The doctors of Southwest Physician Associates (SPA) welcome
you to their web site.
"Life is short and the Art long; the occasion fleeting;
experience fallacious, and judgment difficult. The physician
must not only be prepared to do what is right himself,
but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals
cooperate." Hippocrates ~ 400 BC
Written over twenty-four centuries ago, the words above
still aptly describe the practice of medicine today. The
science of medicine has expanded to the point that some
four million new medical articles are published worldwide
annually. The Art of medicine is still in great demand
as many forces serve to fragment the physician-patient
relationship. The result of this fragmentation is that
patients often feel that they are left without reliable
guidance and advocacy in this complex environment. The
rise of so-called "managed care" over the last
few decades has inserted a vast array of "externals"
whose interests may often be in conflict with the course
of medical treatment selected by the patient and physician.
SPA is a not-for-profit organization operated by over
1400 doctors in North Texas and is dedicated to addressing
the above principles and challenges. SPA approaches this
goal in a variety of ways:
Setting educational standards for membership and
require that a member's training is sufficient for
their scope of practice. All SPA members must have
successfully completed accredited training in their
field of expertise. An on-site office inspection and
evaluation of medical records is required for primary care physicians. It takes
more than a Texas license to be considered for membership
in SPA.
Educating doctors and their staff in ways to reduce
the "hassle" of dealing with managed care
so that more time is available to attend to the needs
of patients.
Educating doctors and their staff as to the meaning
of terms offered in managed care contracts, thereby
reducing the cost of dealing with multiple contracts.
Using the "messenger model" to educate
health plans regarding contract terms, policies or
operating problems which may interfere with the delivery
of health care and/or raise administrative expenses
unnecessarily.
Offering "delegated credentialing" to
doctors so that only one organization verifies or
reverifies their credentials in order for them to
work with many different health plans.
Offering other discounted services, supplies, and
educational seminars to help reduce both the dollar
costs and, equally important, the human costs of practicing
today.
Feel free to browse this site. Members will need their
password for the secure areas. Helpful links
do not require a password. Nonmember practitioners
may be interested in more details about SPA or even
how to join. Patients and the public will find helpful
links to medical information sites or may choose to
search for an SPA doctor by specialty and hospital.
