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TransforMED, Inc. Names Terry McGeeney, M.D., Chief Executive Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, September 25, 2005
LEAWOOD, Kan. – TransforMED, a recently launched enterprise that will provide ongoing consultation and support to primary care practices across the country looking to transform to the new model of care outlined in the Future of Family Medicine report, today announced the hire of Terry McGeeney, M.D., as the company's chief executive officer.
McGeeney brings nearly 30 years of experience as a board-certified family physician, including more than a decade in rural solo practice where he practiced the full spectrum of family medicine, including obstetrics; extensive emergency room experience; and nearly 15 years in a large multi-specialty group where he served as medical director. He also brings a solid understanding of the fundamentals of business management, health facilities organization and operations, which he acquired while earning a master's degree in health care administration from the University of Colorado.
Most recently, McGeeney served as assistant medical director and then medical director of the McFarland Clinic PC, central Iowa's largest physician-owned, multi-specialty clinic. The McFarland Clinic PC network of more than 200 health care providers annually serves more than 900,000 patients in 24 Iowa communities. Thirty-five different medical specialties are represented on the clinic staff.
A forward-practicing, patient-focused clinic, McFarland has in place many of the new model concepts, which were implemented under McGeeney's leadership. A testament to the efficacy of these concepts, McFarland's family physicians' average income is significantly more than the national average.
"I look forward to leveraging the practical experience and insights I gleaned in a variety of practice settings to help others transform their practices to a new model of care that will improve both efficiency and quality," McGeeney said.
As chief executive officer of TransforMED, McGeeney will serve as the leader, visionary and key spokesperson for the company. He will be responsible for the overall management of the organization and will oversee the development of the company's product and service lines.
The initial focus of TransforMED is to develop, implement and evaluate a "proof-of-concept" National Demonstration Project to pilot test a new model of care in 20 family medicine practices of varying sizes across the country. The pilot project's application process is anticipated to begin in December 2005, with the goal of selecting the pilot practices by February 2006.
Pilot practices will implement fully all elements of the new model and undergo thorough, real-time evaluation to determine empirically the model's impact on the quality of care and business performance. A final report is expected in early 2008.
"The National Demonstration Project will provide an objective view into exactly how the components of this new model of care will affect physicians' practices and their patients," McGeeney said. "It also will provide us with insight into the most efficient and effective way to implement this kind of transformative change."
Future plans call for TransforMED to expand its service offerings to primary care physicians across the country, providing them with fully integrated and prepackaged products and services, including expertise and experience implementing the new model with ease. An initial offering of TransforMED's products and services to early adopters of the new model is expected in 2006.
By forging partnerships with technology vendors, developing customized and integrated product and service packages, refining existing products to meet family physicians' needs and providing consultation, advice and training to practices, TransforMED will assist primary care practices in transitioning to the new model of care.
"We feel strongly that the new model has real potential to propel the U.S. health care system toward improved performance and results that are satisfying to patients, health care professionals, purchasers and payers," McGeeney said. "TransforMED's goal is to make transition to the new model practice as easy and financially attainable as possible."
Based on the concept of a relationship-centered personal medical home for all Americans, the new model of care is family medicine's answer to the Institute of Medicine's call to cross the quality chasm, and it aims to transform how medicine is practiced in this country. The model features a number of characteristics, including:
McGeeney brings nearly 30 years of experience as a board-certified family physician, including more than a decade in rural solo practice where he practiced the full spectrum of family medicine, including obstetrics; extensive emergency room experience; and nearly 15 years in a large multi-specialty group where he served as medical director. He also brings a solid understanding of the fundamentals of business management, health facilities organization and operations, which he acquired while earning a master's degree in health care administration from the University of Colorado.
Most recently, McGeeney served as assistant medical director and then medical director of the McFarland Clinic PC, central Iowa's largest physician-owned, multi-specialty clinic. The McFarland Clinic PC network of more than 200 health care providers annually serves more than 900,000 patients in 24 Iowa communities. Thirty-five different medical specialties are represented on the clinic staff.
A forward-practicing, patient-focused clinic, McFarland has in place many of the new model concepts, which were implemented under McGeeney's leadership. A testament to the efficacy of these concepts, McFarland's family physicians' average income is significantly more than the national average.
"I look forward to leveraging the practical experience and insights I gleaned in a variety of practice settings to help others transform their practices to a new model of care that will improve both efficiency and quality," McGeeney said.
As chief executive officer of TransforMED, McGeeney will serve as the leader, visionary and key spokesperson for the company. He will be responsible for the overall management of the organization and will oversee the development of the company's product and service lines.
The initial focus of TransforMED is to develop, implement and evaluate a "proof-of-concept" National Demonstration Project to pilot test a new model of care in 20 family medicine practices of varying sizes across the country. The pilot project's application process is anticipated to begin in December 2005, with the goal of selecting the pilot practices by February 2006.
Pilot practices will implement fully all elements of the new model and undergo thorough, real-time evaluation to determine empirically the model's impact on the quality of care and business performance. A final report is expected in early 2008.
"The National Demonstration Project will provide an objective view into exactly how the components of this new model of care will affect physicians' practices and their patients," McGeeney said. "It also will provide us with insight into the most efficient and effective way to implement this kind of transformative change."
Future plans call for TransforMED to expand its service offerings to primary care physicians across the country, providing them with fully integrated and prepackaged products and services, including expertise and experience implementing the new model with ease. An initial offering of TransforMED's products and services to early adopters of the new model is expected in 2006.
By forging partnerships with technology vendors, developing customized and integrated product and service packages, refining existing products to meet family physicians' needs and providing consultation, advice and training to practices, TransforMED will assist primary care practices in transitioning to the new model of care.
"We feel strongly that the new model has real potential to propel the U.S. health care system toward improved performance and results that are satisfying to patients, health care professionals, purchasers and payers," McGeeney said. "TransforMED's goal is to make transition to the new model practice as easy and financially attainable as possible."
Based on the concept of a relationship-centered personal medical home for all Americans, the new model of care is family medicine's answer to the Institute of Medicine's call to cross the quality chasm, and it aims to transform how medicine is practiced in this country. The model features a number of characteristics, including:
- Commitment to provide a defined basket of services
- Advanced information systems, including electronic health records
- Patient-centered care
- Elimination of barriers to access; open access by patients
- Team approach to care
- Whole-person orientation
- Focus on quality and safety
- Enhanced practice finance
- Redesigned, more functional offices
- Care provided in a community context
- Practice-based research
"TransforMED is taking an active role in addressing the growing frustration among primary care physicians and patients about the inefficiencies in health care. We understand that any viable solution to the current health care crisis must have both a systems and a patient focus, and we believe the new model has both. We are excited about the possibilities it has for the future of health care in this country and are ready to make it a reality."
# # #
About TransforMED, Inc.
The Leawood, Kan.-based TransforMED, Inc. is a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Established in 2005, the company provides ongoing consultation and support to physicians looking to transform their practices to a new model of care that is based on the concept of a relationship-centered personal medical home. In an effort to make the transformation process as turn-key as possible, the company offers practices fully integrated and prepackaged products and services, including consultation and advice on implementing the new model. To learn more about TransforMED, visit www.transformed.com.
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 110,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.
Approximately one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 240 million office visits each year — nearly 87 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.FamilyDoctor.org.
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