Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO, Heritage Provider Network, Sponsors Community Healthcare Dialogue, Fifth in a Continuing Series on Healthcare Addressing Issues for the Community

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Nov 16, 2010, 07:51 ET

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, sponsored the fifth in an ongoing Community Healthcare dialogue series discussing the impact of HealthCare Reform Legislation on the Communities of Palmdale and Lancaster. The event was co-sponsored by The Palmdale Chamber of Commerce and The Palmdale Regional Medical Center and Sierra Medical Group, part of the HPN family. Over one hundred attendees learned how the new law already has made positive changes from panelists including Dr. Tuan Phan, Medical Director, Sierra Medical Group, member Heritage Provider Network Family, Dr. K. Arul, Medical Director, AV Community Clinic and Mr. Robert Trautman, CEO of Lancaster Community Hospital and Palmdale Regional Medical Center.

The Honorable James Ledford, Mayor of the City of Palmdale, moderated the panel. "Sierra Medical Group and HPN are filling a need in the community for continued discussion on the important legislation that has already rolled out. They are distinguishing themselves in our community and we are pleased to support their efforts," said the Mayor. "What I learned from this is that we need to continue this dialogue, it was great and stimulated a great deal of community interest." The energetic discussion centered on the benefits and impact of Healthcare Reform on the Communities of Palmdale and Lancaster, including what the new legislation means for the average person, how to keep healthcare costs down while integrating the thousands of newly insured to our distressed hospitals and free clinics. Many questions from the audience centered around the implementation of reform, what are the new benefits, what it means for the individual in Southern California, potential changes in Medicare and access to care.

"At Sierra Medical Group and HPN, we are committed to providing and ensuring quality care to our members that is accessible, cost-effective and affordable. Whether they are in the early or latter stages of their lives, we join with our colleagues, the hospital, community clinic and community at large with this endeavor and accept accountability for the care we provide," said Dr. Tuan Phan, Medical Director, Sierra Medical Group. "We provide a wide spectrum of health care, electronic medical records and also pharmaceutical care at Sierra, we are a true ACO, accountable care organization."

"We are challenged in the Antelope Valley with the highest rate of obesity, smoking, diabetes and heart disease in Los Angeles County, while trying to cover the needs of over 70,000 uninsured," said Dr. Karunyan Arul, Medical Director of the AV Community Clinic. "While the new legislation may help us tackle these problems, we must find new systems of delivery, working together to eliminate unnecessary waste," he continued.

"As a hospital, we must align our objectives with the network of physician groups like Sierra and HPN, with the AV Community Clinic so we can maximize efficiency in our care to the community while reigning in costs. We have invested $300 million in our new hospital in this community and are here to serve with cutting edge technology and care," said Robert Trautman, CEO of Lancaster Community Hospital and Palmdale Regional Medical Center.

"Our Community Healthcare Dialogue series provides an important opportunity to hear from the community on a critically important issue. No other medical group similar to us is sponsoring these types of events," said Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of Heritage Provider Network. "We are happy to continue to help the community understand the changes that our coming in our healthcare delivery system, and continue to look for better ways to provide quality healthcare with feedback from our community and our business leaders."

About HPN:

Heritage Provider Network, Inc. (HPN) is on the cutting edge of the accountable care model of health care delivery: coordinated, patient-doctor centric, integrated health care systems that represent the future of health care in the United States. HPN develops programs and services that are responsive to the healthcare needs of today's patient. HPN designs its networks to offer patients a comprehensive range of medical care in convenient locations. It organizes and manages medical groups and independent practice associations, integrating with hospitals and ancillary care providers. This system represents a workable, successful business model that has been duplicated with medical groups, IPAs and medical facilities throughout California. HPN is dedicated to quality, affordable health care and putting patients' wellness first.

SOURCE Heritage Provider Network, Inc.