Will Promise Outweigh Perils Of Affordable Care Act? Asks Featured Speaker At Physicians' Conference

Aug. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact:
Lauren Methena
804-762-9600 ext. 203
lmethena@briefingsmediagroup.com

For Immediate Release:  August 24, 2012

Will promise outweigh perils of Affordable Care Act? asks Dr. Parkinson, speaker at
Physician Practice Survival Conference

Michael Parkinson, M.D., M.P.H., senior medical director of Health and Productivity at UPMC Health Plan and WorkPartners and former president of the American College of Preventive Medicine, has joined the roster of presenters at the Physician Practice Survival Conference, September 14-15, in Alexandria, VA. His topic, “The Future of Physicians in Primary Care:  One Size Can't Fit All,” will be part of the conference’s mission to examine the economic challenges that threaten the survival of independent physician practices and explore business models that can produce long-term economic stability for physicians who wish to remain independent.

Dr. Parkinson wants physicians to get practical answers to the daily challenges they face in their practices, as well as gain a vision and some inspiration for the great potential healthcare can hold for the future. He says he joined the program at the Physician Practice Survival Conference, because “this conference represents a great opportunity to lead, challenge assumptions and develop new models of care and practice at a time when they're most needed.”

Dr. Parkinson’s experience in healthcare makes him particularly well-qualified to speak about the options available for physicians today and what their options are likely to be in the future. Before joining UPMC, he was the medical director of Lumenos, a WellPoint subsidiary. He is currently a senior consultant at EHE International.

Healthcare choices made now will not only affect people’s health but also the economy, which is why Dr. Parkinson is both hopeful and apprehensive about the Affordable Care Act. “The promise—and perils—of the ACA are both real and pressing,” he warns. “We can't afford to keep doing what we've been doing just as we've always done it. Physicians can and must improve the health and care of their patients and do so in ways which are affordable and sustainable. The survival of physicians in next generation practice models is critical to the health of our communities and their economic competitiveness.”

A retired Air Force colonel, Dr. Parkinson was associate director of medical programs and resources in the Office of the Surgeon General where he was responsible for policy and planning for over 2 million beneficiaries, 70 facilities and a $4 billion budget. He served on the National Advisory Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Care Purchasing Institute, assisting employers to purchase higher quality care. Dr. Parkinson is a recipient of the Air Force Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Preventive Medicine, and Distinguished Recent Graduate Award from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He received his AB from Cornell University, MD from George Washington University, family practice training at UCLA, and his MPH, preventive medicine residency and chief residency at Johns Hopkins.

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 faced by independent physician practices nationwide. 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 other noteworthy physicians, including Kevin Fickenscher, M.D., former executive vice president and chief medical officer of Dell/Perot Healthcare and former chief medical officer of WebMD; and Kerry Willis, M.D., chief physician strategist of ACO Subgroup Leadership at Proactive HealthCare USA.

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 11 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.