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Dr. Wiliam Jessee, MGMA President & CEO

A power packed event is heading toward Memphis in May with none other than the renowned Dr. William Jessee, president and CEO of Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), as the keynote speaker.

Jessee attended the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the School of Hygiene and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. He received postgraduate training at Indiana University Hospitals and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Currently. he is clinical professor of preventative medicine and biometrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and adjunct professor of health policy and administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health. He is also the recipient of numerous fellowships and honors and the author of more than 80 trade publications. He is licensed to practice medicine in Maryland, California, North Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky and Colorado, and is a member of too many professional societies to list.

This year's theme for the educational seminar, CSI: Memphis "Uncovering the Mysteries in Health Care," is chock full of mouthwatering topics that are sure to start water cooler discussions.

Dan Hein, president-elect of MGMA, pointed to an outstanding panel of experts lined up with very interesting topics such as Jessee's keynote address, "Following the Evidence: Learning the Tricks of the Trade from Better Performing Practices."

"This is an annual event for our chapter where we bring in speakers from around the region and country to deliver relevant and timely information in the form of presentations to our local membership," Hein said. "The intent is to provide a venue whereby local medical administrative personnel and affiliate members can exchange information and enhance their professional development, while becoming more educated on specific topics that impact medical organizations across the spectrum of care."

Jessee said for more than 50 years, MGMA has been collecting a variety of data from members on practice operating costs and profitability.

"I'll be discussing trends in those data that show a continuing rise in operating expenses that is significantly outpacing the rise in revenues," Jessee said. "As you probably know, Medicare payment rates for physicians in 2007 are approximately the same as they were in 1998 — and rates from private insurers often mirror Medicare. Meantime, practice operating expenses have gone up by 30 percent or more. Accordingly, many practices are facing some serious financial straits. Each year, MGMA publishes a book on better performing practices, which is a series of case studies of practices that are doing better than average in holding down expenses, maximizing revenues, and maintaining profitability. In my presentation, I'll be focusing on some of those case studies to help the attendees get ideas for what they might do in their own practice to survive and thrive in a difficult economic climate."

Tennessee MGMA president Randy Wilmore, CEO of Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic in Columbia, called it a "great coup to get Dr. Jessee to come and speak in Memphis.

"He is always one of the top most influential people in the country as far as healthcare is concerned," Wilmore said. "Education is required for everyone, but everybody's so busy, as Steven Covey said, it's hard 'to sharpen the saw.' What they're doing in Memphis is providing a one day event that will bring a quality program to give insight into issues in healthcare, help their practice and to deal with the ever changing healthcare environment."

Other topics being presented are "CSI Medicine — Cases Allegedly Gone Bad" presented by Dr. Richard Duszak, chair of the American College of Radiology's coding and nomenclature committee and practicing physician with Mid-South Imaging & Therapeutics in Memphis. Will Latham, president of Latham Consulting Group, a large consulting firm providing services to medical groups, will present "Young Cop, Old Cop — Bridging the Intergenerational Divide." Finally, Deborah Walker Keegan, PhD, will present "The Case for Workflow."

Libby Wren, CMPE, office manager of The West Clinic's mid-town location and president of the Mid-South MGMA in Memphis, said the annual seminar is important to keep members abreast of healthcare issues.

"We decided this year that there are so many important things going on that are affecting us nationally and locally that we should get Dr. Jessee to come share his thoughts on the direction of healthcare," Wren said. "He's done such a good job at pinpointing them. Managing a medical practice in the 21st century is very complicated. Practice managers and administrators have got to be knowledgeable in so many different areas. Dr. Jessee is a leader in medical practice management and all the skill sets that are required in this date and time. We felt our membership deserved to hear someone at the top of the heap."

Bill Appling, healthcare management consultant and principal of J. William Appling & Associates in Memphis and lecturer at the University of Memphis' Fogelman College of Business and in the graduate program of the Urban Affairs and Public Policy's Division of Health Administration, served on the national MGMA board with Jessee and currently serves on the Mid-South MGMA board.

"Dr. Jessee is probably one of the most proactive CEOs on any board I've served on," Appling said. "He's moved the MGMA light-years ahead. He's focused on the anticipation of changes to help educate the lawmakers of some of the changes that need to take place from both an MD and executive level. There will be a draw from about a 300-mile radius, at least, and from surrounding states because of his reputation."

The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis on May 23 with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and welcoming remarks at 8:15. The CSI seminar is open to members for $60 and nonmembers for $75. Call (901) 761-0200 for more information.

"I'm looking forward to coming to Memphis, and to the opportunity to interact with our Memphis area members," Jessee said.


May 2007

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