About Us
- Create the best primary care network accessible to our entire community
- Provide a variety of practice management services to its practitioners that meet
or exceed national standards;
- Commit to mutual respect, loyalty and teamwork among patients, practitioners,
and all employees;
- Support UMC Health System and TTUHSC through referrals and education;
- Accomplish this mission in a fiscally responsible manner.
UMC Physician Network Services (PNS) is a physician practice management group
formed by UMC in 1996 to manage the hospital’s Community Health Centers and to
develop a broad base of primary care patients that would support the hospital
and medical school.
Since its inception, it has grown to almost 100 providers representing all
primary care specialties – family practice, family practice with obstetrics,
internal medicine, and pediatrics, complemented with mid-level providers
including both physician assistants and nurse practitioners. PNS has
associations with physicians specializing in podiatry, gastroenterology,
pediatric surgery, bariatrics, allergy and immunology, obstetrics and
gynecology, and pediatric development.
Our support staff consists of over 400 experienced health care employees
composed of nurses, ancillary services, and administrative professionals. We
have more than 40 practice sites located throughout Lubbock and the surrounding
area including community health centers, private physician practices, and a
urgent care clinics open seven days a week, including holidays. PNS operates
health clinics at two Lubbock United Supermarkets. Combined, these practices
provide care to 385,000 patients annually.
PNS stands ready to meet the challenge of delivering quality health care in an
ever-changing health care environment and supports many of your physicians with
management and other services.
Paul Acreman serves as Senior Vice President of the UMC Health System and Chief
Executive Officer of UMC Physician Network Services. Paul received Bachelor of
Science and Master of Science degrees in Agriculture from Texas A&M University
and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of
Texas of the Permian Basin. He has earned certification from the American
College of Medical Practice Executives.
Paul joined the UMC Health System in 1997 as Chief Executive Officer of
Physician Network Services. Prior to coming to UMC, Paul performed as Director
of Operations and Director of Managed Care with Primary Medical Clinic of
Odessa, Midland, Lubbock and Houston. He has been involved in the healthcare
industry since 1988.
Under his leadership, UMC PNS has been recognized three times by the Medical
Group Management Association for Superior Performance and by the Texas A&M
University Mayes College of Business as one of the Aggie 100 fastest growing
Aggie owned or operated businesses in the world.
Paul is involved in a number of community and professional activities including
the United Way Development Committee, Red Cross Tournament Committee, UMC
Foundation Underwriting Committee, the Medical Group Management Association and
numerous wildlife conservation organizations. He is member of Shepherd King
Lutheran Church.
Mr. Acreman, CEO, along with CFO Mrs. Carri Kennerly, were honored with the
opportunity of sharing their success strategy with Medical Group Management
Association, Inc. (MGMA) Members across the nation. Highlighted in the January
2009 edition of MGMA’s publication, Performance and Practices of Successful
Medical Groups, the Success Story featured PNS, highlighting the achievements
the organization has made since its inception in 1996. MGMA has long been the
gold standard for PNS and many other healthcare organizations nationwide which
is why PNS is honored to have been chosen to share their success strategies with
others in the healthcare industry.
Glen Frick serves as Chief Operating Officer of UMC Physician Network Services.
Glen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance degree and a Master
of Business Administration degree, both from Texas Tech University. He has
earned certification from the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
As COO of PNS, Glen consults, advises and assists the CEO in providing
leadership and direction in planning, directing and coordinating both patient
and non-patient care activities. Glen oversees the daily operations of PNS’s
approximately 50 medical practices.
Glen started his career in Dallas, Texas working in tax consulting for a
national CPA firm. Glen then returned to the Hub City and joined Covenant
Medical Group where he worked for nine years holding several different positions
including Director of Finance, Director of the Emergency Department Physicians,
Director of the Roswell Clinic and Treasurer of the CMG Board of Directors.
Glen and his wife Kim have three children. Glen is involved in a number of
community and professional activities including Lubbock, Inc., Medical Group
Management Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association and American
Medical Group Association. Glen is a member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Lubbock’s class of 2008. Glen serves as a Deacon at Melonie Park
Church.
Chief Financial Officer
Carri Kennerly serves as Chief Financial Officer of UMC Physician Network
Services (UMC PNS). Carri attended West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas.
Carri started her accounting career in 1976. Her interest in healthcare
accounting began when she joined the Accounting Department of University Medical
Center (then Lubbock General Hospital). AT UMC she held several different
positions and, in 1997, transferred to UMC PNS as the Director of Accounting.
After several years in that role, she was promoted to the position of Corporate
Director of Finance and most recently Chief Financial Officer.
Carri is a member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lubbock’s class
of 2005. She is a member of Medical Group Management Association.
As part of the UMC PNS executive team, she has been instrumental in the
organization’s recognition by the Medical Group Management Association for
Superior Performance for 2005, 2006, and 2008.
Mrs. Kennerly, along with Mr. Paul Acreman, CEO, shared their success strategy
with Medical Group Management Association, Inc. (MGMA) Members across the nation
this year. Highlighted in the January 2009 edition of MGMA’s publication,
Performance and Practices of Successful Medical Groups, the Success Story
featured PNS, highlighting the achievements the organization made since its
inception in 1996. MGMA has long been the gold standard for PNS and many other
healthcare organizations nationwide which is why PNS is honored to have been
chosen to share their success strategies with others in the healthcare industry.
Chairman
In 1996, Dr. Vernon Farthing developed UMC Physician Network Services where he
currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. A vital member of UMC
Health System, Dr. Farthing serves as Vice President of Medical Staff Affairs, a
position he has held since his appointment in 1992. He is owner, and Chairman of
the Board of Directors, of Physician Network Association. Dr. Farthing has been
a member of UMC Health System Foundation Board since 2004.
Dr. Vernon Farthing received his undergraduate at McMurry College in Abilene,
Texas in 1981. He then came to Lubbock to attend medical school at Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) where he also completed his residency
in Internal Medicine in 1990. He served as Clinical Assistant Professor
Instructor and Chief Resident for the HSC Department of Internal Medicine 1990 -
1991. Dr. Farthing is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine