Dr. Earl E. Smith, III, Receives Overton Award for Notable Contributions to Health Care Quality Improvement in Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Emilie Fennell
(512) 334-1649
emilie.fennell@tmf.org
1-800-725-9216, Ext. 1649

Austin, TX – August 3, 2010 – TMF® Health Quality Institute, a leading nonprofit health care consulting company, honored Earl E. Smith, III, MD, FACEP, with the Philip R. Overton Award at its annual membership meeting on Saturday, July 24. The Overton Award recognizes physicians who have made significant and notable contributions to improving the quality of health care in Texas through support of TMF and its medical peer review and quality improvement activities.

Dr. Smith began his work with TMF in 2001 as a physician reviewer. In 2004, he was appointed to the State Review Program Committee, which evaluates Texas provider practice patterns and variation, provides feedback to the health care community and identifies areas of concern to address through quality improvement. In 2007, Dr. Smith joined TMF full-time to serve as medical director, where he continues to work closely with TMF staff to help improve the quality of care provided in various settings.

“This award is a testament to Dr. Smith’s compassion and concern for quality health care, and I am very pleased that he is the recipient,” said Gordon B. Strom, chair of the State Review Program Committee. “Dr. Smith is an outstanding physician and educator and is highly respected among his colleagues.”

Having devoted most of his career to emergency medicine, Dr. Smith’s particular interest is acute cardiac conditions, on which he has focused more than 30 years of work. An avid writer and nationally recognized speaker, he has been published in more than 20 journals, contributed to two books and served as a visiting professor and invited lecturer across the country since 1979.

“Dr. Smith is committed to improving quality for Texas patients and physicians, and TMF is fortunate to benefit from his depth of experience,” said Dr. David Garza, president of the TMF board of trustees.

Dr. Smith is board certified in emergency medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and was the first emergency physician in Texas with emergency medicine residency training.

About the Philip R. Overton Award
The Philip R. Overton Award for meritorious service to medical peer review and quality improvement in Texas recognizes the service and leadership of its recipients. Overton, who served as general counsel to TMF for 14 years, was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1932. His significant and ongoing influence on health care legislation and public policy earned him recognition as an eminent authority in medicine and the law. He is remembered for his dedication to the medical profession, his integrity and his commitment to quality medical care for Texans.

About TMF Health Quality Institute
TMF Health Quality Institute focuses on improving lives by improving the quality of health care through contracts with federal, state and local governments, as well as private organizations. For nearly 40 years, TMF has helped health care providers and practitioners in a variety of settings improve care for
their patients.