Chair, Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham
Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, BIDMC
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Smulowitz’s research and academic interests include the impact of health care reform in Massachusetts on ED and hospital utilization, cost control and payment reform in healthcare, reducing variation and adherence to evidence based practices in health care, the implementation and financing of Accountable Care Organizations, quality assurance programs, and alternative models of liability reform. Dr. Smulowitz previously served as health policy fellow for the Massachusetts State Senate Committee on Health Care Financing. He currently serves as President for the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians (MACEP) and is a member of the State Legislative and Regulatory Committee for the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Smulowitz is the Chair of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham. In that role and his previous position as BIDMC site lead for the CARE (Communication, Apology, and REsolution) program, he has been an advocate for transparency, communication, and supporting patients and providers in the aftermath of an adverse event, and for supporting a paradigm shift in health care where we all accept that human beings will err.

RECENT PROJECTS

• Consulted in the areas of ED operations and risk management for a healthcare network in New England.

• Conducted ED assessments for hospitals in Maine and Connecticut

• Collaborated with State Senator Jamie Eldridge to file “An Act Related to EMTALA Providers,” which would extend special liability protections to EMTALA providers and protect providers during a pandemic or disaster.

• Working with DPH to establish a working group to combat the rising epidemic of opioid abuse in Massachusetts.

• Region Sjaelland Emergency Medicine Initiative, Denmark

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Dr. Smulowitz is an Instructor in Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He speaks regularly both locally and nationwide on topics related to health reform, payment reform, and health policy.

PUBLICATIONS

• Smulowitz P, et al. Emergency Department Utilization After the Implementation of Massachusetts Health Reform. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2011 Sept;58(3):225-34.

• Smulowitz P, et al. Emergency department use by the uninsured after health reform in Massachusetts. Intern Emerg Med. 2009;4:501-506.

EDUCATION

• M.D., University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

• M.P.H., Health Policy, Harvard School of Public Health

SPECIALTY AREAS

• ED Operations

• ED Cost Reduction

• Regulatory Compliance