ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For the first time, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and American Medical Association (AMA) are partnering for a new conference focused on bringing together physician and administrative leaders to discuss innovative ways the organizations and their members can forge strong relationships to enhance practice efficiency and patient care.

The three-day Collaborate in Practice Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo., will arm attendees with successful, practical approaches to enhance the patient experience, improve population health, reduce costs, and improve satisfaction among providers and staff in their medical groups, hospitals and systems.

“As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever that physicians and practice managers are collaborating to provide the best and most efficient patient-centered, value-based healthcare,” said MGMA President and CEO Halee Fischer-Wright. “We are thrilled to join forces with the AMA to bring together these two groups of practice leaders who, for too long, have operated in silos without the kind of coordination that will ensure lasting success in our industry.”

“Today’s busy medical practice must effectively manage teams of people, budgets, government mandates and regulations to efficiently deliver care and thrive in the new world of health care,” said AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, M.D. “The AMA stands ready with the MGMA to help physicians and practice managers leverage the skills and strategies to lead transformative practice changes in clinical workflow, teamwork and communication that improve efficiency in a medical practice and enhance patient care.”

From March 20-22 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, participants will have the opportunity to hear from experts on topics ranging from the policy discussions happening in Washington to the importance of technology innovation in healthcare. The underlying foundation of all sessions will be how healthcare leaders and physicians can better work together as a team to increase efficiency and develop innovative solutions to problems.

Speakers at the conference include former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley and Dr. Lyle Berkowitz, a primary care physician, associate chief medical officer of innovation for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, medical director of information technology (IT) and innovation for Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago, and founder and director of the Szollosi Healthcare Innovation Program.