Definitive Agreement Enhances Value-Based Care
By Wendy Grafius, contributing writer
AtlantiCare joins Geisinger Health System in a move creating the foundation for value-driven, population-based care delivery in southern New Jersey.
AtlantiCare health system of Atlantic City, NJ, will become a member of Danville, PA, -based Geisinger Health System pending regulatory approval of the parties’ May 27th definitive agreement. The integration is expected to enhance value-driven, population-based care delivery for residents of southern New Jersey.
As the nation’s healthcare delivery system evolves from a fee-based model to a value-based model, officials from AtlantiCare sought a partner to help with its transformation. “Geisinger is a national model for innovation and value that is on the leading edge of transforming healthcare, and we are pleased and excited to enter into this definitive agreement,” said David P. Tilton, president and CEO of AtlantiCare. “We remain focused on the health and well-being of our community, and we look forward to further advances in population health and other innovations to improve quality and enhance services for our patients.”
With annual revenue of $4 billion, Geisinger Health System is one of the nation’s largest rural health services organizations and is widely recognized for innovative use of its EHR and for the development of proprietary solutions, ProvenHealth Navigator and ProvenCare. Using its advanced practice management tools, Geisinger will aid AtlantiCare in implementing evidence-based medicine programs, enhancing capabilities and clinical services, optimizing use of EHR and informatics, and implementing population health management and value-based payment.
“It is an especially challenging time in healthcare; however, we stand at the brink of making significant enhancements that will benefit patients for generations to come,” said Glenn Steele, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Geisinger. “Over time, we will improve the patient experience and health status of the community, reduce the total cost of care while improving quality and efficiency, transform care from episodic to value-focused, and provide meaningful coordination across all of healthcare.”
As both AtlantiCare and Geisinger are nonprofit hospital systems, the merger does not involve financial payment to AtlantiCare. Representatives from each organization will serve on the board of directors for the other system and physicians from each will visit the others’ operations to study and incorporate best practices. AtlantiCare will continue under its current name as it cares for residents in its service area.
AtlantiCare is southern New Jersey’s largest healthcare organization with annual revenue of $800 million. It is composed of AtlantiCare Regional Health Services which includes AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with three locations, ambulatory services, and a physician group, as well as a foundation and AtlantiCare Health Solutions, an accountable care organization. Its 700 physicians and 5,200 employees provide care in nearly 70 locations. AtlantiCare received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2009.
Physician-led Geisinger serves more than 2.6 million residents in 44 counties of central and northeast Pennsylvania. It is composed of eight hospital campuses, two research centers, and a health plan with 467,000 members. Its multi-specialty group practice boasts 1,100 doctors and more than 21,000 employees. Both AtlantiCare and Geisinger have been recognized by Modern Healthcare as “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” and by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet designation.
SOURCE: PR Newswire