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Tower Health continues TowerDIRECT expansion

TowerDIRECT is now providing emergency 911 service to Amity and Union townships in Berks County – PHOTO/PROVIDED

Tower Health is expanding its TowerDIRECT non-profit ambulance service.

Tower Health said Wednesday it has been awarded three-year contracts to provide emergency 911 response services to Amity and Union townships, effective March 15.

Earlier this year, TowerDIRECT entered into similar contracts with the Boroughs of Phoenixville and Birdsboro.

In addition, TowerDIRECT relocated its ALS ambulance from Gibraltar Fire Company to 318 W Main Street, Birdsboro, to provide more timely response to the growing community covered by TowerDIRECT EMS.

Under the newest contracts, one Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance will be stationed at 824 East Benjamin Franklin Highway, Douglassville in Amity Township to support the anticipated 1,700 medical calls per year.

The TowerDIRECT team anticipates responding to approximately 200 calls annually in Union Township, which will be serviced by TowerDIRECT ALS units from Amity or Birdsboro.

TowerDIRECT services include emergency 911 response, inter-facility transport, critical care transport, EMS outreach and community paramedicine, Tower Health said.

As part of the contract, Amity will provide “Ambulance Membership” for all residents, meaning township residents will not incur out-of-pocket expenses for emergency services, consistent with the details of their insurance coverage.

Township residents will also receive discounted transportation for using TowerDIRECT for non-emergency patient transports, Tower Health said.

“As we continue to expand services to the communities we care for, we’ve also grown the TowerDIRECT team,” said P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO. “Since the beginning of the year, we have added three new ambulances and a total of 28 new EMT’s, paramedics, and pre-hospital nurses. We are so pleased these professionals made the choice to join our team and provide high-quality care to our patients in Amity and Union townships.”

TowerDIRECT will be dispatched by the Berks County 911 Communications Center. In addition to responding to 911 calls, the TowerDIRECT team will also provide medical care at community events such as parades, football games, and other large public gatherings.

“When patients are having a medical emergency EMS providers are often the first on the scene. Their expertise in the field is critical as they assess patient conditions and begin treatment in the field so they can safely transport the individual to the hospital,” said Herbert Schiffer, medical director at TowerDIRECT.

Tower Health continues ongoing recruitment efforts for additional providers and team members at all TowerDIRECT locations.

New medical services offered in Lehigh Valley

Chiropractic care, new ambulance service and an improved discharge system are new to Lehigh Valley health care offerings.

St. Luke’s University Health Network has added chiropractic care to its back and spine program.

The network also transitioned to ePrescribing medical equipment and supplies on Parachute Platform.

And Tower Health’s TowerDIRECT, the system’s non-profit ambulance company, will provide emergency 911 response in the Borough of Birdsboro.

SLUHN

Dr. Aldo Carmona, St. Luke’s senior vice president for clinical integration said the chiropractic practice will added to the spine center that offers treatment for back pain.

“This will be a part of that, providing another modality to complement current therapies, within evidence-based guidelines,” Carmona said.

Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions for which patients seek care in the network, said Carmona, who also serves as chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care.

“Each year, there are tens of thousands of patient visits for lower back pain, through either a primary care physician, physical therapy, emergency rooms or urgent care centers, or through other clinicians,” he said. “Our new doctors of chiropractic will be joining our doctors of physical therapy in offering timely, effective care of musculoskeletal conditions.”

Opening this month is the new office, at 3101 Emrick Blvd. in Bethlehem, of Paul Duffy. He has more than 30 years of experience in private practice and through affiliation with local health systems.

A second chiropractic location will be led by Sam Staula and Kristen Staula in April after they relocate to the Lehigh Valley from Beth Israel Deaconess in Plymouth, Mass. Their office will be located at 701 Ostrum Street in Bethlehem.

For hospitalized patients, SLUHN has modernized its discharge system for patients needing durable medical supplies (DME).

In 2021, SLUHN completed electronic health record (EHR) integration of Parachute Health’s ePrescribing platform for DME and supplies. The integration across multiple EHRs covered 184 locations and 12 acute care hospitals in 3 months, including clinician training.

Now, SLUHN reports significant improvements in discharge workflows on the Parachute Platform, which replaced time-consuming and error-prone order faxing.

“Sometimes patients were discharged with equipment without insurance verification, so SLUHN had to absorb costs,” according to Broc Pollinger, manager of Patient Support Services at St. Luke’s. “There are no missed signatures now and insurance is confirmed before DME goes out. The case management team doesn’t have to think a day ahead!”

Tower Health

Tower Health was awarded a three-year contract to provide the emergency services in Birdsboro. It will provide one ALS ambulance stationed at 318 W. Main St. To answer an anticipated 500 calls annually.

As part of the contract the Birdsboro Borough will provide “Ambulance Membership” for all residents. This means Borough residents will not incur out-of-pocket expenses for emergency services, consistent with the details of their insurance coverage. Borough residents will also receive discounted transportation for using TowerDIRECT for non-emergency patient transports.

Tower Health entered a similar contract with Phoenixville Borough, effective January 1, 2023.

P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO said, “Having access to high-quality EMS care is an essential piece of healthcare. I am so pleased the TowerDIRECT team will be able to provide this level of service to the Birdsboro community. Over the last month in Phoenixville, we’ve seen firsthand the difference our team members make for their patients and their families, and I know TowerDIRECT will make the same impact to our friends and neighbors in Birdsboro.”

TowerDIRECT will be dispatched by the Berks County 911 Communications Center. In addition to responding to 911 calls the TowerDIRECT team will also provide medical care at community events such as parades, football games, and other large public gatherings.

Tower Health to provide emergency service in Phoenixville

Tower Health said that TowerDIRECT, the system’s non-profit ambulance company, has been awarded a three-year contract through a competitive bid process to provide emergency 911 response in Phoenixville Borough, Chester County.

The contract will begin Jan. 1, and will provide one ALS ambulance stationed at the Phoenixville Firehouse 24 hours a day and a second ALS ambulance for 12 hours a day. The TowerDIRECT team in Phoenixville will respond to 1,500 to 2,000 calls annually, Tower Health said.

As part of the contract the Phoenixville Borough will provide “Ambulance Membership” for all residents. This means borough residents will not incur out-of-pocket expenses for emergency services, consistent with the details of their insurance coverage. Borough residents will also receive discounted transportation for using TowerDIRECT for non-emergency patient transport.

P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO said, “TowerDIRECT has a great team of dedicated and caring professionals, and I am confident our partnership with the Phoenixville Borough will help strengthen the health of the community while aligning with our mission to provide high-quality, cost-effective healthcare,” said P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO.

TowerDIRECT will be dispatched by the Chester County 911 Communications Center. In addition to responding to 911 calls the TowerDIRECT team will also provide medical care at community events such as parades, football games, and other large public gatherings.

“We look forward to providing emergency services to the residents in Phoenixville,” said Dr. Herbert Schiffer, medical director at TowerDIRECT. “We are proud to partner with the Phoenixville Borough to provide care and continue to keep the residents safe and healthy.”

Tower Health gets CHIME nod for digital health

Tower Health received high marks from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) for its digital health programs.

The Reading-based health care system said it received a Level 7 for its acute and ambulatory facilities in CHIME’s Digital Health Most Wired Survey for 2022.

Among the more than 38,000 organizations surveyed by CHIME, Tower Health ranked high in categories like analytics and data management, population health, infrastructure, and patient engagement, it said. The survey assessed the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies in health care organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.

“By enhancing our virtual offerings, Tower Health is able to ensure the members of our community have more convenient access to healthcare when and where they need it,” said Michelle Trupp, senior vice president and chief information officer at Tower Health. “I thank the team of IT and clinical staff at the health system for their continued support of these endeavors.”

The Digital Health Most Wired survey and recognition program serves as a comprehensive “Digital Health Check-up” for healthcare organizations across the world. As success in digital health increasingly drives the quality of patient care, the scope of the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired survey reflects the progress of leading healthcare providers as they reinvent healthcare for a new century, Tower Health said.

“We are proud to honor your team’s exceptional dedication to excellence in digital health,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “Your pioneering performance in the industry inspires other organizations by example. Patients in communities around the world receive better care when you drive change through digital transformation, as you have proven through your success in this rigorous program.”

Tower Health eliminates 52 management positions

Tower Health’s Reading HealthPlex in West Reading. (Contributed)

Tower Health is eliminating 52 positions in management, some effective immediately.

Tower Health said its strategic and financial turnaround has included reducing the number of hospitals, physician practices, and clinical programs in the system and focusing its service area on Berks County and the 422 Corridor, along with St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and the Drexel University College of Medicine at West Reading.

As a result, the system is aligning its management and corporate structure to match Tower Health’s smaller size and scope. The system has eliminated 52 positions at the manager, director, associate vice president, vice president, and senior executive levels—approximately 13% of Tower Health’s management staff.

About 40 of these position eliminations will take effect immediately, while the remainder will take effect over the next six to eight weeks, Tower Health said. No frontline direct caregiving positions have been eliminated.

“It is never easy to take an action that impacts our colleagues in this way, and we thank each of these individuals for their service to Tower Health,” Tower Health said in a statement.

Impacted individuals are being offered full support, including severance and outplacement services according to Tower Health’s regular Human Resource practices.

The reductions, including salary and benefit costs, will produce savings of approximately $15 million, Tower Health said.

Tower Health names VP and CMIO

Tower Health promoted Dr. Eugene Reilly to vice president and chief medical information officer.

Reilly will work closely with the health system’s clinical and technology leaders to ensure alignment of health information technology (Health IT) with strategic, clinical, and operational objectives, the health system said.

He will also continue in his roles as associate medical director of the Trauma program and director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Reading Hospital.

Reilly joined the Reading Hospital Trauma team in 2007 as a surgeon and surgical intensivist. Since then, in addition to maintaining his clinical practice, he has taken on leadership roles in Trauma, Graduate Medical Education, and Clinical Informatics.

He has been a longtime champion for clinicians in Health IT, serving as a subject matter expert for Epic during its implementation at Reading Hospital in 2012, and chairing the highest-level IT governance committees since 2018, Tower Health said.

Reilly developed the Health IT infrastructure that helped facilitate Reading Hospital Trauma Center’s accreditation through three consecutive surveys and has presented his research on Health IT and other topics in the United States and internationally.

He is certified as a Physician Builder by Epic Systems, Inc., and has been chair of Epic’s Trauma Specialty Steering board since its inception in 2017.

Reilly completed his fellowship in Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and his residency in General Surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical College, a Master of Healthcare Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

He is board-certified in Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery, Neurocritical Care by the American Board of Anesthesiology, and in Clinical Informatics by the American Board of Preventative Medicine.

Reilly recently completed his capstone as a Certified Physician Executive by the American Association for Physician Leadership.

Reilly is an associate professor of Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine, clinical associate professor of Surgery at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and adjunct associate professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Reading Hospital Foundation unveils new mobile mammography coach Thursday

From left: Katherine Thornton, Reading Hospital Foundation president; Desha Dickson, Tower Health vice president Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Wellness; Paul Cohn, chair, Reading Hospital Foundation; Dr. Charles F. Barbera, Reading Hospital president and CEO; P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO – PHOTO/PROVIDED

Reading Hospital Foundation will host a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Thursday for Reading Hospital’s new mobile mammography coach at the Hospital’s 6th Avenue (Clock Tower) entrance.

Outfitted with the latest technology, including 3D tomosynthesis, the mobile mammography coach uses a digital mammography screening tool that improves the accuracy of imaging, reducing unneeded follow-up visits, and enables caregivers to detect more invasive cancers, the foundation said.

Women who use the mobile mammography unit will get the same patient care as they do at any of Tower Health’s mammography imaging locations, with coordinated scheduling, testing, follow-up, and referrals.

“We know early detection saves lives when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer’ said Dr. Charles F. Barbera, Reading Hospital president and CEO. “Reading Hospital prides itself on being a partner and we are committed to ensuring all women have access to mammogram services, including those underinsured and those without insurance.”

Tower Health’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified access to health services as a challenge for many in the community, said Desha Dickson, Tower Health vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Community Wellness. “I’m proud to share we have 48 mobile mammography screening events scheduled through the end of the year. These events will bring life-saving screenings directly to our patients and remove any transportation barriers they may face.”

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and most don’t have a family history of the disease. The American College of Radiology recommends that all women get their first mammogram at the age of 40.

Fundraising for the mobile mammography coach began in August 2020, and was completed in November 2021, through a combination of donations, pledges, grants, and the Pennsylvania Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credit program. “We appreciate the support from all of our corporate and individual donors,” said Katherine Thornton, Reading Hospital Foundation president. “Every donation to the mobile mammography fund, regardless of the amount, will make a significant impact on the health of women in our community.

Tower Health names new COO

Tower Health of Reading has named Michael Stern to its executive leadership team as chief operating officer for the health system effective Sept. 19.

Stern joins Tower Health from the MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio, where he has served in senior leadership since 2015, most recently in the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer of the system’s Hospital Division.

MetroHealth is a large public health system that includes a main campus medical center serving more than 500 inpatients per day and over 100,000 emergency department visits annually. The system also includes two acute care community hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, three emergency departments, two freestanding surgery centers, eleven outpatient pharmacies, and 30 health centers.

He also spent four years at Einstein Healthcare Network as vice president for health care services and worked for many years as a leader in acute care hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, and physician services in the New York City region.

He holds a Master of Health Administration degree from Clark University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Hofstra University.

“Michael brings to Tower Health a strong sense of mission and a track record of successfully engaging with caregivers, providers, and the community, said P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO. “He has extensive experience in driving operational performance, implementing turnaround initiatives, and growing services. We are fortunate Michael is bringing his expertise to Tower Health. I am confident he will further drive our commitment to foster teamwork, nurture engagement, and advances our vision.”

Tower Health names COO for Reading Hospital, SVP for Tower Health

Michelle Trupp has been named COO for Reading Hospital, senior vice president, Tower Health.

In her new role, she will focus on several key areas to ensure operational efficiencies and effectiveness, continuous quality improvement, employee and patient satisfaction, and ongoing enhancements in the delivery of care, Tower Health said.

Trupp’s clinical and administrative career spans more than 40 years at Reading Hospital and Tower Health. She is a graduate of Reading Hospital School of Nursing and began her career as a registered nurse in the hospital’s Emergency Department. Her clinical skills and knowledge and relationship development skills within and across functional areas led to numerous professional advancements throughout her tenure.

As a leader, she played an integral role in Reading Hospital’s first designation as a Trauma Center in 2005 and she co-led two physical expansions of the Emergency Department, Tower Health said.

In partnership with Dr. Charles Barbera now Reading Hospital president and CEO, she worked to drive change management and process improvement advancing the Emergency Department’s Press Ganey scores from the 12th percentile to the 90th percentile in 18 months in 2007.

In 2018, Trupp was named chief information officer for Tower Health. In this role, she was an advocate for IT security, quality, clinical documentation, and coordination of care which led to Reading Hospital’s designation as HIMMS 7 in 2018. This designation signifies the health system’s ongoing commitment to digital transformation in healthcare.

Tower Health to sell Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill Hospital

Three health entities have formed an alliance to buy Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia from Reading-based Tower Health, it was announced Monday.

Temple Health, Redeemer Health and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine have signed a definitive agreement as an alliance to acquire the 148-bed teaching hospital, pending review and approval by regulators and Tower Health’s bond holders.

“Tower Health is pleased and grateful that Chestnut Hill Hospital will continue to serve the community as part of an alliance of highly respected and locally based nonprofit health care institutions,” Tower Health President and CEO P. Sue Perrotty said in a release.

The newly named Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital will be managed by Temple Health.

“Together, our organizations bring the expertise, resources, operational excellence and skilled clinical care to ensure that Chestnut Hill Hospital remains a durable and sustainable resource for the eastern Montgomery County and northwest Philadelphia communities,” added Michael A. Young, president and CEO of Temple Health.

Chestnut Hill Hospital has served those areas for more than 100 years. Tower Health also recently closed Jennersville Hospital and Brandywine Hospital, both in Chester County, after a sales agreement fell through.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

‘Fast Pass’ to speed up patient care at Tower Health

Reading-based Tower Health has developed a new system to help patients receive care faster.

MyTowerHealth is now offering “Fast Pass” for new patents of the Tower Health medical Group including its internal medicine, OB/GYN and pediatrics practices.

The new feature will allow patients to move up appointments to an earlier date if there is a cancellation.

According to a press release, offers of earlier appointment times are sent to patients via MyTowerHealth or text message. Patients can accept or reject the offer based on their availability. Fast Pass can be used for new patient visits, new OB/GYN patient visits, preventive new physicals, new well child visits, new office visits, new certified diabetes educator visits, or to confirm pregnancy with the obstetrician.

When a new patient schedules an appointment through MyTowerHealth that person will have the option to select to join the Fast Pass list and be notified if an earlier appointment becomes available. When patients are notified of an available appointment, they can accept or decline the offer based on their availability.

“We are excited to offer the Fast Pass service to new patients,” said P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO. “It is always our goal to get patients in to see their physician as soon as possible and this will help us to fulfill that promise while making our patients and communities healthier.”

Tower Health names vice president of Managed Care

Tower Health named Ethel Hoffman vice president of Managed Care.

Hoffman previously served as the interim vice president of Managed Care through her consulting position with Warbird Consulting Partners, LLC.

Tower Health said she will continue to oversee all payor relationships on behalf of Tower Health as well as direct all managed care activities. She will manage the portfolio of payor contracts and related programs, with an emphasis on maximizing revenue and attaining operational goals.

Her responsibilities will include direction and oversight of payor contracting, managed care analytics, payor relations, payor credentialing and enrollment, and alternative payment/value-based agreements, Tower Health said. She will also work closely with Revenue Cycle leadership and support the Tower Health PPO.

Hoffman brings extensive experience helping healthcare organizations identify and access opportunities in insurance, managed care, payor relationships, and business development. Prior to her role with Warbird Consulting Partners, Hoffman led her own consulting practice and served in leadership roles for Dignity Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Wexford Health Solutions, and the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

She received her Master of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University and has served on local and national level boards for the Health Care Financial Management Association.

She also volunteers with several not-for-profit organizations such as the United Way, community arts and theatre, and has served as a Girl Scout troop leader for eight years.

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