Medical Journal Houston Vol.11, Issue 5, August 2014
Legal Affairs: Stark demands strict compliance, see page 3
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The Leading Source for Healthcare Business News
August 2014 • Volume 11, Issue 5 • $3.50
George V. Masi named president/CEO for Harris
Health System
INSIDE
▼
Methodist Sugar
Land Hospital debuts
implantable cardiac
monitor
see page 12
INDEX
▼
Legal Affairs......................3
Integrative Medicine.........4
THA.................................5
Physicians Forum............7
Breaking Ground............11
Technology...................12
Recently, Harris Health System Board of
Managers unanimously named George V.
Masi permanent president and CEO for
Harris Health System. Masi has served as
interim president and CEO since July 9.
Masi is no stranger to Harris Health System.
He has served as the health system’s
executive vice president and chief operating
officer since 2005.
“George Masi is a proven leader and a person
of high integrity exemplified by his vast
work experience in civilian and military
healthcare systems,” says Elvin Franklin Jr.,
chair, Harris Health Board of Managers.
“His background gives him great insight in
leading our organization.”
Masi has been with Harris Health since
2001, serving as administrator for Harris
Health Ben Taub Hospital, the health
system’s Level I Trauma Center and flagship
teaching facility. Prior to joining Harris
Health, Masi served for 27 years as a career
officer with the Army Medical Department,
rising to the rank of Colonel. His final
military assignment was commanding
officer for Fort Stewart, Georgia’s Winn
Army Hospital.
George V. Masi
(Photo courtesy of Harris Health System)
Earlier assignments include Chief of
Staff for the Army’s Southeast Regional
Medical Command, Fort Gordon, Georgia;
Deputy Commander and Chief Operating
Officer for Army Hospitals in Virginia
and Massachusetts, as well as Battalion
Command of a field medical unit. Mr. Masi
also taught healthcare administration with
full-time faculty appointment as Assistant
Professor with the U.S. Army-Baylor
University Graduate Program in Health
Care Administration. From 1998 to 2001,
he served as the Army Surgeon General’s
Consultant for Health Care Administration.
“I consider it an honor being selected to lead
Harris Health System,” Masi says. “In doing
so, I fully commit to the goals of providing
the residents of Harris County with the
highest-quality healthcare and being
recognized as America’s best communityown healthcare system.”
Masi holds graduate degrees from the
University of Buffalo, Long Island University
and the National Defense University in
Washington, D.C. He is also a Certified
Healthcare Executive and a Fellow in the
American College of Healthcare Executives.
Houston Methodist Primary Care
Group welcomes Dr. Rajan
Houston Methodist Primary Care Group
Please see MOVING ON UP page 13
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Special Feature: Emergency Preparedness
Is Your Network Infrastructure Ready?
Gluten
see page 4
. . . . . . . . . . . .
By Shomari Williams.
Associate Director,
Business Sales, Verizon
Wireless
Natural disasters can happen,
anywhere, anytime and often with little
warning. Whether it’s a hurricane from
the Gulf Coast, flooding in the streets
of Houston, tornados or even damaging
winds, these events can cause loss of life
and significantly impact our daily lives. For
the medical field and physician community,
sustaining operations and remaining
connected in times of a crisis is vital.
The good news is that advances in
technology are continuing to improve
healthcare processes and create a more
efficient
environment
for
patients,
physicians, staff and administration. From
expediting patient check-in and eliminating
wait times to making healthcare more
accessible in rural areas, trends in
technological developments in the future
promise exciting opportunities and more
effective care. Consequently, as tech savvy
medical practices become increasingly
the norm, physicians must evaluate their
existing network infrastructure to make
certain their operations are ready for
potential threats and disasters.
Planning and preparedness are the best
defenses against any emergency situation.
The following are critical factors and
initiatives for physicians to consider when
developing a plan and to ensure business
continuity in preparation for, during and
after natural disasters:
Identify critical business functions, systems
and risks from a technological standpoint. If
a natural disaster was to cause major power
outages and disrupt service, would your
Please see EMERGENCY page 14
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