Leadership and Opportunity

 As you are acutely aware, numerous challenges and opportunities exist in today’s volatile health care environment.  I look forward to working with each of you in 2008 as we collaborate to enhance our membership’s knowledge, skills, and professionalism across the spectrum of medical practice management.  I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as your President this year, and commit to do my absolute best in leveraging the combined skills and talents of our active and affiliate members as we work to improve our respective organizations and the level of service we provide.  Ultimately, effective leadership is the foundation upon which we will successfully address the issues ahead of us in 2008.      

 As part of its strategic plan, the MGMA has identified several key environmental assumptions that will impact medical groups over the next year.  Some of these considerations include (Source MGMA Strategic Plan):

·         Practice operating costs will outpace minimal or declining physician payment rates. As a consequence, physician revenue may decline despite efforts by practices to improve efficiency.

·         Continued consolidation of payers will increase disparity in negotiating strength between payers and practices.

·         Within the healthcare system, expenditures as a percentage of GDP will approach 22% or more.

·         Demand for health services will significantly increase as aging baby boomers reach retirement and are eligible for Medicare insurance coverage.

·         Subspecialization of health care personnel, both physicians and others, will continue to increase.

·         Electronic health records will be more common with the expectation of more than 50% of practices (most of them large), will be using EHR.

·         The growth of 24/7 access to primary care as a retail commodity, including through retail stores, will have significant impact on physician practices.

These are but a few of the daunting challenges we all will be facing.  However, I remain supremely confident that the members of the MSMGMA will be well prepared, through networking, educational and technology forums, and monthly presentations, to not only address these challenges, but to provide effective, solution oriented leadership.

This year, the MSMGMA will continue to work collaboratively with the Memphis Medical Society and the University of Memphis Division of Health Administration to foster programs of benefit to the medical and academic community.  These relationships are but a part of what makes our chapter so unique.

I look forward to working with you as we all strive to enhance the value the MSMGMA brings to its members and to the health care community at large.  Thank you for allowing me to serve, and, as always, I welcome your input and feedback.  Oh, and by the way, let’s have fun as we get to know each other even better and endeavor to grow personally and professionally.

Respectfully,

Dan Hein  MBA, CMPE