Lifespan forms independent physician association

DR. TIMOTHY J. Babineau, president and CEO of Lifespan, said the new independent physician association will enhance the quality of care for patients.  / COURTESY LIFESPAN
DR. TIMOTHY J. Babineau, president and CEO of Lifespan, said the new independent physician association will enhance the quality of care for patients. / COURTESY LIFESPAN

PROVIDENCE – Lifespan has formed an independent physician association that it says will better serve patients and streamline their care.
Lifespan on Thursday announced the formation of Community Physician Partners Inc., which includes Anchor Medical Associates, Medical Associates of Rhode Island, University Internal Medicine and University Medicine.
According to a news release from Lifespan, the creation of the association allows the physician groups to remain independent, but contract with health insurers in partnership with Lifespan to share responsibility for total cost and quality of care delivered in their patient-centered medical home practices.
Patients will continue to see their primary care physician, nurse practitioner and nurse care manager for routine and preventive medical care management as well as management of chronic illnesses.
Lifespan President and CEO Dr. Timothy J. Babineau said this new approach capitalizes on the unique strengths of each partner to enhance the quality of care.
Babineau said that Lifespan is able to support the work of the primary care physicians by easing some of their business burdens, giving them quick and easy access to electronic records and providing them full access to specialty physicians with Lifespan.
Approximately 170 primary care physicians throughout most parts of the state are members of the CPP.
Anchor Medical Associates has practices in Lincoln, Providence and Warwick; Medical Associates of Rhode Island has practices in Bristol and East Providence; University Internal Medicine is in Pawtucket; and University Medicine has practices in Providence and its surrounding communities.
“There is a strong desire for primary care physicians to want to go it alone, but in this day and age, we just can’t,” Dr. David A. Marcoux, co-founder of University Internal Medicine and president of CPP, said. “The beauty of Community Physicians Partners is that we still have the autonomy to treat our patients in the manner we believe most appropriate, but with the incredible bench support of the Lifespan network of specialty physicians and infrastructure assistance, which frees up precious time for the primary care doctor to do what he or she does best – care for the patient.”

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