Print
Health Care

Wilmington Health ACO Ranks High Nationally For Quality, Cost Containment

By Ken Little, posted Feb 6, 2015
Wilmington Health provides the best value among Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) across the country, said practice officials pointing to data collected and analyzed by Medicare.
 
Wilmington Health’s top ranking in overall value was determined using a combination of its second-place ranking in overall quality and fifth-place ranking in overall cost containment among 106 ACOs from across the country, according to a recent news release from the health group.
 
As a participant in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), ACOs are committed to improving the overall patient experience and quality while reducing the cost of care provided to patients, Wilmington Health CEO Jeff James said in the release.
 
“This is especially rewarding because it is in keeping with our vision to demonstrate quality, reduce the cost of care and improve the patient experience,” James said.
 
In January 2013, Wilmington Health became a participant in MSSP through its ACO Physicians Healthcare Collaborative, a subsidiary of Wilmington Health. In addition to MSSP, Wilmington Health has an ACO partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
 
“The publication of this data is also another step towards transparency in the healthcare system,” James said. “As transparency takes hold, we expect the entire health care community in Wilmington to compare very well to the rest of the nation.”
 
James said the goal of Wilmington Health “is to work with our partners to transform Wilmington into a destination for healthcare. While there is still a great deal for us and our partners to do, this data indicates we are on the right track.”
 
In late 2014, Wilmington Health received data that showed a three-year trend of substantial savings to the Medicare system and improved health care outcomes for patients seen by Wilmington Health providers versus other health care providers across the country.
 
The data was collected and analyzed from the past three years worth of Medicare participants’ claims.
 
Examples of quality measures from the Medicare data included areas such as lower patient hospitalization rates, lower emergency department visit rates and lower 30-day hospital readmission rates.
 
“Using the powerful analytical capabilities of our Electronic Health Record, we have been measuring our quality outcomes,” said Jonathan Hines, Wilmington Health’s chief medical officer. “By analyzing gaps in care, implementing measures to more proactively change the delivery of care and actively engaging the patients in their health, we have already been able to make significant changes in the lives of the patients we serve.”
 
In addition to tracking patient outcomes data, Medicare also provides data on the cost of the care delivered to each Medicare recipient covered under Wilmington Health’s ACO.
 
In 2013, Wilmington Health showed an average total yearly expenditure by a Medicare patient at $7,654, down 4 percent from the organization’s 2010 numbers and $2,081 less than all other recent MSSP participants, a cumulative 21 percent savings, Hines said.
 
James said that Wilmington Health, along with its Physicians Healthcare Collaborative (PHC), is working to expand its reach by forming partnerships with local health care groups. As an MSSP participant, PHC is required to report to the public the impact of activities implemented to make health care system improvements.
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Jasonpathfinder3

What You Need to Know About SECURE 2.0 and Its Effect on Retirement Plans

Jason Wheeler - Pathfinder Wealth Consulting
Chris 16239425

‘Creative,’ An Adjective To Describe Your Accountant?!

Chris Capone - Capone & Associates
Untitleddesign2 4523114356

Cybersecurity and Productivity: Striking the Perfect Balance for Business Success

Barrett Earney - EarneyIT

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

INFO JUNKIE: Jack Fleming

Jack Fleming, owner of Socialry Marketing & Scourz and emcee for 1 Million Cups Wilmington, shares his media and tech picks....


Topsail-area Realtors Share Updates

Pender County Realtors recently shared updates about the coastal market at an event hosted by the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Associa...


MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments