Keeping Up - What's New
Marketing Update
Joe Carofano
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Western Connecticut Health Network
New Network and Hospital Websites
“Find a Doc” app with Physician Video Bios
WCHN Marketing has launched a new website development process. The site will feature state of the art "Find a Doc" applications that are optimized on mobile devices and tablets.
In anticipation of launching the new sites, the marketing team is preparing to produce physician video bios as opposed to the traditional static bios. These video bios will help consumers develop a more personal connection to our providers, and more importantly will differentiate our network from those of our competitors.
This is a very substantial undertaking. It will take the remainder of the calendar year to capture the majority of physicians interested in participating. Further communications will be shared on how and when you can participate in this effort.
We anticipate the initial launch of the new network and hospital sites later this year.
To schedule your video bio or to learn more, contact melissa.ferriello@norwalkhealth.org or joe.carofano@norwalkhealth.org.
Norwalk Physicians and the WCHN PHO
Because the WCHN PHO originated in Danbury, Dr. Robert Carr, Medical Director of the PHO answers some questions Norwalk physicians have raised about the organization.
What is a PHO?
Physician Hospital Organizations (PHOs) are legal entities formed by physicians and hospitals for the pursuit of common interests. They allow physicians and hospitals to collaborate on enhancing the quality of care through clinical integration, sharing of best practices, and use of health information technology to collect, analyze and disseminate information. The WCHN PHO can engage in managed care contracting, developing clinical integration competencies, collaboration on health information technology (EHR & HIE) and practice management support programs.
Why would payers want to work with the WCHN PHO?
The WCHN PHO offers payers the advantage of partnering with a single entity to ensure high quality, comprehensive care that is coordinated across conditions, providers, settings, and time. This partnership improves patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes by providing care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-focused.
What benefits does the WCHN PHO offer physicians and their practices?
The WCHN PHO can often develop more attractive agreements with payers than individual physicians can. WCHN PHO provides greater value to the health plans than they would often find by working with individual practices. Payers are willing to offer additional performance incentives for integrated groups of providers who are committed to collaborate to control costs, enhance quality, and improve patient satisfaction.
In addition to providing contractual support the WCHN PHO provides these benefits:
- Practice management support
- Group purchasing for both goods and services
- Care Coordination training and support
- Participation in WCHN’s HealthLink Health Information Exchange (HIE) program
- Guidance and support in transitioning to the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care
- Practice management consulting services, including HIPAA/HITEC compliance support
- Educational and networking programs for physicians and their practice management staff, including forums on ICD-10 Coding
Physicians can contact robert.carr@wchn.org for additional clinical questions regarding the WCHN PHO. General and administrative questions can be directed to rowena.bergmans@wchn.org or the WCHN PHO web site at www.wchnpho.org.
C-Difficile Vaccine Trial Underway
Dr. Majid Sadigh, Director of Global Health for Western Connecticut Health Network, announced a clinical trial for a vaccine to prevent infections from Clostridium difficile, which sickens thousands of people in the U.S. The site is one of 200 nationwide, and two in Connecticut.
"The incidence of C. difficile is rising substantially everywhere," said Dr. Sadigh. “There are few ways to prevent the illnesses, other than good hygiene and more judicious prescribing of antibiotics. We need to do all of these things. A vaccine would be like the third leg of a stool."
For more information on the trial contact majid.sadigh@wchn.org.
Norwalk Hospital Facilities Update
Mike Daglio, President, Norwalk Hospital
Construction work continues on the McGraw Center's four clinical areas - the Bauer Emergency Care Center, Guthrie Center for Digestive Diseases, Ambulatory Surgery Center and Whittingham Cancer Center. The Trefz Lobby and Registration are open and continue to welcome patients and families into this beautiful new space.
We were planning for phased openings of the other clinical areas throughout 2015, starting in January/February. However, during the final inspection of Phase I of the ED, we identified several items which require remediation before final approvals can be granted. Some of the ED items raised have an impact on the GI and Ambulatory Surgery areas as well.
Senior Management and the construction team are currently evaluating several options. While it will take a few weeks to determine the revised opening dates for the various departments, the project will resume shortly. We remain excited about this expansion project. It will continue to raise our capabilities to provide innovative and safe care to our patients in a state-of-the-art facility. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Once we have more details, we will share them with you.
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