EXCELLENCE • COMPASSION • BELONGING • DIVERSITY • PROFESSIONALISM • INNOVATION | | A Message from TPMG Physician President, Dr. Scott Banning | | |
As 2025 comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to look back on the shared achievements we have accomplished at TPMG. Among the many successes this year, the recent implementation of our new EHR system has highlighted your outstanding strength, commitment, and resilience in making sure that our patients' needs are always prioritized.
We recognize that the continuous success of TPMG is directly linked to the efforts of our employees. Thank you for working together to provide the quality and compassionate care that our patients both deserve and expect.
As you celebrate this special time of year with your loved ones, it is my wish that you reflect on 2025 with a similar sense of achievement. May you and your families enjoy a wonderful holiday season!
Scott Banning, MD, TPMG Physician President
| | RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS | | |
TPMG Rheumatology in Newport News welcomes Nesreen Almosadder, MPAS, PA-C.
As a board-certified physician assistant, Nesreen works to ensure patients feel heard and supported throughout the healthcare process. Rheumatology patients often face chronic and sometimes “invisible” illnesses, which require active listening from providers to validate their experiences and improve trust. She partners with patients to look at more than just their lab results, but also how their condition affects their daily lives.
Learn more about Nesreen here.
| | CODING ALERT: A new ICD-10-CM code for diabetes: E11.A, Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications, in remission. Documentation requirements to use E11.A, the patient record must clearly document the following: | | | |
- Provider Statement: Explicitly state the patient's Type 2 diabetes is "in remission."
- Medication Status: Patient is off all glucose-lowering medications.
- Glycemic Control: HbA1c < 6.5% for at least three consecutive months.
- No Complications: Patient has no current, active diabetic complications.
| | Important: An "Excludes1" note prevents using E11.A alongside codes for diabetes complications (E11.0-E11.8), even if the patient's blood sugar is currently normal. | | |
NEW Technology to Hampton Roads – Helping to Reduce Stigma and Fight Cancer
While it may be uncomfortable to discuss, colorectal health is too important to overlook. According to the CDC, approximately 42 million Americans are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of anal cancer. Once detected, anal cancer is highly curable, but, as with many other forms of cancer, survival rates are higher when detected early.
At TPMG Center for Colorectal Surgery, Dr. Lisa A. Coleman offers High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) diagnostic procedures, which can help evaluate HPV in the lowest part of the gastrointestinal tract and find signs of dysplasia.
Learn more here or call (757) 874-1077.
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Annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest
The festivities of the holiday season are here and a number of our TPMG offices are participating in this year's Holiday Door Decorating Contest. Our annual contest even started a little earlier this year to give everyone plenty of time to plan and decorate. Our volunteer judges will evaluate each door based on creativity, visual impact, and craftsmanship. It is our hope that whoever enters our buildings and practices, no matter the reason, they will feel a little bit of the holiday spirit.
Which TPMG office will win the Champions Traveling Trophy this year?! Check into our social channels where the winners will soon be announced.
| | TPMG HEALTH TALK - A MEDICAL PODCAST | | |
Some symptoms are not easy to talk about — but they matter. In this special episode of the podcast, we sit down with colorectal surgeon Dr. Lisa Coleman and gastroenterologist Dr. Frances Jones—both proud veterans with over 25 years of combined experience caring for patients. They talk about how their unique backgrounds and close collaboration help provide thorough, personalized care for digestive and colorectal health. From knowing when to seek specialized treatment to understanding the referral process, Dr. Coleman and Dr. Jones share practical tips and insights to help you feel confident and empowered on your digestive health journey.
Click here or on the image to listen to this lively episode of TPMG Health Talk.
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Thank you to everyone for your time, effort, and adaptability as we move to our new EHR and Practice Management software system. Let’s continue to work together to keep this transition running smoothly and encourage our patients to enroll in the new patient portal.
As a reminder, there are several ways to sign up. Click here to see all options and aid our patients in better understanding the process. Your involvement in ensuring a successful transition is essential and we thank you for your ongoing support and dedication!
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Open Enrollment this year went great! A big thank you goes out to all for completing benefit elections for 2026 and helping the process run smoothly. HR is asking for any feedback that may help with communicating dates, deadlines, and benefit changes for next year. Please email these suggestions to hr@tpmgpc.com. TPMG is always looking for new ideas to help employees better understand benefit options and make Open Enrollment an easy and error-free experience for everyone!
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Reminders about prescription coverage change to SmithRx for 2026
As a reminder, TPMG’s Pharmacy Benefit Manager will be changing to SmithRx from Express Scripts. Some important highlights about this change are outlined below:
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Smith Rx Outreach
Smith Rx will be contacting enrollees that have active prescription medications that fall into one of their special savings programs, starting in early January. If you receive a call from Smith Rx, please be sure to return it as soon as possible to ensure you can continue getting your medications without interruption and at the lowest possible cost.
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Specialty Medications
If you take certain specialty medications, your prescriptions may need to be transferred to a SmithRx Specialty Pharmacy before your January refill. The vendor for specialty medications will be either Costco Specialty Pharmacy or Senderra Specialty Pharmacy. Smith Rx will provide you with guidance on where to have your doctor send your prescription when they reach out to you in early January. Alternatively, you can contact them as early as 1/2/26 to discuss your personal situation.
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Manufacturer Assistance Programs
With the switch to Smith Rx, manufacturer copay assistance programs may change. However, your out-of-pocket cost share will remain the same as outlined by the manufacturer’s coupon requirements.
All available information about the change to SmithRx and their available savings programs can be found within Paycom under Benefits and then Documents and Links. The same information is also available on the TPMG intranet here. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, TPMG’s Benefit Manager is available by email at HR@tpmgpc.com.
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Congratulations to our Open Enrollment Early Bird prize winners!
The following employees were randomly selected from the list of employees who submitted their Open Enrollment in the first week!
| | | Shantel Arnold | Grafton Family Medicine | | Amber Bulluss | Discovery Park Family Medicine | | Dr. Christopher Ciccone | Colonial Family Medicine | | Dr. David Hartke | Newport News Urology | | Pamela Kennedy | Newport News Internal Medicine | | Kassie Kishlicky | Woman’s Imaging | | Alice Patterson | Hidenwood Family Medicine | | Dr. Nicholas Smerlis | Orthopedics | | Malcolm Smith | Interventional Pain Treatment Center | | Brittany Thornton | Edinburgh Family Medicine | | | |
Important End of the Year Reminders
Flexible Spending Account balances in excess of $660 must be spent before the end of the year – December 31, 2025. Claims for services or items purchased must be submitted for reimbursement before March 31, 2025. After April 1, any unused funds over the rollover amount will be forfeited.
Dependent Care Spending Account balances do NOT rollover. All funds must be spent before the end of the year – December 31, 2025. There is a grace period for unspent funds from Jan 1 through March 15, 2026. Claims for services must be submitted for reimbursement before March 31, 2026. After April 1, any unclaimed funds will be forfeited.
Floating Holiday - Be sure to use your floating holiday before the end of the year - it will not carry over into 2026. All eligible employees will receive a new floating holiday for 2026 on January 1, 2026.
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Invest529 Webinar
Before the holiday hustle kicks into full gear, take a moment to give yourself or someone you love the gift of a brighter future with an Invest529 account.
Join us for an informative Invest529 webinar on Thursday, December 4 at 12:00 PM and learn how to make education savings part of your season of giving. In approximately 30 minutes, you’ll unwrap valuable information, including:
🎓 How an Invest529 account works
💸 How to grow your savings tax-free
📈 Smart tips for reaching your long-term education goals
Don’t forget – you’ll receive a $25 gift code to open a new Invest529 account and be entered to win a $100 Target gift card (winner announced live!)
Make this season count with a gift that keeps giving! Click here to register for the webinar today.
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In the midst of the lively and sometimes overwhelming holiday season, it's important to remember to prioritize your well-being. Whether it's dedicating a few moments each day to sit back, relax, and breathe deeply, or enjoying a peaceful stroll in your favorite location, making time to de-stress is essential.
TPMG Strive Fitness & Sports Performance has opportunities to help you stay active. Whether you choose to participate in a fitness class or work individually with one of our Personal Trainers, we are here to help you maintain your activity levels during this busy time of year.
Get started today and take advantage of our Black Friday Sale! Strive is offering 10% off all packages through December 5th. For more information and to schedule your Personal Assessment, call (757) 345-2512.
| | Want to boost your weekly menu with seasonal vegetables? Here are a few nutrient-dense vegetables to add to your grocery list: | |
- Beets (high in vitamins and minerals)
- Brussel Sprouts (loaded with vitamin C and vitamin K)
- Cauliflower (high in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium))
- Swiss Chard (high in vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate)
- Sweet Potatoes (high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin A)
Gale Pearson, MS, RDN, CDCES suggests trying to slowly incorporate these items into your meals. Or get creative and try out a new recipe!
Are you looking for support with your nutrition and dietary habits? TPMG Nutrition Services provides comprehensive dietary education and tailored nutrition programs to address a range of health needs, such as weight management and diabetes care. Call (757) 232-8768.
| | SEE WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING | | We strive to make certain that our patients experience exceptional care, and we are grateful when they take the opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback with us. | | | | |
Chhaya Patel, MD is currently accepting new patients at TPMG Rock Landing Internal Medicine in Newport News. Dr. Patel's goal is to empower her patients to take their health into their own hands through education, quality care, and the latest advancements in medicine. She treats adults ages 18 and up for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, including the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, thyroid problems, preventative care, and more.
Call (757) 243-8550 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel today.
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The TPMG Beacon Award is an employee appreciation program that rewards and celebrates staff members who demonstrate an exceptional level of skill, care, and passion for the meaningful work done with and for our patients every day.
The staff members pictured below received this award for providing excellent care and customer service to patients, providers, and fellow coworkers. Congratulations!
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Congratulations to Mercedes LaPorte with TPMG Imaging & Breast Center!
Mercedes made a lasting impression during a stressful time. A patient was feeling frustrated and desperate to schedule a critical CT scan. That’s when she connected with Mercedes—who quickly stepped in, provided clear guidance, and secured the appointment within 24 hours. Her kindness, professionalism, and dedication turned a difficult situation into a positive experience.
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Congratulations to Karen James with TPMG Procedure Suite!
Karen consistently demonstrates kindness and empathy in her patient care. She was nominated for the Beacon Award recently by a patient who arrived tearful and anxious. Through compassionate communication and emotional support, Karen helped ease his fears and brought him comfort. He expressed deep gratitude for her genuine care and willingness to listen.
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Congratulations to Kathy Bunting with TPMG Ophthalmology!
Kathy exemplifies professionalism, reliability, and genuine care. Always welcoming with a smile, she greets every patient and brings warmth to this busy office, arriving early each day to support patients and staff. Her kindness and ability to ease tense situations consistently earn praise from both patients and coworkers, reflecting her dedication to making everyone feel valued.
| | If you would like to nominate a fellow employee for the Beacon Award, fill out a nomination form here. Be sure to include in your nomination how the staff person models our core values of Excellence, Compassion, Belonging, Diversity, Professionalism, and Innovation. | | CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE | | We proudly recognize these individuals for reaching significant milestones with TPMG, and we appreciate the contributions and dedication they've shown along the way. | | |
3 YEARS
Jocelyn Arthur
Chandlyr Blake
Kelly Inskp
Iyonna Jackson
Karen James
Brandi Lawson
Chynna Newman
Caitlyn Peribonio
Stephanie Pundt
Maricris Rapanut
Dr. Kalain Workman
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5 YEARS
Jonte Hodge
10 YEARS
Kelly Murrer
20 YEARS
Julia Trevillian
25 YEARS
Marie Gosa
Andrea Harris
| | TPMG is committed to an environment where open, honest communications are the expectation, not the exception. We want you to feel comfortable in approaching your supervisor or TPMG management in instances where you believe violations of policies or standards have occurred. In situations where you prefer to place an anonymous report in confidence, you are encouraged to use the confidential hotline, hosted by a third-party provider, EthicsPoint. | |
Submit reports relating to violations stated in our Compliance Policy and Employee Handbook, as well as ask for guidance related to policies and procedures. The information you provide will be sent to us by EthicsPoint on a confidential and anonymous basis if you should choose. You have our guarantee that your comments will be heard.
The EthicsPoint link can be accessed here or on the TPMG Intranet’s Home Page at the bottom, under Additional Resources.
| | Are You Checking Your Vital Signs? | | |
Win Prizes Just by Reading Vital Signs and Staying Up-to-Date!
Hailey Puckett of Coastal Endocrinology, Deborah Allred of Orthopedics, and Kimberly Morris of Nephrology all took home some TPMG swag just for answering last issue's trivia question correctly. (Names are drawn at random.)
Answer the following question correctly and your name will be entered to win a prize:
| | TRUE or FALSE? Floating Holidays carry over into the new calendar year. | | | - Follow TPMG for fun facts, pictures, and positive engagement - | | | | |
