The Piedmont Clinic annually recognizes physicians who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence with the Chairman’s Service Award. Winners of awards this year include Andrew Page, M.D., Jonathan Hsu, M.D., Clarisa Haugabrook, M.D., Howard “Nick” Chandler, M.D., and Erin Dunbar, M.D.

The Piedmont Clinic physician network is the largest clinically integrated network in the state of Georgia, with more than 2,000 physicians in 555 physician practice locations. Piedmont Clinic physicians work together to provide coordinated care that delivers on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim:

·         Improving the patient experience

·         Improving the health of populations

·         Reducing the per capita cost of healthcare

By fostering a culture of clinical excellence, Piedmont Clinic is committed to improving the quality of care in the communities it serves.

“The Piedmont Clinic is proud of the work of these outstanding physicians,” said Christopher Lloyd, President of the Piedmont Clinic. “We pride ourselves on making a positive difference in every life we touch and these individuals make a difference in the care of our patients, our community, and the world.”

Dr. Page, a transplant surgeon and general surgeon, was recognized for Reliable Safety. As the head of the Piedmont Atlanta Hospital Quality and Safety Subcommittee of the Perioperative Services Governance Council, Dr. Page has been instrumental in improving the outcomes of surgeries at Piedmont Atlanta. Piedmont Atlanta earned an A in The Leapfrog Group’s semi-annual hospital ratings for the first time in April, due in part to physicians such as Dr. Page who speak up for safety and lead by example.

Dr. Hsu, a hospitalist specializing in palliative care at Piedmont Athens Regional, was recognized for cost effectiveness. Palliative care is meant to provide specialized care for a patient dealing with a serious illness. Not only has Dr. Hsu performed this highly individualized care for his patients and the community on a high level, but his advances in practicing palliative care led to a significant reduction in hospital readmissions and more than $12 million in cost savings since joining Piedmont in fiscal year 2017.

Dr. Haugabrook, an independent obstetrician/gynecologist, was recognized for superior service to the community. She is the founder of LaunchPad Foundation, which purchases, renovates and furnishes townhomes with the goal of moving homeless families out of shelters. The families receive counseling in health and wellness, money management and job seeking in exchange for community service. There are currently five graduates of the program, gainfully employed and supporting their families.

Dr. Chandler and Dr. Dunbar received an award for Clinical Excellence and Innovation for their work building and growing the Piedmont Brain Tumor Center. The center has a sterling reputation with cancer centers across the country and has referrals from all over the world. Under Dr. Chandler and Dr. Dunbar’s leadership, many innovations not previously available in the service area have been instituted, including Functional MRI and metabolic MRI program, and a robust clinical trial program for primary and metastatic brain tumors.