Making the Rounds with Founding Dean Dr. Barbara Atkinson
Friends and Colleagues,
NSHE Regent Dr. Mark Doubrava and Dr. Barbara Atkinson at the Board of Regents meeting last Friday.
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents approved the structure for the medical school's faculty practice plan last week. This is great news because it allows us to take the steps needed to set up the legal framework.
What is a faculty practice plan? The UNLV School of Medicine will employ more than 100 physicians who will provide care in a variety of outpatient clinics. These physicians will also teach and supervise our medical students and residents. The medical school manages all aspects of these clinics from billing and collections to operations.
Our practice is designed with the patient experience in mind. We're committed to taking excellent care of entire Medicaid families in a hospitality-like practice setting. We also will offer a full range of physicians and other health care providers, such as physical and occupational therapists in the practice. We want to ensure our students have a robust training experience in a real outpatient setting.
An important aspect of this will be integrating behavioral health, psychiatry and neurology services at the same site where traditional health care is given. In most cases behavioral health services are separate. We believe it is important to take care of the whole person.
The legal structure for the faculty practice is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, which will hold the revenue earned by the physician faculty as they take care of patients and teach medical students and residents. The 501(c)(3) pays the clinical portion of the faculty and staff salaries and facility expenses. Additional revenue generated by the faculty also supports the medical school's research and education missions.
The next step is to set up the corporation and continue working on developing the business model for our practice. We need to ensure our business model can cover expenses while generating some revenue. Teaching physicians don't see as many patients as those in private practice because they spend more time with each patient as they teach the student and/or resident.
In July 2017, the same month we anticipate welcoming our charter class of medical students, the faculty of the University of Nevada School of Medicine from the University of Nevada, Reno, who work in Las Vegas will have the opportunity to transfer to the UNLV School of Medicine as part of the founding faculty. These physicians will form the teaching faculty for our medical students and residents. It's all very exciting.
Best wishes,
Barbara
Community Advisory Board Spotlight
Meet Shelley Gitomer, vice president, philanthropy and community engagement, MGM Resorts International. Shelley is responsible for supporting the company's community investment strategy, programs and activities - including its giving and volunteerism. She says with the medical school at its center, Las Vegas will be better positioned to offer excellent health care to our citizens, while also furthering the continuing goal of a diversified economy. "A first-rate medical school can and should be the crown jewel of the community."
Teaching the Skill Your Doctor Most Needs: Understanding By Ed Ort
How UNLV's School of Medicine is ensuring its students transform into compassionate healers, ready to help patients face end-of-life decisions. Read more.
