Lisa Warren, CEO of the Birmingham-based Andrews Sports Medicine, told the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) today that “trying to manage patient care in a highly regulated environment” keeps her up at night.
Warren runs the business side of world-renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews’ medical practice.
“The facility’s orthopedists are known for working with some of the most recognizable professional athletes in the country, including Tom Brady, Albert Pujols, Bo Jackson, Jack Nicklaus and countless others. But the clinic offers its services to the everyday non-athlete as well,” explained Bryan Davis of the BBJ.
When asked what keeps her up at night, Warren said that “Health care is one of the most highly regulated environments next to money… There’s a tremendous amount of regulation, and trying to keep the patient at the center of what you’re doing in the midst of trying to get the rest of this done is a difficult battle.”
At the heart of conservatives’ criticism of ObamaCare is that they believe the law puts the government between doctors and their patients, effectively making it impossible to achieve patient-centered care.
Warren was a bit more diplomatic in her critique of the president’s healthcare law, but said she thinks parts of it are here to stay.
“People always ask if I think it will get repealed, and my answer is probably not completely,” she said. “Depending on the elections, there may be pieces of it changed, but I think by the time the elections come around in the next two years, it’s going to be so firmly entrenched that it’s not going to be able to be repealed completely.”
As for the pros and cons of the law, Warren said that ObamaCare’s requirement that insurance providers cover individuals regardless of any preexisting conditions has been a positive step, but she also noted that “Some of the deductibles and the patient responsibilities have increased.”
To read the full interview with Andrews Sports Medicine CEO Lisa Warren, head over to the BBJ’s website.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
