Welcome to the first post in our series, The Doctor’s Note. Did you know most insurance companies have medical doctors on staff? Why is that? What do they do to help members?
Throughout the course of this series, we’ll cover those questions and more, as well as hear from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas doctors themselves on health and wellness-related issues.
In the meantime, meet the doctors on our staff:
Dr. Michael Atwood, CHIE, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Atwood began his career at BCBSKS in 2009 serving as the company’s chief medical officer. He was promoted to vice president of medical affairs in February 2013, while retaining his role of chief medical officer. The medical affairs division is committed to defining and resolving issues related to the medical care of all BCBSKS members. Prior to his employment with the company, he worked as a practicing physician with the Cotton-O’Neil medical group, a division of Stormont Vail Health. He served for 13 years as a medical director and physician member of the executive leadership team at Stormont Vail Health. Dr. Atwood retired from BCBSKS in June 2019.
Dr. Atwood holds two degrees from the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor’s degree in human biology and his doctor of medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is a board certified family physician and an American Academy of Family Physicians fellow. Dr. Atwood also serves as a clinical assistant professor for the department of family medicine at the University of Kansas.
Dr. Kent Haverkamp, Medical Director
Dr. Haverkamp was born in Topeka, Kansas. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical science from Kansas State University and earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas. He completed an internal medicine / pediatrics residency at Good Samaritan Hospital and Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. He is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. Prior to joining BCBSKS in 2013 as a medical director, Haverkamp worked for Cotton-O’Neil Clinic from 1993 to 2013 as a primary care provider for adult and pediatric patients.
Dr. Myron Leinwetter, Medical Director
Dr. Leinwetter was born in Atwood, Kansas, and attended the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. He subsequently attended the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City and is board certified in family medicine. His medical career started at the Dodge City Medical Center, and he later practiced at the Rossville Clinic until 2002. He served as a medical missionary in Costa Rica for one year and returned to the U.S. to serve as the medical director at the Shawnee County Health Agency Community Health Center until 2011. His current position is the medical director for quality improvement, disease management, care coordination and medical policy. Dr. Leinwetter retired from BCBSKS in September 2017.
Dr. Daryl Callahan, Medical Director
Dr. Callahan joined BCBSKS in 2017 with 28 years of experience in the medical profession. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas Wesleyan University, a master’s in strategic studies from the Army War College, and a doctorate of osteopathy from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He is board certified in family practice, and served as a family physician at the Phillips County Hospital and physician partner of HealthCare Associates Medical Center in Phillipsburg.
Dr. Callahan served 30 years in the National Guard. He retired as a colonel and was the state surgeon for the Kansas Army National Guard. He was selected as special assistant to the U.S. Northern Command and NORAD in Colorado Springs, CO. He is the recipient of numerous military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Millennium Trail Award, Wounded Warrior Bronze Statue and National Rural Health Achievement Award.
Patient/Physician Care Coordination:
I am a Cotton O’neil serviced patient and have been for a few years. I am concerned about the lack of direct communications between doctor and patient, particularly after a office visit has concluded.
Ongoing communications about one’s health is paramont to trust in the current health systems, and suprisingly the evolution of new technologies in medical research and appropriate individual health care solutions, do not always match up.
Even though I have access to computerized talking points with My Chart, I do not have direct access to my particular primary care physician’s point of views, without the pcp’s nurse serving as a proxy to my communications. Thus, I still do not know if I am communicating with my doctor, or with the nurse on the doctor’s behalf? This is worrisome to me. Just my thoughts.