USACS NEWS
USACS shares news and information that keep you informed and demonstrate our commitment to efficiency and improved patient care and outcomes. A USACS representative is available for media inquiries.
Press Release
Sep 10, 2020
Dr. Joan Kolodzik Named Chair-Elect of USACS National Clinical Governance Board
CANTON, Ohio, September 10, 2020 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) today announced it has named Joan Kolodzik MD, FACEP, Chair-Elect of its National Clinical Governance Board. Dr. Kolodzik’s term as Chair will begin January 1, 2021. The USACS National Clinical Governance Board (NCGB) is unique in the acute unscheduled healthcare industry. The USACS NCGB is chartered by the group’s board of directors to be independent and autonomous of the company’s board, is comprised solely of physicians and is tasked with all clinical governance issues facing the group. Led by James Augustine MD, FACEP, since its inception in 2015, the NCGB established evidence-based guidelines for patient care at all hospitals served by USACS. Dominic J. Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Executive Chair of the USACS Board of Directors said, “Because USACS is owned by its physicians, we had the opportunity to structure ourselves with our mission to care for patients at the center of all our decisions. The NCGB is the most obvious example of our commitment to keep clinical decisions separate from business decisions. “Dr. Augustine was the perfect physician leader to form the NCGB in its early years by bringing together the best minds from different independent groups into a coherent and effective board. Dr. Kolodzik will undoubtedly prove to be the right physician leader to further refine and enhance the evidence-based guidelines under which all USACS clinicians practice.” Dr. Augustine said, “There was a time two patients could have completely different care experiences at different hospitals despite presenting with the same complaints and risk factors. Reducing that variability with evidence-based guidelines, developed by the brightest and most dedicated physicians with whom I’ve ever worked, will be a highlight of my career.” Dr. Kolodzik said, “As leaders in a physician-owned practice, we can shape the delivery of care by building the tools to reduce variability, raise quality and reduce risk. In the middle of all those intersecting priorities is better patient care and patient experience. I am humbled and excited to lead the USACS NCGB to support my clinician colleagues and their patients.” Dr. Kolodzik practices clinically at Mercy Health Anderson Hospital in Cincinnati. She is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, and also serves as clinical faculty for the Ohio University Medical School. Dr. Kolodzik earned a master's degree in human anatomy and her medical degree from Wright State University School of Medicine, where she also completed her emergency medicine residency. About USACS Founded by emergency medicine physician groups in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio and Texas, USACS is the national leader in physician-owned integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist and observation services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 6 million patients annually at more than 220 locations and is aligned with leading hospital systems across the country. Visitusacs.comto learn more. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406 [email protected]
Press Release
Jul 1, 2020
Managing Pediatric Hospitalist Services at Adventist Health White Memorial
Concord, CA (July 1, 2020)– VEP Healthcare Inc., (Operating as US Acute Care Solutions as of June 2021) a national leader in hospital-based management services, will provide pediatric hospitalist staffing and management services at Adventist Health White Memorial (AHWM) beginning July 1. Pediatric hospitalist services are an addition to the current emergency department management services at AHWM. The expanded partnership furthers the shared goal to provide high-quality health care to the East Los Angeles community. Pediatric hospitalist programs ensure that hospitalized children have a seamless inpatient and outpatient care journey. They will collaborate closely with AHWM to deliver coordinated pediatric patient care. The group's pediatric hospitalist services leverage multispecialty teams to enable timely and thorough communication between hospitalist physicians and outpatient physicians such as primary care physicians and any involved subspecialists. “We’re honored to expand our partnership with VEP as an integral part of our ongoing mission to deliver compassionate, high-quality health care services to the East Los Angeles community,” said John Raffoul, president of Adventist Health White Memorial. “Pediatric care is an integral part of our mission to deliver quality care to those in need,” states Steven Maron, MD, President of USACS West Region. “The group offers unparalleled expertise when it comes to pediatric hospitalist program management. We are pleased to bring our pediatric care resources and experience to AHWM and the Los Angeles community.” About Adventist Health White Memorial Adventist Health White Memorial (AHWM) is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Our workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees, nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians, and 4,350 volunteers. AHWM is the only private, nonprofit hospital providing comprehensive care for the federally designated medically underserved area of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. AHWM is also a teaching hospital that is widely recognized for producing a culturally competent, diverse workforce in the primary care disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology, as well as nursing, pharmacy, and podiatry.
Press Release
Jun 30, 2020
Expanding Partnership at Mercy Medical Center Merced to Include Critical Care and Obstetrics Services
MERCED, CA (July 1, 2020)– VEP Healthcare Inc., (Operating as US Acute Care Solutions as of June 2021) announced that it now provides obstetrics and critical care services to Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Center Merced (MMCM). “VEP Healthcare (now USACS) has been a tremendous partner for emergency services at Mercy Medical Center Merced, offering the highest level of expertise, customer service, and passion for doing the most good,” Jennifer Holt, Family Birth Center Director at Mercy Medical Center Merced said. “We are looking forward to expanding our relationship into obstetrics and continuing our mission to bring the best care possible to our community.” In its new capacity at MMCM, they will manage a variety of skilled teams to deliver comprehensive, collaborated, and coordinated care for all obstetrics-related services. For critical care services, they will provide intensive care to patients facing life-threatening illnesses or injury. Intensive care situations range from a heart attack and stroke to trauma or poisoning, surgical complications, and intubated COVID-19 patients. “Helping to bring a new life into the world is one of the most sacred parts of healthcare,” stated Steven Maron, MD, President of USACS West Region. “We’re very pleased to continue our collaboration with Mercy Medical Center Merced and expand these important services to the people of Central California.” About Mercy Medical Center Dignity Health’s Mercy Medical Center is a general acute care hospital serving the health care needs of the greater Merced Community. Our vision is to help the people of our community become physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. In addition to our acute care hospital, Dignity Health provides outpatient services through the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center, Mercy Home Health, and Dignity Health Medical Foundation. Mercy also operates three rural health clinics – Family Care, Kids Care, and General Medicine. Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care.
General News
Jun 26, 2020
USACS Issues Statement on Healthcare Bias and Injustice Based on Race
Authors: Joyce Perfetti DO, Jason Bolden MD, USACS Executive Leadership As the nation’s leading physician-owned group providing clinical services to acutely ill patients, 2020 has been a year of many difficulties. Our practice of medicine changed seemingly overnight with the spread of COVID-19, an invisible force being fought daily by our clinicians with the support of our healthcare partners. In addition to this new viral adversary, we continue to witness injustice through unequal treatment of members of our communities. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis was one of the most recent examples of our country’s history of mistreatment, harassment, and disproportionate death in communities of color. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of people of color at a higher rate, mandating our attention on the racial disparities in healthcare in particular. Here at USACS, we are more than just a company. We are a group of independent and diverse clinicians and non-clinicians who work together as a team to provide quality medical care with compassion for our patients. Our collective diversity is the strength that allows us to better understand our patients with an open heart and empathy. Our mutual respect of each partner’s uniqueness is one of the inherent values of our USACS culture. Each individual’s diverse perspective is not only accepted but valued, respected and encouraged. We supportallour clinicians and communities unwaveringly and stand beside them when facing inequality and injustice. At USACS, injustice and discrimination can claim no sanctuary. Diversity, equality and inclusion are integral tenets of our company’s mission. Our Diversity and Inclusion Council uses the talents of our clinicians and non-clinicians from all over the country to highlight crucial issues (including racial discrimination) that affect our colleagues and patients. The DI council, with the support of our leadership, will lead our initiatives on mitigating bias and practices that perpetuate disparities in care. We are mentoring and encouraging our people of all races and ethnicities to pursue positions of leadership to promote a diverse workforce. Although all of us may not personally experience every individual struggle, it is our duty to understand and strive for better for ourselves and for each other. To our colleagues, family, and friends of color: To elicit change we have tobethe change that we want to see in the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those whose lives were unjustly taken. We are also sending support to all those in our workplace and communities who are grieving or suffering during this difficult time. The battle for human rights against racism is not just for one group of people, but a duty to be shared by us all. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” For our patients. For each other. We are ONE USACS.
Press Release
Jun 21, 2020
US Acute Care Solutions Expands Integrated Care Practice in Maryland
CANTON, Ohio, June 21, 2020 –US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) today announced it will begin providing Integrated Acute Care (IAC) services at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, in Silver Spring, MD., which is the company’s second site in the Adventist HealthCare system. Additionally, USACS is providing IAC services for the former Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, where a 200-bed recovery unit for COVID-19 patients has been set up. White Oak Medical Center is a new, state-of-the-art facility that offers high-quality, patient-centered care to the Washington, D.C. region. The partnership marks another Maryland expansion of the rapidly-growing IAC program at USACS. Integrated Acute Care brings emergency, critical care and hospital medicine services together as one team with one purpose: seamless, quality patient care across the entire acute care episode. The USACS IAC program continues to grow as the model of choice for hospitals interested in improving quality and patient satisfaction, which is clearly aligned with the mission of White Oak Medical Center and the Adventist HealthCare system,” said Dr. Michael Cetta, Chief of Integrated Acute Care Services at USACS. “Our model benefits all patients who choose White Oak Medical Center as their provider. The USACS model of Integrated Acute Care builds on the USACS commitment to physician ownership by creating a single, accountable team of physician leaders responsible for continual improvement of patient care throughout the patient's stay, from entrance into the Emergency Department until discharge, and even beyond. The model has led to improvements in key quality metrics, particularly thoserelated to patient experience. About USACS Founded by emergency medicine physician groups in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio and Texas and capital partner Welsh, Carson, Anderson Stowe, USACS is the national leader in physician-owned integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist and observation services. USACS provides high-quality emergency and hospitalist care to over 6 million patients annually at more than 220 locations and is aligned with leading hospital systems across the country. Visitusacs.comto learn more.
General News
Jun 16, 2020
Dr. David Seaberg Chair Honored for Lifetime Achievement by The American College of Emergency Physicians
Canton, Ohio, June 16, 2020 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) today announced that David Seaberg, MD, CPE, FACEP has received the American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP) highest award, the John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award. The John G. Wiegenstein Leadership Award, named for ACEP’s founder and first president, is awarded annually at the ACEP Scientific Assembly, which will be held for online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Seaberg chairs the Academic Affairs Committee of USACS’ National Clinical Governance Board, is a vice president of the USACS North West region, and chairs the Department of Emergency Medicine at Summa Health – Akron campus. With nearly 30 years of emergency medicine experience, Dr. Seaberg has held a variety of clinical and academic positions locally and across the nation, including at the University of Tennessee, where he served as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, the inaugural dean of the College of Medicine and a professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Surgery. “It is an incredible honor to receive this distinguished recognition from ACEP,” said Dr. Seaberg. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I have had throughout my career to further advance emergency medicine, and especially grateful to serve with ACEP – an extraordianary organization that benefits hospitals, physicians, and the patients we serve.” Dr. Seaberg is credited for his involvement in starting six emergency medicine residency programs, including those at Summa Health, University of Tennessee, University of Florida and MetroHealth Medical Center. He is a Fellow and past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He earned his B.A from Washington University in St. Louis and his M.D. from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh. About USACS Founded by emergency medicine physician groups in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio and Texas. USACS is the national leader in physician-owned emergency medicine, hospitalist and observation services. USACS provides high quality emergency and hospitalist care to over 6 million patients annually at more than 200 locations in 20 states, and is aligned with leading hospital systems across the country. Visitwww.usacs.comto learn more. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406 [email protected]
Press Release
May 19, 2020
USACS To Provide COVID-19 Antibody Tests To All Clinicians and Employees
CANTON, Ohio, May 19, 2020 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) today announced it will provide a COVID-19 antibody test to all its clinicians and employees at no cost. This particular test will determine whether a person has developed either or both of the immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G antibodies, indicating either recent or past infection with COVID. James Frary, Chief Executive Officer for USACS, said, “We are very pleased to offer this test broadly and at no cost to our clinicians, who have worked so tirelessly caring for patients, and to our employees who have supported these clinicians so steadfastly throughout this pandemic.” Dr. Amer Aldeen, MD, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer for USACS, said, “Antibody testing can be even more useful than COVID virus testing, especially in asymptomatic people. Antibody tests are becoming more accurate, easier to self-administer and simpler to interpret at home. As a company owned by physicians and led by clinicians, we feel this is the right step in support of our mission to care for patients by helping our front-line team members.” About USACS Founded by emergency medicine physician groups in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Ohio and Texas, USACS is the national leader in physician-owned integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist and observation services. USACS provides high-quality care to over 6 million patients annually at more than 220 locations and is aligned with leading hospital systems across the country. Visitusacs.comto learn more. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406 [email protected]