Faculty Group Practice Newsletter

Meet this month's new hires

Among the field of plastic surgeons, those trained in microsurgery account for a relatively small percentage. This technique, which employs powerful magnification in the intricate repair of blood vessels and nerves, provides solutions that save lives or improve quality of life. Petros Konofaos, MD, PhD, brings this valuable skillset to UTMB.

UTMB’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery has expanded considerably to help meet the needs of more area patients. Its most recent addition, Eric Whittington, MD, joined in late 2022 to increase patient access and augment the skillset already present within the team.

Congratulations to Amanda L. Murden, Data Entry Operator II in ASG III.

Congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, the Academy of Master Clinicians' July Clinician of the Month.

Medicare does not cover preventive services in the same way that commercial payors do. However, Medicare does have its own set of preventive services and screening that are a covered benefit.

As UTMB’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery has grown, patients benefit from additional expertise and procedures to address their needs – including a new clinic at League City Campus focused on venous disorders. Christina Guarin is part of the team behind this endeavor.

It is not unusual to perform both a preventive service and a sick visit during the same encounter. CPT and CMS have rules concerning this billing scenario. This month we will cover how to bill for these services using CPT services.

The Faculty Group Practice leadership extends sincere thanks to Stephanie Kemmerling, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, for her outstanding service as APP Director from September 2020 through May 2023.

Congratulations to Anu George, Physician Assistant in Pediatric Endocrinology.

Congratulations to Dr. Laurel Humphrey, the Academy of Master Clinicians' June Clinician of the Month.

Asthma exacerbations, panic attacks, rashes, and colds may make up an average clinic day for a Family Medicine physician. However, it’s not every day the patient population includes state senators and representatives, their staff members, and other visitors to the Texas State Capitol.

Through innovative treatment options that relieve pain and restore function, hand and wrist surgery can improve quality of life for patients of all ages. BaiJing (Jing) Qin, MD, a new member of UTMB’s Plastic Surgery team specializing in hand and wrist procedures, knows this well.

With a high prevalence of heart disease among local populations, having a robust, dynamic cardiac care program in the region is critical. That includes heart failure services, which UTMB’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine expertly delivers via its team of fellowship-trained heart failure (HF) specialists.

As UTMB grows its services across multiple service lines and locations, patients in southern Brazoria County are among the latest to benefit from this growth – with the addition of a new general surgeon serving the Angleton-Lake Jackson area.

Congratulations to Dr. Rakesh Vadhera, the Academy of Master Clinicians' May Clinician of the Month.

Congratulations to Ursula Sedgwick, Coding, Billing and Reimbursement Auditor

Chelsie Chonoski, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, nurse practitioner in the Division of Urology, shares her knowledge of bladder cancer detection.

An advanced beneficiary notice (ABN) is a written notice which a provider gives to a Medicare beneficiary before services are furnished when the provider believes that Medicare probably or certainly will not pay for some or all of the services.