Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO, Heritage Provider Network, Honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal as Medical Group CEO Healthcare Leader of the Year

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Apr 25, 2011, 04:58 ET

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, was honored Thursday, April 21, 2011, by the Los Angeles Business Journal as the Medical Group CEO Healthcare Leader of the Year for 2011.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/LA88990)

The prestigious award was presented to Dr. Merkin at a luncheon ceremony at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The LABJ healthcare awards honor and recognize healthcare leaders who improve the health of all Angelinos, and particularly seek to honor those who are the true innovators in providing care solutions for the future.

"This year's honoree has spent the last 30 years implementing a successful workable business model to address the needs and challenges of affordable managed healthcare. Not only has he been a visionary in this field, but he has a proven track record worthy of duplicating nationwide to help solve the top health care issues currently facing our country," said The Honorable Robert Peirce, Senior Vice President, The All About Health Project, when presenting the award to Dr. Merkin. "Outside of his vast medical accomplishments, he has also taken leadership roles in addressing the many social needs of Californians, especially children."

"I am deeply honored to accept this award from the Los Angeles Business Journal," said Dr. Merkin. "Our goal at HPN is provide quality, cost effective health care to all. I share this award with my colleagues at HPN, as well as with my fellow nominees and award winners. You have inspired us to continue to strive for excellence in our work and in the communities we serve. Thank you."

In addition to his role as President and CEO of HPN, Dr. Merkin has created and developed the $3 million dollar Heritage Health Prize, the largest prize in medicine. The prize challenges innovators to create an algorithm that predicts the hospitalization of a given patient population, and which has the potential to save $30 billion in avoidable hospital costs. The intention of the prize is to encourage bright minds the world over to help solve the Nation's 2 trillion dollar healthcare crisis.

"The prize creates an opportunity to globally change healthcare delivery and ensure a higher quality of care, while making healthcare affordable for families and avoiding waste, " said Dr. Merkin.

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. (www.heritageprovidernetwork.com)

www.heritagehealthprize.com

SOURCE Heritage Provider Network, Inc.