Recent Press
NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP COOL SPRINGS OFFICE NOW OPEN ON SATURDAYS TO BETTER SERVE PATIENTSNASHVILLE, Tenn.- Sept. 29, 2009 - Nashville Medical Group’s Cool Springs/D1 office location is now open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to better serve its patients, including adults and children.
The office is located at 7105 South Springs Drive, Suite 111, in Cool Springs near the Cool Springs Galleria Mall and D1 Sports Training.
Nashville Medical Group offers same-day access and walks-ins and new patients are welcome. Most insurance plans are accepted and for those who are uninsured, easy payment options can be established.
Nashville Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician practice with specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonary disease, sleep medicine and cardiology. Family medicine physicians treat both adults and children.
An affiliate of Baptist Hospital, Nashville Medical Group also has office locations at 300 20th Avenue North next to Baptist Hospital and at 397 Wallace Road, Suite 314 in South Nashville.
DR. RICHARD SMITH JOINS NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP AND BAPTIST HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF
Nashville, Tenn.- June 1, 2009 – Dr. Richard S. Smith, a board certified internal medicine physician, joined Nashville Medical Group on June 1. He is also a member of the Baptist Hospital medical staff.He will practice in the Nashville Medical Group office located next to Baptist Hospital at 300 20th Avenue North.
Nashville Medical Group, which has four office locations in the greater Nashville area, is a multi-specialty physician group with specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonary disease and cardiology. The group is affiliated with Baptist Hospital.
Dr. Smith most recently served as an internal medicine physician at Skyline Medical Center in a private practice that was part of Skyline Physician Management Services. Previously, he was an internist in private practice serving Nashville Memorial Hospital and prior to that Crawford Memorial Hospital in Van Buren, Ark. Dr. Smith also has served as the chief of internal medicine at the U.S. Air Force Academy Hospital in Colorado.
Dr. Smith received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He completed an internship and residency at the USAF Medical Center in Keesler, Miss.
To make an appointment with Dr. Smith, call (615) 284-1450.
Nashville Medical Group has office locations at 300 20th Avenue North next to Baptist Hospital; 7105 South Springs Drive, Suite 111, in Cool Springs; 5002 Crossings Circle, Suite 340, in Mt. Juliet; and at 397 Wallace Road, Suite 314 in South Nashville. For more information about Nashville Medical Group, call (615) 284-1450 or visit www.nashvillemedicalgroup.com
Baptist Hospital is a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, a faith-based ministry with more than 6,500 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Heart is a division of Saint Thomas Health Services that aligns the health system’s cardiac services and the heart programs at Baptist Hospital, Saint Thomas Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center. Together, they form Nashville’s No. 1 ranked heart program and provide comprehensive cardiac services, access to 60 cardiac specialists, and an extensive network of Chest Pain Centers, regional community clinics, catheterization labs and more. For more information, visit www.baptisthospital.com or www.sths.com.
Tennessee Voices Submission
By Dr. John A. Williams
An increased number of Americans are taking a gamble with their health as a result of the economy.
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 36 percent said they or a family member have put off needed care, up from 29 percent in April, and nearly one-third skipped a recommended test or treatment, also up from 24 percent . Among those who indicated they postponed their care, one-fifth said their condition got worse as a result.
In addition, patients are skimping on medications. A National Association of Insurance Commissioners poll released earlier this summer indicated 11 percent of respondents cut back on the number of filled prescriptions or were taking smaller doses than prescribed to make their drugs last longer.
As a physician in the Nashville marketplace, anecdotal evidence I’m hearing is supporting these polls. Physician office visits are down with an increased number of no-shows and cancellations. Patients are missing regular check ups for chronic conditions. They think they are feeling fine when it comes time for their appointment so it’s easier for them to put off an office visit. When coupled with individual financial concern, patients have to make a choice in going to the doctor for a follow up visit and spending money on gas to get there versus putting food on the table or paying the mortgage.
Those who are delaying healthcare include the insured and uninsured. The insured are increasingly bearing more out-of-pocket healthcare costs with higher deductibles, co-insurance and co-pays as businesses pass along more healthcare costs to their employees. Because of this, now the insured are also experiencing an increase in unmet medical needs. The access gap is narrowing between the insured and uninsured.
So what should patients do? Don’t put your health at risk. Don’t assume that it can wait and don’t try to make a decision absent professional medical advice.
The longer you put off care, the increased chance you could have a bad outcome. For most, it’s not a matter of if, but when. You could be sicker and end up footing more of the bill if you are admitted to the hospital instead of addressing initial symptoms up front with a visit to the doctor.
Talk with your primary care physician about your personal situation. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to let them know if your purse strings are tightening. Discuss the medications you are taking and see if there is a less expensive alternative, such as a generic. Talk about the type of insurance you have, such as a high deductible or co-pay plan. If a procedure or test is needed, together we can decide if it needs to be done immediately or if it can wait a couple months.
Dr. John A. Williams is an internist and president of Nashville Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician group affiliated with Baptist Hospital. www.nashvillemedicalgroup.com
Viewpoint on Diabetes: What can be done about the increase in the rate of diabetes cases across the Southeast?
By Dr. Parminder Bolina
The incidence of diabetes is growing at an alarming rate with new diabetes cases doubling over the past 10 years in the United States. Unfortunately, the highest rates of diabetes are across the South with Tennessee ranking near the top of the list.
According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is playing a major part. Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, accounted for 90 percent of new diabetes cases. When diabetes is coupled with Tennessee’s increased rates of obesity and physical inactivity, we have a major cause for concern.
It’s going to take a focused effort on many fronts to blunt the rise of diabetes in Tennessee. While taking medications, checking lab tests and seeing the doctor regularly is critical, it will not be enough. The successful long term management of diabetes often requires a dramatic lifestyle change. As healthcare professionals, we can help patients take ownership of their own health through better education and access.
At Nashville Medical Group, more than 15 percent of our patients have diabetes. We are committed to increased diabetes education and access to free tools that allow patients to help make these important lifestyle changes.
Through a partnership with the Baptist Hospital Diabetes Center, we are piloting a program that has placed a diabetes specialist and dietician on-site within our clinic, making access and education more efficient for our patients and at no additional cost. This approach provides the patient more individualized time to ask questions and learn about managing their diabetes. The specialists also help reinforce what patients are hearing from their physicians. While in the past, many patients weren’t following through when we referred them for diabetes education or consultation with a dietician because of time and cost; now they are.
As we expand this free, onsite education program, we also want to focus on prevention, particularly with those individuals who have pre-diabetes. Our physician group will be introducing free classes on how to begin an effective exercise program, make healthy lifestyle choices, smoking cessation and stress management. By making these classes convenient and affordable for patients, they are much more likely to succeed in their journey to a healthier life. A 5 to 10 percent decrease in body weight paired with an increase in regular physical activity can help significantly decrease the risk for developing diabetes or delay its onset.
It is projected that 50.2 million people will have diabetes by 2025, especially as our obesity epidemic continues to spread. Our state has one of the highest numbers of diabetes-related deaths in the country. Far too many Tennesseans’ lives have already been taken.
We can meet this challenge with innovative partnerships and affordable solutions.
Dr. Parminder Bolina is an internist and director of ancillary services for Nashville Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician group affiliated with Baptist Hospital. www.nashvillemedicalgroup.com
Nashville Medical News - November 2008
While the article, “Part I: Medicare cuts take toll on patients, doctor,” on July 20 may lead some of your readers to conclude that Medicare recipients are no longer desirable patients, the physicians at Nashville Medical Group disagree wholeheartedly.
Currently, all 33 physicians at Nashville Medical Group enjoy taking care of Medicare patients, which comprise one-third our practice. Our practice remains dedicated to caring for the elderly on an ongoing basis. It’s part of our mission and values as an affiliated practice of Baptist Hospital, a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, where we are committed to serving all persons.
Your readers are beginning to learn why some our colleagues are unable to afford to care for Medicare patients. Simply put the Medicare payment system for doctors is indexed to the economy and doesn’t account for the spiraling cost of providing medical care. As a result, if the politicians are unwilling to fix this flawed system, more physicians will be forced to make the difficult decision of closing their practice to Medicare patients.
At our practice, we find it invaluable to partner with other healthcare companies. We strive to set an example by raising the bar for access to high quality, patient centric care. Right now, we make every attempt to provide all our patients and even new patients with same-day access. We’ll get you an appointment within 24 business hours.
Physician practices have to continuously adapt to reimbursement changes and many other challenges.
As healthcare continues to change around us, we are dedicated to our Medicare patients and our community and are advocates for equal and timely access to high quality, mission-based care.
John Williams, M.D.
President, Nashville Medical Group
300 20th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 284-1400
RADICAL CHANGES AHEAD FOR PRIMARY DOCS
Some local physician practices are making radical chnages in the way they deliver services, spurred on by competition from consumer-driven health care and quick-serve retail clinics.Read More
DR. LEAH C. PATTON JOINS NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – July 2, 2008 – Dr. Leah Patton, a board certified internal medicine physician, joined Nashville Medical Group on July 1, 2008.
Nashville Medical Group, which has four office locations in the greater Nashville area, is a multi-specialty physician group with specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonary disease and cardiology. The group is affiliated with Baptist Hospital.Dr. Patton attended Vanderbilt University and the University of Panama Medical School. She completed her residency at the University of Tennessee/Baptist Hospital, serving as the chief resident of internal medicine.
She is active in medical leadership having served on the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Medical Association as chair of the resident and fellow section. She has served as the TMA resident and fellow section delegate to the American Medical Association for several years. Other memberships include Nashville Academy of Medicine, American College of Physicians and Tennessee Public Health Association.
Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Patton is dedicated to the health of our community, serving as a volunteer physician at Siloam Clinic and Catholic Charities. She has also served abroad, participating in medical missions to Ecuador and Panama.
Nashville Medical Group has office locations at 300 20th Avenue North next to Baptist Hospital; 7105 South Springs Drive, Suite 111, in Cool Springs; 5002 Crossings Circle, Suite 340, in Mt. Juliet; and at 397 Wallace Road, Suite 314 in South Nashville. For more information about Nashville Medical Group, call (615) 284-1450 or visit www.nashvillemedicalgroup.com.
Baptist Hospital is a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, a faith-based ministry with more than 8,000 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services’ regional health system consists of four hospitals – Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospitals in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville – and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, the Center for Spinal Surgery, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. STHS is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information visitwww.baptisthospital.comorwww.sths.com.
DR. MARK MILLER, GASTROENTEROLOGIST, JOINS NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP AND BAPTIST HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jan. 21, 2008 – Dr. Mark A. Miller, a gastroenterologist, has joined Nashville Medical Group and the medical staff of Baptist Hospital.Dr. Miller received his medical degree from Temple University, where he also completed an internship and residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology. Prior to joining Nashville Medical Group, he garnered 10 years of experience practicing with Charlottesville Gastroenterology Associates in Charlottesville, Va. and Digestive Disease Associates in Rock Hill, S.C.
Nashville Medical Group is a 28 physician multi-specialty group with specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonary disease and cardiology.
Nashville Medical Group currently has two locations in the Nashville area and a new location in Mt. Juliet set to open in April 2008 at 5002 Crossings Circle, Suite 350. The downtown Nashville office is located at 300 20th Avenue North next to Baptist Hospital and the Cool Springs location is at 7105 South Springs Drive, Suite 111. For more information on Nashville Medical Group call (615) 284-1450 or visitwww.nashvillemedicalgroup.com.
Saint Thomas Health Services is a faith-based ministry with more than 8,000 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services' regional health system consists of four hospitals - Baptist and Saint Thomas in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville - and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, the Center for Spinal Surgery, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. STHS is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information visitwww.baptisthospital.comorwww.sths.com.
PEOPLE: WINSTON NAMED ADMINISTRATOR FOR NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP
08-14-2007 12:09 PM — Baptist Hospital announced today that it has named Gregg Winston as administrator for the Nashville Medical Group.Winston has spent much of his career in Maryland, working with physician groups in Bethesda, as well as with Kaiser Permanente, and Howard University Hospital.
In his new role, Winston will be responsible for, among other things, providing strategic direction and executive leadership to the group as well as overseeing the group’s expansion.
Nashville Medical Group, which is comprised of 27 physicians, recently extended its agreement with Baptist and plans to continue its affiliation with the hospital until 2012.
Currently, the group has offices on the Baptist campus in Nashville and in Baptist space in Cool Springs.
Source:www.nashvillepost.com/news?id=27297
NASHVILLE MEDICAL GROUP EXTENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH BAPTIST HOSPITAL; SIGNS FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - July 13, 2007 - Nashville Medical Group, a 27 multi-specialty physician group, has extended its professional service agreement with Baptist Hospital for an additional five years. With this agreement, Nashville Medical Group will continue to provide primary care physician coverage on an inpatient basis at the hospital and to outpatients through a clinic located on its campus and in Cool Springs.
Founded in 1932, Nashville Medical Group began its formal affiliation with Baptist Hospital in November 1993 and moved its offices from Centennial Medical Center's campus to the Baptist Hospital campus. By extending the agreement five more years, the two parties will have a relationship until 2012, resulting in a 20-year association.
“Baptist Hospital has been an important partner to our physician group and we're pleased to extend our agreement," said Dr. John A. Williams, president of Nashville Medical Group. “We pride ourselves on high-quality, compassionate care for our patients and that matches Baptist Hospital's mission and reputation in this community."
While Nashville Medical Group has specialists in neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonary disease and cardiology, the majority of its physicians practice internal medicine and family medicine.
“This relationship is vital to our hospital's success since primary care physicians have significant influence on where and how their patients receive care," said Bernie Sherry, president and CEO of Baptist Hospital. “They are the backbone of the nation's health care system and at the forefront in managing chronic diseases, providing comprehensive care and coordinating long-term care. The United States health care environment is currently experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians, so our relationship with Nashville Medical Group becomes even more important. We're extremely pleased to extend our agreement with these physicians who serve many of the patients who come to Baptist Hospital."
Nashville Medical Group has two locations in the Nashville area. The downtown Nashville office is located at 300 20th Avenue North next to Baptist Hospital and the Cool Springs location is at 2001 Mallory Lane, Suite 100. For more information on Nashville Medical Group call (615) 284-1450 or visit www.nashvillemedicalgroup.com.
Source:www.baptisthospital.com/index_pr.php?s=268
