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Physician leadership There are more questions than answers By Lyle Swenson, MD
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here are profound changes occurring in our state, and in our country, that will affect physicians and their profession for many years. It seems logical to assume that physicians would look toward physician leadership for guidance on how to shape and respond successfully to these changes. What are the changes that physicians are experiencing, and how have these changes affected the profession? Economic realities—primarily declining payments and uncertainty regarding future payments from government programs— and administrative/regulatory burdens over the last few decades have produced a dramatic shift in our profession, from a primarily independent-practice model to an overwhelmingly employment-based model. This shift has created new realities and independent physicians have responded to these realities by: • Forming alliances with hospital systems or accountable care organizations
Developing policy for telemedicine New regulations and guidelines By Jon Thomas, MD, MBA
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elemedicine is the practice of medicine using electronic communications, information technology, or other means between a physician in one location and a patient in another location, with or without an intervening health care provider. It typically involves secure videoconferencing, or store-and-forward technology to
provide or support health care delivery by replicating the interaction of a traditional encounter in person, between a provider and a patient. Generally, telemedicine is not an audio-only, telephone conversation, email/instant messaging conversation, or fax. Developing policy for telemedicine to page 10
• Forming larger groups in order to secure a patient base • Solidifying their bargaining power • Transitioning to a direct pay or concierge type of practice • Continuing to practice as they always Physician leadership to page 12