Dr. Joan Kolodzik Named Chair-Elect of USACS National Clinical Governance Board

Press Release
Sep 10, 2020
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. Visit usacs.com to learn more.
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Media Contact
Marty Richmond
Corporate Communications Department
US Acute Care Solutions
330.493.4443 x1406
[email protected]
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Our physician-owned and led approach puts patients at the forefront of every decision we make, and our focus will be on delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient who walks through our doors." "We are pleased to partner with USACS as the provider of emergency medicine services for our entire system. We continue to provide the high-quality service to our patients and community and believe this collaboration will enhance our emergency department services, and further strengthening our ability to deliver exceptional care to our patients,” said Wayne Voss, CEO, Houston Methodist West Hospitaland executive sponsor of the hospital system’s emergency department council. Dominic J. Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Executive Chair of the USACS Board of Directors said, “USACS was formed to bring the best groups in the country together to form a perpetual physician-owned organization in acute care services. 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USACS provides high-quality care to approximately ten million patients annually across more than 500 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more. About Houston Methodist Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, six community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Houston Methodist employs approximately 30,000 people and had more than 1.9 million outpatient visits and more than 138,000 admissions in 2022. U.S. News World Report has named Houston Methodist Hospital the Best Hospital in Texas for 11 years in a row. Houston Methodist is the No. 1 hospital in Texas and No. 15 in the nation. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and On Health. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406 [email protected]
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