1. MedGroup News
Summer 2016
Message from The President
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
- Henry Ford
In February, more than 120 CHI Greater Texas Physician Network physicians, advanced practice
clinicians, and support staff met for the first time at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
to learn about one another and set a course for the future.
Our challenge is not inconsequential. In a matter of months, we formed a regional network of
physicians that spans a geographic area larger than many states. We represent many specialties and
practice models, while bringing our own practice history and culture. However, I think most in attendance
would agree: our diversity is a strength to be celebrated, not a weakness to overcome.
Conference participants engaged in a small group activity to identify strategic advantages of our growing physician enterprise.
Two major themes emerged:
There is no perfect means of communication—newsletter, website, email blast, snail mail. One physician’s useful and timely
nugget of information is another physician’s spam.
Furthermore, it cannot be a unidirectional solution. Communication is not about leadership pushing information out to
physicians. It must be bi-directional. Perhaps engagement is a more accurate term. Our colleagues must be informed about
practice issues, and have their opinions heard and actively considered.
We need to keep patients within our practice family, whenever possible, and when in the interest of our patients. Network
integrity has direct economic benefit to our practices. More significantly, developing a more contained practice ecology
positions us to manage the triple aim—better quality, lower cost, and enhanced patient experience—more effectively.
We need to do a better job learning about our strengths and resources across the network.
To these items, I would add a third theme—development of trusting relationships. In the coming months, you will see new
faces, new physician leadership positions, new means of electronic engagement, and new mechanisms to facilitate referrals
and communicate results of those referrals.
Your leadership team will continue to build a modern practice infrastructure. However, we must build familiarity and
relationships with each other. Working together is success, and we will succeed.
James McDeavitt, MD
Chief Clinical Integration Officer
CHI St. Luke’s Health
Dr. McDeavitt

2. Physician Committee
QIPP Committee Update
Update
Herman Grewal, MD, Family Medicine, St. Luke’s Medical Group The Vintage and chair of the Quality Improvement, Patient
Safety, and Population Health (QIPP) Committee, recently presented the following updates:
• The Patient Outreach Protocol Training was conducted from March 28-April 1. Additional training and implementation isin
process.
• The St. Luke’s Medical Group Controlled Substance Therapy Agreement is currently in development, with adult and pediatric
versions.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics“Refusal to Vaccinate”form is currently under review for implementation in all clinic
offices, along with providing updated Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for patient/parent education.
For questions or suggestions regarding QIPP, please contact Rachel Ruiz, Clinical Education Coordinator,
at rruiz1@stlukeshealth.org.
COATS Monthly Update
• ACO Registry and documentation updates are live in EPIC for all SLMG primary care physicians.
• Physicians can access InBasket Medication Refill messages through the EPIC Haiku Mobile Application.
• SLMG Physicians can expect an EPIC Optimization Bundle update via email each month. These optimizations are
available in production the second Tuesday of the month.
Formed in 2015, the Charting Optimization and Training Subcommittee (COATS) is sponsored and led by physicians to help
provide focused attention and prioritization to our national EPIC team on system optimizations.
For additional information regarding the COATS committee or if you have suggestions for priority optimizations
to the EPIC platform, please contact Lisa Wall, RN (Clinical Informaticist) at lwall@stlukeshealth.org.

3. Reflection: All the Way
Success requires that you go the distance. Results depend not only on what
you start to do, but on what you complete. Accomplishment depends not on
what you intend to do, but on what you actually get done.
Wishing, hoping, planning, and trying will not get you there by themselves.
Your persistence, your commitment, your actions are what will bring the success
you seek.
The world is full of those with great ideas and big plans. Unfortunately, too many
of those ideas are never fully explored. Too many of those plans are never
completely implemented.
Dream big dreams. Make big plans. And then take the actions to make those
dreams a reality. Give real time and effort to your best intentions and you’ll
transform them into accomplishment.
Living Our Mission
Congratulations to the Team Members of the Month for February and March!
From left: Neena Patel, Director of Operations; Matt
Wright, VP SLMG; Marie (DeDe) Sanchez; James Anton,
MD, SLMG; Cesar Castillo, MD, SLMG; Evan Roller, MD,
SLMG, Nadia Ali, Practice Manager
February: Tina Muro, Medical Assistant, St. Luke’s
Medical Group (SLMG) Texas Medical Center,
Internal Medicine Clinic
From left: Dedra Turner, Office Assistant; Rebecca
Villanueva-Office Assistant; Katelyn Cady, CMA. Matt
Wright, VP; Angelica (Norma) Hernandez, CMA, Tina Muro,
CMA; Marilyn Boss-Practice Manager; Joel Kneitz, MD,
SLMG; Neena Patel, Director of Operations; Mona Clover,
Office Assistant; Jasmine Grindle, Office Assistant
March: Marie (DeDe) Sanchez, Clinical
Administrative Secretary, SLMG CV Anesthesiology
• Service Beyond Job and Organization
• Customer Service
• Quality
• Team Work
• Stewardship
• Leadership and Mentoring
St. Luke’s Medical Group recently announced an awards program to recognize medical group staff members who
best exemplify our core values:

4. Feeding Houston Families
The St. Luke’s Medical Group management team recently volunteered at the Houston Food Bank, where they prepared
3,219 meals for Houston area families in need. In support of increasing community engagement, St. Luke’s Medical Group
plans to provide more service opportunities for physicians, staff, and their families throughout the year. Partnering with our
community will empower us to make a difference. More service opportunities to come.
The Catholic Health Initiatives Physician Services (CHIPS) delivers key business functions and physician management
services in revenue cycle, patient and referral scheduling, patient outreach, and practice reporting and analytics.
CHIPS Corner
Time of Service Collections: It’s a Win-Win
Over the past few months, we have been re-educated on
benefits verification and the effect on time of service collections.
Insurance verification, along with the pre-registration process, is
the beginning of the revenue cycle process.
When insurance is verified in advance, we can better
identify the patient’s financial responsibility, whether through
copay, deductible, or co-insurance. It’s important for patients
to receive information about their financial responsibility prior
to their visits, which keeps them informed and improves our
ability to collect the patient portion. By strengthening our time
of service collection skills, we can help patients understand their
health plan, collect the accurate amount due at the time of
service, and improve the patient experience regarding the
billing process.
A method for tracking time of service collections is through
the OTC Collections per Clinical Event metric in our monthly
reporting, which consists of all patient payments made at the
time of the clinical event, including copays, deductibles,
coinsurance, and payments on previous balances. In January
and February, we saw an increase in collections per clinical
event. Having a better understanding of the patient’s
financial responsibility and a strong process for collecting at
time of service will be a win-win for both the patient and
the clinic. Keep up the great work!
Keys Customer Service Success
• Set expectations
• Be positive
• Be empathetic
• Be knowledgeable
• Keep promises
• Smile
Feb-16
Feb-15
M
ar-15
Apr-15
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$0.00
M
ay-15
June-15
July-15
Aug-15
Sep-15
Oct-15
Nov-15
Dec-15
Jan-16
OTC Collections Per Clinical Event
$15.24
$15.84 $14.55 $15.74
$16.52
$16.70
$18.35
$16.93
$14.48
$20.16
$18.12
$16.85
$17.44

5. Physician
Spotlight
Pediatric Bridge Clinic
For families without an established
primary care physician, with a newborn…
there’s hope.
The Pediatric Bridge Clinic, led by Morganne Mathew, MD, partners with Texas Children’s Pediatrics Group to
provide care for newborns who don’t have a pediatrician and were recently discharged from the hospital.
Located adjacent to CHI St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital, the clinic specializes in taking care of
newborns with health concerns, such as jaundice, breastfeeding, weight, formula choices, and parent education.
After the newborn’s concerns are addressed and insurance is established, the clinic transitions the newborn to a
primary care physician, usually between one to six months of life.
“The clinic is a fabulous success,”said Dr. Mathew.“Our patients are grateful for the high quality care
we provide. Our incredible staff helps families find a physician in their area who can be a good
long-term match for them.”
Since opening in 2014, the clinic has received more than 1,864 patient visits. Most patients are from the North
Houston metro area, such as Spring, Magnolia, Conroe and The Woodlands, while others travel from Houston.
The clinic is partially funded by a grant by the state’s Delivery System Incentive Payment (DSRIP), a program that
seeks to enhance access to cost-effective, quality health care to families served. Recently, the clinic was
recognized for its success to the Texas Legislature.
“To be recognized as one of their most successful programs is very rewarding,”Dr. Mathew said. “We exemplify
the goal of increasing access to primary care by keeping newborns healthy, and helping families to
establish a long-term medical home.”
To refer families to the Pediatric Bridge Clinic, call 936.266.3400. Families are also welcome to schedule an
appointment at the clinic prior to hospital discharge.
Services
• Immunizations
• Vaccines
• Newborn preventative care
• Transition of care coordination

6. Around
Town
Sugar Land Hospital’s First Baby
Congratulations to Brooke Jemelka, MD, OB/GYN, St. Luke’s
Medical Group Caritas Women’s Care in Sugar Land, who recently
delivered the first baby at the Family Birthing Center at CHI St.
Luke’s Health–Sugar Land Hospital. Angel Marie Morfin, daughter
of Jorge and Maria Morfin, weighed 8 lbs. and measured 21 inches.
New Patient Check-in Project
In the Works
St. Luke’s Medical Group Texas Medical Center is developing a
project to streamline new patient check-ins. The group
recently implemented an“interact patient wait time process”
and developed a team-based culture that supports teamwork
throughout the clinic.
Left to right: José, Angel Marie, and Maria Morfin; Dr. Brooke Jemelka, MD;
Wes Garrison, VP, Patient Care Services, Sugar Land Hospital
Speaker Series: Dr. Nangrani Featured
Chaitali Nangrani, MD, Family and Functional Medicine, St. Luke’s
Medical Group The Woodlands, presented at the 2016 Physician
Speaker Series at CHI St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital on
“Fatigue in Women.”Dr. Nangrani specializes in preventative care,
women’s health, functional medicine, and chronic disease
management in adults and children.
Left to Right: Shannon Acreman, SLMG Practice Manager; Chaitali Nangrani,
MD; Lila Fass, Physician Liaison.

7. Woodforest Community Health Fair
St. Luke’s Medical Group provided stroke education and
blood pressure screenings at the Woodforest
Community Health Fair.
Physician Collegiality Award: Dr. Castillo
Cesar Castillo, MD, was selected as the 2015 recipient of the
Physician Collegiality Award by the Staff Nurse Professional Practice
Council at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. The award recognizes
the role of collegiality and collaboration in physician and nurse
job satisfaction, as well as improved patient outcomes evident as a
result of effective
Your Physician Enterprise Team
Since January 2015, the CHI St. Luke’s Health Physician Enterprise
team has increased physician growth of the St. Luke’s Medical
Group by 30 percent. The team plays a fundamental role in
recruiting some of the area’s best physician practices to join
CHI St. Luke’s Health Texas Division, while also growing the IPA
and CIN in the Houston market.
Left to Right: Amy Weaver, SLMG team; Sura Ayoub, MD, Family
Practice; Shannon Acreman, Manager; Sara Gibson, OB/GYN
First Row: Jagi Chandnani, Sugar Land, Galleria, Interstate
10 corridor, Katy, PMC; Nick Racine,The Woodlands
Second Row: Janel Greig, TMC and Sugar Land; Stacey
Wallace, System Director; Brenna Neves, The Vintage

8. Thanks for Reading
Thank you for all you do, and for following MedGroup News. I encourage you to
contact me with any questions or stories you want to share.
Matt Wright
Vice President, St. Luke’s Medical Group
mwright@stlukeshealth.org
832.355.8716