Part 1: a Report from the Trenches of a Start-up Po (Physician Organizations) (Column‪)‬

THERE ARE CONVINCING SIGNS THAT COMMUNITY Health Partners, a physician organization based in Kansas City, has turned the corner as it rolls into the second year of operation. The biggest indicator is that we hammered out the city's first professional risk contracts and the PO has grown from 23 to more than 50 physician member/owners--both PCPs and SCPs--and an additional 25 PCPs who affiliate with the PO for contracting purposes. Other indicators are transparent to the outside world, but mean a great deal to physician leaders who, like the Velveteen Rabbit, wonder when they are real. My moment of realizing Community Health Partners was a "real organization" occurred when the office moved from my car and cellular phone to a three room office with a lobby. The rooms are now hopping with activity, as we hired a full time administrative assistant and part time nurse, and the phones are ringing off the hooks. Further evidence of our existence came with the need for more file drawers to hold drafts of contracts, correspondence with would-be capital partners, and proposals from management services organizations.