His new position offers benefits to the group and its patients, both in research and dealing with managed care organizations. With computers nowadays we can collect far more data than we've ever had based on utilization and outcome. In his group of 34 physicians there is a huge clinical database, yet very little research has been done because the doctors were so busy with patients they did not have time. He will now be pursuing the research opportunities. For years a lot of the way physicians decided to treat patients was based on their experience and knowledge.
Today there's emphasis on designing treatment based more on scientific evidence.
An example is treatment of back pain, one of Haralson's specialties. Data suggests the majority of back pain gets better within three or four weeks, no matter what you do. Scientific evidence suggests that it will go away no matter what you do. Analyzing data is not the sole role of a medical director. The business has to be profitable or we can't pay our rent and keep the office open.