Primary Health Medical Group

This blog has moved

2010-03-16T13:52:00.001-06:00

This blog is now located at http://blog.phmgidaho.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://blog.phmgidaho.com/feeds/posts/default.

Two New Urgent Care Providers

2010-03-05T11:13:00.002-07:00

PHMG is excited to announce the addition of two experienced providers to the Urgent Care practice. Both provider have completed their internal PHMG training are are seeing patients at our Urgent Care clinics in the Southwest Idaho.

Physician Assistant Becky Wells is a graduate of Idaho State University and comes to PHMG from Madison Valley Medical Center in Montana where she provided ambulatory primary care, inpatient care and solo emergency room on-call coverage. She also has experience in a busy ambulatory care center in Washington.

Physician Assistant Nathan Church is a graduate of Southern Utah University and the Physician Assistant Program at Idaho State University. He also received his Master of Physician Assistant Studies with Specialization in Emergency Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has experience in both Urgent Care clinics and Emergency Rooms, which will serve him well in our busy Urgent Care clinics.

These two professionals join our other quality providers in helping patients access health care when and where they need it. And their decision to join PHMG is a direct reflection on the dedication of our staff in our clinics working hard for the community every day to make sure PHMG is the best medical practice in the Treasure Valley.

Idaho's Ranking on the Well-Being Index

2010-02-24T10:05:00.004-07:00

A survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reveals which states were the "happiest" in 2009. The index includes questions about six typs of well-being including overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction. Idaho ranked #11 on the list overall (the same spot it held in 2008). The top ten were (in order from #1 - #10): Hawaii, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Vermont, Colorado, Alaska, North Dakota, and Kansas.

Idaho faired very well in both the healthy behavior category and the work environment category. And Boise's rankings improved in emotional health, physical health, and healthy behaviors. One of the places that Idaho struggles with is basic access (based on items that measure people's access to food, shelter, healthcare and a safe and satisfying place to live) While the State results don't break down what respondents answered in this category, health care (costs and access to health care) is a large part of the equation.

Primary Health Medical Group is trying to improve access to health care in the Treasure Valley, Idaho. Learn more about our practice today - and see how you can help affect the lives of Idahoans.

A beautiful Winter in Boise

2010-02-15T09:58:00.002-07:00

While most of the nation continues to dig out from massive snow storms and bundles up against frigid temperatures, the Treasure Valley has enjoyed some really beautiful winter days. Valentine's Day, February 14, brought about temperatures in the low 50s - perfect for doing those outdoor activities that are so abundant in the area. From hiking on family friendly beginner trails in the heart of downtown Boise, or snowshoeing trails just a short drive away, road or mountain biking routes from your front door or downhill skiing at Bogus - the area is an outdoor lover's paradise. So when you are considering a location to begin your medical career as an Urgent Care provider or a Family Practice Physician, remember to look at quality of life. And chances are, you'll have a hard time beating what the Treasure Valley Idaho has to offer.

Health Care Reform - TODAY - in Idaho

2010-01-27T09:05:00.002-07:00

It goes without saying that patients and medical providers all want quality, accessible, and affordable care for themselves and their families. Experts have suggested we should look to Mayo and Cleveland Clinics as the model clinics for the future. Most patients, however, are not seen in large clinics. Doctors in small, private practices without the resources of a Mayo or Cleveland Clinic provide the vast majority of the health care in the United States. Successful implementation of any type of health care reform will depend on thousands of private practices throughout the United States. One such private practice is Primary Health Medical Group with 12 clinics located throughout southwestern Idaho.

Primary Health Medical Group has created a unique clinic system that offers accessible, reasonably priced, and quality care to insured, uninsured, Medicare, and Medicaid patients. Our model is based on a "combination clinic" that offers urgent care and appointment family practice services in each location. Unlike the traditional model, the urgent care and appointment providers work jointly to address patient episodic and chronic needs.

An example of the efficiency of Primary Health Medical Group's combination clinic model is how Medicaid patients are assigned to the whole group rather than just one doctor. We allow the patients to seek care at any clinic location without an appointment through the Urgent Care. The use of electronic health records allows patients to have their medical information available at any of our 12 clinics. If further follow-up is required, patients are scheduled with an appointment family practitioner within our organization. The clinics become the patient’s “medical home” rather than one doctor. The Idaho Director of Health and Welfare has praised our system for its ability to address the needs of Medicaid patients within the private sector and has further noted that PHMG’s patients have a lower rate of hospital emergency department visits.

Find out what other innovative things we are doing at PHMG today - before health care reform becomes a reality. And you'll see our approach to medicine is not only better for the patient, but better for the provider as well. Contact us today.

Flu Season is Coming

2009-09-08T11:56:00.004-06:00

Although hard to predict exactly when and how severe the season will be, there is no denying that flu season is coming. And combine the traditional seasonal flu season with the H1N1 flu that is getting so much press, you've got a very busy time. Because Primary Health Medical Group offers both Urgent Care and Family Practice options for patients, the upcoming months will no doubt be busy ones for our staff. Whether it is preparing for the season by giving vaccinations to our patients (last year we administered over 10,000 seasonal flu shots) or treating those patients that fear they've come down with the flu, we have 12 integrated locations that can serve their needs. This year, as in year's past, we've designated an "expert" in our clinics to advise us on all things flu related. Mark Michaud, MD will be leading our seasonal flu activities this year. And because of our large volume of patient visits, we've designated another one of our physicians, Jennifer Vincent, MD, to assist with precautionary and environmental systems related to the virus. Not only have these two physicians shown interest and skill in these areas, but their experience with PHMG throughout the years make them a natural fit. We look forward to serving the community this flu season, as we've done in year's past, to try and keep them healthy with immunizations - or treating the illness and getting them back on their feet.

10 Minutes with... Dr. Janine Stone

2009-08-07T15:34:00.002-06:00

10-Minutes with Dr. Stone
We sat down with Janine Stone, MD, a new Family Medicine Physician at the Primary Health Medical Group West Boise Clinic recently and asked some questions we thought patients might like to know...

Question: What drew you to medicine?

Dr. Stone: I was drawn to medicine for the ability to work closely with patients and help them through the health issues they face throughout their lives.

Question: What does your favorite day look like (either professional or personal)?

Dr. Stone: A favorite day would be spending the day with my husband doing an outdoor activity like floating the river, bike riding or kite boarding.

Question: Are you from Boise, and if so why do you love it? If not, why did you choose the Boise area?

Dr. Stone: I'm not originally from Boise. The area drew me due to its sunny climate, with accessibility to the mountains and rivers.

Question: What’s the most challenging aspect of practicing medicine today?

Dr. Stone: One of the most challenging aspects of medicine today is finding appropriate health care at reasonable costs for patients.

Question: Do you have one thing that you really enjoy treating/addressing in terms of patient care?

Dr. Stone: One thing that I enjoy about medicine is the relationships developed with patients.

Question: What do you think will be the biggest change in medicine in the next 10 years?

Dr. Stone: I see the biggest challenge in health care being the cost control with accessibility for all patients.

Question: Why are Electronic Health Records important to patients?

Dr. Stone: Electronic Health records has an advantage for ease of prescription refills and clarity of charts (no more deciphering a Doctor or Nurse's handwriting).

Question: What is the one piece of health care advice you wish everyone would know?

Dr. Stone: Exercise and eating correctly are probably the best "insurance" you can give yourself.

You can make an appointment with Dr. Janine Stone at the Primary Health Medical Group West Boise clinic by calling (208) 378-8011. She is currently accepting new patients to her practice.

PHMG steps into the webinar world

2009-07-29T10:48:00.003-06:00

We're growing as a company - and that's good news! Even in challenging economic times, we're in a position to recruit new family practice physicians and pediatricians to our practice. In fact, we've added seven new appointment based providers in the past 18 months (but who is counting!). And so, sometimes it is a challenge to ensure that the same information, with the same passionate emphasis, is communicated to all of our 250+ team members at 13 locations across the valley. This morning, we stepped into the webinar ring - with our first ever company-wide webinar. Now for many companies, that may not seem like such a big deal. But for a privately held, independent medical group based in Boise, Idaho - it's very exciting. It's just one more way that we are embracing technology in our practice. As new technology comes about in the health care field, we not only investigate and implement - we embrace it. And we think that's just one reason that so many new providers are interested in our practice. Sure there is room for improvement for our next webinar (case in point: no print shirts for presenters), but at least we know there will be another webinar - or whatever new technology comes along.

What Does Your Lifestyle Mean to You?

2009-07-15T10:35:00.003-06:00

There are many things to consider when you are looking to relocate to an area - and start a practice with a new-to-you medical group. One of those should definitely be "what type of lifestyle will this area - and this group - allow me to have?". It's possible to have a job you love, in a community you love right here at Primary Health Medical Group. Here's what one of our Urgent Care Providers, Jeff Flaker, PA-C, has to say about what he does with his free time when not working at Primary Health Medical Group:
"I am still new to running what are called Ultramarathons, which is any race longer than a marathon. Distances are typically 50K (about 31 miles), 50 miles, 100K (about 62 miles) and 100 miles or even more, but they can be any distance over a marathon. I ran my first 50K two years ago, and my first 50 miler on Mt. Hood also 2 years ago. I did my second 50 mile race in the foothills of Pocatello this past May (52 miles to be exact) and I have another 50 mile race in July near Mt Rainier.

Most Ultra runs are on trails which is what I prefer. The Boise foothills are where I do most of my training - there is such an excellent and accessible trail system and I enjoy being out there. I try to do one long run a week- anywhere from 15-34 miles depending on my training schedule for an upcoming race, plus shorter runs and occasional mountain bike rides during the week. I try to pick races that take place in scenic areas as that is a big part the enjoyment for me."

Does your current location (and practice) afford you the lifestyle you are looking for? The Boise area offers an unsurpassed lifestyle, with numerous outdoor activities just minutes away. And at Primary Health Medical Group, you'll have time to enjoy it all. It's your life, isn't it worth a second look?

Idaho Ranks 33rd in Nations Obesity Rate

2009-07-01T09:15:00.004-06:00

A new report by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has ranked Idaho as the 33rd highest percentage of obesity in the nation, with 24.8% of residents being obese. The number of obese children (ages 10-17)in the state comes in at the 11th lowest, with 27.5%. While the report doesn't give specifics on why certain states rise to the top of the obesity rankings, several deductions can be made regarding Idaho's ranking. The plethora of outdoor, year-round activities combined with the abundance of available vegetables and fruits help make a healthy lifestyle more achievable. Of course there is always room for improvement!!

You can read the full report and rankings at the Trust for America's Health website.

Boise has done it again!

2009-06-23T13:02:00.005-06:00

Boise has been named one of the "Best Places to Live 2009" by US News and World Report. In an online article posted in early June, the publication noted:
"Although often overlooked, Boise, Idaho, is a terrific destination for those looking to escape out West. With a high-desert climate of sunshine, clear skies, and four distinct seasons, this city of 200,000 makes a perfect base camp for exploring southwest Idaho's dramatic panorama." For the rest of the article, visit US News and World Report's website.

Bike it in Boise

2009-06-03T11:16:00.002-06:00

Sunset Magazine recently published an article about great things to do in Boise - on your bike. Ask anyone that lives in the area and they'll tell you their favorite things to do outdoors - especially biking. Whether it's mountain biking in the foothills, road biking throughout the valley, or cruising on the Greenbelt, biking is definitely one of our favorite past times. Active. Outdoors. Fun. That pretty much sums it up. If that's the kind of lifestyle you'd like to lead, give us a call at (208) 955-6507 to find out more. Or drop us an email at information@phmgidaho.com. And don't forget your bike helmet.

New PHMG Clinic Opens

2009-06-01T14:33:00.003-06:00

Today is an exciting day at PHMG! Our new State Street Clinic, located at 6052 W. State Street in Boise, is celebrating its first day open! The new 13,000+ square foot clinic features Urgent Care, Family Practice, Ear, Nose and Throat, Dermatology, and Occupational Health. It's an exciting day for us here at PHMG as we celebrate this successful new project. And with the new clinic open, we've added a new Family Practice Provider - Jim Yerger, MD. Dr. Yerger has been with PHMG for several years in the Urgent Care setting and is happy to set out on this new endeavor. He's accepting new patients to his "new" practice and we're sure patients will appreciate his knowledge, personality and demeanor. If you are in the area, stop by and check out the new clinic. We think you'll agree it's something to be proud of!

We MEANT 4 New Providers...

2009-05-19T11:46:00.004-06:00

It's funny how quickly things change. Just a short time ago we were tooting our own horn about our three new providers joining our practice. In just a short period of time, we have upped that number to FOUR new providers. That's right, PHMG is adding FOUR quality appointment based providers to our practice in the span of just 3-4 months! AND, one of our Urgent Care providers is crossing over to Family Practice, bringing our total new providers to actually FIVE! Growing all five new practices (4 family practice and one pediatrician), will be a challenge - but we are up to it! With our strong administrative support, Electronic Health Records system, and multiple locations across the Treasure Valley, we are in the unique position to direct patients to the right care they need - at the right time. New providers, in this economy, is just one more reason that The Right Care Starts Right Here.

Keep Up with PHMG electronically

2009-05-12T12:50:00.003-06:00

It started with the website (doesn't it always). Every business need to have a website these days. It's a great way to get information to patients and potential patients. then came the blog. Now we've moved on to Facebook. Yes, PHMG has a Facebook page. It's a much more casual way for us to interact with both employees and patients. If you haven't checked out Facebook, it's just like any other "social media" - it's only as good as the content you put on it. And it's only beneficial if people know about it. So we've been promoting all of our electronic mediums through different ways, including our e-newsletter that goes out every month to over 12,000 different targeted groups of patients. It's just one more way to engage our patients and help promote our providers in the community. And coming this year - a test pilot to engage our patients even more through electronic mediums. If you are interested in a practice that will help promote you and support you administratively and with marketing so you can focus on what matters most to you - treating patients - give us a call. We'll show you all the things that we are doing today - and what's planned for tomorrow.

Swine Flu - In Idaho?

2009-04-30T16:29:00.003-06:00

As news of the H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) continues to dominate the news morning, noon and night, we continue to wait for the first confirmed case in the state of Idaho. If the H1N1 Flu does make its way to our area, our Urgent Care Clinics and Family Practice providers are as ready as we can possibly be. We continue to update our providers and staff on current guidelines set by the state and federal offices overseeing the outbreak. We have taken measures to ensure we have the necessary supplies in our clinics to treat those that may have the virus (as much as possible). And we pass along information to our internal teams to keep them informed about changes as quickly as they happen. Even with 13 locations spread across a wide valley, we do our best to make sure all of our team members have the support that they need to make informed decisions regarding patient care. Our culture at PHMG is one of shared resources, knowledge and learning. It's one of the best features about our group.

Don't Just Believe Us...

2009-04-20T11:22:00.002-06:00

We've spent a lot of time on this blog telling you why PHMG is a great place to practice medicine. And we also focus a great deal on why Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley, Idaho is such a tremendous place to live. But don't just believe us, listen to what one of our new physicians has to say about joining Primary Health Medical Group.

“I am very pleased with my decision to join PHMG. I truly enjoy the practice. From the clinical staff and the patients to the Administrative Staff, everyone is polite, appreciative and motivated. The business model allows a Physician to be a Physician. You can focus on the reason you were attracted to medicine to start with.
I am also amazed at the opportunities that this area has to offer. Everything that can be done outdoors, can be found in Idaho. I am loving it.” - Pat Spruce, MD, Urgent Care Provider at PHMG.

Want to find out more about PHMG and the Treasure Valley, Idaho area? Contact us today to learn if we are a good fit for you.

Kathy Winn, Director of Marketing

New Physicians Joining PHMG

2009-04-08T15:32:00.003-06:00

Take a look around in this economy and you'll see many pessimistic points of view. The housing industry is still in trouble. The banking industry is in turmoil. State and local governments are cutting positions to save money. And health care? We have seen our share of tightening the belt too. But even with all the "doom and gloom" you see out there today, PHMG is still recruiting talented, passionate, quality physicians to join our practice. In fact, we have three new providers joining our practice over the next few months - one local and two from other states. It makes you wonder, what are we doing that makes us so unique that we can attract new physicians in these challenging times? We know. And we'll be happy to share it with you if you want to learn more.

The Treasure Valley - More Than You Think!

2009-03-27T09:29:00.003-06:00

Admit it, when you think of Idaho you think potatoes. Long rows of potatoes. Well, here's some news for you if you haven't been to Idaho - and especially the Treasure Valley - we've got more to offer than potatoes. The Boise area offers a lifestyle that is hard to beat. Like to ski? Now is the best time for Spring Skiing (wear your shorts!). Prefer to hit the links? The mild climate in the valley is perfect for nearly year round golf. Arts and culture more your speed? Choose between the Ansel Adams exhibit that is currently on display at the Boise Art Museum, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), or even a Jonas Brothers concert (you know your kids want to go). The point is, we are more than potatoes. So if you're interested in checking out what Primary Health Medical Group has to offer you and your medical career, give us a call or send an email. And while you're here, the potato is on us.
Kathy Winn - Director of Marketing, Primary Health Medical Group

Idaho Ranked the 8th Healthiest State

2009-03-17T09:21:00.003-06:00

Idaho was recently ranked the 8th Healthiest State in the U.S. according to an article on Forbes.com. The rankings were compiled from a study by United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, and took into account such things as the number of primary care physicians, prevalence of obesity, lack of health insurance and more. You can see the full list on Forbes.com. Maybe it's our year round outdoor activities that help keep us healthy. Or perhaps its the clean mountain air. Whatever the reason, come check it out for yourself and see how your career can allow for time to enjoy all that Idaho has to offer!

Electronic Health Records in Stimulus Package

2009-03-02T09:40:00.002-07:00

The recently approved stimulus package puts a great deal of emphasis on Electronic Health Records (EHR) - and encouraging hospitals, clinics and doctors to implement them in their practice. Primary Health Medical Group implemented EHRs company-wide in 2007 - at our own expense. We made the decision to implement and EHR system partly because of what it meant to our patients - improved quality and patient care. Just one more way we are staying ahead of the innovation curve. Find out what other innovative steps we are taking to remain viable in this economic climate by calling us today.

Senator Mike Crapo Learns About EHR at PHMG

2009-02-24T09:41:00.003-07:00

When you want to learn about something and you are a United States Senator, where do you go? The experts, of course! That's exactly what U.S. Senator Mike Crapo did when he visited our Administration Office and one of our clinics on Wednesday, February 18th. The Senator spoke privately with PHMG Leaders about health care, pending and current legislation, and Electronic Health Records (EHR) before visiting a clinic and seeing our EHR in action. PHMG is proud to be a privately held, Idaho based company that is helping to steer health care across the US. Find out more about our unique organization by contacting us today.

New Physicians Joining Our Team

2009-02-04T11:16:00.003-07:00

PHMG is proud to announce two new physicians joining our team! One is appointment based (Pediatrics) and one is Urgent Care. One has over a decade of experience and one is just completing his residency. One is from Nevada and one is from California. But what these two physicians have in common is they saw something special in PHMG. They saw what kind of lifestyle they could have in the Boise, Idaho area while still doing what they love - practice medicine. If you'd like more info on PHMG and why physicians continue to join us, please contact us today!

Kathy Winn - Director of Marketing, Primary Health Medical Group

Idaho Reimbursement 30% HIGHER!

2009-01-15T10:20:00.003-07:00

Did you know Idaho’s physician reimbursement is approximately 30% higher than the national average and approximately 12% higher than the Northwest? By choosing to practice in Idaho, you can make a great living and still find time to downhill ski, snowboard, or snowmobile. You can even snow kite! Our local ski resort is only 16 miles away, so you can spend the day seeing patients and still enjoy a full night of skiing. Call or email us today to find out more about PHMG and why it might be a good fit for you!
Becky Nelson - Director of Risk and Recruiting, Primary Health Medical Group

Idaho is 6th Fastest Growing State

2009-01-12T08:44:00.007-07:00

Even in a challenging economy, we can find positives! Forbes Magazine recently ranked Idaho as the 6th fastest growing state. You can read the entire article at Forbes.com. Find out more about PHMG, the Treasure Valley, and practicing in Idaho by contacting us today!
Kathy Winn - Director of Marketing, Primary Health Medical Group