Doctors at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University expected to lose $6.5 million in collective revenues after recent legislative cutbacks. But the school should break even financially if efforts to tighten up operating plans are effective, administrators said Thursday.

ECU Physicians, the clinical faculty practice of the Brody School, has been operating for six months under efficiency measures to control costs following continued funding cuts by the state Legislature.

Were starting to see some progress, Brian Jowers, the practices executive director, told the ECU Board of Trustees Health Sciences Committee during its meeting.

The clinic switched to a compensation plan for its clinicians this fiscal year based on productivity, Jowers said.

Were looking at types of incentives to pay them for exceeding the targeted work goals they have, he said.

Seventy five percent of the 260 eligible faculty members achieved their efficiency goals, he said.

That tells us that our faculty members are exceeding their targeted productivity levels, which is great news because it means more patients seen, more procedures done and more revenues coming in, Jowers said.

The finance committee still must review new faculty positions before they are sent to the board for approval, Jowers said.

Administrators continue to examine issues that affect patient access to care, working toward having all patients seen by a physician within a week of calling for an appointment.

Most patients can be seen at most of our clinics within a couple of days, and we want to be able to schedule follow-up appointments up to six months out, Jowers said.

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Medical school on pace to break even financially