Who We Are

“I would like to help to contribute to developing the highest quality, most efficient healthcare and this is one small part I can play in that process.”

“I originally joined to help develop and learn the process originated by Dr. Richard B. Raines (key founder of MetroCare Physicians).  Currently, I serve on the board to provide guidance, experience and to continue to expand on my knowledge of governance of the healthcare process.”

“I have served on the board in an effort to stay connected to the changes in healthcare.  As a primary care doctor, our challenges revolve around the transition associated with caring for patients predominately in an outpatient setting.  The financial challenges of overhead are significant hurdles to the viability of our practices.  With the assistance of consultants and MetroCare, we have been able to improve the efficiencies needed to provide the highest quality healthcare and to better manage the costs associated with primary care medicine.  I have also enjoyed the exchange of ideas with my colleagues in the meetings.  The educational process never ends, and I feel we can all learn a great deal from others.”

“MetroCare is an important advocate for physicians.  Physician groups interact with large corporations that have access to much larger financial, legal and administrative resources.  Physicians need a reliable source of information for negotiation with these larger entities.  It has been a rewarding experience to serve my colleagues on the MetroCare board.”

“I believe I need to make an impact in medical care in the community.  MetroCare and Health Choice are a major factor in that impact, as the only other organization interested in expanding access to healthcare in our community is the Memphis Medical Society.”

“We all have discovered new challenges with decreasing payments, more regulations and need of tort reform.  The MetroCare organization is dedicated to helping all physicians meet and overcome these type challenges.  It is my honor to serve with such physicians and staff that are united to assist all of us in the practice of medicine.  The educational programs are well organized and to the point in addressing current challenges in the practice of medicine.”

“To represent the interests of physicians and to be part of a unified voice to our hospital partner, Methodist Healthcare.”

“I have served off and on since the beginning in 1983.  I burned out for a while because of other demands and came back later at (key MetroCare founder) Dr. Richard B. Raines and (current board Chairman) Dr. Carter Towne’s request to maybe give a different perspective than what the young doctors have. 

If you don’t think this organization has made an impact you need to travel the country and talk to physicians who do not have a MetroCare.  You will find you are far better off in dealing with the insurance companies and the hospitals than other physicians in other parts of the country.  We sometimes take for granted the achievements of MetroCare and Health Choice because we never had to live through the tough times. 

I serve now to remind people of where we came from, to try to give some practical business help and, hopefully, to give some vision as to where we go in the future.  We are here to serve all of the physicians, and I think to date we are working hard to fulfill those early ideas that started so long ago.”

“I learned early in my professional career that insurance companies love to ‘divide and conquer’ when contracting with providers.  Because of these practices, I wanted to be an active member in an organization like MetroCare, which combines a large number of physicians from a large number of specialties to level the playing field.  It is very rewarding for me to be a leader in this type of organization that partners with the hospital for the good of both and benefits all Methodist Le Bonheur physicians whether in a large group or in solo practice.

Serving as a board member has helped me know and understand my fellow physicians’ needs and accomplishments as well as the hospitals and bring what I’ve learned back to my practice.  It has taught me to be fair and wise in negotiations and not to play the 'take it or leave it' game.  As a hospital-based physician, my board member tenure has brought my practice business knowledge and strengthened my practice’s partnership with the hospital.”

“Serving on the MetroCare board is an honor and a privilege given to me by my fellow colleagues.  While being in practice for 20 years now, I have seen drastic changes in the healthcare delivery system.  Physicians must have a say in how that change comes about and working with physicians of all specialties affords me that opportunity.”

“I serve on the board to stay involved in the political and business issues that are vital for physicians to survive in this increasingly treacherous environment.  If we physicians do not actively participate in these issues, other groups (i.e. government, insurers) whose actions are not in the best interest of physicians will increasingly control our destiny.”

“I joined the MetroCare Physicians board to learn more about the way physicians, hospitals and insurers interact in our vast healthcare system.  We physicians are losing control over the way medicine is practiced, and I want to work to regain some of that control for me and my colleagues.  Caring for sick people is a complex and unpredictable process.  Physicians must take the lead to insure that the provision of healthcare does not deteriorate into an algorithm or a computer program that will misdiagnose a significant percentage of our patients.  MetroCare Physicians is in the trenches fighting to make sure that does not happen.”

“To represent physicians' interests in dealing with third-party payers.”

"I am both thankful and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me by electing me to the MetroCare board of directors.  We practice medicine in an exciting yet challenging time and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to work for solutions that benefit all physicians in the MetroCare network as well as representing the unique needs of those physicians in the primary care specialties."

“An effective board of directors requires a sufficient variety and range of expertise to fulfill its mission.  I chose to serve on the MetroCare Physicians board of directors with the hope that the addition of a member with a background in medical informatics may afford a fresh perspective into the challenges the medical community now faces with the mandate of computer-based patient records.”

“Having grown up trying to lead at various levels…high school…college…medical school…I learned quickly that it is no easy task to try and speak for the group rather than the individual.  Certainly in the world of medicine where everyone was successful at the next lower level, most all have leadership qualities and could step up to the plate but getting physicians to agree is like herding cats.  Therefore, you have to be able to wear the right hats and do what is necessary for the group, not the individuals.  Dr. Richard Raines (key founder of MetroCare) taught me that years ago and, before turning over the gavel, made sure that I would be so willing.  We need to be organized, we need to help each other, we need to continually raise the bar and that is through education of the group by organized efforts.  That’s why I serve on the board.  In my entire professional career almost nothing has brought me more hours of satisfaction.  We are a unique group of individuals who provide a unique service that unfortunately is treated much differently in the business world.  We all just want a chance to take care of people, but for the public good our services are treated/paid for differently.  In that world only organization will help bring success.”

“I am rewarded by the opportunity that my fellow physicians have given me to serve them.  I serve because it is important that we take an interest in what is happening in healthcare today.  Healthcare has undergone many changes since I went into practice 21 years ago and there are many possible changes on the horizon.  It is exciting to be a part of this, to help ensure that medicine remains a great profession for generations to come and to help make quality healthcare available to all people.”

“I serve on the board to represent the OB-GYN physicians' interests within MetroCare and Health Choice.  It’s interesting and generally fun to help shape the direction of healthcare in our community – our voices are heard and frequently have impact on the hospitals and insurance payers.”