Angie Wilson: A passion for healthcare

Committed to maintaining group’s quality of care

Angie Wilson loves healthcare.  “It’s who I am,” she said. “I’ll probably continue working forever.” While she has not served as the administrator for Memphis Gastroenterology Group (MGG) forever, she has been there for the past 17 years.  Her nebulous job title serves as a catch-all for a professional who manages the day-to-day operations of a practice that has nearly 100 employees, 12 of them physicians.  

In addition to managing the employees, Wilson serves as a business information resource for the physicians.  Her office generates reports that include data on nearly every facet of the organization.   “Some doctors want to know more about the business side,” Wilson said.  “I tell them, ‘I have the information you need; just come to me.’” 

The main focus of her job is to find efficiencies wherever she can to ensure the practice’s viability.  “It costs so much more to do business these days,” Wilson said.  “But we are committed to maintaining our quality of care, which is why we are so cost-conscious—even down to our supplies.”

MGG participates in Amerinet, a national buying group that helps its members reduce product costs without compromising quality or patient care.

Wilson also tweaked the practice’s scheduling. “We took a look at the physicians’ patient and site schedules and made slight changes to help them better manage their time and streamline their day-to-day activities.” 

A major tactic to surviving healthcare’s volatile landscape, according to Wilson, is service expansion. She guided MGG through the additions of CT scanning, ultrasonography, anesthesiology and pathology testing.

When asked to share tips with her fellow healthcare management professionals on how to navigate today’s healthcare industry, she said staying up to date on trends and developments is absolutely important.

“I read a lot to keep up, especially with government changes,” she said.

Wilson also regularly attends seminars offered by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), which provides networking, professional education and resources, and political advocacy for professional administrators and leaders of medical group practices.

“I’m not able to leave the office much, so I take advantage of the online offerings, as well as MGMA’s online (survey) data, which I use a lot.”

Besides MGG’s wide array of services, including its certified ambulatory clinic (the only one provided by a local gastroenterology practice), Wilson says the staff is by far the practice’s most precious asset.  She says the organization is fortunate to have so many long-standing employees.

“We have a family-oriented practice,” she said. ”Our president, Dr. (Lawrence) Wruble’s philosophy is to always be fair to the staff.  If the employees are happy, they will treat our patients well.”

Wruble’s philosophy was evident shortly after Wilson joined MGG.  She says Wruble supported her family throughout the adoption proceedings involving their 17-year-old daughter, Michelle, who was 18 months old at the time. 

“Dr. Wruble was so understanding,” she said.  “He even made phone calls on our behalf during the adoption process.”

It was an emotional time for Wilson.  “When we went to the orphanage in Romania to pick up Michelle, I saw a room full of babies in cribs,” she said.  “It was so heartbreaking.  I just wanted to take them all home with us.”  

What initially led you into a career in the healthcare industry—and, ultimately, into your leadership role at Memphis Gastroenterology Group?

Healthcare was always intriguing to me.  I started as a transcriptionist and phlebotomist in Tupelo, Miss.  I moved to Tennessee to go to college at the University of Memphis and was hired as a medical secretary for UT Medical Group.  I was able to learn more and more about the medical field and worked my way to assistant business manager in the OB/GYN department. 

How would you describe your management style/philosophy?

Come to work and do your job.  My door is always open.  I hire good, qualified people that can do the job.  I am not a micromanager.

What special challenges have you faced?

Every day is a challenge in the medical field.  I refer to Philippians 4:13 often: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’  Working with 12 physicians is a daily challenge.  Each physician has their own agenda and their own needs and their own personality, but I wouldn’t trade it – they are a great group of physicians.  Overseeing the design, development and construction of a new building that was sufficient for our gastroenterology needs while also taking on the challenge of going live on an electronic medical record system was quite a challenge.  Currently, the ever-changing healthcare system is a day-to-day challenge.

What new initiatives are you working on now?

We always try to stay on the cutting edge in the healthcare industry.  Currently, we are preparing for HIPAA compliance with the 5010 rules, as well as Meaningful Use criteria. We also are working to get ready for new diagnosis coding ICD-10, which will go into effect Oct. 1, 2013.

What are your goals – both short-term and long-term?

One major goal that is both short and long term is to have the option to be able to serve all of the patients we currently serve independent of the future development of Accountable Care Organizations.  We want to maintain the same high-quality medical practice we have today.  With the challenges of an ever-changing healthcare system, it is harder and harder to provide cost-efficient services to our patients.

What do you consider your most important accomplishments?

Relative to Memphis Gastroenterology Group:  We were the first GI practice to earn accreditation for both our Ambulatory Surgery Center and our clinical office through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).  This is something you typically think of hospitals doing; however, it was critical to me to have the best quality practice available.  Going through the accreditation process clearly makes you think of quality issues that might otherwise be overlooked.   Regarding my career in general, passing the boards to become a Certified Medical Practice Executive (C.M.P.E) through the American College of Medical Practice Executives was an accomplishment.  Personally, marrying a wonderful Christian man and adopting our beautiful daughter.

What are your passions or interests?

I love cooking and French sewing. I love feeding people. I have learned to love the sport of volleyball and watch my daughter play 11 months out of 12.

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