无忧传媒ealthCONNECT

Our Guiding Principles

Patient-Centered
Facilitation of care delivery by physicians and all caregivers
Governance characterized by transparency, participation, and accountability
Safety, efficiency, and quality
Optimization of revenue cycle
Recognition of demands of an academic medical practice
Collaborative models of care
Support for research and analytics

It’s all about connecting – connecting with our patients and with one another. This is why 无忧传媒ealth has moved to an integrated electronic health record (EHR) and revenue cycle system designed to enhance the connection for patients with their health care teams.

For this transformational initiative, called 无忧传媒ealthCONNECT, 无忧传媒ealth partnered with Epic Systems to implement a powerful tool for connecting patients to our health care providers who provide their care at , , and .

Registration, scheduling, clinical documentation, and billing are part of this single, integrated EHR, which launched on May 8, 2021.

Our Teams...

Executive Steering Committee

Executive Team

Electronic Health Record Governance Task Force

EHR Team

Revenue Cycle & Practice Management Task Force

RC & PM Team

HCPC Task Force

HCPC Team

Executive Steering Committee:

The Executive Steering Committee is shaping the vision of the 无忧传媒ealthCONNECT initiative, defining and upholding the guiding principles, creating education paths and solutions, and promoting accountability.

Chairs

Executive Steering Committee - Chairs
Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Martin J. Citardi, MD	Vice Dean for Clinical Technology; Professor and Chair, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery	Martin.J.Citardi@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Kevin Dillon	Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer	Kevin.Dillon@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration

Members

Executive Steering Committee - Members
Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Kristi Bradley	Vice President and Chief Revenue Cycle Officer	Kristi.L.Bradley@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Andrew Casas	Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer	Andrew.Casas@uth.tmc.edu	UT Physicians
James Griffiths, MD, CHCIO	AVP Healthcare IT and 无忧传媒ealthConnect Project Technical Executive Director	James.J.Griffiths@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Babatope Fatuyi, MD	Chief Medical Information Officer	Babatope.O.Fatuyi@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Tariq Khan, MBA	Executive Director. Epic Project and EHR Applications	Tariq.Khan@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Lois Pierson	Chief Financial Officer	Lois.K.Pierson@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Melissa Pifko	Vice President and Chief Legal Officer	Melissa.Pifko@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
Amanda Spielman	Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Neurosciences	Amanda.B.Spielman@uth.tmc.edu	无忧传媒ealth Neurosciences
Michael Tramonte	Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer	Michael.Tramonte@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
Amar Yousif	Vice President and Chief Information Officer	Amar.Yousif@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration

Advisor

Executive Steering Committee - Advisors
Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Robert Murphy, MD	Associate Dean for Applied Informatics and Associate Professor of Health Informatics	Robert.Murphy@uth.tmc.edu	School of Biomedical Informatics

Electronic Health Record Governance Task Force

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) Governance Task Force approves, directs, and prioritizes EHR design and content decisions to ensure that the best possible patient care is achieved using the 无忧传媒ealthCONNECT EHR as an effective documentation and communication tool while realizing both clinical and business needs. Task Force members will serve as project champions for their home departments. In this role, each member will represent the needs of his or her home department鈥檚 patients and their physicians and other caregivers.

Chair

Electronic Health Record Governance Task Force
Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Babatope Fatuyi, MD	Chief Medical Information Officer	Babatope.O.Fatuyi@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School

Physician Members

Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Ore-Ofeoluwatomi O Adesina, MD	Associate Professor, Ophthalmology	Ore-Ofeoluwatomi.O.Adesina@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Olasunkanmi Adeyinka, MD	Clinical Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine	Olasunkanmi.W.Adeyinka@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Farah Akhtar, MD	Assistant Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine	Farah.Akhtar@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Faith Atai, MD	Associate Professor, Internal Medicine	Faith.D.Atai@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Kulvinder Bajwa, MD	Associate Professor, Surgery-Clinical	Kulvinder.S.Bajwa@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Pamela Berens, MD	Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences-Clinical	Pamela.D.Berens@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Julie Bortolotti, MD	Staff Physician, UT Physicians Family Practice-Bayshore	Julie.S.Bortolotti@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Olasimbo Chiadika, MD	Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine	Olasimbo.M.Chiadika@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Martin J. Citardi, MD	Vice Dean for Clinical Technology; Professor and Chair, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery	Martin.J.Citardi@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Sheila Coogan, MD	Associate Professor, Vascular Surgery	Sheila.M.Coogan@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Kevin Coupe, MD	Assistant Professor, Orthopedic Surgery	Kevin.J.Coupe@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
James Griffiths, MD, CHCIO	AVP Healthcare IT and 无忧传媒ealthConnect Project Technical Executive Director	James.J.Griffiths@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Brian Heaps, MD	Assistant Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences	Brian.R.Heaps@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Kevin Hwang, MD	Associate Professor, Internal Medicine	Kevin.O.Hwang@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Richard Jahan-Tigh, MD	Assistant Professor, Dermatology	Richard.R.JahanTigh@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Zi Yang Jiang, MD	Assistant Professor, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery	Zi.Yang.Jiang@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Aisha Khattak, MD	Assistant Professor, Renal Diseases and Hypertension	Aisha.Khattak@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Linda Li, MD	Assistant Professor, Pediatric Surgery	Linda.T.Li@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
William R. Miller, MD	Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases	William.R.Miller@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Kim Monday, MD	Associate Professor, Neurology	Kimberly.Monday@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Phuc Nguyen, MD	Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine	Phuc.Nguyen@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Bobby Nix, MD	Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences	Bobby.R.Nix@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Filemon Tan, MD	Professor, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunogenetics	Filemon.K.Tan@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Aparajitha K. Verma, MD, MBA	Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery	Aparajitha.K.Verma@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Robert Yetman, MD	Professor, Pediatrics	Robert.J.Yetman@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School

Administrative Members

Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Diarra Boye	Director for IT Finance	Diarra.Boye@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
M. Saeed Chaudhry	Vice President, Executive Director of Operations	M.Saeed.Chaudhry@uth.tmc.edu	UT Physicians
Sandra Jeffries	Assistant Director, Clinical Information Technology	Sandra.D.Jeffries@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Tariq Khan, MBA	Executive Director. Epic Project and EHR Applications	Tariq.Khan@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Angel Wolter	Coach Administrator	Angel.B.Wolter@uth.tmc.edu	UT Physicians
Sharay Zeitz	Director of Revenue Cycle Services	Sharay.Zeitz@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School

Revenue Cycle and Practice Management Task Force

The Revenue Cycle and Practice Management Task Force is responsible for a comprehensive review and optimization of all business practices, defining and tracking key performance indicators, aligning operations users for success, and standardizing 鈥榝ront to back鈥� revenue cycle processes.

Chair

Revenue Cycle and Practice Management Task Force
Member Name	Title	Email	School/Unit
Kristi Bradley	Vice President and Chief Revenue Cycle Officer	Kristi.L.Bradley@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School

Members

Members
Member Name	Title	Email Address	School/Unit
Patricia Birkmeyer	Director, Management Operations, Surgery	Patricia.M.Birkmeyer@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Andrew Casas	Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer	Andrew.Casas@uth.tmc.edu	UT Physicians
Anthony Garcia	Director, Management Operations, Pediatrics	Anthony.L.Garcia@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Rossana Gonzalez-Ayala	Director, Management Operations, Neurology	Rossana.GonzalezAyala@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Diane Harnden	Director, Management Operations, Pediatric Surgery	Diane.Harnden@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Chris Kubycheck	Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Orthopedic Surgery	Christopher.H.Kubycheck@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Mary Lopez	Director, Management Operations, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences	Mary.Lopez@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Debra Lyon	Director, Revenue Cycle Operations, Change Healthcare	Debra.Lyon@changehealthcare.co	McGovern Medical School
Tom Murphy, MD	Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine	Thomas.J.Murphy@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Jay McVean	Director, Healthcare Billing Compliance	Jay.McVean@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Sarah Peirce	Director, Management Operations, Internal Medicine	Sarah.Peirce@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Lois Pierson	Chief Financial Officer	Lois.K.Pierson@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Demetria Qualls	Director, Revenue Cycle Systems and Training	Demetria.L.Qualls@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Dan Sherman	Associate Vice President and Chief Audit Officer	Daniel.Sherman@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
Janet Sherry	Director, Management Operations, Emergency Medicine	Janet.L.Sherry@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Mike Tramonte	Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer	Michael.Tramonte@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
Don Venker	Director, Management Operations, Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery	Donald.P.Venker@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Rita Willis	Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences	Rita.S.Willis@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Amar Yousif	Vice President and Chief Information Officer	Amar.Yousif@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration

无忧传媒ealth Harris County Psychiatric Center Task Force:

With a focus on behavioral health patients, members of the 无忧传媒ealth Harris County Psychiatric Center Task Force have the comprehensive responsibility for the EHR, practice management and revenue cycle for the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country.

Chair

Member Name Title Email Address Department

Lois Pierson Chief Financial Officer Lois.K.Pierson@uth.tmc.edu Harris County Psychiatric Center

Member Name	Title	Email Address	Department
Lois Pierson	Chief Financial Officer	Lois.K.Pierson@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center

Members

Member Name	Title	Email Address	Department
Melissa Allen, DO	Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences	Melissa.Allen@uth.tmc.edu	McGovern Medical School
Anayo Anene	Director, Pharmacy Services Acute Care	Anayo.Anene@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Carina Ayers	Assistant Director, Clinical Inpatient Epic Applications & HCPC MIS	Carina.K.Ayers@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Stuart Bernstein	Senior Compliance Specialist	Stuart.Bernstein@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration
Artrica Dozier	Director, Admissions Services	Artrica.J.Dozier@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Donna Hagdorn	Director, Financial Operations	Donna.Hagdorn@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Elizabeth Maree	Chief Nursing Officer	Elizabeth.Maree@uth.tmc.edu	Harris County Psychiatric Center
Christina Solis	Senior Legal Officer and Privacy Officer	Christina.F.Solis@uth.tmc.edu	Central Administration

News and Resources

An Epic celebration

May 8, 2021 |

After years of anticipation and hard work, the moment has finally arrived – Epic is here.

August 17, 2020 | Melissa McDonald, UT Physicians

During the pandemic, we have seen the pivotal role digital communications play in streamlining interaction between our health care teams and patients. ...

July 10, 2020 | UT Physicians

无忧传媒ealthCONNECT: Upcoming virtual town halls for July

Get a sneak peek of our EHR in action. In less than a year, UT Physicians will transition from Allscripts to the the Epic EHR platform. Now is the time to ...

News and Resources Archive

Frequently Asked Questions

Why 无忧传媒ealthCONNECT?

We have launched this transformational initiative to empower our patients, caregivers, researchers, health care delivery partners, and business managers with contemporary tools and processes that deliver powerful reporting, improved outcomes, efficient billing, and prevention of medical errors.
Why did 无忧传媒ealth choose Epic?

Epic emphasizes care delivery and has been putting its patients at the center of the are experience for more than 40 years. After an extensive review of EHR systems, with input from stakeholders across 无忧传媒ealth, we concluded that Epic would best fulfill the needs of patients and our university community and allow for improved integration with our teaching hospitals.
What is the project timeline?
We launched the system in our health care settings in May 2021. Below is a recap of that launch schedule.
- March 2020
  
  Pre-phase Work Completion
- March to August 2020
  
  Configuration Phase
- August 2020 to March 2021
  
  Readiness phase
- March to May 2021
  
  Training
- May 2021
  
  We Go Live
What can patients expect?

Through an enhanced online portal, , patients are able to easily schedule appointments, see lab results, communicate with their provider through messaging and other tools, pay bills, and much more.
What can employees expect?

The 无忧传媒ealthCONNECT initiative connects our faculty and staff through the use of this integrated electronic health record and revenue cycle system designed to optimize countless processes. It focuses on the needs of practicing physicians, as well as other care providers and staff, all of whom participate in building a better system for our patients and one another.

To keep our employees informed, updates are posted regularly on the . and .
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