• A
• A
• A

Contact Information:
Deborah D. Coble
Director, Corporate Communications
dcoble@westclinic.com
901-683-0055 ext. 1312

WEST CLINIC FACILITATES FORUM WITH CONGRESSMAN STEPHEN FINCHER AND LOCAL HEALTH CARE LEADERS TO DISCUSS CURRENT CHALLENGES IN HEALTHCARE

MEMPHIS, TN  May 23, 2012   The West Clinic, The Mid-South’s premier cancer center, announced today that it hosted an exclusive forum with Congressman Stephen Fincher, representative of the 8^th District of Tennessee, and healthcare leaders from several leading physician practices and area hospitals  to discuss issues and challenges related to healthcare in general and specialty specific issues.   Dr. Lee Schwartzberg, Medical Director, The West Clinic, and Dr. Kurt Tauer, Chief of Staff, expressed their appreciation on behalf of all attendees for the opportunity to educate the Congressman about threats to healthcare in general and issues related to assuring patients always have access to top quality medical care.

Physicians, hospital executives and practice administrators representing various specialties and groups throughout the region shared specific issues facing their organizations respectively.

Some of the issues highlighted included:

• Unexpected consequences of the Medicare Modernization Act, ie drug shortage issue, not having access to some drugs and the consequence of having to use a drug ten times as expensive
•  Prompt Pay Discount
• National bill that covers routine costs of clinical trials
• Concerns about doctor/ patient relationship
•  Healthcare reform
• Radiology Business Managers – third party program RBMs – dictating between patient/doctor relationship regarding medical necessity
• Utilization review- hoops that practices have to jump through
• Long term financial stability
• Declining reimbursements
• Ongoing threat to integrated delivery care model
• Organ Allocation issue – keeping transplant program in Memphis

According to Congressman Fincher, “Our challenge is letting the doctors and the experts sit down and craft a policy that works for the patient and the doctor and get us (Congress) out of the middle. We have no business being between the doctor and the patient. I care about what is happening…One size fits all does not work. We have to give the flexibility back to the doctors and the hospitals, offer incentive packages and I care about listening and trying to fix these problems. “

The magnitude of leadership attending today’s forum is indicative of the common and difficult challenges facing the healthcare delivery system. Working together, through the legislative process as well, we can make a difference in the lives we serve.

About The West Clinic

The West Clinic has been the region’s premier provider of cancer care in the Mid-South for over 33 years. With a team second to none in breadth of expertise, dedication to excellence, and commitment to compassionate care, our multidisciplinary physician group is comprised of 30 specialists in Medical Oncology, Hematology, Gynecologic Oncology, Breast Surgery, Endocrinology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Pain and Palliative Care, and other advanced medical care. With eight locations in Memphis, West TN, and North MS, patients across the Mid-South have greater access to the highest quality care available.

The West Clinic’s clinical research program, under the direction of Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, FACP, Medical Director, is internationally renowned. Over the past two decades, West Clinic has consistently been one of the first centers in the US to gain experience and hasten the development of new drugs for breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and many other diseases.  Today, our researchers are investigating new drug therapies through participation in national clinical trials. For more information visit www.westclinic.com