Dr. Venkataraman (Raman) Palabindala has been named Medical Director of Utilization Management and Physician Advisor Services for the UMMC Adult Hospital. He will also serve UMMC as Lead Physician Advisor and Chair of the Utilization Review Committee.

As Physician Advisor, Dr. Palabindala will conduct clinical reviews on cases referred by Care Coordination Department staff and/or other health care professionals to meet regulatory requirements and in accordance with the hospitals objectives for assuring quality patient care and effective, efficient utilization of health care services. He will serve as a consultant to and resource for attending physicians regarding their decisions relative to appropriateness of hospitalization, continued stay, and use of resources. He will also act as a liaison between the Care Coordination Department, Health Information Management, and the medical staff to facilitate accurate and complete documentation for coding and abstracting of clinical data, capture of severity, acuity and risk of mortality, and diagnosis-related group (DRG) assignment.

Dr. Fred Asher has been named Interim Division Director of Hospital Medicine. Originally from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Dr. Asher attended the University of Southern Mississippi for his undergraduate degree. He completed medical school and internal medicine residency at UMMC. Dr. Asher is the Assistant Clerkship Director for medical students rotating through the Department of Medicine and also serves on many department and institutional committees.