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Department: Interview

Nephrology Group Finds Creative Ways to Educate PCPs, Patients
James Lewis, MD, is a nephrologist and founder and president of Riverside Nephrology Group in Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of Loyola University School of Medicine, Lewis did an internal medicine residency and a nephrology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic before founding Riverside Nephrology in 1978. The group has seven nephrologists and operates six dialysis clinics in the Columbus area. In addition, Lewis has been instrumental in developing a vascular access center and innovative ways to educate primary care physicians about referring patients for nephrology care. He spoke with Contributing Editor Richard L. Reece, MD, about the challenges the practice faces.

Texas Group Supports National Efforts
As chief executive officer for the past 11 years of the Texas Medical Association (TMA), Louis Goodman, PhD, has been a national leader in defending the cause of physicians. In addition, for the last year, he has served as President of the Physicians’ Foundation, previously known as the Physicians’ Foundation for Health System Excellence, a charitable foundation that represents state and local medical societies. The foundation aims to improve the health system and give private physicians a more prominent role in influencing the direction of health care reform. Goodman has a doctorate in health economics and public policy from New York University. He has worked for TMA for 21 years. Editor-in-Chief Richard L. Reece, MD, conducted this interview.

Trainers Say Physicians Are Getting More Involved in Staff Education
In this interview, executives of the Practice Management Institute in San Antonio, Texas, discuss the challenges physicians face in practice today. The institute was founded in 1983 to provide continuing education for physicians. Originally, the founders aimed to train physicians who worked as medical staff members for hospitals and to train office staff members. The institute started with one seminar for general office management. Today, the institute offers more than 2,500 educational sessions annually in all non-clinical aspects of medical practice. It works with all staff members including receptionists, office managers, and insurance processing professionals. In this interview, Douglas O’Dell, PMI’s president and chief executive officer, and David Womack, PMI’s executive vice president, discussed with Editor-in-Chief Richard L. Reece, MD, the challenges physicians face in practice.

Broker Sees Positive Trends for CDHPs
In this interview, Jeffrey Hogan, the New England/New York/New Jersey regional manager in Farmington, Conn., for Rogers Benefit Group Insurance Brokerage, Inc., discusses what physicians should know about high deductible health plans and health savings accounts (HSAs). There is a groundswell toward consumerism in health care, and the pace is picking up, said. About 95% of the companies that Rogers Benefit Group quotes are installing some aspect of consumer directed health care plans in their strategies to contain health costs, he added. "By moving toward consumer directed care, these companies are now requiring employees to be educated about cost and quality," he explained. "That means doctors will be seeing patients who feel empowered to evaluate cost and quality and who have done their homework. In this new marketplace, physicians who are on the top of their game, who can show tangible evidence of value and quality, and who treat patients in a consumer-friendly way, will be the most successful."

Broker Sees Positive Trends Developing for Physicians Selling Their Practices
In this interview, Kevin Schon, president and CEO of PrimeCare America in Glidden, Iowa, discusses the role PrimeCare America plays in buying and selling physician practices, and serving as a placement agency for health care professionals. The company helps physicians and other health care professionals to find financing for purchasing practices and offers practice appraisal and practice management services. In an interview with Editor-in-Chief Richard L. Reece, MD, Schon described the current market for physician practices.

Recruiter Says Practices Are Changing as Medicine Becomes More Specialized
In this interview, Phillip Miller. the vice president of corporate communications with the recruiting firm of Merritt, Hawkins, & Associates in Irving, Texas, discusses a book he co-authored, Guide to Physician Recruiting–First Edition (Practice Support Resources, Inc., 2007). He also is the co-author of an earlier book, Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn Off Lights: A Look at America’s Looming Doctor Shortage. Miller has more than 19 years of experience in the physician recruitment business. He spoke with Editor-in-Chief Richard L. Reece, MD, about the changing nature of physician practices.

Practice Uses Patient-Centered Approach
Dennis H. Birenbaum, MD, is president and CEO of the Texas Hematology/Oncology Center, P.A., in Dallas, and medical director of the Patient’s Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC) in Carrollton, Texas, and the McKinney Regional Cancer Center (MRCC) in McKinney, Texas. Even though Birenbaum is an oncologist, the lessons he offers apply to physicians of all specialties. He spoke with contributing editor Richard L. Reece, MD, about patient-centered care.

Physician Demand Drives Buy-Ins
Daniel M. Bernick, JD, MBA, is a principal with The Health Care Group and Health Care Law Associates in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. He advises physician groups on the financial and legal aspects of medical practice operations, buy-ins, buy-outs, sales, mergers, and other transactions. He has extensive experience in valuation of medical practices and he has lectured widely to such organizations as the MGMA, American College of Rheumatology, American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, Medical Society of Delaware, and other groups. He discussed medical practice valuations with editor-in-chief Richard L. Reece, MD. This interview is the second of two-parts.

Growing Complexity, Regulations Affect Practice Buy-Ins and Buy-Outs
Daniel M. Bernick, JD, MBA, is a principal with The Health Care Group and Health Care Law Associates in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. He advises physician groups on the financial and legal aspects of medical practice operations, buy-ins, buy-outs, sales, mergers, and other transactions. He has extensive experience in valuation of medical practices and he has lectured widely to such organizations as the MGMA, American College of Rheumatology, American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, Medical Society of Delaware, and other organizations. He discussed medical practice valuations with editor-in-chief Richard L. Reece, MD.

Solo Physician Succeeds by Seeking Payment at the Time of Service
Robert Berry, MD, is the founder of the PATMOS Emergiclinic, in Greeneville, Tenn., which Berry says provides affordable, quality health care through payment at the time of service (or PATMOS) (at www.emergiclinic.com). He provides care to patients who lack health insurance, saying billing and collecting from insurers is needlessly expensive and time consuming. Health insurance should be reserved for major illnesses and major accidents, he says. Berry has testified before Congress on the costs of health care and the need to provide care for the uninsured. He spoke with editor-in-chief Richard L. Reece, MD, about his practice.