MDP to run Erlanger unit

Erlanger Health System has entered into an agreement with MDP Management, a locally-owned physician management firm, to manage and oversee hospitalist physicians who provide care to Erlanger patients.

Hospitalists, internal medicine and critical care specialists employed by Erlanger currently "co-manage" patient care and coordinate treatment and communications with each patient's regular personal physician. Erlanger trustees last month approved a resolution outlining an agreement between the hospital and MDP Management to direct Erlanger's 18-doctor hospitalist program.

"This new partnership represents Erlanger's continuing focus on providing the highest quality patient care and enhancing the patient experience," said Dr. Jan Keys, Erlanger's chief nursing offficer.

EPB warns of phone scam

EPB is warning customers to be wary of a telephone scam that tries to claim your electricity service will be cut off if you don't buy a reloadable debit card and pay a delinquent bill immediately.

EPB spokesman John Pless said such calls are fake even though they sometimes show up on caller ID with EPB's number, 648-1372.Under the scam, customers are told their service will be disconnected if they don't make immediate payment for a past due account, and are instructed to buy a reloadable debit card like MoneyPak to make payment by calling an "800" number.

EPB operators do call customers with overdue bills, but Pless stressed that the utility never instructs customers to make immediate payments with pre-paid debit cards.