Dallas Supergroup Launched

Podiatric Medical Partners of Texas (PMPT) - Jay Lifshen, President has partnered with Integrated Physician Systems (IPS) - Jeff Walker, CEO, to facilitate the merger of practices with 24 physicians in the greater Dallas area. This model allows the doctors to receive the rewards of being a large group while keeping their individual autonomy and control. IPS is providing all merger integration, process re-engineering, revenue cycle management (billing services), CCHIT 2011 certified software (fully integrated PM & EMR software), employee management oversight, credentialing, managed care negotiations, human resources, financial management services, company benefits, and all other back office operational support services.

Jon Hultman, DPM, MBA, Chairman of the IPS Board has stressed the need for supergroups for more than a decade. "IPS was the ideal partner to assist us in becoming a supergroup and managing the PMPT infrastructure," said Lifshen.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT NEWS
May 19, 2010 #3,86
Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

IPA vs. Supergroup

Most doctors have been involved with various types of IPAs and understand the concept. “Groups” tend to have more integration yielding the opportunity to garner more savings and improvements. Through “grouping”, our members hope to achieve improved profits through management efficiencies, standardization, leveraging advanced technology, improving purchasing costs, sharing common expenses, leveraging ancillaries, and utilizing our EMR data to prove to payors that we have improved patient outcomes and superior utilization. Size without the evidence of quality isn’t expected to cut it in the future. In the case of the Dallas “supergroup”, Podiatric Medical Partners of Texas (PMPT), we spent three years reviewing various types of merger models settling with a structure that met our vision, goals and objectives.

To optimize the value of the group, we wanted to standardize and integrate as many functions and items as possible, within certain parameters, prior to go-live. We have standardized and streamlined the majority of our operational functions to maximize economies and efficiencies. In some cases, practices were able to eliminate or reduce administrative staff by outsourcing these functions to our MSO, which “went live” March 29 of this year, just five months after signing an MSO service agreement with IPS. It took a lot of courage for our members to take this step. We anticipate membership to grow significantly in the coming months.

Every group will look a little different due to the members' philosophies and geographic region. Hopefully, we will see more of our colleagues nationally grouping together to solve future challenges. I am more than happy to share my experiences with anyone interested in taking this exciting journey.

Jay D. Lifshen, DPM, President, Podiatric Medical Partners of Texas, PA. Dallas, TX

Podiatry Management Online
August 5, 2010