Meet Dr. Thomas Pontinen, a double-board certified specialist in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine. He is a co-founder of MAPS Centers For Pain Control, which is now the largest interventional pain practice in Chicago. His extensive training includes residencies in anesthesiology and general surgery and a fellowship in interventional pain management, under the guidance of some of the nation’s leading experts in the fields.
Dr. Pontinen is a prolific researcher, with publications in medical journals and contributions to textbook chapters. He has presented at international conferences in surgery, anesthesiology, and pain medicine. His research on chronic wound pain has been featured in Pain Medicine News, a prominent source of information in the field. His expertise has earned him multiple awards from prestigious organizations such as US News & World Report and WebMD. Beyond his research, Dr. Pontinen is known for his compassionate patient care, working tirelessly to help patients regain their quality of life and resume the activities they love. He specializes in addressing complex pain cases through a holistic and integrative approach, utilizing a range of treatment modalities and cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedures.
Additionally, he holds certification as a life care planner (LCP-C), enabling him to assist patients with catastrophic injuries or illnesses by projecting their future medical and non-medical needs.
Dr. Pontinen is not only dedicated to his practice but also to humanitarian efforts. He works with Doctors Without Borders, a globally recognized healthcare-related volunteer organization, delivering medical care to underserved populations in unstable regions. He has done volunteer work around the world including multiple areas in SE Asia and Africa, including two months in South Sudan providing trauma care in their civil war.
Outside of his medical career, Dr. Pontinen is an adventure enthusiast, participating in activities such as snowboarding, mountaineering, skydiving, scuba diving, motorcycling, improve acting, and drumming. His diverse interests reflect a dynamic and multifaceted individual.
A Journey of Diverse Passions and Personal Growth
Dr. Pontinen’s journey has been a remarkable exploration of diverse interests and a pursuit of personal fulfillment. Initially majoring in business management in college, he discovered that his true passion lay in directly helping others and delving into the world of science. This realization prompted a switch to a career in medicine. During his residency, he dabbled in trauma surgery, seeking the excitement it offered. However, the burnout led him to shift to anesthesia. In this field, he missed the meaningful patient connections and decided to embark on a pain management fellowship.
In pain management, Dr. Pontinen found the perfect balance. He could still perform procedures and work with his hands, all while forming deep connections with patients, some of whom have become friends over the years. He continues to practice anesthesia as well, which he still enjoys, and now that he runs MAPS as well (a medium sized business), he has come full circle to his college major in business management. Dr. Pontinen, along with his friend and co-fellow Dr. Darrel Saldanha, started MAPS, a practice that has grown from one small clinic and two providers to now the largest pain practice in Chicago with 15 providers, over 50 additional staff members, six offices, multiple contracts with other clinics and hospitals, and two affiliated surgical centers. He feels his current team, including Gabriela Maldonado, Dr. Billy Hayduk, and Dr. Adarsh Shukla, is the best clinical team in Chicago and is what makes MAPS what it is today. He also has ownership interests in multiple other healthcare related companies as well as working as a legal expert providing witness testimony at trials for healthcare related issues.
Beyond his career, Dr. Pontinen is an adventurous spirit. He thrives on adrenaline, whether it’s mountaineering, snowboarding, scuba diving, skydiving, or even riding motorcycles. He is a globetrotter, exploring remote destinations, climbing mountains, and volunteering in various medical capacities around the world. His philosophy centers around embracing experiences that challenge and scare him, believing that these encounters foster independence and self-assuredness. He places great importance on self-improvement and pursues non-physical challenges as well, like overcoming his fear of public performance in his improv acting. Unique experiences, such as playing Goofy in Disneyworld, living with Sherpas in the Nepali Himalayas or studying African history and literature in Ghana, have all enriched his life.
Dr. Pontinen’s commitment to physical activity, including his background as a collegiate decathlete and soccer player, remains a significant part of his daily routine. He shares his life in downtown Chicago with his wife Sylwia, a nurse practitioner, who also helps run MAPS, and their two beloved dogs, Archie and Daisy. Without Sylwia’s love, support, and work with MAPS, he would never be where he is today nor would MAPS even exist. His affinity for dogs is reflected in his belief that one should aspire to be the person their dog thinks they are. In summary, Dr. Pontinen’s life is a tapestry woven with diverse passions and an unwavering commitment to self-discovery and growth.
Complex Healthcare Landscape
Dr. Pontinen recognizes that healthcare leaders today face numerous challenges, including navigating a complex web of regulations, insurance plans with intricate rules, and financial pressures stemming from inflation and rising staffing costs. These burdens often outpace reimbursements for clinical services. In this ever-evolving landscape, the key to success for healthcare leaders lies in their ability to remain open-minded and adaptable. They must stay informed about ongoing changes or surround themselves with staff who are knowledgeable about the industry’s shifting dynamics. Dr. Pontinen emphasizes the importance of not getting stuck in rigid, outdated practices.
For those who own private practices, he underscores the need to view the healthcare business as a service-oriented industry. Patients, or more accurately, patient-customers, have choices when it comes to their healthcare providers. Failing to acknowledge this and implement business protocols akin to other customer-centric industries can lead to failure. Dr. Pontinen points out a common issue in the medical field: the lack of formal education in business skills during medical training. Many doctors, eager to open a practice or explore alternative income sources, may struggle due to this knowledge gap. To succeed in the business aspect of medicine, new doctors must remain humble and adopt a learning mindset in a new field.
Remaining open-minded and resilient is crucial, as setbacks are an inevitable part of the learning process. He acknowledges that many medical doctors can be perfectionists or accustomed to realizing success if they work hard enough, but opening and running a business will present countless failures both large and small no matter how hard you work, and one must learn how to overcome that truth if one is to succeed. Overcoming these challenges requires a shift in perspective, seeing failure as an opportunity to learn and improve, and only then, will success eventually come.
To end, Dr. Pontinen emphasizes the danger of greed in the medical profession. Succumbing to greed can lead doctors to engage in practices that go against guidelines and regulations, risking consequences with insurance companies, Medicare, the FDA, and harm to their reputation within the medical community. Building a positive reputation and professional relationships is paramount in healthcare, where even in a large market like Chicago, word-of-mouth can have a swift and lasting impact on one’s career. Dr. Pontinen’s insights offer valuable guidance for healthcare leaders navigating a complex and ever-changing industry.
Patient-Centric Care
Dr. Pontinen’s core belief revolves around the unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, which he views as the cornerstone of medicine. He emphasizes that, despite the complexities of the healthcare business, it is crucial to always prioritize the well-being and needs of the patient. This fundamental principle should never be overshadowed by financial considerations, marketing efforts, or vendor relations. Dr. Pontinen’s success and rapid growth with MAPS is attributed to the practice’s unwavering dedication to this ideal.
In addition to patient-centric care, Dr. Pontinen underscores the importance of placing the needs and well-being of the staff above personal interests. He subscribes to a hierarchy where the owners of the practice come last in financial matters. The patients’ needs take precedence, followed by the staff, vendors, and, finally, the owners. He treats his employees as equals, recognizing their crucial roles in the functioning of the practice. Billers, medical assistants, desk staff, and other providers all contribute to the practice’s success and if one of these components is missing, the entire business fails.
At MAPS, the MDs are seen as just one part of the larger team, and there is a strong commitment to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment. Any provider who exhibits an attitude of superiority, unwillingness to perform tasks, or disrespect towards staff members is not aligned with the practice’s values and is let go. Dr. Pontinen’s emphasis on patient-centered care and a harmonious, supportive work environment underscores his dedication to the well-being of both patients and the team, which he views as integral to achieving success in healthcare.
Balancing Diverse Roles
Dr. Pontinen’s daily schedule is a diverse and fulfilling mix of responsibilities. While he strives to avoid working extensively over weekends, he often finds himself catching up on tasks Sunday afternoons. On weekdays, he is primarily involved in clinical work, dedicating 3-4 days a week to performing procedures in the clinic or at surgery centers. He has also expanded into the realm of legal-medical work, serving as an expert witness, and engaging in life care planning as a certified life care planner. The remaining time in his schedule is devoted to various meetings, calls, emails, and text communications related to overseeing the business as a whole. Dr. Pontinen often finds himself responding to emails in bed at night before falling asleep and schedules meetings before or after clinic hours. His schedule is undeniably busy, but he thrives on this diversity, as he quickly becomes bored when tasks become monotonous. Additionally, he continues to take anesthesia call shifts on weekends to maintain his anesthesia skills.
However, amidst this demanding routine, Dr. Pontinen finds the most fulfillment in his interactions with patients. Performing procedures, especially those that offer immediate relief, brings him immense satisfaction. Many of his patients have been under his care for years, and their relationships have evolved into friendships. When he can directly enhance their quality of life through procedures and witness their gratitude, it stands as the most rewarding aspect of his weekly routine. This personal connection and the ability to make a positive impact on people’s lives remain at the core of his motivation, even during the most stressful or challenging times. Dr. Pontinen’s dedication to helping others and his passion for improving lives serve as the driving force behind his multifaceted and demanding schedule.
Significance of Teamwork in Modern Healthcare
Dr. Pontinen notes that the older, more traditional model of healthcare placed individual doctors on high pedestals, emphasizing their singular expertise. However, he expresses gratitude for the positive shift that has occurred in recent times towards a more collaborative, team-oriented approach in the medical field. He firmly believes that a well-structured, multi-specialty team is significantly more effective than a group of individuals working in isolation. This team-based approach has a direct and unequivocal impact on both patient care and the overall efficiency of the healthcare business. It not only leads to improved patient outcomes but also contributes to the smooth and effective operation of the practice. Dr. Pontinen’s perspective underscores the importance of teamwork and collaboration in modern healthcare, emphasizing the collective strength of a well-integrated team.
Simplifying Healthcare with Technology
Dr. Pontinen notes that insurance plans and regulations play a significant role in healthcare, often requiring providers to consider a patient’s insurance coverage as a primary concern. While proper treatment is possible with practice and diligence, the complexities of coding, documentation, preauthorization, and more can affect a provider’s ability to care for a patient.
To navigate this landscape, technology is essential. Dr. Pontinen’s practice uses a mobile EMR system, cloud-based and application-focused, streamlining processes. They employ automation and AI to improve efficiency and reduce labor-intensive tasks. Embracing technology is crucial for success in private practice, as it enhances patient care and operational efficiency in a dynamic healthcare environment.
Finding Fulfillment, and Redefining Success
Dr. Pontinen recognizes that starting any business carries inherent risks, and these uncertainties persist in his ventures even today. While external factors like unforeseen regulations or unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic could impact the business negatively, he’s chosen the path of self-motivation and being his own boss. His preference for self-motivation, coupled with a love for challenges and aversion to monotony, drove him to embrace the risks. He views the possibility of failure as a motivating factor rather than a deterrent and believes that true satisfaction and fulfillment come from tackling the more challenging path in life.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Dr. Pontinen envisions the continued success of MAPS, but he defines success differently. For him, it’s not solely about financial gain but rather an ongoing commitment to refining processes and enhancing the patient experience. Success means creating fulfilling jobs for the staff and expanding the practice to reach and help more people. He no longer sees growth as a means to sell but finds genuine contentment in the clinical work, his connection with patients and staff, the diversity of his schedule, and the daily challenges and tasks involved in running a business-like MAPS. This perspective emphasizes that true success is more than financial gains; it’s about continuous improvement and making a positive impact.
Primary Leadership Principles
Dr. Pontinen offers valuable advice for those stepping into a leadership position for the first time:
- Be Open-Minded: Embrace new ideas and approaches, and be willing to adapt to change.
- Stay Humble: Remember that you don’t have all the answers, and be open to learning from others.
- Embrace Failure: Don’t fear failure; instead, view it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Accept That Not Everyone Will Like You: Leadership often involves making tough decisions, and not everyone will agree with you. Focus on the greater good. Steve Jobs once said, “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader, sell ice cream.”
- Put Others First: Prioritize the needs of those you lead over your own. This selflessness fosters trust and teamwork.
- Avoid Greed: Be mindful of not succumbing to personal greed, as it can lead to unethical decisions and harm your reputation.
- Maintain Equality: Treat everyone with respect and avoid viewing yourself as superior to others.
- Cultivate Relationships: Business success relies on positive relationships. Be friendly, considerate, and attentive to others’ needs and perspectives, as this will help you build strong partnerships and collaborations. When negotiating, avoid focusing on what you want, but come first to understand what the other party wants and why.
