As president of Advocate Physicians Partners and executive vice president and CMO for Advocate Health Care, Lee Sacks, MD, is responsible for clinical excellence, as well as the implementation of information systems in the Advocate Physician Partners' network.
In a March interview with Medical News Today, he commented on APP's introduction of an EMR to its network of 2,400 independent physicians. APP now recommends that its physicians use eClinicalWorks EMR and practice management tools to supplement its clinical integration program, which has cut costs and improved outcomes in disease groups such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and depression.
"Advocate Physician Partners is committed to clinical excellence and patient safety, and the use of an EMR by APP physician members is the next step in using technology to improve quality and performance," said Dr. Sacks.
Dr. Sacks also has advice for employers who seek to provide appropriate benefits to employees with chronic disease. In a June interview with Smart Business, he said employers need to look at their benefit plans and claims experience and understand which chronic diseases are prevalent in their population. By examining which diseases are most likely to affect employees, employers can investigate the actual cost of medical care and lost hours and days at work and estimate the loss of productivity.
"Even a small employer who doesn't have a sophisticated benefits department needs to be asking about data on chronic disease management from the health plan that provides their benefits," he said. "You want to make sure you're getting optimal results, whether it's the near-term control for the measures of metrics for diabetes, long-term complications, the number of emergency room visits or days in the hospital or blood pressure and cholesterol control for patients with cardiovascular disease."
Dr. Sacks received his MD from the University of Chicago and completed a family practice residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. He has served as president of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and is the chairman of the Institute of Clinical Quality and Value.
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In a March interview with Medical News Today, he commented on APP's introduction of an EMR to its network of 2,400 independent physicians. APP now recommends that its physicians use eClinicalWorks EMR and practice management tools to supplement its clinical integration program, which has cut costs and improved outcomes in disease groups such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and depression.
"Advocate Physician Partners is committed to clinical excellence and patient safety, and the use of an EMR by APP physician members is the next step in using technology to improve quality and performance," said Dr. Sacks.
Dr. Sacks also has advice for employers who seek to provide appropriate benefits to employees with chronic disease. In a June interview with Smart Business, he said employers need to look at their benefit plans and claims experience and understand which chronic diseases are prevalent in their population. By examining which diseases are most likely to affect employees, employers can investigate the actual cost of medical care and lost hours and days at work and estimate the loss of productivity.
"Even a small employer who doesn't have a sophisticated benefits department needs to be asking about data on chronic disease management from the health plan that provides their benefits," he said. "You want to make sure you're getting optimal results, whether it's the near-term control for the measures of metrics for diabetes, long-term complications, the number of emergency room visits or days in the hospital or blood pressure and cholesterol control for patients with cardiovascular disease."
Dr. Sacks received his MD from the University of Chicago and completed a family practice residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. He has served as president of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and is the chairman of the Institute of Clinical Quality and Value.
Read more recent coverage on notable hospital leaders.
-Hospital Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Michael Foley of Scottsdale Healthcare
-Hospital Industry Leader to Know: David Ross, New CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital in New Hampshire