Volume 7,Issue 7,August2007

Continued on Pg. 2

The rainy weather did not dampen the enthusiasm for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new McLaren Health Care Village in Clarkston. Pictured (l to r): Tim O’Neill, M.D., President of the Clarkston Medical Group; James O’Neill, M.D., Clarkston Medical Group Founder; and Philip Incarnati, McLaren Health Care President and CEO, break ground for the medical office building, including an ambulatory surgery center and cancer treatment center.

Construction Underway on $600M “Health Care Village” in ClarkstonCeremonial Groundbreaking Celebrated by McLarenHealth Care Corporation and Clarkston Medical GroupConstruction of one of the first one-stop-health care destinations in Oakland County received its official kick-off with a ceremonial groundbreaking on July 25th for the “McLaren Health Care Village”, a health care destination that will contain a full range of first-class health care services.

McLaren Health Care, in collaboration with the Clarkston Medical Group, is building the “McLaren Health Care Village at Clarkston” to meet all of the medical needs of the Village of Clarkston, Independence Township and surrounding communities. The Village will be located at the intersection of Sashabaw Road and

Bow Pointe Drive, within the Sashabaw Business District.

When complete, the Village will cover nearly 79 acres and will include the Clarkston Medical Building, medical offices, an ambulatory surgery center, a state-of-the-art cancer center, a heart center, life science facilities, a 200- to 300-bed hospital, depending on need and demonstrated demand.

“We’re very excited to become a member of the Clarkston Community with the development of the McLaren Health Care

“With McLaren’s presence in

Clarkston, our patients will be able

to get all of their health care needs met at one place.”

– James O’Neill, M.D.

2

Construction Underway Continued from page 1

Village at Clarkston,” said McLaren Health Care President and CEO Philip Incarnati. “We studied the area very carefully, and discovered that comprehensive health care services weren’t available within the Greater Clarkston area. We’re determined to provide the residents of the City of Clarkston and Independence Township access to the most recent, state-of-the-art technologies and comprehensive health care facilities. We’re working with the Clarkston Medical Group, which has served this community for almost a half century to help us do that.”

The Health Care Village brings together a top-rated health care system with one of the premier physician groups of the Clarkston community. McLaren Health Care hospitals, health plan and home health agencies regularly earn recognition for excellence in patient and customer care from national organizations including The Joint Commission, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Michigan Association of Health Plans, Plans, Solucient®, HealthGrades® and J.D. Power and Associates among many others. McLaren has also won

recognition for its superior heart care, neurosurgery, orthopedics and cancer care. McLaren’s long-standing joint venture with Michigan State University also brings some of the most cutting-edge cancer treatments in the nation to the Clarkston community.

For more than 45 years, 10,000 families have trusted the Clarkston Medical Group’s 15 board-certified physicians for their medical care.

“We’ve been vital to delivering the highest quality health care to Clarkston area with a personal touch that can only come with knowing every corner of this community,” said Clarkston Medical Group Founder James O’Neill, M.D. “Now, with McLaren’s presence in Clarkston, our patients will be able to get all of their health care needs met at one place. We’ll be able to improve the health of our community by delivering the same quality of care right in the place where it’s needed most in this community.”

The Village is designed to deliver the full continuum of health care services using the most recent, state-of-the-art technologies and health care facilities to

provide prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, efficiently and cost-effectively at one site.

The $600 million project will be built in three phases. The first phase will feature a new 135,000 sq. ft., medical office building for the Clarkston Medical Group (CMG) that will include a 15,000 sq. ft. ambulatory surgical center. A 30,000 sq. ft. freestanding comprehensive cancer treatment center and beautiful healing gardens with bike paths and walking trails will also be included in the first phase. The lush, landscaped campus will be open to the community to use and enjoy.

The second phase will include a state-of-the-art, comprehensive cardiac center, three life science facilities, additional medical office buildings and a 200-bed hospital depending on need and demand. The third phase, contingent upon the community need, will add 100 hospital beds to the hospital.

The first phase is scheduled to be completed within 18 months. Future phases will be completed over the next five to seven years.

Simulated Experience Sharpens Heart Catheterization SkillsMembers of McLaren’s Heart and Vascular unit were able to receive hands-on training in a risk-free environment when Boston Scientific’s simulation bus docked behind the Medical Center on July 11. The specially equipped bus is able to simulate all catheterization procedures offered at McLaren using Boston Scientific medical devices. Heart and Vascular staff (from front to back) Mary Dean, RN; Bryce Lomerson, RTCV; Carrie Sheppard RN, and Janet Rhodes, RN refresh themselves on a the rotablator, a delicate procedure performed less often than many others in the unit.

3

Emergency Physician Elected President to State Organization

Raymond Rudoni, MD, FACEP, medical director of emergency services at McLaren Regional Medical Center (MRMC), has been named President of the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians (MCEP). Along with his new position with this well known state organization, Dr. Rudoni remains very much involved in emergency medicine initiatives both locally and nationally.

During his one year term as MCEP president, Dr. Rudoni will represent nearly 1,300 Michigan Emergency Physicians. Though the college remains active in all aspects of emergency medicine issues, Dr. Rudoni mentioned three areas of focus during his presidency: Advocacy and lobbying for medical malpractice reform, continued liaison activity with third party payers to ensure fair reimbursement for emergency services, and collaboration with the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) to discuss, measure and

hopefully impact the challenges surrounding emergency department overcrowding and in-patient boarding. The latter issue impacts hospitals and Emergency Departments (ED) around the nation and is a major cause of ambulance diversion and access to emergency care.

In addition to Dr. Rudoni’s leadership role within MCEP, he is involved both locally and nationally in organizations pertinent to the well being of his speciality. He is presently the Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Genesee County. This position allows for participation with paramedic training and county wide pre-hospital quality assurance reviews. Recently, Dr. Rudoni was nominated and accepted a position, to begin this fall, on the board of directors of the Genesee County Medical Society. On a national level, Dr. Rudoni participates annually as a member of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, in the proctoring of the oral board examination for graduating emergency medicine residents who are working towards board certification.

“The ability to take on leadership positions of this sort, would not be possible, without the confidence I have in the entire ED staff, who all provide outstanding emergency care for the patients in our community on a daily basis. The MRMC Emergency Department has an outstanding group of professionals who practice evidence

based emergency medicine and provide excellent customer service.”

Dr. Rudoni received his medical degree form Wayne State University in Detroit, and did his emergency medicine residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He then completed a one year fellowship in Emergency Medicine Administration at Beaumont, along with seven years as a core faculty member, where he contributed to research endeavors and was actively involved in teaching residents.

After accepting the role of medical director of MRMC’s ED in 2002, Dr. Rudoni moved to Grand Blanc. He and the other ED physicians/physician extenders practicing at McLaren, are all associates of EMS, PC.

Faisal Ahmad, M.D., a board certified neurologist, is seeing patients at Flint Neurological Centre, 5082 Villa Linde, Flint. Dr. Ahmad completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He completed his residency at Henry Ford as well. He received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.Faisal Ahmad, M.D.

Raymond Rudoni, M. D.

Welcome to the Medical Staff

Polina Benkenshtadt, M.D.

Polina Benkenshtadt, M.D., a board certified internal medicine specialist, is seeing patients at her office located at 1335 S. Linden Rd, Suite C, Flint. Dr. Benkenshtadt completed her residency at Sinai Hospital in Detroit. She received her medical degree from Azerbaidjan State Medical University in Baku, Azerbaidjan.

“It would be challenging to serve on these grassroots programs if it were

not for the solid team in McLaren’s

Emergency Department.”

– Raymond Rudoni, M. D

Continued on Pg. 4

MISSION: McLaren Health Care Corporation, through its subsidiaries, will be Michigan’s best value in healthcare as defined by quality outcomes and cost.

VISION: McLaren Regional Medical Center will be the recognized leader and preferred provider of primary and specialty healthcare services to the communities of mid-Michigan.

Visit our website and view Connection online: www.mclaren.org

A monthly publication for employees and friends of McLaren Regional Medical Center.

Donald Kooy, President and CEO,McLaren Regional Medical Center

Managing Editor: Laurie Prochazka,Director of Marketing Communications, McLaren Health Care Corporation

Editor: Ellen Peter

Contributing Authors:Sherry Stewart, Ellen Peter, Laurie Prochazka

Photography: Ted Klopf and contributions from McLaren employees

Design: Shamiah Specht,McLaren Art Department

Printing: McLaren Graphics Department

We welcome comments, suggestions, and ideas: ellenp@mclaren.org or call (810) 342-4478

Douglas Iddings, D.O.

Welcome to the Medical Staff Continued from page 3

Douglas Iddings, D.O., surgical oncologist, has joined Advanced General & Oncological Surgery Associates and the McLaren Regional Medical Center medical staff. Dr. Iddings received his medical degree from Michigan State University. He completed his residency training in general surgery at Genesys Regional Medical Center and moved on to complete 2 years of a Society of Surgical Oncology approved surgical oncology fellowship training program at John Wayne Cancer Institute in California. He is board certified in General Surgery. Dr. Iddings joins Sukamal Saha, M.D., FACS, FRCS (C) and Kiet Doan, DO in practice.

Allan Kalmus, D.P.M., a board certified podiatrist, is seeing patients at Associated Foot Clinic, located at 915 S. Dort Hwy., Flint. Dr. Kalmus completed his residency at Colmery-O’Neil Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. He received his medical degree from William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Michael Kia, M.D., has recently joined the staff at the McLaren Bariatric Institute and MRMC. A board certified general surgeon, Dr. Kia received fellowship training in minimally invasive and robotic surgery from the University of Texas in Houston. Dr. Kia specializes in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, making him the only fellowship trained robotic general surgeon in Michigan. Dr. Kia received

his medical degree from Touro University in San Francisco, and he completed his training in general surgery through Michigan State University.

Alexey Levashkevich, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist, is seeing patients at McLaren OB/GYN Associates-Flint Township, 1010 N. Linden Rd., Flint. Dr. Levashkevich completed his residency at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York. He received his medical degree from Minsk State Medical Institute in Minsk, Belarus.

Sundar Ramanathan, M.D., a board certified nephrologist, is seeing patients at Mid-Michigan Kidney and Hypertension located at 5080 Villa Linde, Suite 2, Flint. Dr. Ramanathan completed fellowships in both kidney and pancreas transplantation and nephrology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Arkansas. He received his medical degree from St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India.

Timothy Snyder, D.P.M., a board certified podiatrist, is seeing patients at Associated Foot Clinic, located at 915 S. Dort Hwy., Flint. Dr. Snyder completed his residency at Houston Podiatric Foundation in Kingwood, Texas. He received his medical degree from William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Allan Kalmus, D.P.M.

Michael Kia, M.D.

Alexey Levashkevich, M.D.

Sundar Ramanathan, M.D.

Timothy Snyder, D.P.M.