Page 19 - Layout 1

MEDICAL PRACTICE
STRATEGIES & ISSUES

Additionally, the types of clients we cation with a pathologist is typically fast and the referring physician
serve has evolved, which now includes usually knows the doctors on a personal basis.
services to hospitals, surgery centers, developing and maintaining positive, long term relationships with
physicians and other laboratories clients is key. Our billing department is local and directly under our
throughout Texas. Offering medical spe- control. That means that when clients call, they are able to talk to a
cialization has also spurred growth, al- “real person” in San Antonio. And since San Antonio is largely His-
though it’s nothing new; in the 1970s, the panic, our customer service and billing divisions are staffed by as-
group recruited the first pathologist ded- sociates fluent in English and Spanish. Employee retention is also
icated to pediatric pathology in San An- important to success. Most of our employees have been with our
tonio. Pathologists in our practice company for 10 years or longer, several for 30+ years.
currently hold specialized training in der-
matopathology, hematopathology, uro- PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP
logic pathology, gastrointestinal The practice group treats older and younger partners as equals.
pathology, cytopathology, pediatric All major decisions are made by the group as a whole. This differs
pathology, gynecologic pathology, breast from many practices where those with seniority hold the bulk of
pathology, fine needle aspiration pathol- decision-making. This strategy has worked very well. Our team relies
ogy, and renal pathology. The patholo- on experience from the older partners as well as the innovation and
gists staff offices at multiple hospitals and entrepreneurship of the younger physicians. We believe this strategy
other locations so there are pathologists will enable a continued upward trajectory into the future.
who are strategically placed in areas where
those specialties are most needed. ADVOCACY
Advocacy is important in enabling physicians to provide quality
INNOVATION patient care. Involvement in local, state and national societies is key,
Responding to shifting client needs as serving in various leadership roles, to include the Texas Medical As-
the healthcare environment changes, is sociation, the American Medical Association, the Texas Society of
vital. To be sure, we have reports that can Pathologists, and bexar County Medical Society. Service in these or-
be tailored to best communicate with our ganizations is an important way to give back to the medical profes-
referring physicians. PRl developed its sion and promote and assist physicians and patients. Although many
own patient reporting system. Over the physicians disdain “politics”, the fact is that the financing and prac-
years, it has been important to listen to referring partners and as a tice of health care is controlled by many decisionmakers who have
result have construct billing and IT platforms to meet their needs. little knowledge of how medicine is practiced. All physicians need
An extensive IT department that is tasked with keeping the practice to be there to advocate for quality health care on behalf of doctors
abreast of new trends and maintain records and reporting systems and patients.
in an efficient manner.
PATIENT CENTERED
CONVENIENCE The real secret to success is the understanding that behind every
Making our services convenient and personalized is crucial, in- tissue, cytology specimen, blood or other sample, there is a patient.
cluding an extensive courier system to pick up specimens from Many are apprehensive about the changes in health care, with good
laredo, del Rio, Eagle Pass, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, New braun- reason, and we share in that apprehension. but, like any other med-
fels and several other cities in central and south Texas (in addition ical practice, it is the patient who helps get us over the mountains
to San Antonio). direct communication with referring physicians of paperwork, the reimbursement slights, and the general headaches
is essential, so there are pathologists practicing locally in Kerrville, of running a business. It’s why we became doctors in the first place.
Fredericksburg, laredo, and New braunfels. The goal for any prac-
tice should be reliability, accountability and consistency. So if a David N. Henkes, MD is a pathologist in San Antonio and is a member
physician is working with a pathologist on hospital cases, we also and Past President of the Bexar County Medical Society. Dr. Henkes is also
try to pair their outpatient cases with that pathologist. Communi- the former Chair of the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees.

visit us at www.bcms.org 19