Dr. Rakesh “Rocky” Patel is a primary care physician in Gilbert, Ariz., a member of One Medical Group for three years, and recently joined ACN’s Quality Committee. Dr. Patel attended Wayne State University School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He recently shared his experience with ACN and being part of an accountable care organization (ACO), along with a few ideas that can help providers who may be new to ACN.
What led you to join ACN?
We really enjoy our relationship and value. I think it’s a good partnership with continuity of care. I was in private practice and on the board of directors of another ACO and so I always had that interest in partnerships and the quality valued for and by providers. It was a natural fit when our medical director asked me.
What would you like to improve upon the ACN experience as part of the Quality Committee?
I enjoy the committee and being engaged and having a greater knowledge of what challenges and victories my peers experience. It’s a chance to give kudos and try to identify places we can improve. The last part is identifying those specialists who are not in ACN who can benefit by joining.
Why do you feel it’s important for providers and specialists to participate in ACN?
We’re trying to provide quality for the best value and it’s aligned with One Medical Group values. One of big things I see is ER visits that are unnecessary and it’s good to have a partnership and make sure transition of care is coordinated so we can reduce those visits. If you’re a PCP and you have a specialist you like and provide good quality care and efficiency, it’s a referral from a PCP to specialist to say, ‘Hey I’d really like to see them in the network and have us be a partner.’ It’s about being engaged, helping and partnering with specialists who provide the best care and let them know about it.
Any advice for small-business practices and providers who might have to be involved in many different aspects of their business?
It can be difficult with small and busy practices to have your pulse on everything. But looking at one single goal and not everything is a place to start. Let’s work on depression, or diabetics, or Annual Wellness Visits. Pick one thing to start with that might cause the least amount of pressure and the best return on investment in the short-term. Start small and let’s work together to get that snowball rolling the other way.
What advice would you offer to a Provider who’s new to ACN or want to improve his/her alignment within ACN?
I’d reach out to ACN and identify one thing to start on that’s easy to address and slowly work from there. ACN has resources to help engage and reach their goals. A simple thing is making a push for Annual Wellness Visits with patients. It’s easy to do and beneficial to ACN and practices to get those visits in. Once you start doing it on a regular basis, you realize it’s not a painful process, and beneficial to everyone. It’s about asking ACN for help whenever you want it. They have to be highly engaged and in-line with the ACN goals. Make sure you’re a partner and an active participant; you can’t be an innocent bystander.
