Lisa Goss, MD

Name: Lisa Goss, M.D.

Chief Medical Information Officer

Family Physician, WHS Lakeside Primary Care

Tell me about yourself?

How long have you been employed at WHS?

10 years

Was it always in the same department?

I started off as faculty in the Family Medicine Residency Program, working in the Canonsburg office location. I worked there until 2017 until I transitioned into my current position as Chief Medical Information Officer. I also see patients part time at WHS Lakeside Primary Care.

What additional tasks or responsibilities have you taken on during COVID -19?

As a result of the need to take care of patients outside of the office setting, the Health System needed to quickly implement the use of telemedicine in our ambulatory office locations. With the help of many people, we are now able to have all of our primary care and specialty providers see their patients through the use of telemedicine. This has required training of staff and providers and getting equipment configured and ready to use for this new purpose.

Our team has also expanded the use of telemedicine within the hospital to allow staff, providers and patients to be able to communicate with each other without requiring the need to constantly enter patient rooms who may be in isolation. This has actually helped to improve communication with patients while reducing potential exposure and helping to conserve the use of personal protective equipment.

Education: I went to Grove City College where I obtained at B.S. in molecular biology. I attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for medical school and then completed a residency in family medicine at UPMC St. Margaret.

Hobbies outside of work:

When I am not at work, I enjoy traveling with my husband and friends, golfing, going to the movies (especially Marvel movies!), and going for long walks with my dog.

Family, pets, etc?

I have been happily married to my husband, Jim, for nearly 24 years. I’m very lucky for many reasons, not the least of which is he is an amazing cook and keeps me well fed! We have a crazy dog named Lucy, who we rescued from the Washington Area Humane Society. She has lots of energy and enjoys running around her yard, going on walks in any path but a straight one, and barking at leaves that blow in the wind.

Who was an inspiration to you growing up?

My parents. Through their work ethic, they provided me the means to be the first in my family to attend college. They also gave me the tools and confidence to become the person that I am today.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Have more fun and enjoy the small things in life!

What is your favorite sweet treat?
I’m not much of a sweets eater, but give me a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, and you won’t see a crumb left in the bag.

Tell us about a “my co-workers are great” moment that you have experienced.

During our implementation of telemedicine, we needed people to train providers on a very aggressive schedule and configure equipment across numerous offices. Team members from several different areas of the organization worked tirelessly and stepped up without asking to make this an extremely successful project in an effort to help improve the care we provide to our patients.

What do you want people to know about WHS TeleVisits?

TeleVisits are easy to do! You can see your own WHS provider who knows your history and has your records. Keys to a successful visit include making sure that you have a good wi-fi connection (if you can Facetime or Skype, you are probably ok), have your visit in a quiet location free of the noise of TV, children and pets, and to hold your device at eye level.

What should the public know or be aware of, as we begin to open up businesses and services in the community?

As the pandemic is likely to present ongoing healthcare challenges and concerns, our organization is constantly evaluating and proactively addressing the issues that arise to ensure that our patients will continue to receive great patient care.