Benton looks forward to bridging the doctor-patient gap
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May 6—Becoming Medical Center Health System's Chief Medical Officer is a little bit like a homecoming for Dr. Timothy Benton.
Benton was nearby as regional dean of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine.
After being at Tech since 2012, he started his new position at the end of April. So far, Benton said the experience has been excellent.
"It's a little bit of a homecoming for me. I've been part of the medical staff here for 13 years, and know the physicians, know the administration, and have enjoyed my work here over those 13 years," Benton said.
In his role at Texas Tech, Benton knew many of the people he is now working with, but it is a change in dynamics.
There are about 500 doctors and advanced practice providers who have privileges at MCH, Benton said.
"Having worked with the people of Medical Center for a number of years, it's an easy transition for me. The people are friendly and warm and accepting. (They) seem to be pretty accommodating for me at this point, but it is a little different, because I'm taking on a new role instead of practicing as a physician. Now, I'll be working closer with the physicians, not in a supervisory role, but helping to settle things for them, issues for them, and working in a servant role," Benton said.
Benton said the key aspect of the chief medical officer role is to be a liaison between the physicians and the administration, to help in quality healthcare delivery and help ease some of the burdens for the physicians. "That's one of my goals, is to try to help restore the doctor-patient relationship.
"It's there already, but in modern medicine, there are a lot of business things that get in between the patient and the doctor at times. I want to be that bridge between the business and the patient care too. I think there's a ton of opportunity here. The medical staff is tremendous. Many are nationally certified in certain areas in particular, like our cardiology division, and there's tremendous opportunity. I want to help serve the people alongside those positions, there'll be a lot of work in quality and you know, that's managed and looked at nationally through Medicare and CMS. I'll be working a lot with that. But also Medical Center Health System is the center of this community in Ector County. I look forward to working broadly across the community in healthcare delivery," Benton said.
Benton said he was vice chief of staff with Dr. Donald Davenport during COVID-19 for two years.
"During the pandemic ... I was actually vice chief of staff, and hospital was without a CMO. So myself and the Chief of Staff, Dr. Davenport, took on that role to help manage the care delivery through the pandemic time. That is some experience already in the role, so I'm coming in knowing some about it," Benton said.
He added that he doesn't see much of a switch from what he was doing at TTUHSC to Medical Center.
"It is obviously a different title and a different place and a different building that I will go to. However, it's really, I think, continuing the work that ... I've done here for years, over the last 13 years. This is the primary teaching hospital for the residents and students, and that'll be part of my role in CMO is working with Texas Tech still, and providing that teaching environment and teaching hospital for them. I see us working together, as we always have ... between Texas Tech and Medical Center in delivering for this community and this region, I think it's just an extension of the partnership," Benton said.
He added that he will go to work every day with many of the same people so it won't be much different in that regard.
"My role will be a little different where I won't be in the classroom teaching so much and rounding with medical students and residents. I hope ... to continue a lot of the community work that we've done in partnership and also continue in the realm of research. There's a lot of things going on, programs in partnership with Medical Center that I was a part of with Texas Tech that I think we can continue forward with this community," Benton said.
The last few years as regional dean, Benton said he didn't practice much but he still had a few patients he would see in clinic.
"I think this will open the door actually, for me to be in clinic a little more. Texas Tech has asked me to supervise residents in the clinic periodically. I think I will still be doing that. I do miss patient care, but I think the role now is take care of the people who take care of the patients, and that way still delivering patient care," Benton said.
He noted that he is looking forward to bridging any divides that have popped up between patients and doctors over the last five years due to COVID.
"I think one thing that COVID showed us is that technology can play a role. However, technology can be a barrier, too. I see some opportunities of how we can help restore the doctor-patient relationship through technology. And by that, I don't mean AI opportunities to do diagnosis, although there's some of that in radiology and psychiatry, but more so in taking some of the administrative burdens off of the physicians. I think there's a lot of opportunity in applying technology in that way, and monitoring and controlling quality and just gathering the data and information in the background for them. That is something that I'm looking forward to, hopefully working with Medical Center in that way is better application of technology. That's something we learned in the pandemic that is out there for us, but it also can be a barrier, too so we have to be cautious," Benton said.
He noted that having partnerships with colleges and universities, both locally and regionally, is critical because that is the pipeline for future generations of caregivers whether it's doctors or nurses.
"That's something I'm very proud of my work over the last 13 years here, and hope to continue those relationships and building the pipeline for what we really need in the Permian Basin, and that's more healthcare workers," Benton said.
This is Benton's 31st year in medicine.
"The first decade was in practice. Things have changed a lot in the last two decades, and there's a lot that they have to do, and administrative work and charting work. But I think there's opportunity to bring technology into that, to help them. That's something I would like to help them with, to restore their time with their patients. All of us, me included, went into this to spend time with patients and caring for patients. We need to figure ways to help them get back to that," he added.
"We are beyond thrilled to have someone of Dr. Benton's stature join our team as CMO," Russell Tippin, President & CEO, Medical Center Health System, said in a news release. "He has been an incredible partner with us during his time at Texas Tech and we look forward to having his leadership as we navigate into the future of healthcare."
Benton earned his medical degree from the TTUHSC School of Medicine in 1994, before completing his residency in Family Medicine from the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. In addition, he completed a faculty development fellowship from the Keck School of Medicine with the University of Southern California in 2006.
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