Women & Infants Health Care Alliance
Women & Infants Hospital and 24 private practice obstetrician-gynecologists, midwives, nurse practitioners and other caregivers have announced the creation of a new hospital-partnership, Women & Infants Health Care Alliance, LLC, designed to foster continuous quality improvement in the women’s health services available in the community and to improve hospital and physician alignment in the age of health care reform.
The organization allows the participating providers to enter into a hospital-affiliated partnership while still retaining the autonomy of their private practices, including maintaining their own office sites and staff. Providers derive the benefit of professional practice administration and improved financial stability, allowing greater focus on patient care.
“The formation of the Alliance represents a new model for advancing health care quality,” said Pablo Rodriguez, MD, chairman of the Board of Directors of the new organization. “In addition to allowing physicians to concentrate on what they do best, namely taking care of patients, we believe there will be greater opportunity to drive toward ever increasing standards of excellence by joining with the hospital and focusing on quality metrics.”
Constance A. Howes, president and CEO of Women & Infants, said it has long been a goal of the hospital to partner with its full-time and community-based staff to improve patient care, but the new era of payment reform will require hospitals and physicians to demonstrate quality.
“By having the hospital and this physician network closely aligned to improve quality,” Howes said, “we will better serve our patients and be able to respond to changes in the reimbursement system.”
“Even in this early stage of development, there is tremendous energy, engagement and excitement already in evidence among our members,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “We believe the Alliance will make great things happen for the patient care community as well as for the payer and business community.” |
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| Women & Infants is participating in Show Your Love, a national campaign developed by the Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative (PHHCI) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help women prepare for healthy pregnancies. |
| For more information about the Alliance, please contact Executive Director Rick Renehan at 737-7000, ext. 4298. |
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