In mid-July, I, along with my wife, moved to Hilo from Tacoma, Wash., to join the East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association, or EHI IPA, as its first full-time chief medical director.
EHI IPA, founded in 1994, is an organization based in Hilo comprised of 80 Hawaii Island independent physicians and advanced practice registered nurses. Most of EHI IPA’s members are solo primary care practitioners. The association’s mission is to “empower independent health care providers on Hawaii Island to improve quality, increase access and lower costs to achieve better health.”
I have spent 32 years in health care, initially as a private-practicing family physician in Puyallup, Wash., before moving into hospital leadership, health care consulting and, most recently, serving as president and chief medical officer at Northwest Physicians Network. As the senior executive of NPN, my work centered on the development of a high-performing network of community-based private practitioners. During my tenure, NPN was able to double in size while enhancing care coordination, improving physician communication and improving the quality of care provided to the community.
I was first introduced to EHI IPA in early 2015 when I was invited to speak at its annual health care symposium in Waikoloa. In addition to the warm welcome extended to me and my wife, I was immediately struck by the deep level of commitment local physicians have for the health and well-being of their patients and community. I found a kindred spirit here that is in complete alignment with who I am as a person and a professional.
Private practitioners play a key role in their communities. The ongoing success of local providers here demonstrates that private practices can thrive. However, to succeed, providers need help navigating the many changes and administrative demands with which they currently face.
That’s the role of EHI IPA: to stand in the gap on behalf of community providers and unite them in support of high-quality, affordable care delivered in a neighborhood, friendly fashion. As an organization, we are driven to assure patients and providers can exercise choice to the greatest extent possible, receive clinical assistance in managing complex illnesses and continue to receive as much care in the community as possible. I am honored to be asked to serve in this capacity.
EHI IPA is concerned about future patient access to private health care providers. Providers face changing government and health plan reimbursement requirements that challenge their capacity to accept new patients. Approximately 30 percent of EHI IPA physicians are at or near retirement age, and it is difficult to recruit new physicians to replace them.
I plan to work closely with our member providers to find ways to increase their patient panel sizes and optimize the care delivered. This might include hiring advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to work side-by-side with physicians.
EHI IPA could provide members with support services such as care management, data entry and referral coordination. We also could establish the infrastructure to hire and employ new physicians so they are not burdened with the prohibitive cost of setting up their own private practice.
Recently, I was again invited to speak at EHI IPA’s annual health care symposium, which gathers providers, health plan representatives and hospital executives from throughout the state to hear nationally acclaimed speakers share their insights about advancing the well-being of our health care system. I found that whether we are in Kansas, Rochester, San Francisco, Hilo or Honolulu, we all share a strong desire to provide affordable, quality care to patients and empower providers to continue to find joy in private practice.
It was exciting to have the opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of health care in Hawaii, and I anticipate collaborating and partnering with them. I am committed to support the growth and development of high-performing independent providers on Hawaii Island. I look forward to representing the association to payors, policymakers, delivery systems and other strategic partners, as we all working collaboratively to recreate a health care system that truly meets the needs of the community.
My wife and I are equally excited to get to know the community, given its rich culture and heritage.
Scott Kronlund, MD, MS, is the chief medical director for the East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association.
This column was prepared by Community First, a nonprofit organization led by KTA’s Barry Taniguchi, and a volunteer board of local leaders. Community First was established to help the community respond to the health-care cost crisis and change the definition of health care from just treating disease to caring for health.