Plano Doctors Recognized as America's Top Practice.

Family Medical Specialists Leverage Technology to Benefit Patients

PLANO, Texas -- Drs. Christopher Crow, Sander Gothard and Matthew Weyenberg, of Family Medical Specialists of Texas, have been recognized nationally as the "2006 Practice of the Year," by Physicians Practice, America's leading Practice Management journal. The current issue describes the selection process for the dozens of candidates nationwide and is circulated to over 300,000 medical practices.

"We're ecstatic to be recognized as a leader in the industry for our investment in the latest and most comprehensive tools and technologies for the management of patient care," said Christopher Crow, MD, MBA and co-founder of Family Medical Specialists of Texas. "This award, combined with the clinical gains we've experienced by embracing technology, is a clear indication that we are on the right track for providing the highest quality and most cost efficient care for our patients, as well as their employers."

The group credits a large part of their success to their utilization of technology. In 2003, the doctors implemented an electronic medical records (EMR) system, developed by GE. They realized a return on investment in less than 18 months. The EMR system helped increase office efficiency, improve patient satisfaction and advance the quality of care well beyond the limitations of paper charting.

Family Medical Specialists believes that while technology is great, it is not a panacea for physician practices. They feel access is the key to extraordinary customer service and a good doctor-patient relationship. The doctors and staff are champions for same-day scheduling. Dr. Crow notes it's a simple innovation to implement and "one more way we can keep our patients healthier and happier." But access to the practice and its physicians is more than just being available everyday for appointments. David Albenberg, M.D., Physicians Practice judge, said, "These guys have it going on - video patient education in the exam rooms, web site portals for online services, e-mail access to physicians, and e-newsletters all establish, build and solidify the doctor-patient relationship."

Family Medical Specialists participate in GE's Medical Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC), using de-identified data, to compare their patients' clinical information to millions of other patient records in a national database. This technology helps doctors compare patient care in diabetes and hypertension, for example, against standard benchmarks, and better manage these high-risk patients through accepted protocols and point of care reminders.

The doctors use electronic prescribing to help patients avoid potential time-consuming pharmacy hassles. The staff reports this simple tool saves an estimated 60 calls a day to patients and pharmacies. Phone tag between the doctor and patient is virtually eliminated through a secure email or voice-mail service, allowing patients instant access to test results and messages from their physician.

This high-tech group will be expanding to a new location in the summer of 2007, with plans to add several new physicians to the practice. Their next strategy is to help local companies control healthcare costs through employee health and wellness programs, on-site health services, and other amenities.

"We are committed to having open minds, maximizing technology, adapting to change, even causing change, to continuously improve the care for our patients and our community," Gothard says.

About Family Medical Specialists of Texas

Family Medical Specialists of Texas (FMST), a group of primary care specialists located in Plano, combines high-tech amenities and services, with a caring and concerned approach to help patients receive the most appropriate medical treatment. FMST, recognized nationally as the Practice of the Year in 2006 by Physicians Practice, provides care for men, women and children's health, management of acute and chronic illnesses, minor procedures; mental health services, routine tests, immunizations and screenings. FMST utilizes video patient education, e-newsletters, online patient records, email access to physicians, and its website to encourage ongoing communication with patients. For more information about Family Medical Specialists, visit the website at www.fmstexas.com.