Nineteen physicians received Harbin Clinic’s highest honor, the Dr. Tony Warren Best Practice Award, during ceremonies held April 29 at the Forum.

To receive the Dr. Tony Warren Best Practice Award, physicians must score 100% on a formula that combines clinical excellence and patient satisfaction.

Dr. Tony Warren was a Harbin Clinic pulmonologist who dedicated his life to providing excellent care to his patients. Dr. Warren died in 2007 and the Best Practice Award was named in his honor.

“One advantage for physicians in the Harbin Clinic is our ability to benchmark our clinical care and patient satisfaction,” said Alfonso Diaz, M.D., Medical Director of Harbin Clinic. “In an environment where we cooperatively strive to improve, we celebrate the accomplishments of the best practice physicians. While they are the honorees, it is the entire Harbin Clinic physician team that creates the environment that supports the pursuit of excellence. The ultimate winners are out patients,” Dr. Diaz said.

Receiving best practice awards were Drs: Caroline Yaphockun, Pediatrics; Darrell Lowrey, Orthopedics; Paul Harton, Ophthalmology; Ritu Khurana, Nephrology; Jayson Fields, Cartersville Family Practice; Frank Hampton, Armuchee Family Practice; Kate Osterloh, Cartersville Family Practice; Hunter Myers, Cardiology; Hector Picon, Cardiology; Robert Puckett, Armuchee Family Practice; Katherine Ammons, Internal Medicine; Basem Doss, Cedartown Internal Medicine; Raul Gonzalez, Internal Medicine; Jim Whatley, Internal Medicine; Jeffrey Peller, Rheumatology; James Crane, Urology; Ben Jessie, Urology; Ricardo Aranda, Norton Women’s Clinic; and Ray Jarvis, Norton Women’s Clinic.

Eight physicians achieved a score of 99% in the Dr. Tony Warren Best Practice formula and received Honorable Mention awards. They are Drs: Lee O’Neal, Family Practice; Robert Styperek, Cardiology; Poonam Singh, Internal Medicine; Melissa Davis, Pediatrics; J.C. Abdou, Radiation Oncology; Matt Mumber, Radiation Oncology; Paul Brock, General Surgery; and Kelly Mayfield, General Surgery.

Also honored at the event were 12 Harbin Clinic family practice physicians who excelled in the management of patients with diabetes. Their patients achieved the best HgA1C (blood sugar) levels among Harbin Clinic family practice doctors.

The top 12 doctors are: 1. Dr. Todd Robinson, Cedartown Family Practice; 2. Robert Pyle, Cedartown Family Practice; 3. Robert Smith, Armuchee Family Practice; 4. Shalini Reddy, Family Practice; 5. Alan Hanley, Cartersville Family Practice; 6. Amar Singh, Internal Medicine; 7. Basem Doss, Cedartown Internal Medicine; 8. Kate Osterloh, Cartersville Family Practice; 9. Lisa Sward, Cartersville Family Practice; 10. Heather Pryor, Cedartown Family Practice; 11. Chris Sward, Cartersville Family Practice; 12. Ken Howard, Calhoun Family Practice.

Each medical practice within Harbin Clinic is under the professional leadership of a manager. At the awards ceremony, Randy Jasa, Practice Manager for the Vascular Lab, was honored by the physicians with the 2009 FOCUS award. The FOCUS Award recognizes First impression, Ownership, Communication, Unity, and Safety within the practice. It is Harbin Clinic’s highest award for practice managers.

This past year, Harbin Clinic physicians started the MD Ambassadors program. Doctors are invited to participate in the program and receive training in mentoring, conflict resolution, patient relations, and physician issues. They then work with all Harbin Clinic doctors to improve patient care, mentor young physicians, and enhance the Harbin Clinic reputation in the medical community and among the public. The MD Ambassadors were recognized at the Thursday evening event.

MD Ambassadors include Drs: J.C. Abdou, Radiation Oncology; Sid Bell, Orthopedics; Paul Brock, General Surgery; Melissa Dillmon, Hematology Oncology; Joshua Donner, Cardiology; Basem Doss, Cedartown Internal Medicine; Peter Gilbert, Urology; Frank Hampton, Armuchee Family Practice; Paul Harton, Ophthalmology; Rob King, ENT; John Kirkland, Vascular Surgery; Chris Merritt, Cardiology; Matt Mumber, Radiation Oncology; Jeff Peller, Rheumatology; Chris Robinson, Plastic Surgery; Ryland Scott, General Surgery; Amar Singh, Internal Medicine; Poonam Singh, Internal Medicine; Frank Stegall, Cardiology; and Chris Sward, Cartersville Family Practice.

Harbin Clinic is a physician-owned multi-specialty clinic with 20 offices and 160 medical providers serving North Georgia.