MGH part of TransforMED project

LEAWOOD, Kan. – A total of 90 primary care practices allied with 15 health systems in 65 cities across the country have joined a federally supported health care innovation award project of the patient-centered medical neighborhood (PCMN) care model, awardee and national program convener TransforMED announced today.

Participating practices will pilot test TransforMED’s approach to delivering better health, better health care and lower costs using the PCMN model. The PCMN concept connects patient-centered medical home (PCMH) primary care practices with other community-based health care providers to create a more efficient, coordinated health care delivery network that improves care at a lower cost.

TransforMED, a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians, is leading the nationwide PCMN project funded by a three-year, $20.75 million award by the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center). Joining TransforMED, an expert in PCMH transformation and PCMN development, are project affiliates VHA Inc., a network of not-for-profit hospitals based in Irving, Texas; Phytel, a provider of automated population health management technology based in Dallas; and Cobalt Talon, an analytics services company based in Kansas City, Mo.

Project affiliates will work to support health care providers in each of the 90 participating practices toward the PCMN development project’s quest for improved health outcomes, improved quality of care and reduced costs. TransforMED facilitators will meet with practice leaders in coming months to understand their current processes and identify areas of improvement in the following four areas to attain stated year-three goals:

  •     Costs. Reduce overall health care costs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries by 4 percent, or $49.5 million, by 2015
  •     Health. Improve the health of the eligible population as demonstrated by an average of 15 percent – and at least 3 percent improvement – in each selected quality measure by 2015
  •     Patient experience. A 25 percent improvement in patient experience measures that reflect patient engagement, access and quality by 2015
  •     Scalability. Demonstrate the ability to scale to additional practices within each community by 2015.

The 90 practices within the 15 health systems participating in the collaborative PCMN project are:

Avera Health, O’Neill, Neb.
o    Avera Medical Group Creighton
o    Avera Medical Group Crofton
o    Avera Medical Group Hartington
o    Avera Medical Group Niobrara
o    Avera Medical Group O’Neill
o    Avera Medical Group Verdigre

Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, W.Va.
o    Cabin Creek Health Systems Inc., Dawes
o    CAMC Family Medicine Center, Charleston
o    Charleston Internal Medicine Inc.
o    Womencare Inc., dba FamilyCare Health Center, Scott Depot

Columbus Regional, Columbus, Ind.
o    Columbus Adult Medicine
o    Columbus Family Medicine
o    Columbus Internal Medicine Associates (CIMA)
o    Doctors Park Family Medicine, Columbus
o    Kavelman Family Medicine, Columbus
o    Nashville Family Medicine
o    Rau Family Medicine, Columbus
o    Sandcrest Family Medicine, Columbus

Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore
o    Chapel View Family Care, Baltimore
o    Family Care Associates, Towson, Md.
o    GBMA Hunt Valley
o    GBMC Internal Medicine Residency, Baltimore
o    Hunt Manor, Phoenix, Md.
o    Jarretsville Family Care
o    Texas Station, Timonium, Md.

Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, Ala.
o    HH Physician Care – Bailey Cove, Huntsville
o    HH Physician Care – Gurley
o    HH Physician Care – Hampton Cove, Owens Cross Roads
o    HH Physician Care – Huntsville
o    HH Physician Care – Madison
o    UAB Huntsville Family Medicine

INTEGRIS Health, Oklahoma City
o    INTEGRIS Family Care Central, Oklahoma City
o    INTEGRIS Family Care Norman
o    INTEGRIS Family Care South Penn, Oklahoma City
o    INTEGRIS Family Care Southwest, Oklahoma City
o    INTEGRIS Family Care Yukon

Marquette General Health, Marquette, Mich.
o    MMC Kingsford
o    MMC Gladstone
o    Doctors Park Family Physicians, Escanaba
o    Marquette General Family Medicine
o    Portage Health Medical Group University Center, Houghton

North Mississippi Health Services, Tupelo, Miss.
o    Barnes Crossing Medical Clinic, Tupelo
o    Family Care Clinic of Ripley
o    Fulton Medical Clinic
o    Hamilton Medical Clinic
o    IMA – Tupelo
o    Iuka Medical Clinic
o    Pontotoc Medical Clinic

North Shore Physicians Group, Salem, Mass.
o    North Shore Physicians Group – 400 Highland, Salem
o    North Shore Physicians Group – 331 Highland, Salem
o    North Shore Physicians Group – Marblehead
o    North Shore Physicians Group – Lynn
o    North Shore Physicians Group – 192 North Street, Danvers
o    North Shore Physicians Group – 1 Hutchinson Drive, Danvers
o    North Shore Physicians Group – Saugus

Northeast Georgia Health System, Gainesville, Ga.
o    NGPG Braselton Clinic, Hoschton
o    NGPG Cleveland
o    NGPG Dahlonega
o    NGPG Dawsonville
o    NGPG Medical Park I, Gainesville
o    NGPG Thompson Bridge, Oakwood
o    NGPG Chestnut Mountain, Flowery Branch
o    The Longstreet Clinic – Adult Medicine, Gainesville

Novant Health, Winston-Salem, N.C.
o    Family Medical Associates of Lewisville
o    Forsyth Internal Medicine, Winston Salem
o    Kernersville Family Practice
o    Maplewood Family Practice, Winston Salem
o    Medical Associates of Davie, Mocksville
o    Salem Family Practice, Winston Salem

Orlando Health, Orlando, Fla.
o    Medical Interventions of Central Florida, Clermont
o    OHPG Internal Medicine Faculty Practice, Orlando
o    Total Family Care, Clermont
o    Southwest Orlando Family Medicine
o    OHPG – Dr. Phillips Primary Care, Orlando

Owensboro Medical Health System, Owensboro, Ky.
o    MultiCare – Madisonville
o    MultiCare – Ohio County, Beaver Dam
o    MultiCare – Tell City
o    Primary Care Center, Owensboro

Via Christi Health, Wichita, Kan.
o    VCC at Reflection Ridge, Wichita
o    Via Christi Clinic Newton
o    VCC W. 21st, Wichita
o    Via Christi Family Medicine Center 1121 S. Clifton, Wichita
o    Via Christi Family Medicine Center 707 N. Emporia, Wichita
o    WesleyCare Family Medicine Center, Wichita

Western Connecticut Health Network, Danbury, Conn.
o    WCMG – Ridgefield
o    WCMG – Brookfield
o    WCMG – Southbury
o    WCMG – Danbury
o    WCMG – New Fairfield
o    WCMG – New Milford Green, New Milford

“Implementing the PCMH model is critically important for these progressive practices from across the country who are working side by side with us to improve the health of their respective communities by building effective and efficient medical neighborhoods,” said Dr. Bruce Bagley, MD, FAAFP, interim president and CEO of TransforMED.

“Participating systems have demonstrated their willingness to transform their practices and connect primary care to acute care hospitals, specialists and other community resources. The context of a well coordinated and connected medical neighborhood will not only give patients the safe, reliable and efficient care they desire, but also will increasingly empower them to manage their health in a proactive way.”

“TransforMED will guide practices through every step of the transformation process,” added Kristi Bohling-DaMetz, PCMN Innovation Program Director at TransforMED. “As practices’ primary point of contact for the PCMN Health Care Innovation Award, we will ensure each one’s access to subject matter experts and other resources specific to their individual needs.”

Initial work will involve scaling respective organizations, and launching key drivers around technology and practice efficiencies that will enable the PCMN project’s long-term cost reduction aims. In turn, these technology and primary care efficiencies in the first six months are expected to start impacting clinical outcomes in the second half of the first year.

“As a force for positive change, the new PCMH model of primary care is the foundation for team-based medical neighborhoods that will lead the way to improvements in patient experience in subsequent years,” Bohling-DaMetz said. “We look forward to leading a positive trend that we can share with additional practices within each participating market in the final year of this three-year project.”