USACS NEWS ROOM
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 coverage.
General News
May 9, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions Honors the 2024 Clinical Excellence Award Recipients
CANTON, Ohio, May 9, 2025 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned, emergency and inpatient medicine practice, is proud to recognize eight recipients of the National Clinical Governance Board’s (NCGB) Clinical Excellence Award. The award honors physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) across USACS service lines who are not in leadership or management roles.Exemplary clinicians are selected through year-round nominations by their clinical colleagues. They are commended for their remarkable clinical expertise and dedication to patient-centered care. This recognition was presented at USACS’ annual Clinical Leadership Assembly, held this month in Washington, D.C.Congratulations to the 2024 Clinical Excellence Award recipients:Asal Najafi-Mahalati, DO, Sinai Hospital, LifeBridge—Baltimore, MDDavid Bosch, DO, AdventHealth Southlands—Lakewood, COEussra El-Magbri, MD, Inova Alexandria Hospital—Alexandria, VAJason Goldwasser, DO, Jefferson Hospital—Jefferson Hills, PAJeffrey Haines, PA-C, Meritus Medical Center—Hagerstown, MDJustin French-Kazee, DO, St. Mary’s Medical Center—Huntington, WVTatjana Delemus, MD, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center – HM—Carson City, NVThomas McElroy, NP, UVA Culpeper Medical Center—Culpeper, VA“The Clinical Excellence Award is a testament to the impactful work of our physicians and APPs,” said Chair of the NCGB, Roya Caloia, DO, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM. “They are the clinicians who inspire each of us to be better at the bedside and who we would want taking care of our family members should they need it. I am pleased to celebrate our winners and thank each of them for their unwavering commitment to the patients we serve.”About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care medicine services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
General News
Apr 1, 2025
USACS Now Accepting Applications for Senior Resident Forum to Be Held in Denver, Colorado, August 4-6, 2025
CANTON, Ohio, April 2, 2025 – We at US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) are pleased to announce our Senior Resident Forum, taking place in Denver, CO, on August 4-6, 2025. This all-expenses-paid trip enables resident physicians in emergency, internal, and family medicine to learn and engage with experts in emergency, hospital, and critical care medicine, empowering them to launch their careers.The Senior Resident Forum will be held at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, a historic landmark in downtown Denver. This iconic hotel offers elevated amenities, distinctive dining, luxurious accommodations, and convenient access to the city’s top attractions.At the forum, speakers will address a variety of professional topics crucial to residents’ future practice as attending physicians. Subjects include financial literacy, clinical efficiency, optimal documentation, avoidance of medical malpractice, working with APPs, job contract pearls, and many others.As the nation’s largest physician-owned acute care practice, we at USACS care for over 11 million patients annually at more than 400 programs across 27 states. With physicians leading the way, we are well-equipped to help the next generation of physicians deliver high-quality patient care while enjoying a rewarding career.“We can’t wait to welcome our senior residents to this year’s memorable forum,” said Chief Medical Officer, Amer Aldeen, MD, FACEP, FAAEM. “Making the transition to an attending is simultaneously challenging and exciting—and we’re here to help. This is an excellent time to connect with our physician leaders, who share similar experiences and can offer firsthand guidance.”Chief of Inpatient Medicine, George Mitri, MD, FACP, SFHM, adds “Our goal is to provide insight into the complexities of patient care, from the hospital to the ICU. This forum offers a collaborative space to ask questions, receive advice, and build the diverse skills necessary for professional growth.”If you are a senior resident in EM, IM, or FM looking to advance your career, apply today to join the Senior Resident Forum. Your travel expenses, two-night hotel stay, and all on-site meals are on us. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to network and grow with fellow physicians at USACS.About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
Press Release
Mar 20, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions Names Kyle Kirkpatrick Executive Vice President, National Director of Advanced Practice
CANTON, Ohio, March 20, 2025 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned emergency and inpatient medicine practice, has named Kyle Kirkpatrick, PA-C, MS, the Executive Vice President, National Director of Advanced Practice.Kyle is currently the USACS Director of Advanced Practice (DAP) for the West Division and the National Director of the APP Scholars Program. Prior to his DAP role, he was a Lead APP and Regional Director of APPs. In addition, Kyle has been a delegate for the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the President of the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants. He has served as a board member of the State of Colorado Medical Board and has ten years of service as a fellow for the Federation of State Medical Boards.Kyle earned his Master of Science in the Physician Assistant program at Baylor College of Medicine and his Bachelor of Science in microbiology at Brigham Young University. He is the recipient of the AAPA’s Presidents Award and the Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants Award. He continues to practice clinically in Colorado.“With 20 years of clinical and leadership experience, I am confident that Kyle will be an outstanding advocate for APPs throughout our practice,” said Chief Clinical Officer, Tina Latimer, MD, MBA, MPH. “This is an excellent opportunity to optimize the impact of APPs in our patient care services, and I look forward to collaborating with Kyle to achieve our shared goals.”Kyle added, “I am honored to step into this new role and deeply appreciate the support from our leadership. As we move forward together, I am excited to work alongside our talented group of APPs across the country. We remain committed to reinforcing the APP-physician partnership and uniting our clinical care teams to deliver exceptional patient outcomes.”About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
General News
Feb 17, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions Names Its Academic Excellence Recipients for 2024
CANTON, Ohio, February 17, 2025 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned, emergency and inpatient medicine practice, is pleased to announce the physicians who have been named recipients of the Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Academic Incentive Bonus Awards.The Excellence in Clinical Teaching AwardThe Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award was created to honor the outstanding clinical educators at each USACS emergency medicine residency program for their commitment to training the future physician workforce. Nominations are submitted by resident learners and fellow faculty and based on quantitative and qualitative criteria.Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2024 Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award:Andrew J. Coyne, MD, Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas—Austin, TXDennis P. Hanlon, MD, FAAEM, AHN Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PAErica J. Ross, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OHErin D. Munns, MD, Dell Children’s North Campus—Austin, TXIrtaza Asar, DO, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PAKathryn M. Moore, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OHKevin Brody, MD, Henry Ford Genesys Hospital—Grand Blanc, MINickolas J. Meier, DO, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OHShilp B. Shah, MD, Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital—Youngstown, OHThe Academic Incentive AwardThe Academic Incentive Award was established to recognize faculty members who have achieved academic success through research, teaching, and service excellence. To be selected, the faculty member must showcase high academic productivity during the calendar year to meet the threshold for earning the award.Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2024 Academic Incentive Award:Amar Vira, MD, Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas—Austin, TXBenjamin A. Lang, MD, MPH, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas – REACT—Austin, TXBenjamin D. Duncan, MD, FPD-AEMUS, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OHBrandon Arehart, DO, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OHChadd E. Nesbit, MD, PhD, FACEP, AHN Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PAChristopher A. Moore, DO, Henry Ford Genesys Hospital—Grand Blanc, MIChristopher M. Lloyd, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OHDhimitri A. Nikolla, DO, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PAGuyon Hill, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TXJonathan J. Oskvarek, MD, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OHJoseph Dombroski, DO, Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital—Boardman, OHKathleen Berg, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TXKristine D. Song, MD, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital—Cincinnati, OHMatthew P. Stripp, MD, AHN Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PAMeenal D. Sharkey, MD, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital—Columbus, OHMelody L. Milliron, DO, FACOEP, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital—Erie, PAMichael J. Pallaci, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OHPhilip S. Nawrocki, MD, AHN Allegheny General Hospital—Pittsburgh, PARachel A. Warby, DO, Henry Ford Genesys Hospital—Grand Blanc, MITimothy Ruttan, MD, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas—Austin, TXVishnu V. Mudrakola, DO, Summa Health System – Akron Campus—Akron, OH“Advancing emergency medicine through education and academics is integral to delivering high-quality care to our patients,” said USACS Executive Vice President of Academic Medicine, David Seaberg, MD, CPE, FACEP. “We deeply value the scholarly accomplishments of our faculty, whose contributions facilitate the scientific discovery of superior healthcare solutions.”“I am proud to celebrate our Academic Excellence Award recipients for their critical involvement in the success of our residency and fellowship programs,” added USACS Chief Medical Officer, Amer Aldeen, MD, FACEP. “These academic physicians are at the forefront of developing the next generation of highly skilled physicians.”About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
Press Release
Feb 6, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions Announces New Partnership with HonorHealth System in Arizona
CANTON, Ohio, February 6, 2025 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned emergency and inpatient medicine practice, is pleased to announce a new partnership with HonorHealth, a leading health system serving greater Phoenix and Scottsdale areas. As of February 1, 2025, USACS began providing emergency medicine services at four HonorHealth facilities in Arizona, which include:HonorHealth Mountain Vista Medical Center—Mesa, AZHonorHealth Tempe Medical Center—Tempe, AZHonorHealth Florence Medical Center—Florence, AZHonorHealth Mesa Emergency Center—Mesa, AZThis partnership represents approximately 93,000 new patient encounters annually. With a focus on collaborative patient-centric care and innovation, HonorHealth and USACS are aligned in both their values and mission, affirming the impact of the partnership.USACS CEO Chris Hummer expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our group, and we are excited to work alongside the talented teams at HonorHealth to advance patient safety, experience, and clinical excellence.”“I am confident we will seamlessly integrate into each of these HonorHealth sites, welcoming those physicians and APPs who join our practice to provide high-quality services to the East Valley and Florence regions,” said Britney Anderson, MD, President of the USACS West Division.HonorHealth Executive VP, Chief Physician Executive and Network Strategy Officer, John Neil, MD, adds, “This is an exciting time for HonorHealth as we expand our services, assume operational control of these facilities and launch our clinical affiliation with ASU. We look forward to this new partnership with USACS as an important milestone in our journey to elevate care in these communities.”About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.About HonorHealthHonorHealth is one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems, serving a population of five million people in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The comprehensive network encompasses nine acute-care hospitals, an extensive medical group with primary, specialty and urgent care services, a cancer care network, outpatient surgery centers, clinical research, medical education, a foundation, an accountable care organization, community services and more. With more than 16,000 team members, 3,700 affiliated providers and over 1,100 volunteers dedicated to providing high-quality care, HonorHealth strives to go beyond the expectations of a traditional healthcare system to improve the health and well-being of communities across Arizona. Learn more at HonorHealth.com.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
Press Release
Jan 7, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions and the University of Pennsylvania Work Together to Prevent Stroke Misdiagnosis
CANTON, Ohio, January 7, 2025 — US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) is proud to announce a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) to incorporate the USACS “dizziNIHSS” initiative at Penn Medicine’s three Philadelphia emergency departments, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.Designed to enhance diagnosis of posterior strokes, this innovative approach reminds clinicians to perform the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), test of skew, and gait evaluation for any patient presenting with dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance. The new collaboration aims to transform stroke diagnosis and care, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and population health.The Stakes: Posterior Strokes and Catastrophic OutcomesPosterior strokes are missed in as many as two-thirds of cases because many do not present with commonly recognized stroke symptoms like weakness, numbness, or speech difficulties. Instead, posterior strokes can be misdiagnosed as vertigo caused by inner ear dysfunction, fainting episodes, or even psychiatric diseases. The adage, “time is brain,” means that not identifying and treating strokes early can lead to catastrophic outcomes for patients. The dizziNIHSS approach prioritizes the NIHSS as a key diagnostic tool to identify strokes that are most commonly missed.Why the NIHSS?NIHSS is superior to CT and MRI for detecting early strokes.The assessment can be performed immediately on any patient, by any clinician, at any facility, regardless of local resource constraints, and takes only a few minutes.NIHSS is efficient and free, providing essential value to patients while optimizing clinical operations and resources.Data-Driven ResultsThe implementation of the dizziNIHSS initiative, combined with comprehensive training and ongoing feedback for clinicians, has increased use of the NIHSS for atypical neurological symptoms at USACS-staffed emergency departments, from 17% to 73%. Patients cared for by USACS clinicians have up to a four times greater chance of receiving timely and accurate stroke diagnoses.“The dizziNIHSS initiative here at USACS is a prime example of fulfilling our mission to care for patients,” said Dr. Amer Aldeen, Chief Medical Officer of USACS, who coined the label, “dizziNIHSS,” and co-developed the initiative with Dr. John Bedolla, USACS National Director of Risk Science. “Our national physician-owned practice serving hundreds of community emergency departments collaborating with a powerhouse academic institution of Penn Medicine’s caliber is exactly the kind of innovation we need to drive healthcare forward.”"We are excited to collaborate with USACS in using the dizziNIHSS method, reinforcing our commitment to early and accurate diagnosis of all strokes, anterior and posterior," said Dr. Benjamin Sun, Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine."The dizziNIHSS initiative aligns with our efforts to enhance patient safety and ensure that critical assessments are never overlooked," stated Dr. Jenice Baker, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital."Partnering with Penn Medicine to implement this evidence-based, cost-effective, and operationally efficient approach demonstrates our shared dedication to improving outcomes and reducing the risk for missed strokes," added Dr. Bedolla.About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]
Press Release
Jan 6, 2025
US Acute Care Solutions Names Dr. Derrick Morford Regional Vice President of West Division
CANTON, Ohio, January 6, 2025 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned emergency and inpatient medicine practice, announced today that it has named Derrick Morford, DO, a Regional Vice President of its West Division.Most recently, Dr. Morford served as the System Medical Director for the 14 USACS Denver CommonSpirit Health System partner locations in both Denver, CO, and Western Kansas. Since joining USACS, Dr. Morford has held numerous leadership roles and has played a significant role in the strong, ongoing partnership between USACS and CommonSpirit. He also completed both the USACS Scholars and Directors EDGE programs, further exemplifying his commitment to the practice and his leadership development.President of the USACS West Division, Britney Anderson, MD, said, “Dr. Morford is a seasoned leader in our division and holds a meaningful rapport with his colleagues in the CommonSpirit system, which will allow for a smooth transition into his new role. I am confident he will be an exceptional addition to our West Division leadership team.”Dr. Morford said, “I am looking forward to taking on new responsibilities while continuing to serve the incredible teams we have in place at our CommonSpirit sites. Having the opportunity to step into this role is a tremendous honor and I am grateful for the vote of confidence from the current leadership team.”Dr. Morford earned his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Rocky Vista University. He went on to complete his emergency medicine residency at Michigan State University Beaumont Hospital – Botsford Campus where he served as Chief Resident.About USACSFounded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency, hospital, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately 11 million patients annually across more than 400 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.###Media ContactMarty RichmondCorporate Communications DepartmentUS Acute Care Solutions330.493.4443 [email protected]