Healthcare Trends Put Physicians, Patients In “Dangerous Place,” Warns Dr. Ron Sroka With PPSC -- Briefings Media Group

Aug. 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact:
Lauren Methena
804-762-9600 ext. 203
lmethena@briefingsmediagroup.com

For Immediate Release: August 3, 2012

Healthcare trends put physicians, patients in “dangerous place,” warns Dr. Ron Sroka with PPSC

Ron Sroka, M.D., former president of the Maryland State Medical Society, has a stark warning for his fellow physicians about their profession: “The type of care that will be delivered in the future will be very strictly regulated by the government and insurance companies and not by the physician,” he declares. “And when that happens, patient care is going to suffer, and that puts physicians at more risk. That’s why we need to speak up now.”

Dr. Sroka is a featured speaker at the Physician Practice Survival Conference (PPSC), September 14-15, in Alexandria, VA. He and Russell C. Libby, M.D., F.A.A.P., president-elect of the Medical Society of Virginia, will speak on “A Call to Action for Independent Physicians and Small Group Practitioners.” The conference will examine the many challenges that threaten the survival of independent physician practices, while exploring viable business models that can produce long-term economic stability for physicians who wish to remain independent.

Dr. Sroka sees risks ahead for both physicians and their patients. “If left entirely to the government and insurance, decisions about patient care will not be based on the best care available but on what is economically affordable,” he asserts. “That puts patients at risk. And unfortunately, if a patient doesn’t receive a higher standard of care, tort law being what it is, physicians will be the ones to pay the price. On one hand, insurance companies are saying, ‘Don’t run all these tests to save money.’ Then you have the legal side saying, ‘If you make the wrong diagnosis or don’t run a test that could save a patient’s life, you will be sued.’ We get stuck in the middle. It’s a dangerous place to be.”

Dr. Sroka has long been an advocate for better patient care. As president of the Maryland State Medical Society he spoke at a rally in April 2009 to make state legislators aware of the growing healthcare crisis in the state. He was also featured in an April 2011 New York Times article that illustrated how many solo and small group practices are failing while other physicians are abandoning medicine due to dramatic reductions in reimbursements. Dr. Sroka blames “the predatory financial practices of monopolistic health insurance carriers.” He is a board-certified family physician and owner of Crofton Family Practice. He was one of four physicians profiled in Family Doctor, a public service video produced by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. that promoted family practice as a career choice.

The two-day Physician Practice Survival Conference will bring together some of the most respected leaders in healthcare, from practicing physicians to industry executives to third-party solution providers, to examine the economic challenges that threaten the survival of independent physician practices. A full roster of healthcare thought leaders will also discuss the business models that can answer these challenges and produce long-term economic stability for physicians who wish to remain independent.

The conference speaker line-up includes many more noteworthy physicians, including Kevin Fickenscher, M.D., President and CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA); Kerry Willis, M.D., chief physician strategist of ACO Subgroup Leadership at Proactive HealthCare USA; and Michael Parkinson, M.D., senior medical director, Health and Productivity, UPMC Health Plan and Work Partners and former president of the American College of Preventive Medicine.

For the full agenda, speakers’ bios, and registration information, visit www.PhysicianPracticeSurvival.com or call 1-800-431-7571.

About the Physician Practice Survival Conference
The Physician Practice Survival Conference was created to promote a healthy discussion of the business models that can help independent physicians build sustainable medical practices and provide quality care to their patients.

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the Institute for the Advancement of Human Behavior (IAHB) and Briefings Media Group. The IAHB is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
The IAHB designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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