International Prostate Cancer Update Archives

Panel Discussion on Integration of Stakeholders in Healthcare: The Small Group Practice Experience

Posted by Garrett D. Pohlman, MD | May 2020

Garrett D. Pohlman, MD, a urologist with Kearney Urology Center, P.C., discusses the importance of collaboration and collegiality among small group practice urologists. He highlights the benefits of integrated care to urologists and the ways small group providers can stay connected, noting how both of these approaches ultimately improve patient care. Dr. Pohlman concludes by describing the launch of a new prostate health podcast targeted at the general public and intended to provide education on a variety of urology topics.

Panel Discussion on Integration of Stakeholders in Healthcare: The Group Practice Experience

Posted by Edward S. Cohen, MD | May 2020

Edward S. Cohen, MD, CEO of Genesis Healthcare Partners, discusses how his company’s focus on creating an optimal patient experience benefits partners and patients. He explains how having the clear goal of supporting patients has led Genesis to develop a strong relationship with the University of California, San Diego, in order to better leverage contracts, complete quality projects, and evaluate physicians.

Panel Discussion on Integration of Stakeholders in Healthcare: The Kaiser Permanente Experience

Posted by Eugene Y. Rhee, MD, MBA | May 2020

Eugene Y. Rhee, MD, MBA, Regional Coordinating Chief of Urology at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California (KPSCAL) discusses the Kaiser Permanente model and how doctors, hospitals, and health plans work together on coordinated care. Focusing on San Diego, he notes several unique geographic factors that make the city an island in terms of care and which have led to a long history of risk-sharing between medical groups. Dr. Rhee goes on to demonstrate their shared decision-making model for prostate cancer biomarkers and explains how they decide when to deploy fusion MRI for prostate biopsy. He also notes that the 13 medical centers in the KPSCAL region rotate their fusion MRI machine, making coordination and cooperation among physicians paramount.

Panel Discussion on Integration of Stakeholders in Healthcare: Academic Urology

Posted by Christopher J. Kane, MD, FACS | May 2020

Christopher J. Kane, MD, FACS, Dean of Clinical Affairs at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, discusses the role of academic institutions in supporting the wider urology community, using USCD as an example. He notes that the UC medical system is the 4th largest provider of healthcare in California and UCSD is the 8th producer of scientific output in life sciences of any institution globally, therefore contributing greatly to the medical field as a whole. USCD Urology provides numerous specific benefits to the greater urology community, including practitioners in LUGPAs and integrated practice systems. These benefits include subspecialty coordinated care, CME opportunities, principled defense and professional support, and a clinically integrated network, among others.

The Present and Future of LUGPA

Posted by Richard G. Harris, MD | May 2020

Richard G. Harris, MD, discusses the Large Urology Group Practice Association’s (LUGPA) 2020 Strategic Plan. He observes that as the United States’ population ages and grows, and as new technology causes the cost of treatment to rise, demands on urology practices will increase. LUGPA will help urologists meet these challenges by continuing its advocacy work protecting independent urology practice, especially in Washington, D.C., and by developing the leadership skills of young urologists through programs like LUGPA Forward and the Rising Chief Resident Summit. Other initiatives will focus on easing operational challenges, increasing member engagement, and ensuring organizational excellence.