Karen Ferguson, MS, former practice administrator, consultant, and cofounder and CEO of Discus Analytics, Inc, discusses the role value-based care models have to play in transforming rheumatology care, including their effects on costs, clinical pathways, and what payers should understand.

More About Ms Ferguson

Karen Ferguson is a proven health care executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership within the health care industry. As the practice administrator for the last 17 years to one of the largest rheumatology practices in the Pacific Northwest, Karen founded Our Stories Rxä, and cofounder and CEO of Discus Analytics, Inc, a health care IT company addressing the unmet need for organized, discrete, and clinically actionable information supporting the physician and patient’s longitudinal journey together.

As the Practice Administrator, Karen led her organization to earn the national recognition for quality care, “NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition” which distinguishes practices that communicate, collaborate, and integrate care in ways that demonstrates constant improvement through communication, coordination, and providing access to care.

Ms Ferguson is past President of the Washington State Medical Group Management Association and the Inland Empire Medical Group Managers Association. She currently serves as ARP/ACR Education Committee, NORM Payer Committee, and CSRO Payer Committee.  Ms. Ferguson received her Master of Science in Health Education/Promotion from Whitworth College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from San Diego State University.