UW Medicine has partnered with MultiCare Health System and LifePoint Health to form a new company, called Embright, to develop care delivery models in the Pacific Northwest. As a clinically integrated network (CIN), Embright is owned by the founding healthcare provider organizations. Dr. Christopher Kodama, former president of MultiCare Connected Care, has been named company president.
Much like an accountable care network, a CIN is a network of healthcare providers committed to working together using evidence-based protocols and measures to improve patient care and reduce costs. As part of the shift to value-based care in the United States, healthcare organizations are forming these networks to provide care on a regional basis.
“UW Medicine has always recognized the importance of partnerships in achieving our mission to improve the health of the public,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO, UW Medicine. “Our vision for Embright is that it will meet the needs of large companies and health plans to provide their employees and members with high-quality and affordable care through a single system that is close to where they live and work.”
Embright represents a clinical network with 14 hospitals, 6,500-plus providers and 600-plus outpatient sites of care. It will establish clinical standards and performance metrics to achieve what is known as the Quadruple Aim: better health outcomes, lower costs and greater satisfaction for both patients and clinicians.
The new company is governed by an independent Board of Managers composed of clinical and business leaders. UW Medicine is represented on the board by Ruth Mahan, chief business officer, and Dr. Timothy Dellit, chief medical officer and president of UW Physicians. Mahan also serves as Embright board chair.
Embright’s founding partners have worked together previously to improve population health. MultiCare Connected Care is part of the UW Medicine Accountable Care Network. LifePoint Health manages two hospitals in Washington state as UW Medicine Community Health Partners: Capital Medical Center in Olympia, which is also part of the UW Medicine Accountable Care Network, and Trios Health in Kennewick. In addition, LifePoint Health owns Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco, Washington, and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho.
For more information, please read the Embright press release. See also the June 2018 announcement on The Huddle: UW Board of Regents approves UW Medicine/MultiCare CIN.
