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TRENTON, NJ -- Leaders of the medical community today announced the formation of a new, statewide physicians' association to address increasing concerns that the quality of medical care in New Jersey, and the future of the practice of medicine, are in jeopardy.

The organization, called NJ PHYSICIANS, www.njphysicians.com, was created to provide a strong, unified voice for the state's 25,000 practicing doctors and to help physicians reclaim their place at the forefront of medicine. NJ PHYSICIANS plans to work closely with business, labor, industry, community leaders, policy-makers, and other physician and healthcare organizations to find better and more efficient ways to assure access to quality care in New Jersey.

Ronald A. White, M.D., J.D., president of the newly-formed association, said all doctors have a duty to advocate for their profession and their patients.

"The voice of NJ PHYSICIANS will be a voice demanding that decisions affecting the healthcare of New Jersey's patients are guided by the extraordinary expertise, experience and dedication of those most responsible for providing patient care – our doctors," said Dr. White, who is also chief of surgery at Bergen Regional Medical Center. "It is our hope that this voice will begin a new and better chapter for healthcare in New Jersey."

Among the top priorities for NJ PHYSICIANS will be ending the interference by managed care companies in patient care decisions.

"Policies that interfere with physicians' sound medical judgment are unacceptable," said Dr. White. "Refusals by managed care companies to approve sound physicians' recommendations can compromise patient health, cause serious injury and even death."

As part of this effort, NJ PHYSICIANS is creating a registry for members to compile cases of patient injury resulting from managed care's denial of physician recommendations for care, diagnosis or treatment. The association believes the registry will provide strong evidence that medical decision-making must be left to physicians and their patients, based upon sound medical judgment.

Commissioner Fred Jacobs, M.D., J.D., of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, joined NJ PHYSICIANS at the press conference. In a letter to the group, read by Commissioner Jacobs, Governor Jon Corzine applauded the work of the state's physicians.

"New Jersey has approximately 25,000 licensed physicians who practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine, after years of study in medical school, residency training and fellowships," Governor Corzine wrote. "This extensive medical training ensures that our physicians are comprehensive practitioners of the healing arts capable of managing all aspects of our healthcare needs."

Concerned about the skyrocketing cost of malpractice insurance, NJ PHYSICIANS will also work with the state's major malpractice insurers to develop and provide risk prevention programs that will result in reductions in medical liability insurance costs. Several insurance companies have already made commitments to work with the association to offer such programs.

NJ PHYSICIANS will be led by an eight-member Board of Trustees which includes some of the state's most influential physician leaders. In addition, a Leadership Council will include physicians, current and past presidents of hospital medical staffs, past-presidents of county medical societies and other leaders in healthcare. Ronald Weinberg, M.D., president of the medical staff at Monmouth Medical Center, will head the Leadership Council.

Working with the Leadership Council will be an Advisory Council composed of leaders of business, labor and industry, as well as other influential policy-makers. Robert Codey, Esq., was named special counsel to NJ PHYSICIANS and will head the Advisory Council. Mr. Codey has over 34 years of experience working in various levels of government.

"My goal is to develop a long-term strategic plan with the help of community, labor, business, and industry leaders to improve patient care, increase access to medical treatment and eliminate costly waste and bureaucracy," said Codey. "All aspects of our society have a keen interest in providing the best medical care at affordable prices. Only by communicating with one another can we hope to achieve this goal."

Also at today's press conference, NJ PHYSICIANS announced Jay Hedden, J.D., as the organization's executive director. Hedden said that NJ PHYSICIANS, in addition to its advocacy work, will deliver a broad range of services and benefits to its members. Among the benefits offered at no charge to members will be extensive continuing medical education and legal services, as well as insurance and electronic medical records' evaluations.