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John Lyman, MD - Regional Medical Director & Director, Emergency Medicine Residency Relations

Premier physician since 1997

John Lyman, MD

What was it that ultimately led to your decision to become a Premier physician?

There were two basic reasons. First, I had worked with some of the group and knew them to be good, ethical people, as well as good friends. Secondly, Premier’s model just seemed to be “right.” Premier is an employee-owned (physician-owned) company. That means the individuals who are running the company are also the owners of the company, which I believe is the way it should be. This is not a pyramid system whereby only a few people are at the top reaping the benefits. Also, very importantly, it is not a publicly traded company, which I believe is entirely wrong for an Emergency Medicine practice management group. At the same time, though, Premier is large enough to enable physicians to do all the things they really need to do to practice good Emergency Medicine.

What do you consider to be Premier’s most valuable attributes?

I’ve worked in a number of different practice settings, so I feel I know what makes Premier special. For the most part, it’s the ownership mentality that makes Premier stand out. Physicians own this company, and there is an equity distribution of ownership. Another thing that sets it apart is that physicians become a shareholder at the end of one year. There’s not a long buy-in, which means everyone is working at the same level and toward the same goal. In part, I believe this concept has greatly contributed to the success of this group. More than anything, though, Premier really cares for its employees and its clients, so you feel a true sense of family.

Premier prides itself on its commitment to giving physicians control over their own practice decisions. Have you found that to be the case since joining with the group?

Ever since I’ve been with Premier that certainly has been true. But it’s also easier to make those practice decisions when you have the support from headquarters. Although Premier manages more than 40 Emergency Departments, the philosophy has always been that each ED is locally managed with total support from the home office. Providing oversight for these Emergency Departments is one of my roles. The idea is to make sure you have a strong Medical Director in place, and make sure that they are locally managed, but then give them the support — in personnel, data or other ways — they need to make the best clinical decisions.

Premier has also been built on teamwork, stability and exceptional customer service. How critical are these components for the retention of physicians and clients?

Very critical. At Premier, we have built a group where physicians truly want to become involved. That teamwork, and feeling as though you are part of something bigger when you go to work each day, is critically important. I believe that the practice of Emergency Medicine demands teamwork. When you have physicians, nurses, and technicians working in one physical location for the duration of that shift, you have to be working as a team.

Premier promotes that teamwork throughout the entire department, not just among physicians. Being actively involved outside the hospital setting is also very important to Premier; in fact, part of a physician’s bonus is derived from their citizenship and involvement in the community. Most of our physicians work in some way with EMS, but they are also involved in special activities or fundraisers. We’ve had physicians who have gone to do missionary work and other extended projects, and Premier has supported those ventures. The whole mentality of punching a time clock and then going home is detrimental in a variety of subtle — and not so subtle — ways. We strive to encourage physicians to get involved and then support them in those decisions. Excellent care and community involvement shouldn’t just be limited to the hospital.

Would you recommend Premier to other physicians?

I have and will continue to do so. Again, I think it boils down to that model. Premier has so much to offer: They are an excellent group of physicians, the compensation is appropriate, and there are many opportunities for physicians to get involved in a variety of ways. Premier also has an outstanding leadership program that helps physicians develop their own interests. I’m very pleased to be part of this group.

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332 Congress Park Drive
Dayton, OH 45459
800-726-3627