ECG Management Consultants, Inc., Welcomes Healthcare Reform Expert F. Joseph Hallal, M.D., to Its Healthcare Division


WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ECG Management Consultants, Inc., one of the nation's premier healthcare management consulting firms, welcomes F. Joseph Hallal, M.D., as a Senior Manager. With more than 40 years of experience in patient care and leadership in management, patient safety, and quality issues, Dr. Hallal draws upon his expertise to provide assistance and insight to ECG's clients.

Commenting on this hire, Mr. Stephen F. Messinger, Managing Partner of ECG, said, "Joe's extensive experience in clinical medicine, management, and regulatory affairs will be instrumental in aiding healthcare systems, physicians, and medical practices to move forward as the changes created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unfold across the nation. He brings a refreshing and pragmatic clinical leadership perspective to the strategic and business decisions health system leaders must make as we migrate from payments based on volume to those based on value."

Most recently in his career, Dr. Hallal consulted to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the branch of CMS that is developing and piloting new programs, as mandated by the ACA. Some of these programs include accountable care organizations, the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative, the Care Transitions Program, and the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative. Prior to that, Dr. Hallal served in various leadership roles, including Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Inova Fairfax Hospital, as well as President of the Medical Staff and Chief Medical Officer at Inova. In these roles, he initiated, drove, and facilitated significant patient care improvements for the hospital.

Dr. Hallal has had a distinguished career in the private practice of clinical and interventional cardiology in Northern Virginia. His academic posts include Professor of Medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Hallal was a Certified Surveyor at The Joint Commission, where he developed a strong interest in and knowledge of quality and safety issues in medicine.

Dr. Hallal is affiliated with the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and American Medical Association.

Dr. Hallal holds a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

About ECG Management Consultants, Inc.

ECG offers a broad range of strategic, financial, operational, and technology-related consulting services to healthcare providers. As a leader in the industry, ECG provides specialized expertise in developing and implementing innovative and customized solutions that effectively address hospital/physician relationships, strategic and business planning, specialty program development, IT, and the complexities of the academic healthcare enterprise. ECG has offices in Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

Contact:  Ms. Kathryn A. Sweyer
ECG Management Consultants, Inc.
ksweyer@ecgmc.com
Telephone:  206-689-2200
Fax:  206-689-2209
www.ecgmc.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com
http://www.cisionwire.com/ecg-management-consultants--inc-/r/ecg-management-consultants--inc--welcomes-healthcare-reform-expert-f--joseph-hallal--m-d--to-its-hea,c9301578