What's New - Keeping Up

WCHN PHO UPDATE

Robert Langley, Executive Director

2012 was a great year for the PHO and we continue to build. We created a solid foundation and are moving forward with our three major goals: 1) develop a Physician Network of aligned physicians; 2) pursue managed care contracts for the PHO while at the same time prepare for the “accountable care” environment; and 3) build and offer various support services for our Member Practices. Here’s where we stand today:

PROVIDER NETWORK DEVELOPMENT – Our community oriented provider network currently has more than 420 physician members throughout Greater Danbury and New Milford areas. The PHO is still recruiting new Members, so any physicians on the active Medical Staff who are interested in joining the PHO, please contact me directly at 203-739-6499 or Robert.Langley@wchn.org

MANAGED CARE CONTRACTING/ACCOUNTABLE CARE – We are actively pursuing contracts with all major health plans and local employers, and have recently contracted with Aetna Health, Inc. and MultiPlan, Inc. We are in current discussions regarding Accountable Care arrangements and Health Insurance Exchange programs with various payers and expect to finalize new agreements soon. Health plans and employers are looking for value and want to partner with health networks that can demonstrate a truly integrated system of care that can deliver better outcomes at a lower cost.

The PHO plays a major role in WCHN’s network-wide strategy to become clinically integrated across the continuum and to deliver care in a more “accountable” way. We are engaging more community physicians to help build strategies to improve our overall care delivery model, which includes creating clinical care pathways, establishing outcome metrics, implementing care coordination programs and developing the infrastructure to support Accountable Care arrangements. In addition, the PHO is expanding its community outreach program during 2013 to keep local employers aware of our clinical integration efforts and to identify opportunities to help the employers with their health care issues.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES – The PHO rolled out the following programs in 2012:

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Program - We have worked with McKesson to develop an EMR package that includes the award-winning Practice Partner EMR, medical billing and appointment scheduling solutions, and local financing options. We work with Complete HealthCare Solutions (CHS), the local support unit for McKesson to provide expert technology support for EMR implementation & training as well as ongoing support services. Several PHO Practices have implemented this EMR during the past six months, so if you are finally ready to move forward with an EMR for your practice, or are unhappy with your current EMR, please contact Adam Provost at CHS to get started at 800-250-8687 or aprovost@mailchs.com.

2013 WCHN PHO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Steve Rosenberg – Chairman and Hospital Representative
Jeff Gorelick, MD – Vice Chair and Physician Representative
Rob Mascia, MD – Secretary and Physician Representative
Mike Daglio – Treasurer and Hospital Representative
Jim Ahern, MD – Physician Representative
Neil Culligan, MD – Physician Representative
Ira Galin, MD – Physician Representative
Sohel Islam, MD – Physician Representative
Hal Kamm, MD – Physician Representative
David Kramer, MD – Physician Representative
Simon O’Regan, MD – Physician Representative
Martin Williams, MD – Physician Representative
Pat Broderick, MD – Hospital Representative
Matt Miller, MD – Hospital Representative
John Murphy, MD – Hospital Representative

The PHO was formed in part to assist Physician Members with their managed care and practice management issues. Therefore, if you have issues or questions in those areas or would like additional information on any of the items referenced above, please contact me at Robert.Langley@wchn.org or 203-739-6499. Best wishes for a great Spring season.

New Danbury Location for Breast Imaging and Care

Danbury Hospital has opened a new Breast Imaging Center at 20 Germantown Road in Danbury. Staffed by certified technologists and board-certified radiologists, this state-of-the-art facility provides all aspects of breast imaging and care from digital mammography ultrasound and bone densitometry to stereotactic-guided and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy services.

Valerie L. Staradub, MD, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon and Director of the Breast Care Program at Western Connecticut Health Network, said, "With the latest technology in breast cancer detection and a highly trained staff, the new Breast Imaging Center is committed to providing personalized service in a warm, comfortable setting. Screening mammography is often the initial point of access to the comprehensive services provided by the WCHN Breast Care Program.”