MDNews - Greater Boston

++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + CAREER TRACKS +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++ PhysiCian EngagEMEnt Key at Signature HealtHcare W hen SignAture heAlthcAre President Kim Hollon took the reins of the organization almost three years ago, his first job was to establish a healthy — both financially and culturally — organization. He implemented a lean management system with the goal of empowering medical staff and employees to work together to solve problems, improve quality, increase efficiency and grow services. What has emerged is a health care organization that is strikingly different from others in the area and one that offers its employee physicians a number of benefits in both the quality of their working environment and the level of care they're able to offer patients. "The original vision behind Signature Healthcare, which we continue today, was to provide a better experience for patients by integrating their health care," explains Marc Greenwald, M.D., Chief of Medicine at Signature Healthcare. "The idea is that we, as an organization, can provide a patient's care through the health care continuum — outpatient, inpatient and care transitions." The multispecialty hospital and physician group employ more than 150 physicians practicing in 11 ambulatory locations, from the main hospital campus in Brockton to the newest location at 2 Washington Place in North Easton. It is the only not-for-profit community-based health care delivery system in southeastern Massachusetts and provides a full range of high-quality primary care, specialty care, hospital care and related ancillary services. The key is coordination of that care, which allows it to be delivered cost efficiently and in a way that is most beneficial to both physicians and patients. Early adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in 2007, when Brockton Hospital was part of a three-city pilot plan to bring EHRs to community hospitals, enormously helps that endeavor, but Dr. Greenwald insists a culture of communication is every bit as important. "The electronic health record conveys the factual information," 18 | Greater Boston MD News ■ MdneWS.coM he says. "But just as impor ta nt a re t he willingness, ability and culture of picking up the phone and calling a colleague to discuss the human parts of patient care that are otherwise difficult to transmit in writing." Sonjay Shrinivas, D.O., is Signature Healthcare's Chief of Hospitalist Medicine. He explains that the hospitalist team rests on six pillars: clinical excellence, patient service, education, communication, teamwork and fiscal accountability. "What we teach hospitalists here is not only the value of each of those pillars but also how to practice them," he says. "Part of the daily communication from the team leader to the hospitalists is to support them in working with these values." Hospitalists perform a larger role at Signature Healthcare than their counterparts at other health care organizations. "The hospitalists here aren't just functional foot soldiers carrying out assigned tasks," says Dr. Shrinivas. "They actually take part in structural revisions and engage actively in process-improvement projects, which I think is quite unique to this hospitalist program." In fact, Dr. Shrinivas admits that is part of what drew him to Signature Healthcare in the first place. "For me, being able to engage in the lean structure and process improvements that go along with it was a big part of the appeal," he says. "Also, having an active role in change is good because it makes change more palatable." Dr. Shrinivas believes Signature Healthcare is now delivering care in a way that positions the organization for flexibility as aspects of health care reform take effect in years to come. "I definitely think this represents the future of health care," he says. "Obviously, with more emphasis placed on quality metrics and patient care, being ahead of the curve is certainly to our advantage. Hopefully, this will become the norm in health care delivery going forward." For more information about physician opportunities at Signature Healthcare, please contact Joe Pellicano, physician recruiter, at (508) 941-7369 or jpellicano@signature-healthcare.com, or visit www.MySignatureCare.com. ■

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