Newly Independent Tryon Medical Partners Joins Assoc. of Independent Doctors

CHARLOTTE, N.C. and WINTER PARK, Fla., Oct. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tryon Medical Partners, a newly formed independent multi-specialty group of 88 physicians serving the Charlotte region, has joined the Association of Independent Doctors, the nation's leading voice for the practice of independent medicine, the parties announced Tuesday.

The doctors were previously employees of Atrium Health's Mecklenburg Medical Group until August 31, when they separated from Atrium and became an independent practice. The separation followed litigation filed by the doctors April 2, which the doctors and the health system settled June 8.

"We are pleased to join the Association of Independent Doctors, and eager to work with independent physicians nationally to re-empower the doctor-patient relationship," said Dr. Dale Owen, CEO of Tryon Medical Partners and a cardiologist with the group.

"Ever since we heard that these doctors were free from their previous employment contracts, we have been cheering them on," said Marni Jameson Carey, AID executive director. "We know other employed medical groups across the nation are watching Tryon Medical with envy, and we look forward to working with Dr. Owen and his colleagues to share their path to independence in the hopes it can become a model for others. We are honored to call them members."

Studies show that when hospitals buy medical groups, costs go up significantly, quality suffers, and doctors burn out faster. When groups become independent the opposite happens.

"When doctors work for hospitals, their allegiance inadvertently shifts from the patient to the employer, who expects its employed doctors to meet set quotas for admissions, tests, procedures and referrals to other employed doctors," said Carey. "This leads to over-utilization, and unnecessary risk."

"We have been overwhelmed with the positive response of patients to our effort to become independent," said Owen. The group's eight clinics will all be open by early December.

Seeing an independent doctor rather than one employed by a hospital is the single most important way for patients to lower their health-care costs, Carey said.

Tryon Medical Partners is the Charlotte region's largest independent medical practice, with 88 internists and specialists. More information is available at https://tryonmed.com.

Association of Independent Doctors is a national nonprofit trade association dedicated to supporting America's independent doctors.  AID has more than 1,000 members in over 30 states.  www.aid-us.org.

SOURCE Association of Independent Doctors

Related Links

https://tryonmed.com