December 18, 2017, Morristown, NJ – Atlantic Health System has announced the creation of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) that will simplify collaboration between the health system and practitioners in northern and central New Jersey. This physician-managed CIN will benefit patients and caregivers through better-coordinated care and optimized practice operations.
Atlantic Alliance preserves the independence of physicians and providers not affiliated with Atlantic Health System while enabling them to work closely with their affiliated colleagues. The network is designed to provide helpful guidance and resources to improve care within value and risk-based reimbursement arrangements. The CIN provides participants with the data, training and administrative support to achieve success in these arrangements, which assist physicians in delivering greater efficiency and value to patients and those who pay for health care.
Atlantic Alliance will open new possibilities for collaboration among health care entities with similar missions and functions. It will strengthen working relationships between organizations affiliated with Atlantic Health System – such as the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, Optimus Healthcare Partners, and Healthcare Quality Partners – and their more independent counterparts, like Vista Independent Practice Association (IPA) and the AHS Health Network. These entities comprise an established network of 2,500 physicians who already share common ground and a proven track record of success in value-based contracts. Collectively, the network has earned more than $42 million in shared savings and care management fees since 2012.
Atlantic Alliance makes joining the CIN easy. Physicians simply become a member of the Atlantic Alliance association, avoiding the multi-page participation agreements commonly required by physician networks.
“As health care has moved towards value-based models, it is clear that quality improves when everyone works together, and providers can focus on caring for patients,” said Thomas Kloos, MD, president of the Atlantic ACO and MSO Director for Optimus. “Atlantic Alliance breaks down barriers between providers, making it easier to coordinate care while reducing costs. It is a powerful framework that allows physicians to engage with one another while maintaining their autonomy.”
Resources for physicians who join Atlantic Alliance include:
- A practice assessment to determine strategies for evaluating success in value and risk-based reimbursement models. This assessment will also help connect each practitioner with the best available contractual model for his or her practice.
- Educational and training programs, such as weekly webinars on clinical transformation
- Access to population health software, and programs for patient monitoring and secure text messaging
- In-office education on practice transformation and population health initiatives
- Care management platform for improving outreach to high risk, high cost patients
Physicians who join Atlantic Alliance will commit to improving quality and patient safety by:
- Adhering to care standards developed by fellow practitioners
- Sharing information and measuring practice performance across the network
- Adopting technology to allow clinical information sharing among care providers
- Working closely with our clinically integrated network of providers and facilities
“Atlantic Alliance is a great example of physicians and health systems coming together to build healthier communities,” said Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health System. “Alliance members will find that its inclusive approach helps to connect them with their peers without limiting their options in caring for their patients. This new model of collaboration is a perfect platform for delivering safer, better connected and more affordable care.”
For more information about Atlantic Alliance, providers can email atlanticalliance@atlantichealth.org.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, N.J., is an integrated health care delivery system powered by a workforce of 16,000 team members dedicated to building healthier communities. The system is comprised of 350 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Hackettstown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Atlantic Health System also supports communities through Atlantic Medical Group, Atlantic Rehabilitation, Atlantic Home Care and Hospice, and its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System sponsors the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the larger ACOs in the nation, and Optimus Healthcare Partners.