Faculty Group Practice

The University of Michigan Medical School Faculty Group Practice (FGP) was created on the premise that an integrated, coordinated, high-quality, cost-effective, multi-specialty organization was needed to preserve the patient care, educational and research missions of the University of Michigan Medical School and Health System. The Faculty Group Practice is comprised of 19 clinical departments. Approximately 1,400 Medical School faculty who are directly involved in patient care are members of the FGP.

The FGP provides support and leadership for a variety of clinical and business functions across the Medical School. Responsibilities include:

• Strategic planning for the Medical School and Health System
• Oversight and management of Ambulatory Care at the Health System, in coordination with the Hospitals
• Management of professional billing and compliance for medical services provided by Medical School faculty
• Leading quality improvement and clinical data analysis initiatives
• Oversight of medical management and disease management programs
• Participation in planning new clinical programs, health ventures and facilities
• Medical direction of the "UM IPA" (the Medical School faculty when involved in providing care to managed care patients)
• Participation in the development of clinical information systems
• Participation in third-party payer and managed care relations
• Monitoring health policy and legislative matters affecting the faculty group practice and clinical training programs

The Executive Medical Director of the FGP, David Spahlinger, M.D., is also Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Senior Associate Director of UMH Ambulatory Care Administration, and works closely with James Woolliscroft, Dean of the Medical School; Douglas Strong, the Executive Director of the Hospitals and Health Centers; and Robert Kelch, M.D., the Executive Vice President of the Health System.

History of the Faculty Group Practice