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
Jan 23, 2023
US Acute Care Solutions and Array Behavioral Care Partner to Deliver Virtual Psychiatric Care in Emergency Departments
CANTON, Ohio, Jan 23, 2023– US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the largest physician-owned acute care practice in the nation, and Array Behavioral Care, the nation’s leading virtual psychiatry and therapy practice, today announced a strategic partnership to offer comprehensive acute medical and psychiatric care services to health systems. With the newly formed Behavioral Emergency Stabilization and Treatment(BEST) model*, USACS and Array will unite their clinical and technological expertise to combat the growing epidemic of acute mental illness that has impacted the nation for decades. Patients with acute psychiatric issues have significantly higher average emergency department (ED) lengths of stay and are more likely to stay in the ED for longer than 12 hours than those with other medical conditions (Simko 2022)[1]. It is not uncommon for EDs around the nation to have psychiatric patients waitingdaysfor specialist care and transfer to appropriate institutions. The burden on psychiatric patients and their families is paralleled by the challenges posed to the health system, especially during this time of staffing and resource shortages. The downstream result of delays in acute psychiatric care has a domino effect on non-psychiatric patient care and throughput. Array’s sophisticated virtual psychiatric care platform and clinical expertise can improve the speed of evaluation, treatment initiation and patient throughput, which improves the quality of care for all patients in the acute care space. Additionally, by using virtual technology, Array and USACS will be able to facilitate quicker access to care and further address social determinants of health. “By combining our strengths in emergency medicine, hospital medicine and critical care with Array’s expertise in behavioral care, we can meet the physical and mental health needs of our patients and support our health system partners with a comprehensive suite of acute care services,” said Chris Hummer, Chief Executive Officer of USACS. “Our mission at Array is to help address the nation’s mental health needs by using technology to bring licensed behavioral health clinicians to patients everywhere. Together with USACS, we can help provide holistic care to more patients in acute care setting,” said Geoffrey Boyce, Chief Executive Officer of Array. “Health systems see the effects of undertreated mental illness in our communities firsthand. Hospitals are continuing to experience massive influxes of psychiatric patients to their emergency departments because of poor access to outpatient mental health services. This affects not just the psychiatric patients but all patients in the emergency department. If we can manage psychiatric patients through early stabilization and treatment, we can improve the quality of care and clinical operations so that all patients can be seen faster and more comprehensively,” said Dr. Matt Patlovany, President and Chief Clinical Officer of USACS. “At Array, we aim to deliver quality and timely behavioral health, using evidence-based tools that meet patients where they are. We’re excited to see how this strategic partnership can help health systems across the nation meet the physical and mental health care needs of their community,” said Dr. Jim Varrell, Executive Chief Medical Officer of Array. “We at USACS have already demonstrated through our Integrated Acute Care model that emergency medicine, hospital medicine and critical care working together can produce better clinical outcomes for our patients and operational outcomes for our health system partners,” added Dr. Amer Aldeen, Chief Medical Officer of USACS. “Now, we are excited to partner with the national leader in virtual psychiatric care to ensure that high-quality care includes both physicalandmental health.” About USACS Founded by emergency medicine and hospitalist 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 medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine 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 Array Behavioral Care Array Behavioral Care is the nation’s leading clinician-centric virtual psychiatry and therapy practice with a mission to transform access to quality, timely behavioral health care. Array offers telepsychiatry solutions and services across the continuum of care, from hospital to home, through its OnDemand, Scheduled and AtHome divisions. For more than 20 years, Array has partnered with hundreds of hospitals and health systems, community health care organizations and payers of all sizes to expand access to care and improve outcomes for underserved individuals, facilities and communities. As an industry pioneer and established thought leader, Array has helped shape the field, define the standard of care and advocate for improved telepsychiatry-friendly regulations. To learn more, visitwww.arraybc.com. [1] Simko L, Birgisson N E, Pirrotta E A, et al. (June 02, 2022) Waiting for Care: Length of Stay for ED Mental Health Patients by Disposition, Diagnosis, and Region (2009–2015). Cureus 14(6): e25604. DOI 10.7759/cureus.25604 ###
Press Release
Jan 4, 2023
Mission Viejo Emergency Medicine Associates Joins US Acute Care Solutions
CANTON, Ohio, January 4, 2023 – Mission Viejo Emergency Medicine Associates (MVEMA), a democratic, physician-owned group in California, has joined US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the leading physician-owned and led acute care practice in the United States. Chris Hummer, USACS Chief Executive Officer, said, “MVEMA is a well-respected group of clinicians with a decades-long track record of delivering expert medicine and excellent patient experience to the communities of South Orange County, California. This acquisition will further strengthen USACS’ presence in the state and assist the clinicians of MVEMA in securing their long-term future as clinician owners.” Dominic J. Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Executive Chair of the USACS Board said, “USACS started with 15 independent, highly-successful physician-owned groups joining together to create a new model – one dedicated to perpetual physician ownership at scale. In the last two years, USACS bought out two large private equity firms to bring ownership back to 100% clinician and health-system owned.We are excited about a new wave of independent physician groups like MVEMA joining our scaled physician-ownership model.” “We are excited to join USACS, a physician-owned group like ours, and look forward to the many benefits that national scale and resources will bring to our community,” said Jim Keany, MD, FACEP, Managing Partner of MVEMA. “Together our team will leverage these enhanced tools, best practices, and infrastructure to drive even greater value for our patients, hospital partners, and clinicians.” “As the only trauma center in South Orange County and the leading provider of emergency care, Providence Mission Hospital looks forward to a strong partnership with USACS as we work together to provide outstanding care for our community,” said Seth R. Teigen, FACHE, Chief Executive of Providence Mission Hospital. About USACS Founded 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 medicine, hospitalist, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine 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 Providence Mission Hospital Providence Mission Hospital is a state-of-the-art, 504-bed acute care regional medical center in Mission Viejo, California. As one of the busiest designated adult and pediatric Level II Trauma Centers in the state of California, Providence Mission provides a full range of specialty health care services with highly skilled teams treating a multitude of complex conditions. Services include a full range of expertise in cardiovascular, neuroscience and spine, orthopedics, cancer care, women’s services, mental health and wellness, head and neck, and a variety of other specialty services. Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach provides coastal communities with 24-hour emergency and intensive care as well as medical-surgical/telemetry services, orthopedics, and general and GI surgery. CHOC at Mission Hospital is a 54-bed facility that is the area's only dedicated pediatric hospital. Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions (330) 493-4443 x1406
Press Release
Nov 16, 2022
US Acute Care Solutions Names Dr. Rajneesh Mathur a Vice President of its Southeast Region
US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) today named Rajneesh Mathur, DO, FACEP a vice president of its Southeast Region. Prior to taking on this role, Dr. Mathur has served in various leadership positions, most recently as a chief recruiter for the Florida region and the chair of the USACS Foundation. He currently serves on the USACS National Clinical Governance Board (NCGB), the Florida Clinical Governance Board, and the USACS Foundation Board. Dr. Mathur practices clinically in the AdventHealth System. Stepping into the role of regional vice president, Dr. Mathur will lead and support, both clinically and administratively, the site medical directors within the AdventHealth system. “It is an honor and a privilege to fill the role of regional vice president,” said Dr. Mathur. “I am confident that I will be able to take on this role and continue serving my clinical colleagues and our patients with the high level of quality and care they deserve.” President of the Southeast Region, Brandon Lewis, DO, FACEP, FACOEP, said, “We are thrilled to have Dr. Mathur as our new vice president of the Southeast Region. His dedication to our region and the organization is something to be admired, and we are looking forward to seeing the positive impact he will have in this role.” A board-certified emergency physician, Dr. Mathur has been with USACS since 2008. He graduated from a seven-year medical program through the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and The New York Institute of Technology. He then went on to complete his residency in emergency medicine at Henry Ford Macomb. During his residency, Dr. Mathur completed a fellowship in policy studies. He has been AOBEM board certified since 2010. In 2019, Dr. Mathur completed his Executive MBA at the University of South Florida. About USACS Founded 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 medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. With its recent acquisition of Alteon Health, USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine 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. # # # Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406
Press Release
Nov 7, 2022
US Acute Care Solutions Acquires MIDEO: A Video-Based Advance Care Directive Platform
CANTON, Ohio, November 7, 2022—US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) has acquired MIDEO, My Informed Decision on VidEO, a video based advance care planning platform that provides individuals with the ability to visually and verbally communicate their wishes in any medical circumstance. MIDEO, a patented patient safety solution, was developed based off research from The Realistic Interpretation of Advance Directives (TRIAD) which was conducted by founder and CEO, Ferdinando Mirarchi, DO. Through his research and work as an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Mirarchi discovered a persistent nationwide patient safety risk present in various scenarios including those with living wills, physician orders for life sustaining treatment, and those who are critically ill. This is where his idea of incorporating video into the framework of care came into action. Individuals utilizing MIDEO have two options available to complete their profile. They may either elect to use the self-service option, which provides step-by-step clinical decision tools, or they may elect to work with a clinician through the clinician led consult where they undergo a full medical evaluation and review of potential scenarios in which important medical decisions must be made. Together, the patient and clinician create a clear, short, and customized script that conveys the individual’s unique desires regarding medical treatment and intervention. This script is then recorded and saved in video format, empowering the patient to accurately describe their wishes utilizing proper medical terminology. Not only does this provide explicit clarity regarding patient desires in times of medical intervention, but it also equips future clinicians with an easily accessible and understood explanation of those wishes, especially in times of medical emergencies when there is no room to guess. After learning about MIDEO, USACS Executive Chairman, Dominic Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, knew the platform was invaluable to not only incorporate into the innovation strategies being explored by USACS, but also to deploy as a resource for all USACS employees. “We are continually striving to enhance patient safety in our operations, and MIDEO is a resource at the forefront of those endeavors,” said Dr. Bagnoli. “The value we see in this resource is something we are very much looking forward to sharing at no cost with our 6,000+ employees.” As the MIDEO platform is incorporated into USACS offerings, the goal will be to increase the visibility of the resource throughout the network and expand the technological capabilities of the programming. “I am thrilled to be joining forces with the USACS team to propel the MIDEO platform forward and into the hands of even more patients nationwide,” said Dr. Mirarchi. “My goal in creating MIDEO was to give patients the ability to clearly and effectively communicate their wishes so that clinicians and families could avoid facing the decision paralysis that often arises in medical situations. In return, families and clinicians can then focus on providing the right care at the right time, whether that be through aggressive life-saving care or through the provision of resources to support end of life care, the focus remains on providing the appropriate medical interventions.” Amer Aldeen, MD, FACEP, chief medical officer of USACS, is also looking forward to bringing the MIDEO platform into the USACS offerings as patient safety is a top priority in his role. “It has been shown there is an 80% rate of misinterpretation of living wills and DNR documentation,” noted Dr. Aldeen. “We are optimistic we can decrease this rate significantly while ensuring a higher level of patient safety through the deployment of leading technological advances such as MIDEO.” About USACS Founded 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 medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine 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. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406
General News
Oct 27, 2022
Dr. L. Anthony Cirillo elected Chair of the Board for The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
US Acute Care Solutions’ (USACS) Director of Government Affairs, L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, was elected Chair of the Board for The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for 2022-2023. This news was released just days before the annual ACEP22 Conference that was hosted in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Cirillo was elected to ACEP’s National Board of Directors in 2018, serving his initial three-year term, and was then re-elected to the Board in 2021. During his more than 30 years as an ACEP member, he has served on numerous committees, acting at times as chair, liaison, or as a representative of the committee during conferences and meetings. Dr. Cirillo began with a USACS legacy group in 2004 and has been with USACS ever since, serving in various clinical, quality, and leadership roles during his tenure. The focus of his work has been, and continues to be, bridging the gap between healthcare and health policy. As an advocate in all arenas, most specifically the legislative, regulatory, and judicial arenas, Dr. Cirillo is continually striving to achieve improvements in both the healthcare system and for the protection of the provider-patient relationship. He also works to educate clinicians on the importance of being advocates for improving the delivery of healthcare for fellow clinicians and patients. His efforts have helped USACS remain a leader in the industry and distinguishes our commitment to our mission in a unique, proactive fashion. Dr. Cirillo earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center where he was chief resident. Dr. Cirillo is a native of Brooklyn, NY and resides in Saunderstown, RI with his wife, Libby, and their dogs, Josh and Jenny.
Press Release
Jun 21, 2022
US Acute Care Solutions Names Christopher R. Hummer Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Matt Patlovany President and Chief Clinical Officer
CANTON, Ohio, June 21, 2022– US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the largest physician-owned and led acute care practice in the United States, announced today it has named Christopher R. Hummer its Chief Executive Officer, and as previously announced, Matt Patlovany, MD is the group’s President and Chief Clinical Officer. Mr. Hummer has served as CEO and Plan President of the Oregon and New Mexico markets for the Centene Corporation since 2019. Before that, Mr. Hummer served as a senior executive in the Atrium Health System for 14 years as both a president of three hospitals and led the system’s 18 emergency departments. Prior to joining Atrium, he was a CEO, President and COO of three hospitals in the Tenet system in Missouri and Georgia. Mr. Hummer began his healthcare career as an executive in multi-specialty physician groups in Minnesota, California and Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree at Kansas State University and his Master of Healthcare Administration at the University of Kansas. Dominic J. Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Executive Chair of the USACS Board of Directors said, “The Board has conducted a nationwide search for the right person to lead our group in the next chapter of our history. I am quite confident we found that person in Chris. His experience in hospital system and managed care leadership speaks for itself. Chris’ dynamic personality, demonstrated commitment to caring for others, and longstanding relationships with his clinician colleagues is what makes him a perfect fit for our culture of ownership.” “USACS is distinct in its industry, owned by its physicians and health system partners,” said Mr. Hummer. “I am very excited to join this physician-owned group and work with Dr. Patlovany and others on this talented leadership team. I am humbled by this opportunity and committed to continuing the good work of securing a long-term future for acute care physicians and APPs who wish to practice in a group they own.” Matt Patlovany, MD, recently promoted to President in addition to his role as Chief Clinical Officer will continue to lead the USACS clinical organization and partner with Mr. Hummer on the operational and financial aspects of the business. Dr. Patlovany added, “All of us at USACS are excited about the opportunity in front of us to grow, and provide excellent care to our patients and support to our health system partners. Together, Chris and I will be dedicated to the work of ensuring our place as the premier, perpetual-physician owned and led acute care provider group in the country.” About USACS Founded 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 medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. With its recent acquisition of Alteon Health, USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine 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. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406
General News
Jun 7, 2022
How USACS Reacted to COVID-19
US Acute Care Solutions experienced the same sudden and unprecedented declines in hospital ED volumes related to COVID-19 that everyone else did. How we reacted was different. We prioritized state-of-the-art patient care We provided clinical updates three times a week to educate our clinicians on the latest evidence-based management techniques during a time of ultra-rapid knowledge development. We created our nationwide COVID Task Force to quickly disseminate best practices nationally. We instituted frequent, clear, and concise communication to reduce information overload and to minimize misinformation. We created a clinical management tool to facilitate appropriate disposition for COVID patients. We created a first-in-the-industry ventilator allocation guideline, leveraging our ethics expertise. We provided educational points for clinicians to educate non-medical community members in their personal social media networks. We prioritized the safety and needs of our clinicians We sourced our own national PPE backup supplies to mitigate local shortages. We developed a state-of-the-art N95 sterilization technique and shared this with our hospital partners. We created on-shift support for decontamination methods. We created the first-in-the-industry quarantine fund to pay clinicians for lost time. We maintained benefits (including our marquee 401k plan) for our clinicians and employees throughout. We distributed wellness resources for our clinicians and their families. We created a communication aid for clinicians to facilitate travel to their hospitals without delays. We offered first-in-the-industry free antibody testing to all clinicians and employees. We prioritized the needs of our hospital partners We built surge ICU and hospital medicine processes and protocols, pre-ED triage tents, pop-up acute care settings, and even new hospital relationships. We supported telemedicine initiatives for hospitals, resulting in new patients being brought into the hospital system for appropriate care. We hosted webinars for hospital partners to coordinate an informed COVID response with best practices by leveraging our national footprint of 200+ acute care sites. We developed a clinical management tool to assign hospital observation, transfer, and inpatient admission. We created guidelines for a COVIDSafe Emergency Department, easing patient concerns about viral transmission and continuing to provide our trademark high-quality care for serious acute conditions. US Acute Care Solutions is different because we are majority physician-owned and are physician-led. We have the clinical, operational, and financial resources to weather the worst of a storm. COVID is case in point. We stepped up to face this crisis as a leader in our industry and an exceptional partner for our hospitals. We were made for this. Search Careers Talk To A Recruiter