. 7, 2009, USA Today “Life”
section headline article, “Doctors join
fight against obesity” featured the
success of HMG physician William H.
Bestermann, MD, and his utilization of
HMG-recommended protocols for
fighting obesity and achieving improved
health in patients who battle chronic
disease.
Dr. Bestermann serves as the medical
director for HMG’s Integrated Health
Management, a highly-collaborative,
multi-disciplinary model of care
designed for those who are either at risk
for or who have been diagnosed with a
chronic disease state (such as high
cholesterol, diabetes or high blood
pressure.)
The USA Today article, written by Nanci
Hellmich, detailed the success of Debra
Horne, 52, of Dungannon, Va. Arriving
at Dr. Bestermann’s office as a “walking
time bomb,” the 5-foot-9, 298 pound
Horne had type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and high
triglycerides. She suffered from
depression and limited mobility—getting
around with the aid of a motorized
scooter.
According to the article, Horne, upon the
guidance of Dr. William Bestermann,
implemented the heart-healthy
approaches detailed in The South
Beach Diet and “dropped to 149 pounds
over time and shrank from a size 28 to a
size 8.” Today, instead of 16
prescription pills a day, she takes only 6.
She ditched the scooter and is now able
to walk 2 miles a day.
Horne says Dr. Bestermann “gave her
the knowledge and confidence to
succeed,” saying, “I owe him everything.
I feel like I have been reborn.”
enormous amount of time and resources
in the creation of highly-collaborative
initiatives that are designed to give
patients the type of thorough treatment
that Dr. Bestermann modeled in his
interaction with Ms. Horne,” says Miller.
“HMG initiatives such as Lose it 4Good
for Adults and Lose it 4Good for Kids &
Teens, as well as a host of others, is
achieving incredible results in children
and adults alike, and transforming lives.”
To read the article in its entirety, visit
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com, click on
“Explore HMG” and then, “HMG News.”
According to HMG founder &
president Jerry L. Miller, MD,
Dr. Bestermann’s work is
indicative of the success HMG
is achieving through its
health-improvement targeted
initiatives within HMG
Integrated Health and HMG
Healthy U.
“Because we realize the real
necessity of intensive
treatment of chronic disease
states such as diabetes,
hypertension, and
hyperlipidemia, Holston
Medical Group has spent an
9
HMG Connectivity
Check out HMG’s new, enhanced
web presence that now includes
such convenience features as
online bill pay!
“With internet users exponentially
on the rise, it was time to revamp
HMG’s web presence, giving users
the opportunity to learn more and
do more,” explains HMG’s Chip Childress, director of IT. “Users
have been quite pleased with the new options available to them.”
According to Childress, the website revision is a multi-phase
process. Coming capabilities and features will continue to be
introduced through the summer of 2010.
Join HMG on
Facebook!
We’d love for you to “fan” us on
Facebook! As an HMG Facebook fan
you’ll receive timely alerts to new
services, providers and health
initiatives. And, you’ll also receive
news of special discounts at our
HMG Healthy U Center on select
merchandise.
What are you waiting for?
Become a “fan” today!
One of the most striking changes will be that of HMG’s video
library. At full utilization, patients will be able to learn more about
particular conditions and disease states ranging from diabetes
and vascular medicine to preventive health. Also included within
the video library will be short videos intended to introduce patients
to various initiatives and services available throughout HMG.
Another added feature is an expanded focus in marketing Holston
Medical Group and the Tri-Cities region in an effort to recruit new
providers and specialists.
“It’s becoming increasingly important to expand our web
presence, giving us the ability to continue to attract the nation’s
leading physicians,” says Craig Kilgore, HMG executive director.
“With the looming national shortage of physicians, we must utilize
progressive efforts to recruit the providers and specialists needed
by our patient population.”
The new HMG website has been designed and developed by
Bailey Computing Technologies, Inc. (BCTI) in conjunction with
Lucent Glow.
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com
10
Introducing the
convenience
of online bill pay!
Who doesn’t like convenience? Between a busy day
at work, various appointments, running errands—not to
mention juggling hectic family schedules—convenience is
always a plus.
With HMG’s new online bill pay feature, we’re pleased to
introduce another added convenience.
“Convenience is exactly what this new feature is
about,” says HMG’s Chip Childress, director of IT.
“It takes time to review your bill, write a check, address
an envelope, find a stamp and then remember to mail it.
Now, HMG patients have the convenience of paying their
bills online. With a few clicks of the mouse, they’re done.”
Stay Connected:
Introducing Wi-Fi
access at HMG
In early 2010, select HMG
locations will begin providing
complimentary Wi-Fi access!
Additional locations will be
phased in during the coming months.
While Wi-Fi access will be available to everyone,
those enrolled in myHMG (a great, new patient
online service) will enjoy preferred and unlimited
access (during the daily Wi-Fi operational hours of
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
Watch for the HMG Wi-Fi logo to determine
if complimentary Wi-Fi access is available at
your HMG location!
Since the online bill pay’s recent implementation, the feature
has been overwhelmingly popular with users.
“We’ve actually been surprised by the volume. We knew it
was a service our patients would enjoy but we didn’t expect it
to be utilized so quickly,” says Childress.
To pay your HMG bill online, simply visit
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com and click “online bill pay” in the
top right-hand corner of the screen. (You will need a copy of
your patient billing statement as well as a major credit card.)
Holston Medical Group is pleased to be one of the first
providers in the Tri-Cities to offer the convenience of online bill
pay. All major credit cards are accepted.
Coming Soon:
myHMG will offer “advanced”
version of online bill pay
In early Spring 2010, Holston Medical Group will
implement an “advanced” version of online bill pay for
myHMG participants. Via their secure, patient-online
service, myHMG enrollees will be able to see details of their
monthly statements as well as register for automatic monthly
payments.
To learn more about myHMG, visit
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com.
11
HMG News Briefs
Two HMG Physicians
receive recertifications
Pediatrician Mary Pat
Francisco, MD, elected
as HMG Chairman
of the Board
Two HMG physicians, Robert C. Lee, MD, and
Joel D. Gonce, MD, have received recertification,
by the American Medical Directors Association
and the American Board of Family Medicine,
respectively.
Dr. Lee has received
recertification as a
Certified Medical
Director in Long Term
Care through the
American Medical
Directors Certification
Mary Pat Francisco, MD
HMG announces Scott Fowler, JD, MD, FACOG
as Chair of Legal Affairs
Robert C. Lee, MD
Program. The AMDA,
the professional
association of medical
directors, attending
physicians, and
others practicing in
the long term care
Joel D. Gonce, MD
continuum, is
dedicated to excellence in patient care and
provides education, advocacy, information, and
professional development to promote the delivery
of quality long term care medicine.
Serving as HMG’s medical director, Dr. Lee has
been a member of the HMG “family of care” since
1982. He is also board certified by the American
Board of Family Medicine.
Dr. Gonce has received recertification by the
American Board of Family Medicine. Board
certification confers a standard of excellence in
knowledge and practice to physicians who not
only certify via the examination process, but who
also work diligently on the maintenance of these
skills during the seven-year cycle between
examinations.
Dr. Gonce, who currently focuses on geriatrics in
area long term care facilities, has been a member
of the HMG “family of care” since 1978.
12
HMG Pediatric Gastroenterologist Mary
Pat Francisco, MD, has been elected
the new HMG Chairman of the Board.
Dr. Francisco is the first to assume the
role that has previously been held by
HMG president & founder Jerry
L. Miller.
HMG is pleased to announce Scott Fowler, JD, MD, FACOG, a
Seasons-Kingsport obstetrician and gynecologist, in his new role as
Chair of HMG Legal Affairs.
“As a physician who has spent considerable time in the practice of
legal medicine, Dr. Fowler is well-suited to serve us in this most
important role,” says HMG President & Founder Jerry L. Miller, MD.
“We are quite fortunate to have someone of both his medical and legal
caliber serving within our HMG family of care.”
Board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Dr. Fowler received his doctorate of
medicine from the Medical College of
Georgia, Augusta. Additionally, he holds a
juris doctorate from the University of
Georgia School of Law, Athens.
With a combined medical and legal
background that spans more than
two decades, Dr. Fowler’s legal
experience includes dispute
resolution, peer review, medical
staff law, physician contracts,
medical malpractice, federal
tort claims and structured
settlements.
Dr. Fowler’s most
recent accolade
is the successful
completion of the
Tennessee Bar
examination.
“I have full confidence in Dr. Francisco’s
ability to provide key leadership within
Holston Medical Group. As a physician
known for clinical excellence and
exemplary leadership, I am confident
Dr. Francisco will keep patient concerns
at the very heart of her mission,” says
HMG Founder & President Jerry L.
Miller, MD.
As chairman of the board, Dr. Francisco
is tasked with leading Holston Medical
Group while ensuring that the “mission,
vision, and objectives of Holston
Medical Group are established,
understood and promoted throughout
HMG and within its service area.”
Board certified by the American Board
of Pediatrics, Dr. Francisco joined HMG
in 1996. A native of Kingsport, Dr.
Francisco graduated from DobynsBennett High School and received her
doctorate of medicine from East
Tennessee State University. She
completed a combined medicine
pediatric residency at the University of
Florida, Gainesville, where she also
completed a pediatric gastroenterology
fellowship.
HMG’s Orthopaedic Center
of the Southeast website
earns 2009 WebAward
The Orthopaedic Center of the Southeast
website has earned the 2009 WebAward.
Designed by BCTI, this website was
recognized as the winning entry in the
“Healthcare Provider Standard of Excellence”
category.
“Congratulations to BCTI for their leadership
and design work in garnering this award,”
says HMG’s Chip Childress, director of IT.
“BCTI has designed four websites for
Holston Medical Group and each site has been
outstanding.”
Orthopaedic surgeon
Jon E. Minter, DO,
contributes chapter in
new arthritis &
arthroplasty textbook
Within the WebAward judging, three or more expert
judges review submitted sites based on seven criteria
(on a scale of 0 to 10), including: design, innovation,
content, technology, interactivity, copywriting, and
ease of use.
The new internationally-distributed
arthritis and arthroplasty orthopaedic
textbook, Arthritis & Arthroplasty: The
Knee, features a chapter written by HMG
orthopaedic surgeon Jon E. Minter, DO.
Jon E. Minter, DO
One of the textbook’s three editors,
Thomas E. Brown, MD, associate professor at the University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, requested Minter’s contribution, resulting
in Chapter 23, titled, “Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Using
Mobile-Bearing Technology.”
The Web Marketing Association was founded in 1997
to help set a high standard for Internet marketing and
development of the best websites on the World Wide
Web. Staffed by volunteers, this organization is made
up of Internet marketing, online advertising, PR, and
top web site design professionals who share an
interest in improving the quality of online advertising,
The textbook is the newest volume in the Arthritis & Arthroplasty
series and offers expert guidance on topics ranging from patient
selection and pre-operative planning to surgical approaches and
techniques. Within the book, evidence-based coverage details the
best technologies and methodologies to employ for total knee
arthroplasty (TKA) for individual patients.
The textbook will be used in both the academic and clinical
setting—by beginning orthopaedic students in medical universities
to accomplished orthopaedic surgeons practicing around the globe.
Arthritis & Arthroplasty: The Knee was co-published by Saunders and
Elsevier with a 2009 publishing date.
Known throughout the Southeast for his proficiency in managing
challenging reconstruction problems of the hip and knee, Dr. Minter is
board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic
Surgeons. He is also a Fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy.
internet marketing, and website promotion.
The Web Marketing Association is the producer of the
WebAward Competition. Now in its 13th year, the
WebAward is the premier annual website award
competition that names the best websites in 96
industries while setting the standard of excellence for
all website development.
To view the site, please visit
www.orthocenterofthesoutheast.com.
13
HMG in Duffield
New HMG campus
in Duffield enjoys
expanded services
J. Bryston Winegar, MD, Medical Center
now offering Seasons’ women’s health
and HMG Rehabilitation
Duffield’s new, 33,000 sq. ft., state-ofthe-art medical facility is now offering
the expanded services of women’s
health and physical/occupational
rehabilitation.
“The patients I’ve interacted with have
expressed a deep appreciation for the
welcome addition of new services,” says
HMG’s Alan Meade, PT, MPH. “They’re
thrilled with not only the services but
also the facilities, including a full gym,
complete with aqua therapy.”
According to Meade, what’s most
rewarding is watching patients have
successful outcomes, close to home—
without having to travel.
“Patients who live in Duffield and the
surrounding vicinity no longer have to
travel long distances to get good, quality
rehabilitation care,” says Meade.
14
According to Seasons’ Teresa Morrison,
office manager, women’s health patients
are equally pleased at the prospect of
having care close to home.
“The patients have all been very excited
that they can experience the excellence
of Seasons without having to drive,”
says Morrison. “In fact, we’re picking up
many new patients who are eager for
the convenience of a women’s health
provider so close to home.”
Seasons providers are offering an array
of services at the Duffield location, from
gynecologic to obstetric, including nonsurgical solutions and leading-edge
women’s health procedures such as the
revolutionary Gynecare Thermachoice®,
an in-office procedure effective in
controlling heavy menstrual bleeding
(often an excellent alternative to a
hysterectomy).
“Our presence in Duffield speaks very
highly of the HMG mission statement
and core values in that we’re doing
everything we can to provide a solid
continuum of medical care that includes
areas of specialized service,” says
Meade.
To schedule an appointment within HMG
Rehabilitation at Duffield, please call
(276) 431-7590. To schedule with a
Seasons’ women’s health provider,
please call (423) 247-7500.
Q
&
A
Specialty Spotlight/Clinical Research
Q & A with
Dr. David Morin
Tell us a little bit about
your background and how
you became interested in
clinical research?
My initial interest in medicine started in
high school after reading about Sir
Alexander Fleming’s discovery of
penicillin in 1928. His impact on the
treatment of disease is now easily lost in
the current world of politics and science.
However, imagine living in the 1920s (or
earlier) and having the real possibility of
dying of an infectious disease before
adulthood. The discovery of penicillin
began a revolution in medicine that is
still evolving.
My interest in research started over
twenty years ago. I found it a great way
to combine my pharmacy and medicine
backgrounds toward the development of
new treatments
What brought you to
Holston Medical Group?
The timing was perfect for both of us.
I needed to be with people who shared
my love and vision for technology and
quality, and they apparently saw in me
the attributes of someone who would be
a good choice for heading their research
departments at HMG and OnePartner.
What is your vision for clinical
research within HMG as well as
within OnePartner Research?
While I can’t share everything (all the
super-secret stuff we’re still developing)
with you, I can say that HMG-CR is on
an excellent path for continued success
and growth locally.
OnePartner Research is also
poised to come into its own
nationally. What we do locally
will set the stage for serving as
a model for OnePartner
Research sites across the US
and our team is excited about
it. We are fortunate here to
have many talented
physician/investigators, study
coordinators and administrative
personnel. We are also
fortunate to have outstanding
information technology.
OnePartner Research uses our
expertise in information
technology toward developing a
network of high quality
electronic medical record
(EMR) based research
practices across the United
States. HMG has the
resources to be a national
leader in developing new
methods aimed toward
enhancing the accuracy and
efficiency of technology-based
research systems. Our goal is to
improve the safety, access, and
affordability of potential new medications
for use in enhancing the quality and
duration of life. This company is getting
a lot of well-deserved attention and
you’ll hear more about it in the months
to come.
How do you respond when
patients ask about how
researchers keep coming up
with new treatments?
Gone are the days when someone
studies a moldy orange and gets a
Nobel Prize in medicine. The discovery
process is extremely complicated,
expensive and time consuming. New
treatments usually occur out of a
computer modeling process that
identifies a certain biological target.
However, some medicines are
modifications of current drugs (attempts
at making them better). Many still come
from plants and a few occur by chance
discoveries in the lab.
I've heard it can take over
10 years to get a drug to
market. Why so long?
A drug has to be proven to be safe and
effective by the FDA before it is
approved for use outside of research.
Once the clinical (human) research
process starts, it may still be another
five years or more. The research
process is a highly-regulated field where
every rule is designed around the
ethical use of medication. In addition,
the goal is to protect the safety of
people and the integrity of the
information produced within the clinical
trials. I say “thank you” to the many
study volunteers who participate in
these trials with the objective of
contributing to advances in medical
care. Without them, medical advances
would not be possible.
15
New Providers
HMG welcomes several
new providers into our
Family of Care
A member of numerous
professional medical
organizations, including the
American Academy of Family
Physicians, the American
Medical Association and the
Southern Medical
Association, Dr. Burns and
his wife, Colleen Michele
Burns, enjoy time with their
four children: Alexandra;
Eldridge Gene, III; Andrew,
and Serena.
Deepika A. Tumkur, MD
Family Medicine, Weber City
Board certified in family
medicine, Dr. Tumkur comes
to HMG from Holston Valley
Medical Center where she
has served as a hospitalist,
providing inpatient care.
After scoring in the 99th
percentile on her medical
entrance exam, Dr. Tumkur
received her doctorate of
medicine from the Medical
School at JNMC, Belgaum
India. Following, she
completed and internship and
residency through East
Tennessee State University’s
Kingsport Family Practice.
She is a member of the
American Academy of Family
Medicine.
She and her husband most
enjoy spending time with her
two children, Gowri and
Rohan.
16
Eldridge G. Burns,
Jr., MD
He and his wife, Christina,
enjoy spending time with
their four children: Jonathan,
David, Maria-Helene and
Martinian.
Family Medicine, Weber City
Family physician Eldridge
G. Burns, Jr., MD, comes to
HMG Primary Care at Weber
City from the Caro Clinic,
Gonzales, Louisiana. Dr.
Burns joins HMG with nearly
two decades of medical
experience and a history of
community involvement.
Dr. Burns received his
undergraduate degree from
Carson-Newman College,
Jefferson City, followed by
his doctorate of medicine
from The University of
Tennessee College of
Medicine, Memphis. He
completed his internship and
residency training through
East Tennessee State
University’s Department
of Family Medicine,
Johnson City.
American Board of Family
Medicine, Dr. Goodman
received his undergraduate
degree from David Lipscomb
University, Nashville. He
received his doctorate of
osteopathy from Des Moines
University, Iowa. Following,
he completed a family
practice internship at the
Naval Hospital, Jacksonville,
Fla., prior to the completion
of his residency training
through East Tennessee
State University’s Family
Practice Associates.
Jamie C. Goodman, DO
Family Medicine,
HMG Urgent Care
Family physician Jamie C.
Goodman, DO, comes to
HMG Urgent Care from
Johnston Memorial Hospital,
Abingdon, Va., where he
served as an emergency
physician. His medical
career includes medical
service within the United
States Marine Corps.
Board certified by the
Lisa McPherson, FNP
Family Medicine, Weber City
HMG welcomes Lisa
McPherson, FNP, now
serving within HMG Primary
Care at Weber City.
McPherson received her
bachelor of science in
nursing from Radford
University, Radford, Virginia,
and her masters of science in
nursing from East Tennessee
State University, Johnson
City, graduating magna cum
laude.
The recipient of numerous
awards and honors, Andricks
is an avid service project
volunteer.
of Women’s Health and the
American Organization of
Nurse Executives.
The recipient of numerous
scholarship and awards,
McPherson is a member of
the Sigma Theta Tau Honor
Society.
Jonathan L. Smith,
PT, DPT
Tracie L. Price, SFNP
Martha Parker, SFNP
Pediatrics, HMG Medical
Plaza
Taryn Andricks, PA
Orthopaedics,
HMG Medical Plaza
HMG welcomes Taryn
Andricks, PA, who is now
serving within The
Orthopaedic Center of the
Southeast.
Andricks received both a
bachelor of science in
chemistry and a bachelor of
science in child and
adolescent development from
the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign. She
received her bachelor of
science in physician assistant
studies from the Jefferson
College of Health Sciences.
Martha Parker, SFNP, joins
HMG Pediatrics (HMG
Medical Plaza), coming from
Indian Path Medical Center,
where she provided
coordinated care for low- and
high-risk obstetrical patients.
With a nursing career that
spans three decades, Parker
is also a certified breastfeeding consultant.
Following the receipt of her
associate degree in nursing
from East Tennessee State
University, and her bachelor
of science degree from
Tusculum College,
Greeneville, Tenn., Parker
received her master of
science in nursing from
the Frontier School of
Midwifery and Family
Nursing, Hyden, Ky.
Family Medicine,
HMG Urgent Care
Tracie L. Price, SFNP, joins
HMG Urgent Care, coming
from Bristol Regional Medical
Center where she served as
a clinical educator.
With extensive nursing
experience, Price received her
bachelor of science in nursing
from King College, Bristol,
Tenn. She received her
master of science in nursing
from the Frontier School of
Midwifery, Hyden, Ky.
Physical Therapy, HMG
Rehabilitation
Jonathan L. Smith, PT, DPT,
a licensed-physical therapist,
comes to HMG from Rehab
Plus, Kingsport. He now
provides care for patients at
HMG Rehabilitation locations
in Kingsport and Duffield.
Smith received both his
bachelor of science and his
doctorate of physical therapy
from East Tennessee State
University, Johnson City.
With extensive physical
therapy experience, Smith
has a special interest in spine
and shoulder rehabilitation.
She is a member of the
American College of Nurse
Practitioners, the American
Academy of Nurse
Practitioners, the Association
17
Minestrone
Heart Healthy
Ingredients
•
1 tablespoon extra virgin
olive oil
1/4 lbs Italian sausage
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup peeled, diced butternut
squash
1 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup chopped carrots
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted
diced tomatoes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
5 cups chicken stock
1 (15.5 ounce) can Cannellini
Beans, with liquid
1/2 (16 ounce) can Red
Kidney Beans, drained
2 cups diced zucchini
2 cups baby spinach
1 1/2 cups cooked whole
wheat shell pasta
2 tablespoons fresh grated
Parmesan cheese
Directions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clean and prep all of the vegetables according to recipe.
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium sauté pan. Add sausage; brown well.
Add tomato paste, cook 5 minutes until brown.
Add onions, celery, garlic, carrots and oregano. Cook until garlic is aromatic,
approximately 5 minutes.
Pour into a 4-quart slow cooker. Add tomatoes, butternut squash and chicken stock.
Cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. (May want to cook
slightly less in order to prevent over cooking)
Stir in beans, zucchini, spinach and cooked pasta. Cook on high setting for 8
minutes or until beans and pasta are warmed through and spinach has wilted.
To Serve: Pour the soup into a bowl. Top with fresh grated parmesan cheese.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Serving Size 398 g
Calories 491
Calories from Fat 64
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7.1g 11%
Saturated Fat 1.8g 9%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Vitamin A 62%
Calcium 17%
•
•
Sodium 687mg 29%
Total Carbohydrates 80.0g 27%
Dietary Fiber 22.2g 89%
Sugars 7.8g
Protein 29.5g
Vitamin C 37%
Iron 49%
Nutrition Grade A * Based on a 2000 calorie diet
18
• One-to-one, physiciandirected coaching.
• Non-nicotine, prescriptionaided smoking
cessation support.
• Behavior and lifestyle
modification.
Enroll in our
HMG Healthy U smoking
cessation initiative.
Call (423)578-1588 today!
Komen Race for the Cure
Holston Medical Group’s 85-plus member HMG Komen “Race for the
Cure” team raised nearly $11,000! The event total was more than
$500,000! Of that, 75% stays in our local 22 county service area (VA,
TN, NC) to fund breast cancer screenings and prevention; 25% goes to
the national Komen headquarters to fund breast cancer research.
A highlight of this year’s Komen event was the survivor dinner held in
the atrium of the new “all pinked out” HMG Medical Plaza. Decorated in
pink and black, the event had nearly 450 in attendance!
Step Out to Fight Diabetes
HMG Integrated Health Management and HMG Healthy U
participated in the October 3, 2009, “Step Out to Fight
Diabetes” walk held at Bristol Motor Speedway.
SWVA Medical Technology Summit
The Southwestern Virginia Technology Council (SWVTC)
hosted the 2nd Annual Medical Technology Summit on
October 1-2. United States Chief Technology Officer,
Aneesh P. Chopra, provided the keynote speech. The
agenda included speakers from Intel, NCR, as well as local
service providers. Tom Deaderick of OnePartner is
president-elect for the SWVTC and committee chair for
the Summit.
Rhythm and Roots Festival, Bristol
Congratulations to Dennis Samuel, MD, FACOG for his first
runner-up chili at the Rhythm & Roots Festival, Bristol,
September 18-20, 2009! HMG Primary Care at Sapling
Grove and Seasons-Bristol were participating event sponsors,
with Sapling Grove sponsoring the Troutdale Bistro stage and
Seasons sponsoring the band, “Those Darlins.’”
COSEHC 2009 Annual Scientific Sessions
During October 23-24, 2009, The Consortium for
Southeastern Hypertension (COSEHC) in partnership with
Holston Medical Group (HMG), a COSEHC CV Center of
Excellence, developed and presented its first successful
CV Center Centric CME Program (C3 Program).
19
Jerry L. Miller, M.D.
President and
Founder
HMG Health Line
Robert C. Lee, M.D.
Medical Director
Craig M. Kilgore
Executive Director
Kellie Crowe
Communication
Consultants, Editor
Myra Windle Danehy
Layout and Design
A publication for the
employees and friends of:
Holston Medical Group
2323 N. John B. Dennis Hwy.
Kingsport, Tennessee 37660
(423) 857-2000
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com