JOURNAL NEWS
Rejoice in the Glory of Christ’s Birth Wednesday Advent “Message & Music” Series 12:00 Noon (Memorial Chapel)
Childcare available - $5 lunch after service
December 10
Rev. Joe Cate, Rosemary Hughes, & Adam Layne Fisher
December 17
Child Development Center 3K/4K Classes
A Service of Lessons & Carols Chancel Choir & Instrumentalists Sunday, December 7 – 8:55 AM and 11:00 AM (Traditional – Sanctuary)
Christmas Eve Services 12:00 Noon (Traditional – Memorial Chapel) 3:00 PM (Non-Traditional – Sisk Hall) 5:30 PM (Traditional – Sanctuary) 10:00 PM (Traditional – Sanctuary) Communion served as part of every worship service. Childcare available at 3:00 PM & 5:30 PM.
Buncombe Street United Methodist Church
To Be and To Make Disciples of Christ In Downtown Greenville www.bsumc.com | 864.232.7341
New network takes aim at health care costs GHS spearheads launch of 9-county collaboration APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
amorris@communityjournals.com Greenville Health System (GHS) announced this week the launch of a nine-county, health care provider collaboration to be called My Health First Network. The affiliation of 1,850 providers from GHS, Baptist Easley, Self Regional Healthcare and independent physicians will pursue best practices in health care delivery to improve patient care and curb escalating health care costs in the Upstate, said Dr. Angelo Sinopoli, chief medical officer at Greenville Health System and vice president of clinical integration. GHS is supporting the initial launch through in-kind services and expanding its framework of data collection tools and resources, Sinopoli said. Organizers believe the network will be self-sufficient in three years as insurance companies and employers purchase contracts for the model to reduce costs, he said. The system should begin operation next year. GHS expects an additional 300 members to join by early 2015. Sinopoli emphasized My Health First Network won’t be operated by one health care provider, but by a board and local steering committees. The 12 board members include nine doctors from Pickens, Laurens, Spartanburg, Greenwood, Greenville and Oconee counties. The network is modeled after methods developed by Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute, Sinopoli
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PROVIDER EVALUATIONS Members of the My Health First Network will be evaluated on 72 metrics of care. Examples include: • Percentage of diabetic patients whose most recent hemoglobin A1c is less than 9 percent • Percentage of diabetic patients who received an eye exam • Percentage of patients screened for tobacco use and given cessation counseling • Percentage of patients screened for breast cancer
said. “We believe partnering with a network is the way all successful health systems will function in the future.” Network members agree to adhere to certain standards in their practice, be evaluated and receive a monthly report card on 72 measures. The entire network can view a provider’s evaluation, and providers not meeting the standards will receive resources, education and support, he said. Reducing hospital admissions and unnecessary emergency room visits has become a priority for health care providers as they move away from the fee-forservice model toward holistic care, wellness and outcomes, Sinopoli said. This is especially important for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma or congestive heart failure, he said. Most patients in the U.S. get about half the standard of care recommended by practice guidelines, he said. A diabetic patient may need to be monitored in seven different ways to meet recommended guidelines, but only get three. Poorly coordinated care is a major contributor to patients failing to get the care and follow-up they need, he said. Transportation and socioeconomic