History of Indianapolis Medical Management (IMM)
The dynamics of operating physician practices was greatly changing in the mid-1980s. Three forces would change the landscape of health care forever – decreasing reimbursement, increasing regulation and the explosion of technology.
In 1987, Indianapolis Medical Management (IMM) was created at the request of primary care physicians who practiced within Community Health Network (CHNw). Physicians needed a trusted, knowledgeable advisor who could help them manage the business side of their practices so they could focus on providing patient care in an increasingly competitive environment. Many of these primary care physicians became IMM’s first clients.
In the mid- to late-1990s, hospitals and health care systems began employing primary care physicians to protect their referral base from competition. CHNw followed this same strategy and formed Community Physicians of Indiana (CPI), the network’s organization for primary care physicians. By 2002, the practice management services that had been provided to the CHNw employed primary care physicians by IMM were transitioned to CPI.
These changes signaled a significant change in strategic direction for IMM. IMM continued to provide practice management services, but now mostly to physicians who were specialists or not employed or affiliated with CHNw. At the same time, IMM began to branch out to other hospital systems within the state to assist them with their primary care strategies. IMM provided services in other communities such as Anderson, Bloomington, Goshen, Kokomo, Muncie, Munster, Franklin, Richmond and Vincennes. Many of these hospitals remain clients today.
Today, IMM provides high-quality services to over 150 physician clients in approximately 80 locations throughout Indiana. Over the years, the IMM team has grown significantly to best meet the needs of its physician clients. With health care reform inevitable, IMM has positioned itself to be its physician clients’ trusted and knowledgeable advisor for the challenging years ahead.
