Envision Healthcare Is Requiring Vaccinations for All Employees to Combat COVID-19, Protect Communities

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, announced today that its full workforce will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, consistent with the group’s mission to care deeply for teammates, patients and community members across the country and keep them safe. Envision’s physicians, advanced practice providers and clinical support teammates — more than 30,000 in all — must be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021. There will be certain exceptions for some individuals.

“The health and well-being of our teammates and patients is our top priority,” said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “As a national medical group, we care for millions of patients, and they trust us to provide the highest quality of care and do everything in our power to ensure their health and safety. We have a responsibility to look after our communities and continue leading by example in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and preventing our neighbors from being impacted by this deadly virus. To keep our teammates and patients safe, we’re all getting vaccinated and encouraging our loved ones to do the same.”

“The science is clear. Vaccination is the best line of defense against COVID-19,” said Chan Chuang, MD, FCCP, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of Envision healthcare. “The vaccines have been proven safe and effective at reducing the risk of severe illness and giving people a greater chance at fighting the virus. According to the American Medical Association, more than 96 percent of physicians in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is an additional step we can each take to best protect our communities and save lives.”

Envision’s 25,000 clinicians care for more than 32 million patients a year and continue to be there for patients when and where they need care the most. Since the start of the pandemic, the medical group has treated about 10 percent of all COVID-19 patients and taken numerous actions to protect clinicians and patients, including:

  • Developing clinical best practices to care for COVID-19 patients
  • Securing more than 10 million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) for clinicians and hospital partners
  • Deploying clinicians to communities hit hardest, which has included teams of more than 500 clinicians that traveled to Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Texas and Florida
  • Expanding and accelerating virtual health visits to protect and care for patients
  • Working to mitigate the spread of the virus by educating the public and providing COVID-19 testing and vaccines to clinicians, first responders and community members
  • Donating PPE and ventilators and preparing to treat patients at its ambulatory surgery centers when hospitals experience surges
  • Enhancing the medical group’s wellness program with free online therapy, peer-to-peer support and intensive professional coaching to care for the clinicians who care for America
  • Continuing to foster the capabilities of and strongly encouraging its clinical support teams to work remotely for the time being

Envision believes that everybody plays a role in caring for and protecting one another.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopaedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

COVID Booster Shots to Begin in September As Delta Variant Fills Hospitals and Breakthrough Infections Rise

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Then Dr. Adam Brown, an emergency physician and the COVID-19 National Task Force Chair at Envision Healthcare, joins CBSN’s Lana Zak to discuss the latest on vaccines and the risk of “breakthrough” infections.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shots-in-september-delta-variant-breakthrough-infections

Need a Gastroenterologist? Look Past Average

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of primary care and prevention experts, recently issued new guidelines that recommend individuals of average risk begin colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings at age 45 instead of age 50.

The Task Force said its recommendation was prompted by an increase in the CRC rate in younger people. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of U.S. cancer death, and more than 10 percent of all new CRC cases are diagnosed in patients under age 50.

While colorectal cancer screenings are essential, clinicians and patients should understand that not all colonoscopies are equal. In particular, to ensure they receive quality care, before scheduling an appointment, patients should ask their gastroenterologist about the gastroenterologist’s adenoma detection rate (ADR) – a measurement that indicates how often precancerous polyps are found during exams and that contributes to how carefully colonoscopies are performed.

A study by the Polish Ministry of Health recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine separated colonoscopies into high- and low- quality exams, with a 20 percent ADR as the dividing line. The goal for the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC), which sets the standard in the collection and reporting of quality measures for the practice of gastrointestinal endoscopy, is a 25 percent ADR. The study, the first to include baseline examination quality in the analysis of long-term risk for CRC and mortality after a negative colonoscopy, also defined high-quality colonoscopies as those that include cecal intubation (a term that means the entire colon was examined) and adequate bowel preparation.

The Polish researchers found patients who received just one negative colonoscopy were at a lower risk for colorectal cancer for up to 17.4 years – but only if the patient had a high-quality exam. The study concluded colonoscopies with ADRs higher than 20 percent “provided a profound and stable reduction in both CRC incidence and mortality throughout follow-up.” In other words, if the negative screening came from a clinician with an ADR below 20 percent, future CRC risk was higher.

Specifically, the researchers found high-quality exams resulted in a two-fold reduction in the colorectal cancer incidence rate and a two-fold lower mortality rate. With a low-quality colonoscopy, mortality already was significantly higher the first five years after examination. The researchers determined, “Many cases of CRC arise from lesions missed at baseline examination rather than from newly developed lesions.”

An analysis of U.S. patients by Kaiser Permanente in 2014 resulted in similar findings. Specifically, Kaiser found for each one percent increase in ADR, there was a three percent decrease in colorectal cancer risk. That study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, said the ADR “was inversely associated with the risks of interval colorectal cancer, advanced-stage interval cancer, and fatal interval cancer.”

The Polish study also concluded high-quality colonoscopies are perhaps even more important for women. “Examination quality particularly affected CRC incidence and mortality in women,” the researchers said. “After low-quality colonoscopy, incidence rates in women were significantly higher than the rates observed in men throughout follow-up.”

In 2019, AMSURG ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) completed more than 938,000 colonoscopies and identified nearly 360,000 patients with adenomas/cancers. The ADR for AMSURG clinicians participating in GIQuIC is 38.37 percent – nearly double the ADR the Polish study rated as high-quality. (About three-quarters of all AMSURG ASCs participate in GIQuIC.)

“In 2019 AMSURG clinicians identified more than 125,000 additional cancers and adenomas than would be expected if their ADR was simply equal to the national benchmark,” said Dr. Jay Popp, AMSURG Medical Staff Development Lead. “When it comes to colonoscopies, quality can be a life or death matter. By tracking ADR through GIQuIC, our centers provide the information patients need to make informed decisions that will reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer and will protect their long-term health.”

AMSURG and Mount Sinai Health System Release New Research on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

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Findings Support Recommendations to Lower Average Screening Age to 45

(NEW YORK, NY & NASHVILLE, TN – May 24, 2021) — AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in outpatient care, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, world-renowned for its groundbreaking research, released new findings on colorectal cancer (CRC), which support several recommendations to lower the screening age from 50 to 45 for people who are at average risk for CRC. The findings were presented at the Digestive Disease Week® 2021 virtual scientific meeting on May 23.

The Mount Sinai team analyzed approximately 3 million colonoscopies performed at more than 120 AMSURG ambulatory surgery centers across the country in the last six years. The study specifically looked at de-identified data from patients aged 18 to 54 who received a screening or diagnostic colonoscopy and were not undergoing a colonoscopy to monitor previously detected polyps, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or genetic conditions predisposing to cancer. Results show:

  • Colorectal cancer was detected in 0.58 percent of patients aged 45 to 49 and in 0.53 percent of patients aged 40 to 44
  • Polyps that had the greatest possibility of becoming cancerous were found in 7.5 percent of patients aged 45 to 49 and in 5.8 percent of patients aged 40 to 44
  • A significant portion of patients had polyps present even if they did not have a documented family history of colorectal cancer

“These findings are significant and can make a meaningful difference in the healthcare system's ability to save patients’ lives. With early and routine colonoscopies, we can prevent polyps from becoming cancerous and even detect and remove cancerous polyps while giving patients a better chance of recovery and survival. These data support efforts to begin screening at age 45 and communicate the importance of on-time screening by early messaging to patients and providers,” said John Popp, MD, Medical Director for AMSURG.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and one of the most preventable. The incidence of CRC in patients under 50 has nearly doubled since the early 1990s.[1] Consensus in the medical community is building that patients who are at average risk for CRC should begin screening at age 45.

“This study can inform additional research directed at CRC screening in younger populations. More importantly, it helps physicians inform patients about the importance of early screening several years before they reach screening age; we believe that this will encourage younger patients to get routine screenings on time, at the appropriate age, and with close attention to the individual’s risk factors and symptoms,” said primary investigator, Steven Itzkowitz, MD, Professor of Medicine, Oncological Sciences and Medical Education, and Director of the GI Fellowship Program at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Risk factors include a family history of CRC or pre-malignant polyps, inflammatory bowel disease and lifestyle habits, such as diet, smoking and obesity. CRC also disproportionately impacts the Black community. While symptoms are not always easy to recognize, they can include a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea and constipation. Additionally, rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort or a feeling that the bowel does not completely empty can be a cause for concern. Individuals are urged to listen to their bodies and consult their physicians if they have questions or require medical care. 

As a leading provider of colonoscopies, AMSURG submits a larger colonoscopy dataset than any provider to a national endoscopic registry called the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC).
The AMSURG data reviewed for this study was obtained from the registry.

This research on CRC trends in the United States is the first of an ongoing collaboration between AMSURG and Mount Sinai.

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About AMSURG
AMSURG acquires, develops and operates ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) in partnership with physicians throughout the United States. As of January 1, 2021, AMSURG operates and holds ownership in more than 250 ASCs in 34 states and the District of Columbia with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopaedics. To learn more about AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare Corporation, visit www.amsurg.com.

About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies.

As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group operates and holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopaedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care—from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty by U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

1 Stoffel EM, Murphy CC. Epidemiology and mechanisms of the increasing incidence of colon and rectal cancers in young adults. Gastroenterology. 2020;158(2):341-353.

Envision Healthcare Supports Clinician Well-Being During National Mental Health Awareness Month

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, continues its commitment to clinician well-being as the nation observes National Mental Health Awareness Month this May. Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare professionals’ mental health, Envision has taken comprehensive actions during the past year to enhance the wellness resources it provides clinicians, including peer-to-peer support, leadership training and universal counseling and therapy resources.

“Clinicians have given all of themselves to fight COVID-19, and they remain on the frontlines providing care when and where it is needed most,” said James Johnson, MD, Chief Clinical Officer of Anesthesiology at Envision Healthcare. “While we’ve made progress in vaccinating more people and helping our communities fight this virus, the physical and emotional impact of this pandemic cannot be ignored. Even as clinicians continue addressing the immediate crisis of caring for critically ill patients, they will have to navigate the post-traumatic stress of the pandemic in the months and years to come.”

Envision’s wellness programs include resources tailored to its 25,000 clinicians and the unique stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • Coaching and stress management support to help navigate the challenges of COVID-19
  • Peer-to-peer support and outreach programs to provide individualized support for clinicians
  • Unlimited private and confidential messaging (text, voice, video) and video appointment services with a private therapist through TalkSpace, a global leader in telebehavioral health
  • Video conference calls led by trained experts for clinicians and their families that focus on community support
  • Targeted counseling and follow-up sessions for clinicians who have elected to travel to COVID-19 hot spots to help them debrief and prepare for reintegration back home

“As a national medical group with 25,000 clinicians caring for more than 32 million patients annually, we recognize the importance of caring for those who care for us and our loved ones,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “It’s imperative that we support the well-being of our nation’s clinicians and eliminate barriers to seeking mental healthcare.”

In addition to offering expanded wellness resources, Envision advocates for public policy changes to reduce stigmas around mental health and promote the study of professional well-being. The medical group recently welcomed the enactment of provisions in the American Rescue Plan to support America’s healthcare professionals. Modeled after the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act – named in honor of emergency physician Dr. Lorna Breen who died by suicide in 2020 – the provisions aim to reduce and prevent burnout, behavioral disorders and suicide among healthcare professionals.

To learn more about Envision’s commitment to clinician mental health and well-being, click here.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 257 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

Envision Healthcare Applauds Physician Well-Being Provisions in American Rescue Plan

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COVID-19 Relief Funding Will Help America’s Frontline Healthcare Providers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, commends the passage of the American Rescue Plan, which includes specific provisions to support America’s healthcare workers. Modeled after the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide in 2020, the provisions aim to reduce and prevent burnout, behavioral disorders and suicide among healthcare professionals.

Healthcare providers go through years of intensive training, incur significant amounts of debt from school and give up time spent with their families to provide lifesaving care to their community members. Many clinicians have the added pressure of being exposed to constant trauma and managing their own emotional responses while remaining a source of calm and strength for their patients, their families and their teams. In the past year, Envision has provided crisis peer support during the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented mental health leadership training, enhanced formal mental health services and launched peer-to-peer support groups for clinicians.

“Healthcare providers give so much of themselves to care for others – it’s imperative that we do our best to care for them,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Patient and Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “As many clinicians will attest, we choose this profession because of a calling to serve others and make the world a healthier place. However, we make the most meaningful impact when we prioritize our well-being and aren’t burdened by the barriers to and stigma surrounding mental healthcare. As a society, we owe it to our clinicians and ourselves to foster a culture that embraces mental and behavioral healthcare – we will be better for it.”

This Act will bring much-needed relief and support to healthcare professionals nationwide who have been on the frontlines of the sustained COVID-19 crisis. The American Rescue Plan includes:

  • $80 million to train healthcare professionals and public safety officers in strategies to reduce and address suicide, burnout and mental and behavioral health conditions
  • $20 million for education and awareness to encourage healthcare professionals and first responders to seek support and treatment for their behavioral health concerns, identify and respond to risk factors and address the stigma
  • $40 million in grants for healthcare providers to establish or expand programs to promote mental and behavioral health among their professional workforce

“As a national medical group with more than 25,000 clinicians, we are invested in their health and well-being and remain committed to providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive,” said Meg Lafave, Senior Vice President of People and Government Affairs at Envision Healthcare. “Provisions from the Dr. Lorna Breen Act align with Envision’s initiatives to eliminate barriers for clinicians and promote wellness.”

Envision applauds the inclusion of language based on the Dr. Lorna Breen Provider Protection Act and encourages Congress to pass additional provisions included in S. 610 that were not included in the final version of the American Rescue Plan. Specifically, S.610 would authorize a comprehensive study on healthcare professional mental and behavioral health and burnout as well as provide additional guidance as to the administration of the new grant programs. These additional provisions would further strengthen the important investments these new programs will make in the well-being of frontline clinicians.

To learn more about Envision’s commitment to professional well-being, click here.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation
Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 255 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

AMSURG Reminds Americans to Seek Care in Fight Against Colorectal Cancer

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With 200,000 Colonoscopies Missed in 2020, National Leader in Colorectal Cancer Detection and Prevention Stresses Importance of Early Detection and Treatment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in outpatient care, is raising awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC), encouraging individuals who are at average risk to begin routine screenings at age 45 and not delay essential screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. – that’s not a statistic Americans should accept. Together, we can change this,” said Jeff Snodgrass, President of AMSURG. “Routine screenings like colonoscopies detect and prevent colorectal cancer. With proper screenings, people can reduce their chances of developing serious health complications from colorectal cancer.”

Routine screenings play an essential role in helping people detect and prevent CRC. When detected early, CRC can be easier to treat, and patients often have better outcomes. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 150,000 people will be diagnosed with CRC in 2021. Although the rate of people being diagnosed with CRC has dropped in recent years, the incidence in young adults is increasing. AMSURG data reveals that since 2019, pre-cancerous polyps have been found in one out of four patients under the age of 50 who have undergone a colonoscopy.

Medical consensus is building for Americans 45 and older to receive routine screenings for CRC. The American Cancer Society lowered the recommended screening age from 50 to 45 in 2019. In 2020, the United States Preventive Services Task Force shared a draft recommendation to lower the screening age to 45.

“Every year, every month counts with CRC,” said Brenda Thompson Green, AMSURG employee. “Four years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 46. Had I been encouraged to get screened a year earlier, there’s the potential that I could have had a much more positive outcome and not required such intense treatment. I am alive today because I listened to my body, sought the appropriate care and received a screening colonoscopy at the suggestion of my physician. Until the screening age is more broadly accepted, I cannot stress how important it is for people to know their family history, understand the symptoms and not delay care.”

AMSURG is the national leader in providing colonoscopies – a comprehensive procedure in which physicians can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous. A colonoscopy is instrumental in helping people maintain their health and quality of life. CRC does not disappear during a pandemic. In 2021, AMSURG revealed that more than 200,000 of its patients missed their colonoscopies, and based on statistical expectations, approximately 900 of these people would have CRC.

“At our centers, we provide patients essential care and support the health of communities – even during a pandemic,” said John Popp, MD, Medical Director for AMSURG. “We continue to adhere to rigorous quality and safety measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 exposure. People should be on the lookout for CRC symptoms, such as a persistent change in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation or a change in the consistency of their stool. Rectal bleeding, persistent abdominal discomfort, or a feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely may also be warning signs.”

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About AMSURG

AMSURG acquires, develops and operates ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) in partnership with physicians throughout the United States. As of January 1, 2021, AMSURG owned and operated 257 ASCs in 34 states and the District of Columbia with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopaedics. To learn more about AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare Corporation, visit www.amsurg.com.

About Envision Healthcare Corporation

Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 257 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.

National Glaucoma Awareness Month: Halt the Sneak Thief of Sight with Early Detection

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January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and AMSURG wants to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in the United States. More than 3 million people in the United States, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million in the United States by 2030, a 40 percent increase.

Sometimes known as the “The Sneak Thief of Sight,” glaucoma is a blanket term for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma has no cure and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Once the damage is done to the optic nerve, a large amount of vision can be permanently lost without someone noticing.

“Glaucoma is labeled a ‘sneak thief’ because it does just that – it sneaks up on you and does damage without you noticing,” Dr. Jeff Taylor, an ophthalmologist with The Eye Surgery Center of Paducah, Kentucky, said. “That loss of vision doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a gradual process that will eventually result in permanent loss of vision if it is not adequately treated, all happening without you knowing.”

What are some common risk factors for glaucoma?

  • Age 45 or older
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • History of injury to the eye
  • African American heritage
  • History of steroid use, either in the eye (drops) or systemically (orally or injected)
  • Diabetes
  • Nearsighted (myopic)
  • Farsighted (hyperopic)
  • History of elevated intraocular pressure

Early detection is critical to preventing glaucoma from damaging your vision, and the best way to protect your sight is to get a comprehensive eye examination. If glaucoma is detected in a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will design a treatment plan for you. Your doctor will go over the treatment options available and make recommendations for which treatment or combinations of treatments are best for your specific condition.

“If we can document that something is changing with your optic nerve or peripheral vision early, then we can start treatment,” Dr. Taylor said. “Promising new research on glaucoma is conducted every day trying to find a cure, but until that is found, we will continue to use tools like early detection to preserve sight.”

In 2020, AMSURG centers provided thousands of glaucoma procedures. AMSURG is proud to partner with more than 60 ophthalmology and multispecialty centers, and five ophthalmology practice locations, to provide high-quality patient care and consistently work on prevention, awareness, improved treatment methods and new procedure technologies for patients with glaucoma.

Want to know if you’re at risk? Click here to take a glaucoma risk assessment and find out. Or click here to request an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam at an AMSURG Center.

Envision Healthcare Continues Supporting Patients and Clinicians, Meeting COVID-19 Care Demand

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National Medical Group Provides Crucial Support and Resources Through Clinician Deployments, Virtual Health Solutions, PPE Donations and Essential Care to Communities Throughout 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, continues to answer America’s call for COVID-19 care. The group remains on the frontlines, taking comprehensive actions to care for patients and support its clinicians and healthcare partners while responding to increases in COVID-19 cases nationwide.

“I’m extremely proud of the clinicians and clinical support teammates at Envision,” said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “Everyone has worked relentlessly to support one another, our patients and our communities. As we look ahead to next year, Envision will continue to be there for patients when and where they need us most.”

Envision’s 25,000 clinicians have cared for approximately one out of every 10 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In addition, the medical group has supported communities across the U.S. by:

Deploying Teams of More Than 500 Clinicians to COVID-19 Hot Spots

During the past 10 months, multispecialty teams of more than 500 physicians and advanced practice providers have volunteered to travel to eight states to support communities hit hardest by the pandemic, including:

  • New York and New Jersey – Nearly 200 Envision clinicians traveled to support the Northeast’s COVID-19 outbreak during the late spring and summer months.
  • Arizona – In the summer, Envision clinicians supported Tucson hospitals, sharing knowledge gained and best practices from the surge in New York.
  • Florida – A team of nearly 300 clinicians provided COVID-19 relief in the Orange, Pinellas and Duval counties during the summer.
  • Texas – In the fall, more than 80 clinicians elected to support the El Paso and Lubbock communities as they began treating a surge of COVID-19 patients.
  • Colorado, Kansas and Kentucky – Clinicians have supported fluctuating demands for COVID-19 care as the virus impacts communities across these states.

Expanding Virtual Health Visits and Providing Community COVID-19 Testing

In some communities, the national medical group quickly stood up drive-thru testing sites and administered testing to first responders and community members. Throughout the country, Envision expanded and accelerated its virtual health capabilities to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect patients and clinicians. Teams have been providing care via tele-triage appointments, enabling them to evaluate a patient while observing social distancing in the hospital. Envision’s office-based practices also increased their virtual health offerings to patients to ensure continuity of care during the pandemic. Since March, Envision has provided nearly 250,000 virtual health visits. The expanded use of virtual health is one of many solutions Envision has implemented to advance patient care. The group will continue to offer virtual health options to patients for the duration of the pandemic and into the future.

Providing Essential Care to Non-COVID-19 Patients

AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and national leader in the management of ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), has played a vital role during the COVID-19 crisis. Some centers have distributed critical resources like personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators to areas of greatest need, and others have been prepared to treat COVID-19 patients from crowded nearby hospitals. AMSURG ASCs remain an integral part of the healthcare system, providing essential care that helps patients maintain and improve their health and quality of life. This includes performing colonoscopies to detect and prevent colorectal cancer. AMSURG’s network of more than 250 centers has continued to follow high quality and safety standards and rigid infection control protocols to protect its teams and patients.

Enhancing Its Clinician Wellness Program

Envision is committed to protecting and empowering clinicians so they can focus on what matters most – caring for patients. The group secured more than 6 million items of PPE to share with its frontline clinicians and hospital partners. In addition to making sure clinicians have the necessary resources at the bedside, Envision has focused on helping clinicians navigate the mental and emotional challenges of being on the frontlines during a pandemic. Some of the many resources include free therapy with licensed professionals, peer-to-peer support groups, mandatory debriefs following deployment to a COVID-19 hot spot and more. Envision is also advocating for a regulatory environment that eliminates the stigma of addressing mental health in care providers.

Envision continues to urge the public to mitigate the spread of the virus by taking the necessary steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. These include hand washing, maintaining six feet of distance from others, wearing a mask, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when feeling sick.

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About Envision Healthcare Corporation

Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a market leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 255 surgery centers in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit www.envisionhealth.com.