Envision Healthcare Announces Successful Confirmation of Plans of Reorganization

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Expects to exit with significantly deleveraged balance sheet and a focus on growth as a leading medical group

Nashville, Tenn. – (October 11, 2023) – Envision Healthcare today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division has confirmed its Plans of Reorganization (the “Confirmed Plans”).

Under the terms of the Confirmed Plans, which were approved at a hearing on October 11, 2023, Envision will eliminate 70 percent of its prepetition funded debt. Importantly, the Confirmed Plans ensure that Envision and AMSURG will remain strong partners to their valued clinicians, physician partners, clients, vendors and suppliers following the reorganization.

“I am pleased to have reached an agreement with our key stakeholders and look forward to emerging from Chapter 11 in the coming weeks,” said Envision Healthcare CEO Jim Rechtin. “The Confirmed Plans allow Envision to emerge from the process in a strong position to navigate the current healthcare environment and take advantage of future opportunities to grow while continuing to deliver high quality care to patients when they need it most. On behalf of our leadership team, I give my deepest gratitude to our clinicians, teammates, hospital partners, vendors and creditors for working through this process.”

Upon emergence in the coming weeks, Envision Healthcare and AMSURG will be separated into two stand-alone entities with separate leadership teams and owner groups. “I appreciate the collaboration with Envision leaders that has brought us to this point,” said AMSURG President Jeff Snodgrass. “We have built strong momentum as an organization that will propel our path to growth. I look forward to AMSURG’s next chapter and am grateful for the efforts of our teams, centers and physician partners that drive our success.”

The organization anticipates finalizing definitive transaction documents to consummate the Confirmed Plans over the coming weeks, subject to customary closing procedures and conditions. Envision anticipates emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings by the end of October 2023.

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Advisors
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel, Alvarez & Marsal LLC is acting as financial advisor, and PJT Partners LP is acting as investment banker to the organization in connection with the restructuring.

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. As a leader in ambulatory surgical care, AMSURG holds ownership in more than 250 surgery centers 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 and Its Charitable Fund Donate $4 Million to More Than 50 Organizations

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today announced that Envision, along with the Envision Healthcare Charitable Fund (the “Charitable Fund”), has contributed more than $4 million in 2022 to more than 50 charitable organizations supporting the health of communities across the United States and the globe.

“It is truly an honor to work with so many talented people who care deeply about supporting one another and the communities we serve,” said AMSURG President and Envision Healthcare Charitable Fund Chair Jeff Snodgrass. “We are pleased to invest our collective time, resources and expertise to support and uplift those in need.”

The team has contributed to several organizations dedicated to providing much-needed services locally, nationally and globally. Some of the initiatives include, but are not limited to:

  • Championing clinician well-being efforts that are working to mitigate burnout among healthcare professionals and safeguard their mental health.
  • Providing medication and medical support to communities impacted by the devastating flooding in Pakistan.
  • Providing individual first aid kits to medical personnel on the frontlines in Ukraine and cardiology surgical supplies to Ukrainian hospitals.
  • Sending medical teams to the Dominican Republic and Honduras to provide essential care to communities in need.
  • Supporting nationwide efforts to educate the public about gastrointestinal health and preventing colorectal cancer – the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
  • Providing supplies to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian – a destructive Category 4 hurricane that tore through Florida and South Carolina.

In August 2022, about 370 clinical and clinical support Envision teammates gathered in Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas to build more than 1,600 health and hygiene kits with essentials, such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. Envision teams across the country led a similar effort in December 2022, assembling smile kits with oral care products to give to underserved youth. In addition, more than 300 Envision teammates have written notes of encouragement to first responders, teachers, students, veterans and patients throughout the year.

“Thank you to everyone at Envision for stepping up in so many ways to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Jim Rechtin, Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “Our team’s sense of duty is profound and inspiring. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that focuses on serving others. Our actions have a meaningful impact, and I’m confident we’ll continue making progress on improving health equity in communities across the U.S. and the world.”

Since 2020, Envision, together with the Charitable Fund, has contributed more than $8 million in donations to support healthcare-related philanthropic initiatives focusing on care for those in need, research, education and community action locally, nationally and globally. It supports programs, including but not limited to disaster response initiatives, global mission trips, health and wellness programs, hospital foundations, medical research and awareness campaigns. The Charitable Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

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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. 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 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’s Inaugural Clinical Impact Report Details High-Quality Patient Care Initiatives

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today released its 2021 Clinical Impact Report, highlighting its impact on patients’ lives and communities across the country last year. The full report is available at EnvisionHealth.com/Impact-Report.

“In 2021, we remained on the frontlines for patients, exceeding national care quality benchmarks and implementing new programs that improve patients’ access to the right care at the right time,” said Jim Rechtin, Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “We also made strides in enhancing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Clinician Wellness programs. While there is no way to measure the true impact the Envision team has had on the millions of people we serve, this inaugural report provides a snapshot of the many ways we make a difference.”

Envision’s 2021 Clinical Impact Report demonstrates how Envision is providing care when and where it’s needed most. Last year, the Envision team rose to the many unique demands for care and drove positive changes within the U.S. healthcare system. Grounded in its commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, the team continued combating the COVID-19 pandemic, responded to natural disasters and humanitarian crises and advanced innovative care approaches.

Envision remains focused on elevating the voices of clinicians and patients and championing solutions that improve the healthcare system for everyone. As the medical group moves forward in 2022, it will continue protecting the patient-clinician relationship, caring deeply for everyone and centering its actions on advancing the delivery of safe, quality care.

Making a Positive Impact
From providing lifesaving care to preventing colon cancer to welcoming newborns into the world, Envision is uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on millions of people in the U.S. In 2021, Envision’s 30,000 clinical and clinical support teammates and 4,000 ambulatory surgery center physician partners cared for America through millions of visits, including:

  • 30 million patient encounters
  • 16 million emergency department visits
  • 9 million radiology reads
  • 6 million anesthesia cases
  • 900,000 colonoscopies
  • 180,000 cataract surgeries
  • 132,000 newborn deliveries supported

Caring for Communities
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical group has helped lead the nation’s COVID-19 response, caring for patients and working to mitigate the spread of the virus. More than 500 Envision clinicians have traveled to hard-hit communities to provide lifesaving care and relief since the beginning of the pandemic. In 2021, Envision clinicians treated more than 3.4 million COVID-19 patients through emergency department and inpatient visits, including in the intensive care unit. Clinicians also administered COVID-19 tests and vaccines to first responders and community members. Envision continues to educate the public about the importance of getting vaccinated, leading by example through its commitment to having a fully vaccinated team.

Through its disaster response program and years of expertise responding to crises, Envision teams are helping community members navigate some of the nation’s most challenging times. In 2021, Envision clinicians cared for more than 5,000 Afghan refugees for five months until they were resettled and had the resources needed to begin their new lives in the U.S. Teammates also supported communities during the deep freeze in Texas, Hurricane Ida in Louisiana, the tornadoes in the Midwest and the Marshall Fire in Colorado.

Providing Safe, High-Quality, Patient-Centered Care
Through Envision’s commitment to a culture of safety, clinicians are continuously evaluating clinical protocols and developing best practices to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. Envision operates one of 94 Patient Safety Organizations listed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services division, which helps improve the quality and safety of patient care. Through the Physicians Quality Registry, a Qualified Clinical Data Registry approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Envision is one of the largest submitters of performance data to Medicare and is helping define the quality of care nationally.

Last year, Envision clinicians developed one new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System measure. Clinicians also exceeded several national quality benchmarks, including measures regarding sepsis, non-opioid pain therapy and the care of babies born weighing less than 1,500 grams.

Empowering Teammates to Thrive
Envision is focused on caring for the people who care for America. In 2021, the medical group remained steadfast in its efforts to prioritize the health of its teams through its comprehensive Clinician Wellness program, which includes free mental health services, peer-to-peer support, crisis debriefs and leadership coaching. Envision also advocated for the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Act – a bipartisan bill designed to help change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare.

Last year, Envision continued advancing its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program, raising awareness and providing teammates with educational opportunities and resources to support DEI. As a medical group caring for communities that reflect the country’s racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and economic diversity, Envision recognizes its responsibility to create a more just and inclusive society.

To download and read the report, visit EnvisionHealth.com/Impact-Report.

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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 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 Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary

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AMSURG launched in 1992 as a pioneer in the ambulatory surgery center industry, originating a physician partnership model that endures today. Our original focus was endoscopy centers, but we quickly expanded to include ophthalmology, orthopedic and multi-specialty centers. Today, AMSURG is an industry innovator, advocate, and source for patients to find quality care in their communities.

AMSURG has grown from six partner physician groups in 1992 into a network of nearly 2,000 partner physicians at more than 255 facilities in 34 states and the District of Columbia. But our mission has never changed – to provide quality care when and where it’s needed most, providing enhanced access to services that improve and lengthen life.

Over the past three decades, AMSURG partner physicians have performed more than 25 million procedures across multiple specialties. What began with endoscopies has evolved to incorporate everything from eye care and pain management to the latest in orthopedic care, including total joint replacements – all in a same-day outpatient setting.

One of our proudest achievements came a dozen years ago when we launched StopColonCancerNow, a network of gastroenterologists that spans 32 states and the District of Columbia. Through their work with patients and public awareness and education campaigns, these clinicians combat the second deadliest form of cancer, colon cancer. AMSURG itself is a nation’s leading operator of GI endoscopy centers, and we provide cutting-edge research with Mount Sinai Health Systems and other partners to reduce health disparities and encourage more Americans to get screened for colon cancer earlier.

Advocacy and education are integral to how we serve patients. In 2012, we launched YourSightMatters, a campaign to raise awareness about cataracts and eye health. Today this coalition represents 300 ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, and staff at 50 surgery centers.

AMSURG was publicly traded on NASDAQ from 1997 until the merger with Envision Healthcare. Revenues first topped $100 million in 1999. In 2000, AMSURG was named to Forbes’ list of Best Small Companies, which features the country’s most rapidly growing firms. The growth continued:

  • By 2002, AMSURG was a partner to 100 surgery centers, and by 2006 we were the largest ASC provider by the number of centers.
  • In 2007, AMSURG launched a multi-specialty ASC acquisition strategy. Today, we have 58 multi-specialty centers averaging more than 350,000 procedures a year.
  • By 2008, our partners were performing one million procedures annually.
  • In 2012, AMSURG established a health system partnership strategy, and today we have 57 centers with health system partners.

That year, we also finalized a partnership with RWJBarnabas Health to offer New Jersey area patients enhanced access to outpatient surgery services.

AMSURG merged with Sheridan Healthcare in 2014 and Envision Healthcare in 2016. That partnership enables us to make care more affordable and accessible to patients, champion wellness, and empower clinicians to improve the health of the communities they serve.

Envision Healthcare Applauds Enactment of Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

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Bipartisan Clinician Well-Being Legislation Promotes Mental Health Among Those Working on the Frontlines of the Pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today welcomed the enactment of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act and the country’s efforts to prioritize healthcare professionals’ health and well-being. The bipartisan bill is named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician in New York City who died by suicide in April 2020 after caring for patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation advances the critical effort to change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law after it was approved with strong support from both parties in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

“The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of supporting the health and well-being of clinicians who go above and beyond to care for patients in need,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Patient and Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will help America’s healthcare professionals access critical mental health resources. The enactment of this law sends a strong signal of support to clinicians across the United States, particularly as we enter the third year of the pandemic.”

Specifically, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act:

  • Establishes grants for training health profession students, residents or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The grants would also help improve health care professionals’ well-being and job satisfaction.
  • Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.
  • Establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.
  • Establishes grants for employee education, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment; health care providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized.
  • Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals’ health.

Healthcare providers go through years of intensive training, incur significant financial 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 trauma and managing their own emotional responses while remaining a source of calm and strength for their patients, their families and their teams. During the course of the pandemic, Envision has provided crisis peer support, implemented mental health leadership training, enhanced formal mental health services and launched peer-to-peer support groups for clinicians.

“Envision Healthcare strongly supported this bipartisan bill as it made its way through Congress,” said Patrick Velliky, Vice President of Government Affairs at Envision Healthcare. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put a significant strain on all healthcare professionals and our already fragile healthcare ecosystem. We must protect the clinicians who care for our country. Providing them with critical resources, as outlined in the bill, is a positive first step in helping them thrive and supporting the long-term health of our nation. This bill aligns with our initiatives to promote clinician well-being, and we are very pleased to see the president sign it into law.”

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, 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 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 Sees Increase in Colorectal Cancer, Urges Americans to Receive Timely Screenings

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in gastrointestinal care, is seeing an increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses and encouraging Americans to receive timely, appropriate screenings and not delay care.

AMSURG data reveals that, in 2021, there was a measurable increase in advanced stage colorectal cancer and precancerous growths, called polyps, in adults of all ages compared to 2020. This increase might be due to patients delaying screenings and care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, AMSURG reported more than 200,000 patients had missed their colonoscopies since the start of the pandemic.

“Any increase in colorectal cancer is very concerning,” said Regina DeHart, colon cancer survivor and Vice President at AMSURG. “Having been diagnosed with colon cancer at 42, I know how important it is to have timely screenings. If the pre-cancerous or cancerous polyps are removed in time, there is a greater chance of surviving. Any delay in routine screenings – even by a year – can make a difference in saving someone’s life. People can thrive after a CRC diagnosis, but timing matters.”

Although colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., it is one of the most preventable cancers. As a leader in CRC screening, detection and prevention, AMSURG has been educating the public about the importance of timely screenings based on an individual’s age and risk factors. De-identified data from nearly 3 million colonoscopies performed at AMSURG ambulatory surgery centers supports recent recommendations to lower the first-time screening age from 50 to 45 for people at average risk.

Based on 2021 AMSURG data, people were on average 57.6 years old when they had their first screening colonoscopy. In 2016, the average person receiving a first-time screening was 58.5 years old – which was before the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force released guidance changing the age to 45.

“While the U.S. healthcare system has made progress in lowering the recommended screening age, too many people are starting their screenings too late. A lot of work remains to educate people and encourage them to begin screening at 45,” said John Popp, MD, Medical Director for AMSURG. “Receiving timely and routine colonoscopies can save your life. If you are 45 or older, you should be screened. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or are experiencing symptoms, such as altered bowel habits or blood in the stool, talk to your physician about a colonoscopy regardless of your age. In addition, a positive at-home test should be evaluated with a follow-up colonoscopy promptly. When a colonoscopy is delayed – especially after a positive at-home test – there is a greater chance an individual will have more advanced cancer.”

A colonoscopy is the most thorough screening test. It enables physicians to examine the entire length of the colon to identify and remove polyps before they pose a greater health risk to patients. Individuals should consult a physician if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms or have questions about when they should be screened.

To learn more about colorectal cancer or where to schedule a colonoscopy, visit StopColonCancerNow.com.

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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 orthopedics. 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, 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 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 Continues Meeting Demand for Care

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, continues answering America’s call for care as concern grows over rising COVID-19 cases and the fast-spreading Omicron variant. The medical group and its affiliated clinicians remain committed to providing high-quality patient care when and where it is needed most in 2022 and beyond. This includes fighting the global pandemic, providing patients complex and high-acuity care and helping patients improve and maintain their quality of life.

“The past two years, we have been called upon to take on the enormous task of caring for America during a sustained global health crisis. And every single day, Envision’s affiliated clinicians and clinical support teammates have answered that call,” said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “It is an honor and privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team. Everybody cares deeply for one another, our healthcare partners and our patients while pursuing the extraordinary. This team makes a truly meaningful difference in the lives of millions of people. Looking forward, I believe we’ll make an even greater impact in shaping the future of care delivery and improving the health of communities.”

Providing Care When and Where It Is Needed Most
Almost two years after the first COVID-19 case was identified in the U.S., Envision Healthcare continues to be there for patients. From providing lifesaving COVID-19 care and administering vaccines to preventing colorectal cancer and expanding patients’ access to care, the 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers affiliated with Envision have been at the forefront, caring for communities across the country and world. Some of the medical group’s actions in 2021 have included:

  • Caring for millions of COVID-19 patients
  • Deploying 300 clinicians in 2021 to Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana and Texas to care for patients in communities overwhelmed by COVID-19
  • Providing medical care to more than 2,000 Hurricane Ida evacuees and 5,000 Afghan refugees
  • Caring for patients impacted by the tornado outbreak across the Midwest and South in December 2021
  • Donating oxygen concentrators to healthcare providers in India, enabling treatment of four to five COVID-19 patients simultaneously
  • Providing surgical and essential medical care to more than 500 patients in Honduras and the Dominican Republic as part of Envision’s Global Health Initiative to support the health of communities worldwide
  • Working with paramedics in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) program to provide the right care at the right time and in the right place to patients across 11 states
  • Supporting communities, including first responders and multiple professional sports teams within the NFL, MLS and MLB, with COVID-19 testing, vaccine administration and game-day medical support

Delivering High-Quality, Patient-Centered Care
As a leader in delivering quality care, Envision puts patients’ health and safety first. The medical group is continuously evaluating clinical best practices and implementing innovative care solutions to improve the health of communities. In addition to its robust quality programs, Envision operates a Patient Safety Organization certified by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The group also has a Qualified Clinical Data Registry approved by CMS to help with quality measure development, data collection and performance reporting. Through the registry, Envision is one of the largest submitters of performance data to Medicare, which means it is defining the quality of care at a national level. These platforms help Envision’s affiliated clinicians and healthcare partners drive toward safe, reliable and high-quality care.

Envision-affiliated clinicians have provided nearly 300,000 virtual health visits since the program was expanded at the beginning of the pandemic. The virtual health visits are primarily in the areas of office-based care, urgent care, neurology and post-acute care. The medical group is enhancing its virtual health capabilities to improve patients’ access to the appropriate care.

Radiologists affiliated with Envision are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance disease detection, case prioritization and diagnosis for three common and consequential medical emergencies: intracranial hemorrhages, pulmonary embolisms and cervical spine fractures.

As part of a series of educational initiatives, the medical group has shared its clinical expertise and recommendations to improve treatment and patient outcomes throughout the healthcare system. Envision and its affiliated clinicians continue to address the nation’s most pressing healthcare challenges, including healthcare disparities, maternal-fetal care, opioid prescription misuse and opioid use disorder, strokes and clinician well-being.

Caring for the Clinicians Who Care for America
A core tenet of Envision’s mission is to care for the clinicians who care for America. Envision is committed to protecting clinicians and fostering an environment that supports their professional and personal well-being. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Envision has expanded its wellness program, which includes free mental health services, peer-to-peer support, crisis debriefs, leadership training and counseling. These resources are part of a comprehensive, systems-based approach that focuses on the unique needs of clinicians and is shared with the entire medical community.

While Envision has always prioritized wellness, the pandemic put significant pressure on clinicians, requiring them to risk their health and safety to care for millions of patients while navigating the challenges that already existed within the complex and dated U.S. healthcare system. Envision advocated for the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Act – a bipartisan bill named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician in Manhattan who died by suicide in April 2020 after caring for patients during the first COVID-19 wave. It is designed to help change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare.

Preventing Colorectal Cancer
AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in outpatient care, has worked alongside its physician partners throughout the year to perform more than 900,000 colonoscopies, helping patients detect and prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. but one of the most preventable cancers. When detected early, CRC can be easier to treat, and patients often have better outcomes.

As more patients are diagnosed with CRC at a younger age, AMSURG is educating Americans on how they can prevent CRC and maintain their health. In 2021, AMSURG, one of the nation’s leading providers of colonoscopies, conducted crucial research in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The teams’ findings support recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society to lower the initial screening age from 50 to 45 for Americans who are at average risk for CRC.

Leading the Delivery of Care Into 2022
In 2021, the medical group cared for more than 32 million patients across the country, drawing upon its collective expertise to improve patient outcomes and the health of communities. The multispecialty team is developing solutions to healthcare challenges, improving patients’ access to care and helping lead the country in providing value-based care. In 2022, Envision will continue sharing clinical best practices with the healthcare community and advancing the delivery of care.

As Envision fights COVID-19, it urges Americans to follow safe and effective public health measures. Everyone plays a role in caring for one another. COVID-19 vaccines are one of the most effective tools available at preventing severe illness and saving someone’s life. Envision encourages all who are eligible, including children who are at least 5 years old, to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive their boosters when appropriate. In addition, wearing a mask, staying socially distant and testing for COVID-19 remain effective ways to mitigate the spread of the virus.

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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 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 Welcomes House Committee Approval of Bipartisan Clinician Well-Being Legislation

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today welcomed House Energy and Commerce Committee approval of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act – a bipartisan bill named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician in Manhattan who died by suicide in April 2020 after caring for patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Passed with support from both parties, the committee’s action advances the critical effort to change the culture and conditions that lead to burnout and eliminate the stigma that deters healthcare professionals from seeking mental healthcare. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the bill last summer.

“We must care for the healthcare providers who go above and beyond to care for our families and communities,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Patient and Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “Our clinicians have always deserved our support, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear we need to positively impact the mental health of clinicians. Passage of this legislation is an important step toward enacting changes that promote and support the well-being of the healthcare professionals who take care of America.”

Specifically, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act:

  • Establishes grants for training health profession students, residents or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The grants would also help improve health care professionals’ well-being and job satisfaction.
  • Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.
  • Establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.
  • Establishes grants for employee education, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment; health care providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized.
  • Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals’ health.

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. During the course of the pandemic, Envision has provided crisis peer support, implemented mental health leadership training, enhanced formal mental health services and launched peer-to-peer support groups for clinicians.

“Envision Healthcare is pleased to see strong bipartisan support for clinician health and well-being,” said Patrick Velliky, Vice President of Government Affairs at Envision Healthcare. “Advancement of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act aligns well with our initiatives to promote clinician well-being. Providing healthcare professionals with critical resources and support is essential to helping them thrive.”

Envision encourages the U.S. House of Representatives to act quickly to pass the Act so that it can be signed into law as soon as possible.

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, 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.

Envision Healthcare Shares Resources to Support Clinician Mental Health

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National Medical Group Uses Systematic Professional Well-Being Approach to Support Clinicians’ Wellness

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, is providing best practices on how to improve the professional well-being of clinicians and mitigate burnout. To help the more than 50 percent of clinicians who experience symptoms of burnout,[1] Envision is sharing its mental health resources with the entire medical community.

Throughout the pandemic, clinicians have dealt with similar life stressors that everyone is facing – illness and death of loved ones, child-rearing responsibilities and overall uncertainty – compounded by the trauma and fatigue of fighting a deadly disease for more than 18 months. The post-traumatic stress of the pandemic has and will continue to impact clinicians in the months and years to come.

To help clinicians navigate the many challenges they face in the U.S. healthcare system, Envision has enhanced the wellness resources it provides clinicians and efforts to reduce stigma around mental health, including:

  • Advocating for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act and public policy changes to promote the study of professional mental, behavioral health and burnout among healthcare professionals
  • Providing additional crisis peer support and free mental health support services to clinicians as they continue to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients
  • Enhancing its wellness program to address the psychological and emotional needs of clinicians, including peer-to-peer support, leadership training and counseling

“As a national medical group, it is a core tenet of our mission to care for and foster an environment that supports the professional well-being of clinicians; however, clinician well-being can’t solely focus on the individual – it must encompass personal, organizational, healthcare system and policy interventions,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Clinician Engagement at Envision Healthcare. “We must ensure all clinicians have the resources necessary to support their mental health and well-being. Clinicians are there when we need them most – we must be there for them.”

To further support clinician well-being, Envision supports organizational and healthcare system policy improvements, such as improving practice schedule flexibility, reforming tort laws and providing student loan relief. While individual well-being and resiliency are important, addressing professional well-being as a systemic issue that is actionable will lead to positive, lasting change.

Read the full clinician professional well-being white paper 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 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.

[1] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25521

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.