Priority Health Quality Awards recognize
Pine Medical Group for excellence in health care

Priority Health, one of the nation’s top health plans, has awarded Quality Awards to 136 physician practices throughout Michigan. The quality awards were established by Priority Health to recognize excellence in health care. Quality Awards are presented in two categories: Excellent Patient Care and Outstanding Health Care Value. Among the honorees, 52 practices won both awards, Pine Medical Group being one of those practices.

“Priority Health strives to provide excellent and affordable health care to our 500,000 members,” said Dr. Jim Byrne, chief medical officer of Priority Health. “Our success in this area is due to the work of our provider network, which regularly exceeds national benchmarks for quality care in areas such as cancer screenings and other preventive services.”

Priority Health analyzes the highest-performing practices within its 14,000 member provider network through its Partners in Performance program. This physician incentive plan was established more than 10 years ago and has been recognized by the National Business Coalition on Health for effectively rewarding physicians for providing high-quality and cost-efficient care for patients.

Two PMG providers voted as "Best Doctors"

Two Pine Medical Group providers have just been named--by Grand Rapids Magazine--as West Michigan's Best Doctors in their field. These providers were selected by their peers, in an anonymous poll, with nominations analyzed by Best Doctors, Inc. which collects up to 1.5 million evaluations annually. It's nice to see Newaygo County providers joining the ranks. So kudos to Douglas Johnson, MD and Theodore VanderKooi, MD. Congratulations!

It’s All About Relationships…

By Stephanie Zinn

Almost 19 years and several hundred miles later, Louis Levy tracked down – in Fremont Michigan - just the doctor he wanted to have operate on his back.

Mr. Levy had been a patient of Dr. Thomas Merritt when they both lived in Ohio in the early 1990s. Dr. Merritt operated on both his hips then. According to Levy, “Dr. Merritt was a good listener and spoke in a way that was understandable. He treated me like a colleague.”

The surgeries allowed Levy, a school teacher, the renewed ability to play with his children and even to start running. Dr. Merritt did explain to Levy that the last surgery on his hips may not resolve the pain he was having in his back.

Five years ago his back issues began worsening and Levy transformed into a detective to find the man he had faith in to do what needed to be done to relieve the back pain. By this time, both Merritt and Levy had moved away from Ohio; Levy to South Carolina and Merritt to Michigan.

Yes, South Carolina has some wonderful physicians, but not the one that Levy needed. “I trust him. And I do mind starting all over (to find another orthopedic surgeon). He knows who I am,” explained Levy. “When I say I’m in pain, he understands.”

In September of 2009, Levy was in Gerber Memorial Hospital for a battery of tests that Dr. Merritt set up for him with Diagnostic Imaging to determine the next steps that may include surgery. It’s all about relationships!

(Printed with written permission by Mr. Louis Levy and Gerber Memorial Health Services.)

Gerber Memorial Hospital

Michigan Department of Community Health

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Priority Health Quality Awards recognize Pine Medical Group for excellence in health care

MedicineNet Daily News

1 - Listening to Music While Working Hurts Performance

2 - Gulf Oil Spill's Toll on Nation's Beaches

3 - New Drugs Eyed for Huntington's Disease

4 - Level of Parent-Child Conflict Seems to Differ Among Nations

5 - For Some Female Birds, Infidelity Boosts Offspring's Survival

6 - Implantable Sensor Measures Blood Sugar Levels

7 - In Young Girls, Obesity Linked to Early Puberty, Analysis Reveals

8 - Anesthesia's Role in Hip, Knee Replacement Infections Studied

9 - Teens With ADHD Often Have Trouble Completing High School

10 - Sleep Disorder May Help Predict Parkinson's Decades Earlier

11 - Vaccine Boosts Survival for Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer: Study

12 - Studies: CPR Without Rescue Breathing OK

13 - FDA Cites Its Food Safety Web Site

14 - Scientists Use Stem Cells to Help Rabbits Grow New Joints

15 - Health Tip: Dealing With Separation Anxiety

16 - Health Tip: Is Your Blood Sugar High?

17 - Americans Still Confused About Health Reform

18 - Kids Adopted By Same-Sex Couples 'Thriving': Researcher

Priority Health Quality Awards recognize
Pine Medical Group for excellence in health care