LAS VEGAS - December 9, 2008
Struggling to book a doctor's appointment. Long office waits followed by an ultimately rushed examination. All are symptoms of a scenario that could await an ailing individual in need of medical care.

Physicians from Canyon Gate Medical Group, a southern Florida-based faction, hope to change all that by bringing a brand of individualized, old-fashioned health care to North Las Vegas with the opening of its third valley location early next year.

The group's goal is to provide high quality, cost-effective primary care services based on more frequent and regular interaction between patients and physicians -- a practice that has been shown to decrease the likelihood of health problems early on, said Dr. Eric Moskow, chief executive officer of Outcome Based Delivery Systems, the parent group of Canyon Gate Medical Group.

According to Moskow, the group's philosophy for treating patients is a bit old-fashioned, but it's that erstwhile attitude that creates a genuine rapport between doctor and patient.

"Most doctors tend to put their own schedules and peculiarities ahead of the patients'," Moskow said. "It's not about the patient anymore, and it should be."

Moskow said the real difference in care philosophy begins with the idea that doctors are dedicated to keeping patients healthy rather than only treating illness.

"This is accomplished with more frequent and regular visits to talk about anything that may be questionable, or just to have a basic checkup," he said.

Canyon Gate clinics offer same-day appointments with less than 30 minutes of waiting time, and staff doctors are available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Our doctors base the length of an appointment upon the need of the patient and ensuring that all issues and questions are addressed," he said. "It's really a different kind of real quality care. How many doctors do you know who will give you their personal cell phone number? Our physicians do that. When we talk about how our clinics are completely governed by this philosophy of genuine quality care, we aren't exaggerating. It's not a marketing ploy. There are no hidden agendas or catches."

The group also promises patients that their primary care doctor will be responsible for care during hospitalization and aid in diagnosis and treatment during emergency room visits.

"If you are hospitalized, your physician will manage your care during your stay," he said. "Should one of our patients arrive at an emergency room, the primary care doctor will arrive within 25 minutes to assist in diagnosing and treating the patient."

Over the course of his 20-year career, Moskow said he has developed treatment values based on the idea that patient satisfaction would increase with the availability of affordable care.

"I noticed better patient outcomes across the board," he said. "When the doctor-patient relationship is amicable and care is the priority, it really changes the scheme of things."

Moskow said he decided to bring the model, which has been operating successfully in Florida for the past 10 years, to Las Vegas after learning about the valley's shortage of properly trained primary care physicians and health care issues.

"What you've had in Las Vegas is a medical environment ripe with major fraud issues," he said. "I wanted to seize that opportunity to fill the void of ethical primary care doctors with physicians that are both ethical and affordable."

Clinics are staffed by four primary care physicians, each of whom are limited in the number of patients they can work with, according to executive Vice President Bryan Dieter.

"We want to ensure that each individual receives personalized health care and attention," he said.

Moskow said the group is working to build a network of specialists, such as cardiologists, general surgeons, gastroenterologists and gynecologists, to address specific health issues.

"Specialists within our network will also adhere to our philosophy and standard of care, beginning by meeting our patients at the primary care doctor's office. This will take time. But we have been very successful in Florida, and we hope to have a full network stabilized over the course of the next year."

According to Dieter, appointments at Canyon Gate locations are never rushed and patients are contacted with test results the same day they are received.

"You will have a doctor that is willing to listen," he said. "A doctor who will go to bat for you if he disagrees with the specialist. A doctor who will do more than just diagnose you when you show up sick, but will work to ensure that you stay healthy."

Canyon Gate already has two locations in Las Vegas. The first is at 3101 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 100A, and the second is near Southern Hills Hospital at 9280 W. Sunset Road, Suite 300. The group plans to open at least two more clinics early next year.

The North Las Vegas clinic, 3960 W. Craig Road, is projected to open in March. According to Dieter, the group hopes to have approximately 12 to 15 offices serving the Las Vegas valley in the next two years.

Office hours will be Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with plans to later offer extended hours seven days a week.

For more information, visit www.canyongatemg.com
Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.