Episode Details

Episode 2: Member Spotlight — Dr. Gombosi, Northern Pennsylvania
Host: Dr. John Pagan, Chair & CEO, PA Clinical Network Guest: Dr. Gombosi, Open Arms Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Northern PA

Episode Overview

In this member spotlight, Dr. John Pagan sits down with Dr. Gombosi, a faith-driven physician who left a long career in employed medicine to open his own independent practice in a historic 1806 stone building in northern Pennsylvania. Dr. Gombosi shares what pushed him to make the leap, how PACN has been essential to his financial viability, and why independent physicians are indispensable to the future of medicine.

Key Highlights

From Employee to Independent — A Building That Spoke to Him After spending most of his career as an employed physician, Dr. Gombosi grew increasingly uncomfortable being treated as a commodity — referred to as a "provider" rather than a physician, and facing a doubling of his restrictive covenant. Five years ago, he made the decision to go independent. While scouting locations near Williamsport, he came across a vacant two-story stone building dating to 1806 — the historic Squire Hayes homestead — and knew immediately it was the right place. He negotiated a great deal with the bank that held it, and hasn't looked back.

The Name: Open Arms The practice's name, Open Arms Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, came to Dr. Gombosi during prayer. Christ-centered in philosophy but welcoming to patients of all backgrounds, denominations, and belief systems, the practice's open-arms ethos guides everything from patient care to hiring. As Dr. Gombosi put it: "Christ wasn't restrictive."

Building the Right Team Starting with just three people — himself, an office manager, and an RN named Denise — Dr. Gombosi credits those two original employees as the foundation of his success. Referred by physician colleagues in the area, both brought prior experience from a nephrology practice. The ability to hire people who share his values and work ethic — rather than having staffing decisions made for him — has been one of the most rewarding aspects of independence. The practice has since grown to seven employees.

PACN as a Financial Lifeline Dr. Gombosi was candid: he doesn't know if he would be financially viable without PACN. The shift to pay-for-performance models requires tracking numerous quality measures, negotiating better contracts, and deploying additional staff resources — all of which become manageable with PACN's support. He shared that his bottom line turned positive when quality incentive payments — made possible through the network — came through.

On Quality Measures As a member of PACN's Quality Committee, Dr. Gombosi acknowledges the frustration many physicians feel around the volume of quality measures required — not all of which clearly link to better care. However, he recognizes that navigating this system is the reality of independent practice today, and that PACN's expertise makes the process quicker, easier, and more rewarding.

Growth and What's Ahead Starting with a handful of patients, Open Arms has grown to a panel of approximately 3,000 in just four years. Dr. Gombosi conducts sleep medicine consults in Wellsboro one day per week, has expanded staffing to cover those absences, and is working toward filling his schedule more fully — while preserving the personal touch that defines his practice. He is also one of the founding practices in PACN's Medicare ACO (Accountable Care Organization) initiative through the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which he expects to yield meaningful returns.

Mind, Body, and Spirit Dr. Gombosi's care philosophy centers on treating the whole patient — mind, body, and spirit. He believes me