Evergreen Hospital Chosen to Participate in Groundbreaking Patient-Care Program

KIRKLAND, Wash., July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Hospital today announced its selection to participate in the Multi-Payer Medical Home Reimbursement Pilot, a nationwide, innovative model program that seeks to fundamentally improve the quality of primary patient care through leading-edge, preventive medical treatment.

The Multi-Payer Pilot, launched May 1 with more than 25,000 patients statewide, aims to advance patient care through the payment of up-front, care management fees to primary care practices for previously unreimbursed activities, such as care coordination, flexible access to care, tracking and monitoring chronic conditions, preventive outreach and follow-up planning.

Evergreen is the largest of eight Washington medical groups participating in the study, with 6,000 primary care patients enrolled.

"We are always working to find ways to better serve our patients through better outcomes, whether it's through our primary practices or our Emergency Departments and clinics," said Dr. John Midtling, executive and medical director of Evergreen Medical Group and program director for the Multi-Payer Pilot. "We are proud to be part of such a progressive, forward-thinking program that will redesign the way we deliver primary care.  We believe communication with our patients is the cornerstone of this new model of care."

The program proposes to reduce the number of preventable Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions by providing incentives for enhanced quality care and improved outcomes, rather than the previous fee-for-services payment model.

The program, run by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Puget Sound Health Alliance, is designed to eliminate 8,300 preventable ED visits, with an estimated cost of $5.5 million.

"Evergreen has always been a leading organization at the forefront of medical care, with our patients' needs and best interests in mind," said Evergreen Hospital CEO Bob Malte. "The Multi-Payer Pilot program will help us stay on the cutting edge of preventive medicine."

The pilot is designed to refine the way primary care practices work with patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Beyond the care-management fee incentive, the program expects the reduction in expensive ED visits and hospital admissions to result in system-wide cost savings, which will be split between medical groups and health plans.

The Multi-Payer Pilot, an outgrowth of the Patient Care and Affordable Care Act of 2010, is one of 19 state pilots across the country and has the potential to have a major impact on improving healthcare for America.

In Washington, it is a 32-month pilot program created in partnership with eight health plans. It will also receive data analysis support regarding quality care metrics, ED visits and hospital admissions from the University of Washington.

About Evergreen Healthcare

Evergreen Healthcare, a public hospital district and community-based health care organization established in 1972, offers a breadth of services and programs that is among the most comprehensive in the region. More than 950 physicians provide clinical excellence within more than 70 specialties including  cardiac, oncology, and surgical care, orthopedics, a Neuroscience Institute, Women's and Children's services, hospice care, pulmonary care, a Sleep Disorders Center and Home Health services care.  Evergreen serves more than 400,000 residents in its primary service area of northern King and southern Snohomish counties with Evergreen Medical Group, a network of primary and urgent care practices, and Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, its main hospital campus in Kirkland, Wash. Evergreen also provides emergency care at two sites; its main hospital campus and the Evergreen Redmond Medical Center.  In addition to clinical care, Evergreen offers extensive community health outreach and education programs, anchored by Evergreen Healthline, a 24/7 nurse consultation service.   For more information, visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org.

CONTACTS:

Kay Taylor
VP of Marketing
Evergreen Healthcare
425.899.2604

Kristi Clough
Firmani + Associates Inc.
206.443.9357
[email protected]

SOURCE Evergreen Hospital