MCMS Physician Summer 2017 - 19

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PP: WHY IS PAMED MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION?

PP: WHAT PREPARED YOU FOR THIS ROLE?

JS: It's for Pennsylvania patients. A growing body of evidence is
showing that when regional physician practices integrate with
one another, there is greater coordination of care. That results
in higher quality, which then leads to lower costs and greater
health care access for everyone. Pennsylvania physicians also
benefit because they can collaborate for the benefit of patient
care, share best approaches, use their expertise, and - when
costs are successfully reduced - share in the economic gains.
Everyone wins.

JS: First and foremost, being a primary care physician in rural
Pennsylvania, where I got to see first-hand the dedication and
commitment of my professional colleagues in emergency rooms,
inpatient wards, and outpatient settings. I also have done some
health services research, where I tested the quality and costs of various
approaches to the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions,
such as asthma, diabetes, and heart failure. That's where I learned that
physician-led care is a key ingredient in any effort to improve health
care delivery.

PP: HOW WILL THIS PROJECT BENEFIT PAMED
MEMBERS?

PP: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN PENNSYLVANIA?

JS: While the "Triple Aim" of national health care reform
can be summed up as higher quality, lower costs, and greater
satisfaction, national physician leaders have correctly, in my
opinion, added a fourth aim, which is improving the work
life of clinicians. Called the "Quadruple Aim," it addresses the
important issue of physician stress, dissatisfaction, and burnout.
Integration means mutual support, professional growth, and the
personal rewards that come from helping more patients in more
ways and being recognized for it.

JS: I've physically been in Pennsylvania for more than 40 years, but
my heart went into Pennsylvania when I married my wife in 1981.
Since then, you can take this boy out of Pennsylvania, but you can't
take Pennsylvania out of the boy.
continued on next page >

PP: WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR THE FIRST YEAR?
JS: We are fast at work at developing a suite of options that will
help physician practices integrate. This will include offering
business services, highly secure data sharing, developing and
disseminating high-value care guidelines, and seeking the
leadership of practicing physicians in key positions of authority.
These services will take advantage of economies of scale to
reduce administrative costs. We began to offer some services
in early 2017. We can begin to work with insurers to develop
reimbursement levels that reward physicians for this higher level
of care. This is a fairly expensive investment for PAMED, and
one of the goals we are NOT looking at for the first year is to
turn a profit. That will take many years, but it's worth it.

Montgomery County
Medical Society
MCMS SPEAKERS BUREAU
Visit www.montmedsoc.com/speakersbureau to schedule
a medical professional to speak to your organization.
Since 1847, MCMS has
been the leading healthcare
advocate for physicians,
patients and
practices in
Southeastern
Pennsylvania.

PP: WHY WERE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS
POSITION?
JS: After many years working in and consulting for large
integrated delivery systems, this position gave me a chance
to put my experience to work for the benefit of patients and
physicians. As quality, costs, satisfaction, and the work life of
docs improve, we may be able to share our approach in states
other than Pennsylvania.

Is your doctor a member?
Call MCMS for more information.

610.878.9530
Email: montmedsoc@verizon.net

M C M S P H Y S I C I A N 19 S U M M E R 2 0 1 7
https://www.montmedsoc.com/Pages/Home.aspx http://www.montmedsoc.com/speakersbureau
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MCMS Physician Summer 2017
