News | Medical Group of Pennsylvania

~ Written by MGP Member, Thomas Ortenzio, DPM of OSS Health

The disease known as Diabetes Mellitus (or diabetes) affects many systems of the body and can develop in people of all ages.  When it affects the foot, the consequences can be severe.  It is crucial for people with diabetes to give special attention to their feet so that they live longer and heathier lives.

Diabetes is a disease caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the body’s insulin is incapable of functioning properly.  Insulin helps turn the food we eat into energy or store it for future use.  Diabetes can cause:

• Poor immune function
• Loss of vision
• Decreased kidney function
• Nerve dysfunction resulting in decreased sensation and circulation changes

The biggest concern with your feet is prevention of those complications that arise from changes in sensation and circulation.

~ Written by Holli Masci, Director Population Health Management, Medical Group of Pennsylvania

Consumer driven care is not without its complexities. Beyond the plethora of provider choices and quality institutions exists the patients. Often, they are left to navigate the unknown waters of high deductible plans, the consequences of going to out of network providers, and the promise of price transparency. Adding to the complexity in the market is the on-demand nature of urgent health services, the often-intangible reasons patients choose providers, and the disconnect between payor reimbursement and actual cost of care. Is it any wonder why consumers can become discouraged and disengaged with their health needs? In this environment, empowering patients to become savvy consumers is an effective conduit to self-activation and self-management.

~Written by Heather Gahres, Medical Group of Pennsylvania, Office Manager

It is clear with the changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that now more than ever employers and patients are taking a hard look at the care they are receiving and the costs of that care.

The push from the original ACA put the buying power into Hospital Systems. About 50% of the independent practices were purchased by hospital systems. As patients became part of large health systems, centralized scheduling replaced familiar receptionists and often decreased access to their primary physician. Scott Gottlieb of The Wall Street Journal wrote, “Once they work for hospitals, physicians change their behavior in two principal ways. Often, they see fewer patients and perform fewer timely procedures. Continuity of care also declines, since a physician's responsibilities end when his shift is over.”