Yisrael Mordecai Safeek

Yisrael Safeek (/ˈsɑːfɛk ˈɪzriəl/) is an American physician, author, and healthcare software company executive.[1][2] For the past 29 years, Safeek occupied a wide spectrum of roles within the US healthcare system - doctor, medical director, hospital co-owner, Joint Commission surveyor, Malcolm Baldrige Board of Examiners, health system Chief Medical Officer, book author, speaker, and software developer.[3] Safeek made the short list for United States Undersecretary of Health.[4] In 2010, he founded The SafeCare Group, a healthcare software firm with headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky with the motto of "Innovating Disrupting Transforming" healthcare.[5] Before founding The SafeCare Group, Safeek served in the dual roles as system Chief Quality Officer of Covenant Health System (at the time consisting of 18 leased and owned hospitals) and at the time the largest health system between Dallas and Los Angeles, and first Chief Medical Officer of (at the time) the second-largest clinical integration program in the US,[6] Health Partners.[7]

Yisrael Safeek
NationalityUnited States
Alma materAustin Peay State University (BS)
East Tennessee State University (MD)
Vanderbilt University (Anesthesiology)
University of Tennessee (MBA)
OccupationExecutive, physician, author, software developer
EmployerThe SafeCare Group
TitleChairman & CEO, 2010
Websitesafecaregroup.com

As Covenant, Safeek accelerated the implementation of advanced clinical technologies, facilitated the adoption of evidence-based medicine, and reduced the overuse and misuse of clinical resources. The network aligned hundreds of independent physicians with the health system's goals and yielded tangible outcomes in patient safety, quality, and efficiency of care. Between 2005 and 2014, Safeek was employed by The Joint Commission holding certifications in the Hospital Accreditation Program (2005–2014), and the Outpatient-Based Surgery Program (2009–2014). In 2007, he was the first Kentucky physician appointed to the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program.[8] Safeek is a diplomate Certified Physician Executive[9] from the Certifying Commission in Medical Management,[10][11] the American Board of Medical Specialties in anesthesiology,[12] and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is a Vanguard Advisory Member[13] of the American Association for Physician Leadership.[14] and Fellow,[15][16] the “highest honour awarded to physician leaders who have made significant contributions in improving the delivery and outcomes in medicine."[17]

In 2017, Safeek published a seven-point Making American Healthcare Great Again[18] strategy. For each policy initiative, there was an outline of the Scope of the Problem; Policy Priorities; Deployment Phases; Special Considerations; and Accountability.[19] A copy of the document was sent to President Trump at the White House.[18]

Biography

Early life and education

Safeek was born in South America, the eldest child of Naz Safeek and Mark B. Safeek.[20] He attended Austin Peay State University,[21] graduating in two and a half years with a Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in biology and chemistry. He attended the Quillen School of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree.[22] After a general surgery internship, he completed his anesthesiology training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Later, he completed a Master of Business Administration degree in the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA program.[23]

Medical career

After medical training, Safeek became medical director at Cleveland Community Hospital while he established an independent anesthesia medical practice. He was also Pikeville Medical Center's Vice President of Clinical Affairs.[24] In the early 1990s, Safeek was a shareholder in Cleveland Community Hospital and CEO of medical practices and medical director of hospitals in Tennessee and Kentucky.[25] He later served as CEO of a billing and collections company and was actively involved in revenue cycle management.

The SafeCare Group Chairman

In 2010, Safeek founded the SafeCare Group,[26] a healthcare software firm specializing in artificial intelligence and non-AI SaaS applications. SafeCare Applied Intelligence[27] (SafeCareAI) is an artificial intelligence (AI) software offering predictive insights to aid proactive real-time decision support and target opportunities of care. The platform offers real-time clinical decision support, based on real-time dynamic exploitation and immediate statistical analysis of EMR information to optimize quality, reduce errors, control cost, and improve redundant care.[28][29][30][31]

Other SafeCare Group divisions (SafeCare Analytics) analyze data to produce 100 SafeCare Hospitals quarterly ratings[32] and publish SafeCare magazine.[33] SafeCareSoft developed the PULSE software for health system clinical integration and OPPE Readiness App (OPPERA)[34] for hospital accreditation and regulatory compliance.[35] SafeCareSoft also developed an EMR-based software to help hospitals achieve better hospital ratings and avoid CMS reimbursement penalties.[36][37] In 2020, The SafeCare Group launched rateahopsital.com, a site for patients to review hospitals and share their healthcare experiences.[38]

CAUTI Bundle

Safeek published an open-source bundle (CAUTI Bundle)[39] in Physician Executive, the journal of the American College of Physician Executives, to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The CAUTI Bundle was later reprinted by Healthcare Financial Management Journal upon request as a tool to decrease the unnecessary financial cost from hospital-acquired urinary tract infections.[40] The CAUTI Bundle is similar to the bundles for prevention and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, and central line-related infections from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. It consists of five steps: CDC Hand Hygiene, sterile Foley catheter insertion, maintenance of a closed system, perineal care, daily review of catheter need and earliest removal.

I AM FOR SAFETY surgical checklist

Safeek published an open-source safe surgery checklist in Physician Executive Journal based upon his experience as an anesthesiologist overseeing operating rooms in several states. The checklist is a modified version of the World Health Organization surgical safety checklist and includes safety checks required by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Joint Commission. It utilizes the mnemonic "I AM FOR SAFETY" which documents the sequence of patient safety exercises for caregivers to employ.[41] Safeek also published the DON'T SPLAT Fall Prevention Checklist[42] and SAFE SKIN Pressure Ulcers Checklist.[43]

Joint Commission affiliation

From 2005 to 2014, Safeek was intermittently employed by The Joint Commission, holding certifications in the Hospital Accreditation Program (2005–2014) and the Outpatient-Based Surgery Program (2009–2014). Between 2005 and 2014, he participated with JCAHO in patient safety task forces, sentinel event/root cause activity, failure mode and effect analyses, and special cause hospital inspections. As part of hospital inspections, Safeek analyzed care systems for risk-points that impacted CMS deemed status and communicated adverse decisions to hospital boards, leadership, and medical staff.

In 2010, Safeek worked with a team at the Joint Commission to develop the Systems Tracer, "Evaluating Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) and Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) Processes."[44] This effort culminated in the accrediting body's OPPE and FPPE Booster Pak and is the gold standard for evaluation of credentialing and privileging processes. In 2012, Safeek was interviewed on several occasions for his position regarding the impact of physician credentialing on patient safety.[45] In 2008, Safeek was recognized by The Joint Commission for his work in formulating a new patient flow tracer that addressed capacity and throughput issues in patient care areas.

National presentations
Safeek addressing the AMP Symposium at Chicago in 2011

Since 2005, Safeek has mentored hospital boards, executive leadership, and medical staff on quality, patient safety, teamwork initiatives, disruptive behavior, and the OPPE and FPPE.[46]

Safeek has been a vocal advocate for physician leadership to improve healthcare quality, patient safety, and the patient experience.[47][48] He advocated for more physician leaderships in government and leading healthcare organizations.[49]

Safeek addressing the 32nd Annual FAMSS conference in Orlando in 2013
External video
You may watch Yisrael Mordecai Safeek discussing Accountable Care in Chicago, here.
Safeek addressing the 15th AHAP at Lake Buena Vista in 2012

In 2012, he was the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals Symposium,[50] focusing on "Accountable Credentialing and Privileging: Adopting Strategies for Better Health, Better Care, and Better Value."[51] In 2012, he was the featured speaker at the 6th Annual Credentialing Resource Center Symposium, focusing on "Preparing for The Joint Commission's OPPE and FPPE Systems Tracer".[52][53]

Between 2010 and 2011, he served on the Advocacy and Patient Safety task forces[54] of the American College of Physician Executives. At the AMP Symposium in 2011 in Chicago, he presented the importance of physician leadership in attaining the Triple Aims of Accountable Care.[55] He was recognized as 2007 Outstanding Physician Leader of the Year.[56][57]

Safeek left Covenant Health System to found the SafeCare Group to enhance quality, patient safety, and efficiency to national healthcare.

Selected publications

Books
  • Credentialing and Privileging for Accountable Care: A Prescription for the Ailing Stethoscope and the Dull Scalpel, American College of Physician Executives. April 2012 ISBN 978-0-98254-825-7

Papers
  • A Hospital Length of Stay Reduction Strategy, September–October 2010[58][59]
  • Protocols,Prompters,Bundles,Checklists,and Triggers, August 2010[60][61]
  • A Preventable Mortality Reduction Strategy, March–April 2010[62][63]
  • No Outcomes, No Incomes, July–August 2009[64][65]
  • The Expanding Roles of the Chief Medical Officer, July–August 2008[66][67]

References
  1. SafeCareSoft®
  2. SafeCare Group CEO
  3. Yisrael Safeek
  4. Undersecretary of Health
  5. The SafeCare Group
  6. Chief Medical Officer
  7. Health Partners
  8. Paynter, Teddy. "Safeek Named To Board". Medical Leader. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  9. Board Certified Physician Executive
  10. Certified Physician Executive
  11. ACPE welcomes new physician executives
  12. Board Certified Anesthesiologist
  13. "Vanguard Member" (PDF). Physician Executive Journal. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  14. Diplomate
  15. of Fellows
  16. "New Fellows" (PDF). Physician Executive Journal. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  17. Fellows honored in San Antonio
  18. JD, Sarju Bharucha (2018-01-17). "The SafeCare Group Announces Make American Healthcare Great Again Strategy". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  19. "Seven Point US Healthcare Improvement Strategy". 100 SafeCare Hospitals. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  20. Undersecretary of Health
  21. "LEADERSHIP". The SafeCare Group. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  22. Texas Medical Board
  23. 2007 Physician Executive MBA
  24. Vice President of Clinical Affairs
  25. CEO, Anesthesia Practices
  26. About The SafeCare Group
  27. JD, Sarju Bharucha (2019-08-14). "The SafeCare Group Granted Trademark for "SafeCare Applied Intelligence"". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  28. "INTELLIGENT HEALTHCARE". SafeCare AI. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  29. JD, Sarju Bharucha (2018-08-02). "The SafeCare Group Granted Trademark for "Softwaring Healthcare Excellence"". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  30. SafeCareSoft
  31. About SafeCareSoft
  32. 100 SafeCare Hospitals Subscribers
  33. SafeCare Magazine
  34. OPPE Readiness App
  35. OPPE Readiness App
  36. Hospital Ratings Software
  37. "SafeCare Software". The SafeCare Group. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  38. "Rate A Hospital - Rating Application". rateahospital.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  39. Safeek, Yisrael. "Safeek UTI Bundle" (PDF). American College of Physician Executives. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  40. Safeek, Yisrael. "UTI Bundle". Healthcare Financial Management. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  41. Safeek, Yisrael. "I AM FOR SAFETY checklist". Healthcare Financial Management. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  42. Safeek, Yisrael. "DON'T SPLAT Falls checklist". Healthcare Financial Management. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  43. Safeek, Yisrael. "SAFE SKIN pressure ulcers checklist" (PDF). Physician Executive Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  44. Linking OPPE to Privileges
  45. Safeek Press Clip
  46. Accreditation or Certification and The Joint Commission
  47. Physicians & Policy Decisions
  48. Seminar Faculty
  49. Physician Leadership Advocate
  50. 15th Annual Credentialing Resource Center Symposium
  51. Accountable Care Speaker
  52. Keynote Speaker
  53. Speakers
  54. ACPE Task Forces
  55. Physician Leadership
  56. "Yisrael M. Safeek". Physician Executive. 2008.
  57. Members on the Move
  58. Safeek, Yisrael; Padaco, Gina (2010-09-04). "A Hospital Length of Stay Reduction Strategy". Physician Executive Journal. 36 (5): 34–8, 40–1. PMID 20860289.
  59. Safeek, Y. M.; Padaco, G. S. (2010). "Red plan, white boards, blue huddles, & clear pathways: Synopsis of a length of stay reduction strategy". Physician Executive. 36 (5): 34–8, 40–1. PMID 20860289.
  60. Safeek, Yisrael (2010-03-24). "Protocols,Prompters,Bundles,Checklists,and Triggers". Healthcare Financial Management.
  61. "Protocols, Prompters, Bundles, Checklists and Triggers: Synopsis of a Preventable Mortality Reduction Strategy". www.hfma.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16.
  62. Safeek, Yisrael; May, Pam (2010-03-24). "A Preventable Mortality Reduction Strategy". Physician Executive Journal. 64 (8): 70–5. PMID 20707264.
  63. Safeek, Y. M. (2010). "Protocols, prompters, bundles, checklists, and triggers: Synopsis of a preventable mortality reduction strategy". Healthcare Financial Management : Journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. 64 (8): 70–75. PMID 20707264.
  64. Safeek, Yisrael; Safeek, Abraham (2009-07-18). "No Outcomes, No Incomes". Physician Executive Journal. 35 (4): 30–4. PMID 19711678.
  65. Safeek, Y. M.; Safeek, A. (2009). "No outcomes, no incomes--using clinical practice guidelines". Physician Executive. 35 (4): 30–34. PMID 19711678.
  66. Safeek, Yisrael (2008-07-17). "The Expanding Roles of the Chief Medical Officer". Physician Executive Journal. 34 (4): 18–22. PMID 18816961.
  67. Safeek, Y. M. (2008). "The expanding roles of the chief medical officer". Physician Executive. 34 (4): 18–22. PMID 18816961.
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