New neonatology privilege delineation, potential physicians under consideration at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

ALBANY — There are more than a dozen medical staff applicants looking to come on board at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, while a new delineation of privileges is on the table for neonatology, a report from the hospital’s Professional Affairs Committee on Monday shows.

The delineation of privileges outlines the eligibility requirements and core procedures and privileges for those wishing to work in neonatology. A physician working in the field at Phoebe needs to have completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association accredited fellowship in neonatal/perinatal medicine or neonatology, and have a current subspecialty or be board eligible with achievement of certification within five years leading to sub-specialty certification in neonatal/perinatal medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics or in neonatology by the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics.

Among the core privileges include admitting, evaluating and treating sick newborns with any life-threatening problems or conditions, coordinating and managing care for infants who are premature, critically ill or in need of surgery and provide consultations in high-risk pregnancies. The procedures include assistance in deliveries, intubation, cardiac life support, insertion and management of central lines and chest tubes, lumbar puncture, resuscitation, nutritional support, postoperative care, peripheral arterial artery and umbilical catheterization, ventilator care, suprapubic bladder tap, circumcision, frenotomy and ligation of unnecessary digits, a delineation form attached to Monday’s committee report said.

There are 11 physicians, including four hospitalists, six radiologists and one gastroenterologist looking to join Phoebe. Dr. Amir Ahmed is expected to come into Phoebe Gastroenterology, while Drs. Nadie Jean-Charles, Catherine Roberts, David Krausz, Robert Sciulli, Terri Williams-Weekes and Paul Yates are radiologists coming in to act in a telemedicine capacity, the report said.

The hospitalists are all coming in on a locum tenens basis, which means they are temporarily filling in for someone else. They are Dr. David Blomstrom, who will be working in family medicine, and Drs. Hassan Alkhatib, Janssen Williams and Daniel Ukpong, who will be in internal medicine, the report said.

There are six affiliate staff, mostly mid-level, provider applicants coming in under a required physician sponsorship. They are William “Teddy” Dwight for psychiatrist Dr. Mfon Inyang, Brittany Stalvey for pulmonologist Dr. Ramona Rao and Anne Gadia, Jennifer Beverly, Serena Tyler and Amy Farris for thoracic surgeon Dr. Anastasios Polimenakos, the report said.

There are eight individuals listed under resignations, including locum tenens pediatrician Dr. Stephen Norbert Keith, gastroenterologist Dr. Juan Bird, locum tenens palliative care specialist Dr. Robert Stahl, telemedicine radiologist Dr. Thomas Folan and neonatologist Dr. Imteyaz Khan, the report said.

The report noted affiliate staff resignations including Stephanie LaBlanc, Brittany Bobb and Jacqueline Roberts. Michele Davis, who is already with Dr. Anthony Hoots, is looking to add Dr. Linda Hudson as a sponsor while Magan Griggs and Michael Patton are looking to change their sponsors to Drs. Alan Brown and Clay Thomas, respectively.

Leigh Singletary and Charles Cole, both originally credentialed as registered nurses, have continued their education and are requesting privileges to become nurse practitioners in vascular surgery, the report said.

The Professional Affairs Committee serves as liaison between the medical staff and the hospital’s full board and handles matters relating to applications for medical staff membership. The committee is also meant to watch over and report to the board on matters of quality and safety within the hospital.

The report to come before the committee was previously before the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee on Nov. 7 and the Credentials Committee on Nov. 2. It will go before the full hospital board for a vote.

Jennifer ParksJennifer Parks