New Jersey Physicians Launch New, Statewide Association to Fight for Stronger Voice in ...( TRENTON N.J. Sept. 12 -- Leaders...),Health

TRENTON, N.J., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders of the medical community today announced the formation of a new, statewide physicians' association to address increasing concerns that the quality of medical care in New Jersey, and the future of the practice of medicine, are in jeopardy.

The organization, called NJ PHYSICIANS, (http://www.njphysicians.com) was created to provide a strong, unified voice for the state's 25,000 practicing doctors and to help physicians reclaim their place at the forefront of medicine.

NJ PHYSICIANS plans to work closely with business, labor, industry, community leaders, policy-makers, and other physician and healthcare organizations to find better and more efficient ways to assure access to quality care in New Jersey.

Ronald A. White, M.D., J.D., president of the newly formed association, said all doctors have a duty to advocate for their profession and their patients.

"The voice of NJ PHYSICIANS will be a voice demanding that decisions affecting the healthcare of New Jersey's patients are guided by the extraordinary expertise, experience and dedication of those most responsible for providing patient care - our doctors," said Dr. White, who is also chief of surgery at Bergen Regional Medical Center. "It is our hope that this voice will begin a new and better chapter for healthcare in New Jersey."

Among the top priorities for NJ PHYSICIANS will be ending the interference by managed care companies in patient care decisions.

"Policies that interfere with physicians' sound medical judgment are unacceptable," said Dr. White. "Refusals by managed care companies to approve sound physicians' recommendations can compromise patient health, cause serious injury and even death."

As part of this effort, NJ PHYSICIANS is creating a registry for members to compile cases of patient injury resulting from managed care's denial of physician r
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