29
November
2005
|
01:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Two Cedars-Sinai Physician Groups Named in Rankings of California Best For Patient Satisfaction, Preventive Care and Use of Technology

Los Angeles - November 29, 2005 – Cedars-Sinai Health System’s two physician groups that provide primary care and multi-specialty care – Cedars-Sinai Health Associates and Cedars-Sinai Medical Group – each ranked among the top five medical groups in Los Angeles for clinical quality, patient satisfaction and use of information technology, an independent review organization has announced.

In its recently released Pay for Performance (P4P) analysis of the 225 participating California physician groups, the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) reviewed physician group performance in 14 separate measures of clinically recommended preventive care – such as breast cancer and cholesterol screening – and chronic care for such conditions as asthma and diabetes. Patient satisfaction was determined through a mailed survey that asks about how well doctors communicate, the timeliness of care and service, access to specialists, and overall ratings of the doctor and care experience. The groups were also reviewed for the caliber of their use of information technology to support patient care.

“These groups, operating in an organized and integrated model, have distinguished themselves and raised the bar for other physicians in California. By investing in information technologies that improve care and physician decision-making, they are better able to deliver preventive and chronic care services to their patients, who are clearly satisfied with the care they are receiving,” said Don Crane, president of the California Association of Physician Groups, in an IHA press release announcing the state’s top 20 performing physician organizations.

Thomas D. Gordon, Senior Vice President of Cedars-Sinai Medical Delivery Network and Chief Executive Officer of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group points to the organizational culture as an important factor in the groups’ high patient satisfaction rankings, as well as the low turnover rate among its physicians. “From the beginning, we’ve had an internal culture of continuous self-assessment, and commitment to engaging in active, ongoing discussions with physicians, staff and patients so that all of those voices get heard and considered in our quest for continual quality and service improvement,” Gordon said.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, based in Los Angeles, has more than 70 primary care physicians and a full array of specialty services. Since its inception in 1985, physicians in the medical group have had a relationship with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to facilitate inpatient care.

Cedars-Sinai Health Associates is an independent physicians association (IPA) based in Los Angeles that has more than 80 primary care physicians and specialists in its network. Physicians with Cedars-Sinai Health Associates maintain their private offices while being available to people with managed care health insurance.

IHA is a statewide collaborative of California health plans, medical groups and health care  systems, plus academic, consumer, purchaser, pharmaceutical and new technology representatives. IHA promotes quality improvement, accountability and affordability for the benefit of all California consumers through special projects, policy innovation and education.