Partnering with physicians to build a better patient-centered system

"To try to be on the cutting edge of patient-centered awareness and practice is a tough task," says Dr. Jeffrey I. Selwyn, internist and president of New Pueblo Medicine in Tucson, AZ. But "cutting edge" is exactly how Dr. Selwyn describes UnitedHealth Group.

Working with UnitedHealth Group support, New Pueblo Medicine is an example of a growing trend in American health care – the Patient-Centered Medical Home, which offers a holistic approach to providing patients with comprehensive health care. "It is truly a team-based model where there's a very, very significant integration of the patient with the physician," Selwyn says. "It's a 50-50 partnership. We engage our patients to really be involved in their own care."

UnitedHealth Group's program helps provide the technology, infrastructure and care coordination needed to strengthen the patient-physician relationship and reduce inappropriate or redundant treatments while ensuring needed "anticipatory" care is provided.

"I'm overjoyed because what United is doing is allowing a win-win benefit for both the private physicians sector and the health insurance company. In other words, they are really taking the lead in sponsoring a program that wins for everyone: better health care, better outcomes, less expenditure."

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