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In 1996, doctors for what is now the introducedd the idea of meetinga patient’es diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitativw needs all in one By providing services for X-rays, surgery, and physical and occupational therapy under one the health care provider saved time, simplified the process and gainedf more control of patients’ care from start to finish. “Wse found that patients really, really appreciate the idea thatthey don’g have to traipse from place to another,” says Dr.
Dave who joined the predecessor to the Tennessee Orthopaedivc Alliance in 1982 and currently is in his seconfd stint as president of the board of Alexander says operatinga full-service orthopaedicc center was a “big gamble” initially becausre of the expense and unconventionality, but it has grown into the largest orthopaedic practice in Middle Tennessee with 50 physicians and about 350 employees staffinv 16 locations. The alliance, whose roots date back to remains one of thefew full-service orthopaedic providerss in the state. “We certainly were the ones thatpioneerec that,” CEO Ted MacDonald says.
“When you’re the leader at somethinbg and you keepevolving it, you’re able to tweak the system to stay ahead of that game.” MacDonald becam e CEO 13 months ago, takingy over a practice that was in “reasonably good “(But) the reason they asked me to join them was to take it to the next MacDonald says. To get there, MacDonald aims to bolster the businesss side by refining the reimbursement procesdsand “dealing with the barriers insurers put betweejn the physician and the patient.” “The bureaucracy that it takew to take care of patients has been very challenging,” says a veteran leader of group practices.
MacDonald has managed to renegotiat ethe alliance’s contracts with most major insurers and discuss ways to improvw the patient experience, but says the nationakl carriers have policies that don’t allows for much flexibility even with large “Health care is probably the most regulated industry in our MacDonald says. “Trying to weave our way througg that in anappropriate way, and still see our gives us some sleepless nights.
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