The Cooper Health System Board of Trustees has named Adrienne Kirby, PhD, FACHE, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper University Health Care.

Dr. Kirby joined Cooper in January 2012 as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In her new role as President and CEO of Cooper University Health Care, she will manage all hospital and ambulatory operations, and oversee the physician group and the institute structure at Cooper. Dr. Kirby will take the lead on the advancement of strategic healthcare partnerships and the implementation of new models of care delivery to improve quality and service and decrease cost.

John P. Sheridan, Jr. remains President and CEO of the Cooper Health System. Mr. Sheridan was appointed President and CEO of the Health System in 2008. Dr. Kirby will continue to report to Mr. Sheridan.

Since joining Cooper, Dr. Kirby has spearheaded initiatives to improve access and customer service while enhancing operational efficiency through the use of Lean Six Sigma. She has also led an organizational realignment, developing patient-centered institutes and service lines to better meet the healthcare needs of patients and their families.

“Dr. Kirby is providing Cooper with a strategic direction and a clear focus on service excellence,” noted George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cooper. “We are confident that her strong, visionary leadership will enable our organization to continue its growth, and help improve access and quality of care for patients throughout South Jersey.”

Dr. Kirby has more than 30 years of healthcare management experience, much of it at hospitals in the Delaware Valley. Prior to joining Cooper she served as President of Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore, a 380-bed community teaching hospital and the third-largest hospital in Maryland.  Dr. Kirby also spent more than 10 years at Virtua Health, serving in various leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer of Ambulatory Services and Programs of Excellence and Chief Operating Officer of Virtua Hospital Voorhees.

Dr. Kirby has served as the chairman of numerous physician-health system joint venture boards. She has also served on many community boards in Southern New Jersey. In 2010 and 2013, she led the Southern New Jersey American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” events.

Dr. Kirby earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Rutgers University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2003 and a certified healthcare executive since 1998. Kirby was born at Cooper and raised in South Jersey.

The Cooper Heart Institute’s Cardiothoracic Surgery program has received “3 Star” ratings from the prestigious Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in two separate categories: coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and aortic valve replacement surgery (AVR). It is the organization’s highest quality ranking, and Cooper is among only two percent of participating hospitals with similar programs to earn “3 Star” ratings in both categories.

“We are extremely proud of our cardiothoracic surgery team for their unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality cardiac surgery in the region,” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of The Cooper Health System.

This is the fifth year in a row that Cooper was recognized for outstanding performance in CABG procedures, placing it among the top 15 percent in the country. STS based this ranking on CABG procedures performed from January 2012 to December 2012. The AVR ratings, which were based on Cooper’s outcomes from January 2010 to December 2012, ranked Cooper in the top six percent nationally. It is only the second time AVR was evaluated, and Cooper was recognized with this prestigious ranking both times.

The Cooper Heart Institute’s cardiothoracic program is led by a team of surgeons who are nationally renowned for innovative treatment options and superior patient outcomes. They include Division Head Michael Rosenbloom, MD; Richard Y. Highbloom, MD; and Frank W. Bowen, III, MD.
“These are outstanding achievements that could not have been accomplished without the team approach to care that we take with each patient,” noted Dr. Rosenbloom. “We share credit for these achievements with our colleagues in cardiology, cardiac anesthesia, critical care medicine as well as the physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, techs and perfusion staff.”

Earning “3 Star” ratings places Cooper in the highest quality tier of the STS’s comprehensive rating system, which measures the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals across the country. Multiple aspects are measured, including compliance with recommended quality measures during surgery, adherence to appropriate medication usage before and after surgery, and patient outcomes.

The STS maintains the nation’s largest and most comprehensive single-specialty database with over 900 hospitals and 3.5 million patient records. It is considered one of the most highly regarded databases in all of health care.

In the wake of national tragedy like yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, children may have questions about their own safety and that of their family. Parents can help children cope more effectively with their fears by providing information geared to the child’s age and understanding level. This article from the American Academy of Pediatrics has tips to help parents understand their children’s concerns and provide the appropriate support.

To read the full article, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website by clicking HERE.

In a highly innovative move, unprecedented in New Jersey, a health insurer and a hospital system — AmeriHealth New Jersey and Cooper University Health Care — announce today that Cooper will acquire a 20 percent interest in AmeriHealth New Jersey. This venture intends to transform health care in the state by increasing quality and lowering costs through a more highly coordinated care model.

Together, Cooper and AmeriHealth New Jersey will develop and offer an expanded suite of health plans and an accountable care model for New Jersey residents. These health plans will include insured, self-insured, and Medicare products, and will provide employers and consumers with new options that focus on affordability while offering access to world-class care from Cooper’s more than 500 employed physicians in South Jersey and a network of over 100 outpatient offices.

“We are proud that AmeriHealth New Jersey and Cooper are transforming health care by cultivating this innovative partnership with physicians and hospitals in order to manage medical costs, develop low-cost, high-quality products, and enhance the patient experience,” said Daniel J. Hilferty, president and CEO, Independence Blue Cross, the corporate parent of AmeriHealth New Jersey. “This collaboration helps to break down the traditional barriers associated with health care by having two organizations work together as one to build an accountable care model – and that is what makes it so exciting.”

In order to provide extensive case management, help patients navigate the health care system, and ensure better access to and optimal coordination of care, Cooper will also incorporate the patient-centered medical home model in its primary care practices. The patient-centered model is specifically designed to enhance communication with patients and among providers and give patients easier access to physicians.
Working together toward accountability in care

“There has never been a more pivotal time in the health care industry, and we are pleased to be playing a leadership role in helping transform the delivery of care for the residents of New Jersey,” said Judith L. Roman, president and CEO of AmeriHealth New Jersey. “Together with Cooper we are driving joint accountability in delivering higher quality healthcare and lowering its cost for New Jersey residents. In addition, this partnership further strengthens our ability to enable the people of New Jersey to improve their health and well-being, which is our ultimate goal.”

“Under this new partnership with AmeriHealth New Jersey, Cooper’s network of advanced medical specialists and primary care physicians will provide coordinated patient care never seen before in our region,” said George E. Norcross, III, chairman of the board at Cooper. “As an academic medical center with access to more than 500 physicians, patients will have better, more personalized care, utilizing the latest and most technologically advanced treatment options available.”

Committed to delivering quality care

AmeriHealth New Jersey and Cooper University Health Care serve the residents of New Jersey and are dedicated to helping individuals improve their overall health and wellness and ensuring they receive affordable, high-quality health care, as demonstrated by the comprehensive services and innovative initiatives they offer.

AmeriHealth New Jersey is one of five plans in New Jersey participating in the CMS national comprehensive care initiative, which is geared toward developing a long-term primary care support plan in New Jersey. The pilot’s multi-payer approach offers an effective incentive for physicians to alter their model of care and will allow for greater collaboration and data aggregation.

Cooper University Health Care recently embarked on an Employee Centered Medical Home model to create a comprehensive, hands-on approach for their 9,100 covered employees. This pilot program introduces the medical home concept, providing close management of those employees who have chronic conditions and often have difficulty managing their care. It offers more cost efficient coordinated care with the goal of keeping Cooper employees healthier over time and reducing long term medical costs.

“I have a complicated medical history,” says Cooper employee, Ann Buchanan, who is a member of the Employee Centered Medical Home. “My doctor communicates with me and also talks with all of the specialists involved in my care on a regular basis. This is the best outpatient care you can possibly receive. It is keeping me out of the hospital.”

Cooper is proud to launch South Jersey’s only comprehensive, multidisciplinary musculoskeletal program.

With the integration of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, Cooper has become one of the only health systems in the region to offer comprehensive musculoskeletal services within one practice, offering patients a coordinated, multidisciplinary care model at an academic institution.

“This is important for the community because patients can receive seamless musculoskeletal care,” says Dr. Lawrence Miller, Director, Cooper Bone and Joint Institute. “Orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, podiatrists and therapists work together daily to reach a shared goal – getting you back from pain or injury to living your life.”

This innovative model allows medical and surgical specialists, nurse practitioners and therapists to work together in a team environment. Rheumatologists and joint replacement surgeons can collaborate to find the best treatment plan for a patient with joint disease, while sports medicine specialists can work directly with therapists to create a custom exercise plan for an injured athlete.

“Our patients can expect to receive the full continuum of musculoskeletal care,” says Dr. Sharon Kolasinski, Head, Division of Rheumatology, “from the prevention and diagnosis of degenerative joint disease or injury, to the latest surgical and non-surgical treatment options, to rehabilitation and ongoing wellness.”

The Cooper Bone and Joint Institute Voorhees office, located at 900 Centennial Boulevard, is expanding to include the entire breadth of musculoskeletal services. The Voorhees expansion office is scheduled to open in early June 2013. “The expansion of our largest suburban office keeps the best interests of our patients in mind,” says Dr. Miller. “By consolidating and integrating our services into one location, Cooper makes it more convenient for patients suffering from limited mobility and chronic pain to receive care.”

In addition to the Voorhees office, the Bone and Joint Institute offers world-class orthopaedic, rheumatologic, podiatric and/or therapeutic care at 14 locations throughout South Jersey and in Newtown Square, PA.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit CooperHealth.org/ortho or call 1.800.8.COOPER