The Next Generation of Healthcare

Recently we have brought together AMITA Health physicians with other affiliated physicians to build a single, high-value network of 1,600 physicians, the AMITA Health Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), which extends our reach to be even more convenient to the northwest, west and southwest Chicago suburbs. The CIN engages with all the players in the system — employees, employers, insurance companies or government payers — to focus on quality care. It can partner with 3rd party payers, but also directly with employers to offer cost-effective plans for their employees — particularly those who choose to self-fund their plans. Various strategies to reduce healthcare spending have been adopted in response. Some employers look to lessen costs by offering only high-deductible plans, but as cost-sharing increases, employees increasingly forgo care, which is not in the best interests of anyone. Other employers look to the healthcare exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act to rein in costs by providing a defined contribution and then leaving it up to their employees to purchase benefits on their own. But with enrollment in these exchanges less than half its initial forecast, ensuring quality care remains a high-wire act. AMITA Health, a joint operating company powered by two of Chicago’s largest health systems — Adventist Midwest Health and Alexian Brothers Health System — is taking a different approach to helping area businesses attack this problem. It is using two major strategies to accomplish what in healthcare is called “Triple Aim” — improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare. Strategy #1 is Improving Access & Efficiency and Strategy #2 is Using Data to Reduce Illness & Costs.