Premier Physicians Inc. Breaks Mold of Traditional Hospitalist Care

Contact: Larissa Spraker, 623-882-1502
February 16, 2004

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- No matter the time of day, patients at West Valley Hospital who are in immediate need of a doctor have one available, whether it is in the middle of the day or the darkest hours of night. Traditionally, physicians in a hospitalist role don't provide round-the-clock coverage, but Premiere Physicians Inc. formed a group in 2003 to change that practice.

The group was formed by internal medicine physicians Dat Tran, M.D., Rajesh Bhakta, M.D., and Ashwinikumar Patil, M.D. The three physicians trained together at Maricopa Medical Center and in their final year of residency, decided to come together to form a different kind of hospitalist group. "We wanted to provide a better service, a different kind of service," said Dr. Patil.

Different by providing 24/7 coverage; different by seeing patients in the emergency room; different by spending more time with the patient. They also are very different in that they establish continuity of care between the patient and the primary care physician. Physicians regularly receive calls from the hospitalists apprising them on the patient's care, condition and discharge. "Doctors have commented that in their years of practice they have never had a hospitalist let them know when a patient has been discharged," said Dr. Tran, speaking to the fact that they really are a different breed of doctor.

"The doctors in the group are very responsive and are extremely attentive to the nursing staff's needs," said Holly Decker-Carlson, R.N., director, cardiovascular services/intensive care. "Their availability provides thorough and comprehensive care to our patients without the delay times of having the physician out of the facility."

They have a non-intimidating approach to patient care. Not only do they focus on time with the patient while in the hospital, they are concerned with the condition of the patient once they return home. Upon discharge, each patient is called within 48 hours and their condition surveyed.

They are a tenacious group, working between 80 to 100 hours a week. Altogether seven physicians make up the group, including Jalal Abbbas, M.D., Mujib Jaque, M.D., Mankanwal Sachdev, M.D., and Bentley McEntire, M.D.

West Valley Hospital is a 74-bed, acute care community hospital in Goodyear, Arizona focused on bringing comprehensive healthcare services to the Southwest Valley and designed to provide services of greatest need to the community, from state-of-the-art obstetrics, to medical and surgical services, cardiology, intensive care and a full-service emergency department.