|
About APPA...
Mission Statement:
To promote the importance of the physician-patient relationship in effective medical care and support the success of patient-centered physician practice.
Every practicing
physician
recognizes
the utility
of a close
working relationship
with patients.
Unfortunately,
many perverse
influences
in our healthcare
system have
damaged this
central feature
of effective
care. Physicians
are increasingly
reminded
that employers
and government
payors shape
their relationships
to patients.
This limits
the independence
of physicians,
the autonomy
of patients
and the quality
of our nation's
healthcare.
The mission
of the
American
Private
Physicians
Association
is to support
the quality
of patient
care and
business
activities
of independent,
patient-centered
physician
practices.
These very
small businesses
exist in
an adverse
regulatory,
legal and
financial
environment
with limited
administrative
resources
to cope
with their
many problems.
APPA provides
information,
referrals,
networking
and other
services
to help
these practices
focus more
of their
time and
attention
on productive
physician-patient
relationships
and the
highest
quality
healthcare.
A BRIEF
HISTORY
OF APPA
The
idea of
a local
and possibly
national
institution
to represent
the unified
interests
of private
physicians
first took
shape in
Santa Monica,
California
in 1994.
A small
working
group of
physicians
began meeting
in response
to increased
HMO contracting
by local
hospitals
and aggressive
acquisition
of physician
practices
by an academic
medical
center.
Identifying
physician
practices
which intended
to remain
patient-centered
became
a necessity.
There was
an overwhelming
response
and a non-profit
business
association
was founded
in that
year. The
name American
Private
Physicians
Association
was deliberately
chosen
to identify
this group
as continuing
the American
tradition
of patient-centered
physician
care and
characterized
by a private
relationship
between
patients
and their
physicians.
Over the
subsequent
decade,
the HMO
clinics
shrank
dramatically,
and the
academic
affiliated
practices
fell on
hard financial
times.
APPA and
its physician
members
became
identified
as the
resource
for high
quality
medical
care. The
organization
became
an advocate
for the
ethical
principles
underlying
private
healthcare
and continues
to promote
these principles
to other
physicians
and the
public
(see What
is Private
Healthcare?).
In the
21st Century
no other
local,
state or
national
medical
organization
represents
patient-centered
physician
practice.
APPA has
become
the chamber
of commerce
for private
healthcare,
supporting
the business
activities
of independent
small private
practices
and defending
the physician-patient
relationship.
Future Goals
Contact us for more info
| 
