Finding the Joy in Practicing Medicine: A Conversation with a Practitioner

Rob Cetti – President

Caring for patients has always been a top priority for physicians. However, as healthcare has become more complex, delivering effective patient care while managing the administrative tasks associated with it have become more challenging. I recently spoke with Dr. Stacey Jones-Reed, an independent practitioner, about how she stays focused on the needs of her patients while navigating the nuances of running a successful physician practice.

Rob Cetti: How do you prioritize patient care and find the joy in practicing medicine given the challenges many independent physicians face?

Dr. Stacey Jones-Reed: I’ve been practicing medicine for 21 years, and my philosophy has always been to treat patients like family. That means being part of the community and getting to know patients and their families at a deeper level. This helps me provide the care they need, when they need it, and how they need it.

I found a support system in Renaissance Physician Organization (RPO) [a large physicians organization managed by CareAllies, that serves Houston and Southeast Texas]. In addition to a network of primary care and specialty care colleagues, CareAllies offers resources to RPO physicians like value-based care nurses, pharmacists and a team that focuses on addressing patients’ social and environmental barriers to care, such as high medication costs and transportation issues. As a member of the organization, I am able to utilize additional resources to help tackle healthcare’s complexities while freeing me up to build stronger relationships with my patients.

Cetti: How are you able to communicate and coordinate effectively when caring for patients with multiple chronic conditions?

Jones-Reed: Our approach centers around making connections, taking care of people and being a trusted part of the community. In addition to diagnosis and early treatment, we screen for chronic conditions and talk to patients about their health and what they can do to improve it. We also schedule time with high-risk patients more frequently to monitor their conditions, build trust and ensure they feel comfortable talking with us about any health concerns. By receiving additional reports that identify patients who may need extra help, I can extend the kind of care and attention I want to give to all my patients. CareAllies’ value-based care nurses can also connect me with patients who need a little extra support.

RPO also has a network of vetted specialists. Not only are these physicians experts in their field, but they also have a compassionate bedside manner and commitment to collaboration. I know I can pick up the phone and reach out to any one of them on a patient’s behalf, and am confident we are going to be able to work as a team to address the patient’s problem. 

Cetti:  What advice would you give other physicians who are navigating the same challenges as you? 

Jones-Reed: Being independent doesn’t mean you have to be alone. When we want to implement a new program or initiative to help improve care, RPO is great at bringing a full team together to help me. And when I have a challenge, I know I can turn to other physicians in RPO who have experienced the same struggles.

The bottom line is being a member of a physician organization assists in upholding my commitment to treat patients like family. We work together to foster trust and provide the level of high-quality care and support our patients need, expect and deserve.

To learn more about CareAllies, visit www.careallies.com