Aetna creates unit for physician relations

In an effort to build relationships with the 250,000 physicians in its network, Aetna U. S. Healthcare has created a physician relations unit.

The physicians relations unit, headed by John T. Kelly, MD, PhD, a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, is charged with expanding communication with physicians and addressing their concerns.

"The vast majority of our relationships with providers are positive, but there clearly has been a vocal minority of physicians who have concerns. It simply made sense to us to create a separate organization that does nothing but focus on provider relationships," says Arthur Leibowitz, MD, chief medical officer for Aetna.