The new state association formed as a result of ongoing efforts in Congress to pass healthcare reform that would threaten the existence of physician-owned hospitals across the nation. The healthcare reform bill contains language that bans new physician-owned hospitals and does not allow existing facilities to expand to meet increasing demands for service.
Fifteen communities across Indiana are served by physician-owned hospitals, which employ more than 4,000 nurses and staff, and 2,610 physicians, according to the release.
IN PHA will act as a statewide advocate on behalf of physician-owned hospitals in Indiana, similar to the mission performed at the national level by Physician Hospitals Association of America.
IN PHA members elected Jane Keller, CEO of the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital in Indianapolis, as president of the organization.
“We’re faced with a grave situation because the federal healthcare reform bill could compromise the high quality of care that we provide conveniently to so many Indiana families,” Ms. Keller said in the release. “We plan to serve as a united, state-wide voice for Indiana physician-owned facilities so that we can continue offering the level of superior care that patients deserve.”
Also elected to the IN PHA Board:
• Vice President — Julie Fleck, COO of Orthopaedic Hospital of Parkview North, Ft. Wayne
• Secretary — Jennifer Davis, director of marketing and public policy for Physicians Hospital System, Mishawaka
• Treasurer — Paul Skowron, CEO, Surgical Hospital of Munster
For more information about IN PHA, contact association president Jane Keller at (317) 802-2439.
