SIE Sierra Health Svcs

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recognized Southwest Medical Associates (SMA) as an industry innovator in a statement before the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness last week. Profiled with other selected private sector health care industry leaders as examples of progressive and innovative improvement to patient care, SMA was recognized for its implementation of Allscripts' electronic health records and electronic prescribing system. SMA, a subsidiary of Sierra Health Services (NYSE: SIE), is the largest medical group in the state of Nevada. Gingrich's statement indicated that SMA's strategic introduction and use of technology is changing the way doctors practice medicine. Direct benefits of the company's initiative include greater accuracy and fewer errors in records, enhanced patient service, and improved operational efficiency. The profile noted that the company's move to an electronic platform has resulted in an average cost reduction of $5.17 per prescription. SMA's electronic prescribing system has also enhanced patient safety and increased formulary compliance for the group's physicians, and enhanced patient safety. Thanks largely to its eRx initiative, SMA patients now have a generic utilization rate of approximately 74 percent, one of the highest rates in the country. Jonathon Bunker, senior vice president of Sierra, noted that SMA's commitment to technology was viewed as a model for others to emulate. "SMA and Sierra have long been industry leaders, recognizing that significant investments in technology benefit patients. Throughout three decades of medical service in Nevada, this philosophy has strengthened the quality and efficiency of care for our patients." While SMA's integration of medical records and e-prescribing is among the best in the nation, the company is not keeping the innovation to itself. Sierra, in partnership with Allscripts, provides underwriting support to make the software available and affordable to any medical provider in Nevada. Laurie McGraw, president of Allscripts' Clinical Solutions Group, praises SMA for its role in the ongoing transformation of America's health care system. "We are proud to be affiliated with SMA and Sierra Health Services," she said. "It is particularly exciting to see their accomplishments highlighted in important forums such as the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness, and presented among the leading and best examples of health care success." Southwest Medical Associates Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Health Services Inc., is the largest multispecialty medical group in Nevada, with nearly 250 medical providers and 14 clinical locations in the Las Vegas area. SMA services include primary and specialty care encompassing cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, heart failure, HIV/infectious disease, hospitalist program, neurology, pain management, podiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology, wound care, and a breast care program. SMA clinics also offer on-site radiology, laboratory services and outpatient surgery. Sierra Health Services Inc., based in Las Vegas, is a diversified health care services company that operates health maintenance organizations, indemnity insurers, preferred provider organizations, prescription drug plans and multispecialty medical groups. Sierra's subsidiaries serve nearly 800,000 people through health benefit plans for employers, government programs and individuals. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.sierrahealth.com.