Five pain management physicians discuss the number one trait they look for when bringing on a new practice partner.
Standiford Helm II, MD, medical director of Pacific Coast Pain Management Center (Laguna Hills, Calif.): Ours is a relatively small practice, so the primary quality, after the given assumptions of basic competence, is personality. We want someone who shares our views about how to treat patients, both medically and personally, and who understands that we are here to add value to our patients, our providers and our payors.
Lora L. Brown, MD, Coastal Pain and Rehabilitation (Bradenton, Fla.): The practical qualities of keen medical knowledge and skill, combined with a strong work ethic that results in proven productivity.
R. Andrew Robertson, MD, founder and president, Wellspring Pain Solutions (Columbus, Ind.): The most important question to ask regarding a potential new recruit is whether the physician and his or her spouse will be happy in the practice location. If the answer is not a solid yes, then the practice risks losing a physician after having invested time, money and effort in recruiting him. It may even have passed up other qualified candidates. In my small-town Indiana location, this probably means we will have success with candidates from the Midwest and the South. People who prefer the coasts or big cities will probably not be happy here.
Marc E. Lynch, DO, medical director for Casa Colina Surgery Center (Chino, Calif.): Empathy. You can teach just about anybody how to do things. Anyone can read a book and take a test. When it come to chronic pain management, especially dealing with patients who have these conditions long-term, there has to be an empathetic quality and approach to your treatment to better effectively manage that patient.
Gennady Gekht, MD, Coastal Pain and Rehabilitation (Bradenton, Fla.): Training credentials and inter-personal skills. Even if a physician is a genius, if he can't relay his findings or his compassion to his patients: Ultimately, the patient will be dissatisfied and ultimately the outcome of the treatment will be compromised. A physician must have the ability to communicate clearly and show compassion toward the patient and be able to humanize himself instead of present himself as a medical tool.
This is an ongoing series which will feature five pain management physicians' responses to questions about the specialty.
Next week's question is: Do you see yourself or your group participating in an ACO-like arrangement now or in the future?
Submit responses to abby@beckershealthcare.com before Jan. 17.
Related Articles on Pain Management:
12 Statistics on Pain Management Case Revenue by Region
5 Ways to Safeguard Against Opioid Abuse and Diversion From Robert Saenz, CEO of Tulsa Pain Consultants
16 New Pain Management Facility Openings in 2011
Standiford Helm II, MD, medical director of Pacific Coast Pain Management Center (Laguna Hills, Calif.): Ours is a relatively small practice, so the primary quality, after the given assumptions of basic competence, is personality. We want someone who shares our views about how to treat patients, both medically and personally, and who understands that we are here to add value to our patients, our providers and our payors.
Lora L. Brown, MD, Coastal Pain and Rehabilitation (Bradenton, Fla.): The practical qualities of keen medical knowledge and skill, combined with a strong work ethic that results in proven productivity.
R. Andrew Robertson, MD, founder and president, Wellspring Pain Solutions (Columbus, Ind.): The most important question to ask regarding a potential new recruit is whether the physician and his or her spouse will be happy in the practice location. If the answer is not a solid yes, then the practice risks losing a physician after having invested time, money and effort in recruiting him. It may even have passed up other qualified candidates. In my small-town Indiana location, this probably means we will have success with candidates from the Midwest and the South. People who prefer the coasts or big cities will probably not be happy here.
Marc E. Lynch, DO, medical director for Casa Colina Surgery Center (Chino, Calif.): Empathy. You can teach just about anybody how to do things. Anyone can read a book and take a test. When it come to chronic pain management, especially dealing with patients who have these conditions long-term, there has to be an empathetic quality and approach to your treatment to better effectively manage that patient.
Gennady Gekht, MD, Coastal Pain and Rehabilitation (Bradenton, Fla.): Training credentials and inter-personal skills. Even if a physician is a genius, if he can't relay his findings or his compassion to his patients: Ultimately, the patient will be dissatisfied and ultimately the outcome of the treatment will be compromised. A physician must have the ability to communicate clearly and show compassion toward the patient and be able to humanize himself instead of present himself as a medical tool.
This is an ongoing series which will feature five pain management physicians' responses to questions about the specialty.
Next week's question is: Do you see yourself or your group participating in an ACO-like arrangement now or in the future?
Submit responses to abby@beckershealthcare.com before Jan. 17.
Related Articles on Pain Management:
12 Statistics on Pain Management Case Revenue by Region
5 Ways to Safeguard Against Opioid Abuse and Diversion From Robert Saenz, CEO of Tulsa Pain Consultants
16 New Pain Management Facility Openings in 2011