Latest news with #InspiraHealth
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Inspira Health Appoints Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of LIFE Program
VINELAND, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inspira Health today announced the appointment of Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of Inspira Living Independently for Elders (LIFE), effective May 5. Dr. Patel brings more than a decade of experience in caring for the elderly in various settings, including acute care, post-acute care, nursing home, and the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Dr. Patel has developed an expertise in innovative approaches to advancing quality of life while improving overall patient satisfaction and optimizing health care costs and efficiencies. Most recently, Dr. Patel served as Chief Medical Officer at GrayHawk Health, where he drove positive patient health outcomes, and improved overall patient satisfaction and health care costs by ensuring the right care is delivered at the right time in the most effective care settings. 'We are proud to announce Dr. Patel's appointment to Inspira Health,' said April M. Venable, MBA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Operations Strategy and Transformation at Inspira Health. 'Inspira LIFE's primary mission is to support seniors living independently in their communities, and Dr. Patel will bring tremendous insight and passion to further drive this mission. I am confident that he will make a lasting, invaluable impact on our patients, staff, and community through this critical role.' As President of LIFE, Dr. Patel will leverage his experience to deliver high-quality, comprehensive health services to LIFE participants by ensuring clinical, operational, and financial excellence. Notably, Dr. Patel previously served as Medical Director for LIFE at Inspira and was instrumental in shaping the LIFE Program in its earlier years. 'I am beyond thrilled to lead Inspira LIFE's mission to deliver integrated, person-centered care that meets the needs of seniors in our community,' said Dr. Patel. 'Throughout my career, I've developed a deep commitment and passion to empower our aging populations to live healthy, independent lives, and I'm looking forward to bringing that to the Inspira community.' Through his new role, Dr. Patel is positioned to drive innovation, foster employee engagement, and build community and industry partnerships for the program. Dr. Patel earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from North Gujarat University in India. He holds a medical degree from St. James School of Medicine in Netherlands, Antilles, and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts. Furthermore, he completed his family medicine residency at University of Alabama, Huntsville and geriatric fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Dr. Patel is the international bestselling author of Age Is Just a Number: A Geriatrician's Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Life. About Inspira Health Inspira Health is a charitable nonprofit health care organization committed to providing an exceptional experience for patients and their loved ones. Tracing its roots to 1899, the system comprises four hospitals, two comprehensive cancer centers, nine multi-specialty health centers and locations throughout South Jersey. Inspira's surgical teams provide a wide array of innovative robotic and minimally invasive surgeries, including nationally accredited bariatric services at Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill and Vineland. In partnership with Cooper University Health Care, Inspira provides comprehensive neuroscience and cardiology services throughout the region. Inspira's extensive ambulatory services include urgent care; ambulatory surgery centers; physical and occupational therapy; comprehensive behavioral health; primary and specialty physician practices; and extensive outpatient imaging in partnership with Atlantic Medical Imaging (AMI). Inspira EMS covers communities throughout South Jersey. Inspira's Population Health and Community Impact Departments address social drivers of health that impact individuals and families in our region. Inspira's more than 1,400 physicians and advanced practice providers, and 8,000 employees, provide evidence-based care to help each patient achieve the best possible outcome. As a regional leader in physician training, Inspira Health educates and provides extensive clinical opportunities for more than 280 medical residents and fellows in 16 nationally accredited by DNV Healthcare and committed to the principles of high reliability, Inspira Health is focused on clinical excellence and patient safety. For more information about Inspira Health, visit or call 1-800-INSPIRA.
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Inspira Health Appoints Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of LIFE Program
VINELAND, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2025-- Inspira Health today announced the appointment of Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP as President of Inspira Living Independently for Elders (LIFE), effective May 5. Dr. Patel brings more than a decade of experience in caring for the elderly in various settings, including acute care, post-acute care, nursing home, and the Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Ankur S. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP has been appointed to President of Inspira Living Independently for Elders (LIFE), effective May 5, 2025. Dr. Patel has developed an expertise in innovative approaches to advancing quality of life while improving overall patient satisfaction and optimizing health care costs and efficiencies. Most recently, Dr. Patel served as Chief Medical Officer at GrayHawk Health, where he drove positive patient health outcomes, and improved overall patient satisfaction and health care costs by ensuring the right care is delivered at the right time in the most effective care settings. 'We are proud to announce Dr. Patel's appointment to Inspira Health,' said April M. Venable, MBA, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Operations Strategy and Transformation at Inspira Health. 'Inspira LIFE's primary mission is to support seniors living independently in their communities, and Dr. Patel will bring tremendous insight and passion to further drive this mission. I am confident that he will make a lasting, invaluable impact on our patients, staff, and community through this critical role.' As President of LIFE, Dr. Patel will leverage his experience to deliver high-quality, comprehensive health services to LIFE participants by ensuring clinical, operational, and financial excellence. Notably, Dr. Patel previously served as Medical Director for LIFE at Inspira and was instrumental in shaping the LIFE Program in its earlier years. 'I am beyond thrilled to lead Inspira LIFE's mission to deliver integrated, person-centered care that meets the needs of seniors in our community,' said Dr. Patel. 'Throughout my career, I've developed a deep commitment and passion to empower our aging populations to live healthy, independent lives, and I'm looking forward to bringing that to the Inspira community.' Through his new role, Dr. Patel is positioned to drive innovation, foster employee engagement, and build community and industry partnerships for the program. Dr. Patel earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from North Gujarat University in India. He holds a medical degree from St. James School of Medicine in Netherlands, Antilles, and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts. Furthermore, he completed his family medicine residency at University of Alabama, Huntsville and geriatric fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Dr. Patel is the international bestselling author of Age Is Just a Number: A Geriatrician's Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Life . About Inspira Health Inspira Health is a charitable nonprofit health care organization committed to providing an exceptional experience for patients and their loved ones. Tracing its roots to 1899, the system comprises four hospitals, two comprehensive cancer centers, nine multi-specialty health centers and locations throughout South Jersey. Inspira's surgical teams provide a wide array of innovative robotic and minimally invasive surgeries, including nationally accredited bariatric services at Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill and Vineland. In partnership with Cooper University Health Care, Inspira provides comprehensive neuroscience and cardiology services throughout the region. Inspira's extensive ambulatory services include urgent care; ambulatory surgery centers; physical and occupational therapy; comprehensive behavioral health; primary and specialty physician practices; and extensive outpatient imaging in partnership with Atlantic Medical Imaging (AMI). Inspira EMS covers communities throughout South Jersey. Inspira's Population Health and Community Impact Departments address social drivers of health that impact individuals and families in our region. Inspira's more than 1,400 physicians and advanced practice providers, and 8,000 employees, provide evidence-based care to help each patient achieve the best possible outcome. As a regional leader in physician training, Inspira Health educates and provides extensive clinical opportunities for more than 280 medical residents and fellows in 16 nationally accredited programs. Accredited by DNV Healthcare and committed to the principles of high reliability, Inspira Health is focused on clinical excellence and patient safety. For more information about Inspira Health, visit or call 1-800-INSPIRA. View source version on CONTACT: Red Thread PR on behalf of Inspira [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW JERSEY INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MENTAL HEALTH SURGERY HOSPITALS CARDIOLOGY PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PHYSICAL THERAPY HEALTH GENERAL HEALTH ONCOLOGY SOURCE: Inspira Health Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/06/2025 10:05 AM/DISC: 05/06/2025 10:04 AM
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
New parents in New Jersey are receiving shocking documents from a health network — and it is not the hospital bill. A form from Inspira Health went viral as it asks parents about their newborn's sexual orientation and gender identity. Now, Republican New Jersey State Sen. Holly Schepisi is introducing legislation to exempt minors from these types of questions. Schepisi — also a mother of two — told Fox News Digital that when she first saw the form being circulated on social media, she was "skeptical" because of the "outrageous" and "nonsensical" nature of the forms. However, her staff were able to confirm that the questionnaire was indeed real and was being distributed to new parents. Nyc Parents Outraged After Teacher Reads Gender Identity Book To Preschool Class Inspira Health's forms are meant to comply with a New Jersey law that requires the collection of data on patients' race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to Schepisi. Read On The Fox News App "The health network, in fairness to them, it was like 'We don't necessarily want to be providing these out. And we have received some pushback and backlash from patients.' But under the new law that was implemented in New Jersey in late June of 2022, the health network had a real belief that in order to be compliant with the law DOH [regulations], that they had to be all encompassing and include this, including for newborn patients," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. The law requires the collection be done "in a culturally competent and sensitive manner," which Schepisi said was "subjective." Hiding Kids' 'Gender Identity' From Parents Is Common In Blue State Fighting Trump On Trans Issues: Watchdog Schepisi thinks she will be able to get bipartisan support for her legislation that would create an exemption for minors in the state's medical records law. "Apparently, as drafted, as guidance was being provided, the interpretation by a lot of people, was that this data must be collected from all demographics without regard to age," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. This seems to be the case, as Inspira Health told Fox News Digital that the questionnaire is "required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey Department of Health." Inspira Health also said that parents are allowed to decline to provide this information. "Per recent guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health stating that health systems can collect that data in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, Inspira Health will request this information from adults. This update in protocol remains compliant with the law, and we respect patients' right to decline to respond," Inspira Health said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Some healthcare workers are also finding the form to be preposterous, according to Schepisi, who said Assemblyman John Azzariti, a medical doctor, called it "absurd." Azzariti is sponsoring Schepisi's legislation in the Assembly. Schepisi also said the form was "not fair" to workers engaging with patients who are unhappy about the bizarre questionnaire. The state senator said she has spoken to some Democratic state legislators who were stunned to hear about the forms' existence. "I did have quite a few conversations over the past week bringing this issue to some of my Democratic colleagues' attention, and, you know, their response was pretty much the same as a lot of people out in the public, like, 'We're doing what?'" Schepisi pointed the finger at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, saying that initiatives such as the collection of this data for medical records "stemmed directly from the governor's office." She also pointed out that the law went from introduction to the governor's desk in a week and a half, which she said is "unheard of." In response to a request for comment, the New Jersey Department of Health told Fox News Digital that "the Department stresses that any collection of SOGI data should be done in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, including patient populations for which certain data may not be appropriate, as in the case for newborns. We also recommend that hospitals develop internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist their employees in collecting such data."Original article source: Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
Fox News
19-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
New parents in New Jersey are receiving shocking documents from a health network — and it's not the hospital bill. A form from Inspira Health went viral as it asks parents about their newborn's sexual orientation and gender identity. Now, New Jersey State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-District 39), is introducing legislation to exempt minors from these types of questions. Schepisi — also a mother of two — told Fox News Digital that when she first saw the form being circulated on social media, she was "skeptical" because of the "outrageous" and "nonsensical" nature of the forms. However, her staff were able to confirm that the questionnaire was indeed real and was being distributed to new parents. Inspira Health's forms are meant to comply with a New Jersey law that requires the collection of data on patients' race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to Schepisi. "The health network, in fairness to them, it was like 'We don't necessarily want to be providing these out. And we have received some pushback and backlash from patients.' But under the new law that was implemented in New Jersey in late June of 2022, the health network had a real belief that in order to be compliant with the law DOH [regulations], that they had to be all encompassing and include this, including for newborn patients," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. The law requires the collection be done "in a culturally competent and sensitive manner," which Schepisi said was "subjective." Schepisi thinks she will be able to get bipartisan support for her legislation that would create an exemption for minors in the state's medical records law. "Apparently, as drafted, as guidance was being provided, the interpretation by a lot of people, was that this data must be collected from all demographics without regard to age," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. This seems to be the case, as Inspira Health told Fox News Digital that the questionnaire is "required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey Department of Health." Inspira Health also said that parents are allowed to decline to provide this information. "Per recent guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health stating that health systems can collect that data in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, Inspira Health will request this information from adults. This update in protocol remains compliant with the law, and we respect patients' right to decline to respond," Inspira Health said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Some healthcare workers are also finding the form to be preposterous, according to Schepisi, who said Assemblyman John Azzariti, a medical doctor, called it "absurd." Azzariti is sponsoring Schepisi's legislation in the Assembly. Schepisi also said the form was "not fair" to workers engaging with patients who are unhappy about the bizarre questionnaire. The state senator says she has spoken to some Democratic state legislators who were stunned to hear about the forms' existence. "I did have quite a few conversations over the past week bringing this issue to some of my Democratic colleagues' attention, and, you know, their response was pretty much the same as a lot of people out in the public, like, 'We're doing what?'" Schepisi pointed the finger at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, saying that initiatives such as the collection of this data for medical records "stemmed directly from the governor's office." She also pointed out that the law went from introduction to the governor's desk in a week and a half, which she said is "unheard of." In response to a request for comment, the New Jersey Department of Health told Fox News Digital that "the Department stresses that any collection of SOGI data should be done in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, including patient populations for which certain data may not be appropriate, as in the case for newborns. We also recommend that hospitals develop internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist their employees in collecting such data."
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents asked if newborn babies identify as transgender
Parents are asked if their newborn babies identify as transgender on a form that is required under New Jersey state law, it has been claimed. A form distributed by several hospitals asks parents about their newborn baby's gender identity and sexual orientation. Lawmakers said that the form was not required to be filled out for patients so young, however, the group which represents the hospitals distributing the form insisted it was a legal requirement. The form asks parents a number of questions, including: 'Do you identify your baby as a transgender male/ trans man/ female to male', other options include 'genderqueer' or an 'additional gender category', and if the baby is lesbian or gay, heterosexual, 'self-describes' or is 'questioning/unsure'. The form was produced by Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals and eight health centres across the state, the New York Post reports. Inspira claims that it created the questionnaire to comply with a New Jersey law requiring healthcare providers to 'collect race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a culturally competent and sensitive manner'. The questions are intended to 'provide a safe and compassionate experience' and 'comply with recently-enacted state legislation', the form states. Republican State Senator Holly Schepisi told the Post: 'The entire thing lacks such common sense, and serves no purpose whatsoever. 'As a mom myself, I know you're exhausted after giving birth, you've got a crying newborn and you're trying to figure out how to feed it. To be handed that sort of form in the midst of all that has no medical value, it makes no sense.' She added that she would introduce a bill next week to revise New Jersey law to limit the data collection to patients aged over 16 years. However, Democrat Herbert Conaway, who worked on the bill, said that it was never intended to collect information about babies' sexual orientation. 'The bill was modelled after an Indiana statute and is designed to provide public health officials with the data they need to develop public health measures that effectively serve all New Jerseyans,' Mr Conaway said. 'Under the law, hospitals are required to collect and report demographic data on the patients they serve; however, no patient or parent is obligated to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable. He continued: 'Newborns are not subjected to this data collection because parents are not required to fill out the form. Many health decisions for newborns are left to the parents' discretion.' An Inspira Health spokesman said the questionnaire is 'required by New Jersey law' and noted parents 'are permitted to decline to provide this information'. He added that the company had sought a waiver from the state but that it had not been granted. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
