Welcome!

Welcome the Cleveland Clinic Adminsitrative Fellow Blog! On this blog, you'll find posts about current fellows and project work, Cleveland Clinic News, and updates about Administrative Fellow Alumni. We hope this will help keep you in the know about our current and alumni fellows. In this update, you will find 4 new posts:

•Alumni Fellow Spotlight

•Cleveland Clinic Enterprise News

•Meet the Incoming 2014-2015 Fellows

•Overview of Current Fellows

You will receive a link to new updates twice a year courtesy of the current fellows. In the meantime, if you have updates that you would like to share with the Cleveland Clinic Administrative Fellowship community, please email Joan Cook (COOKJ8@ccf.org), Administrative Fellowship Program Coordinator.

Feel free to send professional and personal updates along with any change of address/email information so that the alumni listing is up to date. Enjoy!

Alumni Fellow Spotlight: Justin Schmiedel

Justin Schmiedel, Fellow Class of 2011

First, I think it would be good if you described your new role and something about how the CC culture/Institute model works remotely

My responsibility as Administrative Director of Cleveland Clinic Nevada is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center for Brain Health, develop our new Urology practice that opened last April, and identify/implement any business development initiatives in Las Vegas and the state of Nevada. The Center for Brain Health and urology practice roll-up to the NI and GUKI respectively, and are very well integrated within the Institutes. They share a majority of the same processes and protocols, both on the clinical and research side. We’re starting to create more efficiencies through utilization of Ohio resources, such as transitioning of all of our appointment scheduling from in-house to the centralized appointment center. As we continue to grow and identify the need for more resources, we’re looking more towards centralization of certain functions to minimize costs.

What has been the most surprising aspect about health care in Vegas/Nevada vs. NEO?

The most surprising aspect is definitely the payor landscape. Our reimbursement rate from commercial payors is considerably lower than what we get in NE Ohio. One of the main reasons is because in NE Ohio, the Clinic is the 800 pound gorilla with a huge influence on how rates are negotiated. Here in Vegas, the market is extremely fragmented, leaving all of the power and influence with the payors. Las Vegas has a history and a stigma of poor healthcare, which overall, isn’t far from the truth. Given the reimbursement rates, it’s extremely difficult to retain high quality physicians in the community. The Cleveland Clinic services we provide out here are definitely a diamond in the ruff when compared to the rest of healthcare landscape, yet payors are not willing to negotiate higher rates for better quality. This will be a continuous challenge for us as we evaluate future expansion in Vegas.


Any particular project/skills from the Fellowship that you feel helped prepare you for your new role?

During the Fellowship, I had an opportunity to work on projects both in Weston and Abu Dhabi. I learned a lot through those experiences by seeing how remote locations integrate with the rest of the system. Additionally, as I’m sure any Fellow can relate to, the amount of contacts you make during the Fellowship can be extremely useful. That’s especially the case when you’re working in a remote location like Vegas with limited resources.

What has been the biggest highlight, culture shock moment thus far?

It’s been amazing to see how many high-profile individuals and celebrities are engaged with our Center. In the few months I’ve been here, I’ve met professional athletes, political leaders, musicians, celebrity chefs- all from their interest and involvement with the Center for Brain Health and their relationship with Larry Ruvo. Another highlight is the number and type of amazing events we have out here to raise funds. For instance, we’re having a benefit concert at our Center in a few weeks for celebrity chef Kerry Simon to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. The concert will feature rock stars like Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, and Slash for about 400 people. Safe to say I would never experience anything like that in Cleveland.

What do you miss most about Cleveland? (We need to make ourselves feel better after we read your response to the previous question).

I’d like to say the weather, entertainment, and dining, but that’s pretty well covered out here. In all seriousness, it’s definitely the people. In the three years I was in Cleveland, I developed some amazing relationships, both personal and professional. Any time you move to a new city, it takes time to get integrated and build that network. Aside from that, as bad as they can be in Cleveland, not having professional sports teams in Vegas is kind of a bummer.


What is one piece of advice that you would provide to current fellows and/or recent fellow alumni?

If you go into a role as a first-time manager, the most important thing you can do is invest in your employees- don’t just focus on you. The true measure of your success will be how successful you can make the people around you. If you show employees that you truly care about them as people and are invested in their development, they will work just as hard to make sure you’re successful as well.

Cleveland Clinic Enterprise Update

Cost Repositioning
The Cost Repositioning program is a strategic initiative that is part of our enterprise strategic agenda. The Task Force is being led by Dr. Ed Sabanegh, Dr. Mike Phillips, and Linda McHugh. The mission is to take cost out of the organizational structure to reshape the enterprise cost structure and drive value & efficiency. The Task Force has been challenged to partner with our caregivers along with PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Consulting (PwC), to evaluate cost repositioning opportunities.

Eight different work streams are being evaluated to identify areas for cost savings with multiple projects being undertaken in each workstream:

1. Clinical Programs & Asset Optimization
2. Indirect Programs & Asset Optimization
3. Non-Staff Workforce & Productivity
4. Staff Workforce & Productivity
5. Stewardship, Policy & Standards
6. Research
7. Education
8. Value-Based Care

Each of this year’s Administrative Fellows has been assigned to a project in Cost Repositioning. These projects have given the fellows high level exposure to the organization and various strategic initiatives across the enterprise.

Alex Hansen- Enterprise Laboratory Services
Chris Rodriguez- Span of Control
David Oliphant- Ultrasound Programmatic Review
Katie Strausser- Telecom Spend Review
Sharon Auma-Ebanyat-Pre-Anesthesia Consultation Clinics (PACC)
Ted Zimmer- Facilities


Care Paths
The Value-Based Care (VBC) program is a strategic initiative that is part of our enterprise strategic agenda. The VBC program is being led by Dr. David Longworth. The mission is to move from a volume based model of care to a value based model that focuses on:

Payment- Outcomes-based
Incentives- Value=Outcomes/cost
Focus- Populations
Role of the Provider- Care Continuum
Information- Real and Predictive

Part of the VBC projects and priorities are the development of Care Paths. Care Paths are clinical guides that are meant to standardize how care is delivered and improve value by employing evidence and/or experience-based practice to reduce unnecessary variation in care. Care Paths will track important quality, safety, health status and patient experience outcomes measures and will also direct efficient use of resources to reduce the cost of care.
The development of Care Paths is:

1. Disease Identification
2. Care Path Guide (Written Narrative)
3. Technical Specs/Workflow
4. Mapping
5. Programming Build (Epic Integration)
6. Production

72 Care Paths have been developed so far and will be entering Epic build out this year. Each of this year’s Administrative Fellows has been assigned to a Care Path project. These projects have given the fellows exposure to best in class Clinical workflows with multidisciplinary areas across the enterprise.

Alex Hansen- Severe Sepsis Pilot Implementation
Chris Rodriguez- Depression
David Oliphant- Insomnia
Katie Strausser- Vertebral Fracture
Sharon Auma-Ebanyat-Management of Labor (Women’s Health Institute)
Ted Zimmer- Brain Metastases


CWRU CCLCM Medical School
Cleveland Clinic is partnering with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to build a new medical education building on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus. Designed by world-renowned architect firm, Foster & Partners, the new building will create efficiencies and stimulate innovation between the CWRU medical school and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine while allowing the distinct programs to maintain their separate identities. The two organizations believe that the new facility will place Cleveland at the forefront of medical education worldwide. The removal of the Guest House has made way for the new facility to be located at the heart of main campus. Students are scheduled to begin classes in July of 2016.
For more information, please visit:


Avon Bed Tower
Cleveland Clinic has announced plans to build an inpatient bed tower that will be connected to the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center in Avon. With the success of the Richard E. Jacobs facility, Dr. Cosgrove believes inpatient expansion will help the Clinic continue to meet the increasing needs of its patients. The new facility will act similar to a community hospital, but will not duplicate the services provided in its nearby medical centers.


Cancer/NI Florida
Cleveland Clinic Florida received a $30 million donation from Pauline Braathen, a former fashion entrepreneur and long-time patient of the Clinic. The philanthropic gift is the largest in the history of Cleveland Clinic Florida, and will be used to build a five-story, 143,000 square foot facility. The facility will be located on the Weston campus and will provide neurology and cancer treatment. Groundbreaking has occurred and the facility is scheduled to open in February 2015.

Meet the Incoming 2014-2015 Administrative Fellows!

Kimberly Fierst

Graduate Education

Carnegie Mellon University, PA

Master of Science, Healthcare Policy and Management

May 2014

Undergraduate Education

Allegheny College, PA

BS Biology; Minor: Psychology

May 2011

Experience

Administrative Resident, University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Department of Medicine

Laboratory Assistant, Jefferson Medical Regional Center

Andrew Patzke

Graduate Education

The University of Iowa, IA

Master of Health Administration

Master of Public Health

December 2013

Undergraduate Education
Cornell College-Mount Vernon, IA
BA International Relations

May 2011

Experience

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Iowa Center on Aging

Regulatory Affairs Intern, St. Jude Medical

Graduate Administrative Intern, Kameda Medical Center-Japan

Administrative Consultant on Meaningful Use, Mercy Hospital

Congressional Intern, Office of Representative Tammy Baldwin (WI)

Resident Assistant, Cornell College-Mount Vernon

Joshua Snowden

Graduate Education

The Ohio State University, OH

Master of Health Administration

Juris Doctor (JD), Health Law and Policy

May 2014

Undergraduate Education

Missouri State University, MO

BA Political Science; Minor: Public Law, International Relations

May 2010

Experience

Graduate Medical Associate, Wexner Medical Center

Administrative Resident, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Law Intern, Wexner Medical Center

Administrative Resident, Lee’s Summit Medical Center

Law Clerk, Ohio Department of Health, Office of The General Counsel

Deanna Stovicek

Graduate Education

Virginia Commonwealth University, VA

Master of Health Administration

May 2015

Undergraduate Education

Baldwin Wallace University, OH

BA Health Care Management

BA Finance

May 2012

Experience

Project Management Intern, Quality and Patient Safety Institute-Celveland Clinic

Graduate Assistant, University Student Health Services-Virginia Commonwealth University
Administrative Intern, Integrated Operations- The MetroHealth System
Assistant Manager, Jerry’s Dari Pride

Jay Thakur

Graduate Education

The University of Michigan School of Public Health, MI
Master of Public Health-Health Management and Policy; Certificate, Health Informatics

May 2014

The University of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MD

Master of Health Sciences-Health Economics; Certificate- Health Finance and Management

May 2012

Undergraduate Education
Michigan State University, MI
BA Health Studies
BA Economics
May 2011

Experience
Graduate Intern, The University of California Los Angeles Health System
Research Assistant II, The University of Michigan School of Public Health
Health Economist, Biotronik, Inc

Vivian Yu

Graduate Education

The University of Michigan School of Public Health, MI

Master of Health Services Administration

May 2014

Undergraduate Education

The University of Michigan School of Public Health, MI

BA Psychology; Minor - Medical Anthropology

April 2012

Experience

Administrative Intern, Holy Family Memorial

Development Intern, Life Science Institute-The University of Michigan
Information Assistant and Staff Trainer, Campus Information Centers- The University of Michigan

2013-2014 Administrative Fellows

The 2013-2014 Administrative Fellows have successfully passed the 6-month mark of their fellowship! As we reflect on our experiences, we are looking forward to continuing to learn and take on new opportunities and challenges. For readers who have not gotten to know us yet, below you’ll find a brief and fun collection of facts about each of us!

Sharon Auma-Ebanyat

Hometown: Entebbe, Uganda

Undergrad: University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)

Grad School: University of Maryland, College Park

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: L’Albatros

Favorite TV Show: Scandal

Favorite Exercise: Hip hop Abs

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Browns Tailgate

Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: Iterative Process

Favorite Fellowship Project: Patient transport time productivity measurement

Fellowship Memory: Presentation to Alumni Fellows

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows
Project Name: Patient Transport Time Productivity Decision Support reporting System

Sponsor: Rodney Foster and Bolaji Orimoloye

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Manager
Description: Developed a System/tool to, measure type of transport delays by nursing units, time spent on delays by type and cost of delays by transporter/tech/nurse. The goal of this is to identify and start addressing delay inefficiencies moving forward, as timeliness is a quality measure addressed in healthcare reform that will impact our reimbursement.


Alexandra Hansen

Hometown: Westlake, OH

Undergrad: Carnegie Mellon University

Grad School: Carnegie Mellon University

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: Melt

Favorite TV Show: Homeland, Top Chef

Favorite Exercise: Insanity

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Shopping at the West Side Market

Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: Crump / Burning Platform

Favorite Fellowship Project: Healthcare Quality Measures Team - HBIPS SUB-1 Measure Tool Implementation

Fellowship Memory: Friday volleyball sessions in the Cave (Dave likes to keep the Fellow office freezing and dark)

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows

Project Name: Healthcare Quality Measures Team

Sponsor: Jackie Matthews, Dr. Moises Auron, Colette Einloth

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Manager

Description: The Healthcare Quality Measures Team is tasked with communicating and implementing improvements related to performance on publically reported quality metrics that ultimately impact reimbursement through the Value Based Purchasing program. Recent initiatives have included physician education to improve performance on VTE-5 (Warfarin discharge education) and creating an EPIC-supported tool to address a new 2014 measure requiring all inpatient psychiatric unit patients to be screened for alcohol abuse within the first three days of admission.

David Oliphant

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Undergrad: Kalamazoo College

Grad School: University of Michigan

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: West Side Market

Favorite TV Show: The League

Favorite Exercise: Muscle Ups

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Going to Indians games

Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: Granular

Favorite Fellowship Project: CWRU & CCLCM Medical School

Fellowship Memory: Sumo wrestling at the Wellness team retreat

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows

Project Name: Global Center for Health Innovation

Sponsor: Linda McHugh/Marry Curran

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Manager

Description: The Global Center for Health Innovation (previously known as the Medical Mart) is a complex that aims to serve as a catalyst for fundamental improvements in healthcare. Attached to the Cleveland Convention Center, the facility is meant to build on the region’s reputation for innovation in healthcare and attract healthcare professionals from around the world. Cleveland Clinic, along with 21 other companies, will showcase cutting-edge technology using interactive displays. The facility is slated to open in late February.

Christopher Rodriguez

Hometown: Southlake, TX

Undergrad: Texas A&M University

Grad School: Texas A&M University

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: Johnny’s Little Bar

Favorite TV Show: Whatever I haven’t watched yet on Netflix

Favorite Exercise: 5 A.M. Workouts

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Hanging out with my BFFL’s a.k.a the current and former fellows

Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: “This data is very granular.”

Favorite Fellowship Project: Respiratory Therapy (RT) Workflow Redesign

Fellowship Memory: Dr. Cosgrove calling me a chick magnet

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows

Project Name: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (CTA) Respiratory Therapy (RT) Workflow Redesign and Patient Safety: 2013 – 2014 Staffing Proposal

Sponsor: Nemo Smith

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Support

Description: The goal of this project was to create, communicate, and implement a cost neutral improvement in CTA RT staffing in order to position this role for value based reimbursement. The initiative was structured in order to overtime from 4% per month to 2%, eliminate the RT Weekender program, transfer cost savings to FTEs, and assure that all new hires from vacancies be filled with an 8 hour shift stipulation or PRN position.

Katherine Strausser

Hometown: Homer, NY

Undergrad: Cornell University

Grad School: Cornell University

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: The South Side

Favorite TV Show: Currently – Dexter. But as a rule of thumb, whatever is on Netflix and the rest of the world has already seen.

Favorite Exercise: Squats

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Summertime Indians games

Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: [Fill in the blank large #] Foot View (i.e. “Let’s take a look at this from the 700,000 foot view”)

Favorite Fellowship Project: Strategic Zone Planning

Fellowship Memory: Getting stuck in the elevator before Doc-a-Palooza

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows

Project Name: SEHA Pediatric Clinical Affiliation

Sponsor: International Operations – Cindy Urbancic

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Support

Description: In partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cleveland Clinic is responding to a Pediatric tender for clinical management of the Pediatric service line for the government health system of Abu Dhabi, SEHA. Cleveland Clinic is drafting a proposal and bid based on findings during a Pediatric service line assessment and knowledge of health care in the Emirate. Cleveland Clinic proposes to handle the administrative and international logistics while Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia proposes to own the clinical management.

Theodore Zimmer

Hometown: Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Undergrad: Allegheny College

Grad School: University of Michigan

Favorite Cleveland Restaurant: Johnny’s Little Bar

Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development

Favorite Exercise: Glamour Muscles

Favorite Cleveland Activity: Westside Market

(Least) Favorite Cleveland Clinic Word/Phrase: “Low-hanging Fruit”

Favorite Fellowship Project: Regional House Officer Staffing Review

Fellowship Memory: Being able to recite each other’s introductions during the countless meet and greets over the first month.

Presentation to the Alumni Fellows
Project Name: Taussig Acquisition of Ohio Cancer Specialists - Onboarding
Sponsor: Shannon Faulhaber, Dave Pruce

Roles / Responsibilities: Project Manager, helped project manage certain aspects of the onboarding process. Was the point of contact between CCHS services (PFS, IT, Pharmacy, etc.) and the practice.

Description: Worked with PMs in Taussig to create and update the onboarding project plan that listed out all of the necessary steps to prepare the practice to be acquired on 11/1/13. We then communicated with different Cleveland Clinic departments (billing, compliance, OPSA, etc.) about various milestones and deadlines to keep everything on-track. Other tasks included assisting with the physical inventory of the practice, as well as working to transition existing contracts to Cleveland Clinic vendors post-acquisition.