30 CPN Physicians Recognized for Quality Patient Care
Thirty physicians affiliated with the Carolinas Physicians Network (CPN), part of Carolinas HealthCare System, have been recognized for clinical excellence in the care of diabetes, heart and stroke patients. That recognition was granted this month by a national rating organization called the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which is headquartered in Washington DC.
NCQA was established as an independent organization 15 years ago with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to boost the availability of consumer information on medical care. It does so by accrediting group health plans and managed care organizations. NCQA also provides quality measurement standards by which to judge the capabilities of individual doctors and medical practices.
Physicians who attain recognition by NCQA are considered to be among the very best at taking care of patients with specified conditions. NCQA publicizes its results periodically as a way to commend those doctors to both managed care organizations and the public at large.
The main specialty areas evaluated by NCQA include heart and stroke care as well as diabetes care. The organization's standards for evaluating cardiac, stroke and diabetes specialists were developed in conjunction with the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Under the diabetes program, performance measures focus on maintaining proper blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, monitoring the patient for kidney disease, performing regular foot and eye exams, and encouraging patients to quit smoking.
The heart/stroke program emphasizes lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, prescribing anti-thrombotics such as aspirin and encouraging smoking cessation.
Nationally, it is estimated that more than 20 million children and adults, or about seven percent of the population, have diabetes. More than 70 million Americans are affected by cardiovascular disease. Together, these diseases are among the most persistent threats to the health in the United States.
Thirteen CPN heart and stroke specialists from the Sanger Clinic were recognized for clinical excellence in NCQA's 'Physician Recognition Program.' These included:
Dr. Richard E. Brown
Dr. John C. Cedarholm
Dr. Nathaniel C. Edwards
Dr. Theodore A. Frank
Dr. Robert H. Haber
Dr. William M. Herndon Jr.
Dr. Thomas F. Kelley
Dr. Glen J. Kowalchuk
Dr. Irvin H. Naylor Jr.
Dr. Geoffrey A. Rose
Dr. Charles A. Simonton
Dr. Alan M. Thomley
Dr. B. Hadley Wilson
CPN physicians recognized for clinical excellent in diabetes treatment include the following:
Dr. Robert E. Almquist, Carmel Family Physicians
Dr. Daniel A. Aquino, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Matthews)
Dr. Allen D. Brantley, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology)
Dr. Wanda S. Crowley, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Uptown)
Dr. Charles E. Ferree, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville)
Dr. Lisa D. Houchin, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists
Dr. Norman J. Kramer, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology)
Dr. Eric T. Landis, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville)
Dr. Andrea Memmen, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville)
Dr. Mark W. Parker, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists
Dr. James W. Plonk, Charlotte Medical Clinic
Dr. Charles B. Rich, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Uptown)
Dr. Douglas B. Robinson, Charlotte Medical Clinic
Dr. Gary C. Rolband, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology)
Dr. Donald J. Russ, Mecklenburg Medical Group (SouthPark)
Dr. Marlah M. Tomboc, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists
Dr. Stuart W. Tucker Jr., Eastover Internal Medicine
The Carolinas Physicians Network encompasses about 70 individual medical practices, with offices at more than 140 locations in North and South Carolina. CPN practices employ approximately 2,500 medical personnel, including more than 600 physicians, and comprise family medicine and numerous specialties such as cardiology, oncology, pediatrics and Ob/Gyn. The network is part of Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS), the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas and the third largest public system in the nation.
CHS owns, leases or manages 15 hospitals in North and South Carolina, along with nursing homes, home health agencies, radiation therapy facilities and physical therapy facilities. Together, CHS operations comprise approximately 4,300 licensed beds and employ approximately 25,000 full-time, part-time and on-call employees.
