MDNews - Greater Kansas

HOSPITAL BEGINS PHYSICIAN SEARCH South Central Kansas Medical Center (SCKMC) is joining a grow- ing trend of hospitals directly employing the physicians who practice at their facilities. According to the American Medical Association, roughly 42 percent of physicians are now employed in some manner versus owning their own practices. This is a figure that has almost doubled over the past decade. While the medical center has employed physician specialists in the past, including general surgeons and most recently an OB/GYN, this will be its first attempt at employing family practice physicians. "We need more doctors with specialties like family practice, in- ternal medicine or pediatrics," says Steve Perkins, CEO of SCKMC. "That's probably our single biggest need in terms of growth." Recruiting healthcare professionals to rural communities has always been a challenge for small clinics and hospitals. Financial limitations, larger patient loads and frequent on-call coverage requirements are generally considered hurdles that push the majority of physicians towards larger markets. In late December, SCKMC unveiled a new local networking program to solicit information about healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, who have local ties to the community. According to the hospital's website, the program will pay a "recruitment bonus" as high as $5,000 to anyone able to provide a lead that results in the permanent placement of a physician, specialist, mid-level practitioner, therapist or registered nurse who relocates to the area in order to provide full-time healthcare services. "As we work with candidate physicians, we will be able to offer them a choice of practice — a physician group practice with one of the community clinics or employment by the hospital," Perkins says. "This choice broadens our opportunities." For more information about the Family and Friends Networking Program, visit www.sckmc.org. MOELLER DERMATOLOGY EARNS REACCREDITATION FROM AAAHC Moeller Dermatology has received reaccreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) — a private, nonprofit organization that assists ambulatory healthcare organizations in improving the quality of care provided to patients. Organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an ex- tensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert sur- veyors — physicians, nurses and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services. "We believe our patients deserve the very best care," says Christopher A. Moeller, MD. "Going through the process chal - lenged us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it's a constant reminder that our responsibility is to strive to continu - ously improve the quality of care we provide." ULRICH JOINS VIA CHRISTI HEALTH AS CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER Karl Ulrich, MD, Regional Chief Physician Executive for Dignity Health in California and former president and chief executive officer of the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin, has joined Via Christi Health as Chief Clinical Officer. Dr. Ulrich, whose medical specialty is psychiatry, previously was a member of Via Christi Health's board of directors — a role he relinquished when he joined Via Christi's senior leadership team. As a physician leader for the past 15 years, he has overseen the development of clinical programs, service line expansions, strategic planning, and physician group operations at multiple sites across a wide geographic area. "Dr. Ulrich's combination of experiences in a physician-led, multispecialty group practice and in Catholic health care working closely with physicians from many practice models make him a great fit here at Via Christi," says Jeff Korsmo, President and CEO of Via Christi Health. "Dr. Ulrich will be playing a lead role in collaborating with all of our physician partners to make Via Christi the best place for patients and senior residents to receive care and the best place to practice medicine in Kansas. He shares our commitment to transforming Via Christi into a high-reliability organization that delivers the highest-quality, safest care. I am confident he will help us achieve these goals, and I know he will be a great asset to the entire community." Dr. Ulrich and Carl Rider, Chief Clinical Administrative Officer, now jointly oversee the clinical operations at all Via Christi loca - tions, in collaboration with Via Christi Clinic's senior leaders Jack Shellito, MD, Kim Shank and Via Christi's Chief Medical Officer, Steve Nesbit, DO. Dr. Ulrich previously served as president and CEO of the Marshfield Clinic, a thriving, integrated group practice with nearly 800 physicians providing care at 55 sites in Wisconsin. He left Marshfield after having served the three-term maximum Karl Ulrich, MD What's New in Area Hospitals ++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOSPITAL ROUNDS 1 6 | Greater Kansas MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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