Strategies to Increase Primary Care Access and Efficiency: Reducing Reliance on Emergency Rooms

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are struggling to provide quality care and devote adequate time to patients in the face of reduced reimbursements and increased reporting. It's a scenario that frustrates patients, who increasingly turn to emergency departments (EDs) for primary care when the PCP is unavailable. Three industry experts who have engaged their respective organizations in sustainable partnerships for increasing access to primary care will share their strategies during a May 16, 2007 audio conference sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN).

Manasquan, NJ (PRWEB) May 1, 2007

Ensuring adequate access to primary care plays a pivotal role in reducing unnecessary emergency room visits -- but with primary care shortages and the growing number of uninsured, healthcare organizations are challenged to ensure patient and member accessibility to primary care. Three industry experts who have engaged their respective organizations in sustainable partnerships for increasing access to primary care will share their strategies during a May 16, 2007 audio conference sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN).

During Strategies to Increase Primary Care Access and Use, these pioneers in primary care access will examine innovative strategies that increase primary care access. For conference details, please visit: http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?primarycareaccesspr

The Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) is sponsoring the 90-minute live interactive audio conference, which will highlight the efforts of hospitals on the forefront of quality improvement.

  •     Scheduled speakers: Margaret Brennan, administrator for the Primary Care Access Network with Orange County Government, Maureen Kersmarki, board chair of the Primary Care Access Network for Florida Hospital and Christopher Wise, administrative director of the Medical Management Center at the University of Michigan Health System.

  •     Conference highlights: How to develop community partnerships that yield increased access to primary care; how the Primary Care Access Network in Orange County, Florida has grown from 5,000 uninsured patients to 80,000 -- and from two clinics to 11 -- with the same annual budget; and creative, no- or low-cost ways to improve primary care efficiencies and enhance patient satisfaction.

  •     Target Audience: CEOs, medical directors, disease management directors, managers and coordinators, health plan executives, care management nurses, business development and strategic planning directors.

  •     Audio Conference formats: 90-minute live audio conference on May 16, 2007 includes a 30-minute Q&A; "On-Demand" rebroadcast available May 18, 2007; 90-minute recording on CD-ROM with printed transcript available May 31, 2007. For conference details, please visit: http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?primarycareaccesspr

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MELANIE MATTHEWS, HIN EXECUTIVE VP AND COO:
"Redefining primary care will go a long way toward reducing the nearly 41million annual visits to emergency rooms that the National Center for Health Statistics has identified as unnecessary."

"In our recent e-survey, some hospitals told HIN they are reexamining compensation models to prevent doctors from fleeing family medicine for the financial and lifestyle rewards of specialty medicine. This PCP exodus forces many specialists to provide primary care at inflated costs."

Please contact Patricia Donovan to arrange an interview or to obtain additional quotes.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network - HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info @ hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Patricia Donovan
732.528.4468
732.292.3073
pdonovan @ hin.com

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The Healthcare Intelligence Network is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare.


Prescription for Primary Care: Initiatives for Change Prescription for Primary Care: Initiatives for Change

HIN white paper on the state of primary care, a strategic focus for much of the healthcare industry. In an October 2006 e-survey, HIN asked health plans, hospitals and providers how primary care issues affect the work they do.