Holy Cross Physician Partners in Fort Lauderdale and Memorial Health Network in Hollywood have collaborated and joined a newly formed regional clinically integrated network (CIN).  This new collaboration will collectively boast 1,400 physicians and 95,000 lives. Together, they now comprise Atlantic Coast Health Network.

Memorial Health Network is Memorial Healthcare System’s CIN and Holy Cross Physician Partners is the CIN of Holy Cross Hospital.  Holy Cross Hospital is a part of Trinity Health which, last year, collaborated with Ascension Health to form Together Health Network, a joint company for managed-care contracting in Michigan, uniting a network of 27 hospitals, more than 12 physician organizations and 5,000 physicians in the state. Memorial Healthcare System, also known as the South Broward Hospital District, is one of the largest public healthcare systems in the United States and has served South Florida since 1953. The system has six hospitals, 11,000 employees, 1,700 physicians on staff and more than 180+ employed physicians, who compose the Memorial Physician Group.

“This presents an exciting opportunity to provide an innovative, physician-led model of patient, physician and hospital collaboration to improve patient care and outcomes,” said Richard Perryman, MD, Chairman of Memorial Health Network and Medical Director of the Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute. “While the details of the collaboration still need to be worked out, it positions both organizations to offer increased coordination of care over an expanded geographic region.”     

Clinical integration is the collaboration between physicians, ancillary health providers and hospitals with the goal of improving the health of a community in a people-centered way.  CINs coordinate care across the health care continuum to ensure the right care is delivered at the right place at the right time—all at the right cost.  CINs focus on quality of care and outcomes, while optimizing healthcare utilization and costs.

“As the healthcare landscape evolves, we will continue to see increased collaboration,” said Kenneth Homer, MD, Medical Director of Holy Cross Physician Partners and Chief Medical Officer of Holy Cross Hospital. “Our physicians are united in the premise that better quality, higher patient satisfaction, and lower overall health care spending comes from a deliberate, coordinated effort between partner physicians to share clinical information with one another.” 

Over the next several months, Atlantic Coast Health Network will undertake the necessary activities for a targeted January 1, 2016 go-live. 

“In this ever-changing healthcare environment, we recognize that collaboration to better serve our community is key,” said Patrick A. Taylor, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Holy Cross Hospital. “We are excited to partner with Memorial Health Network given the organization’s standing in our community and our shared commitment to person-centered care.”

“We are two organizations with strong cultural compatibility, shared mutual respect and a history of effectively working together.  This collaboration will undoubtedly enhance our ability to provide high-quality, patient and family centered care and manage population health” said Frank V. Sacco, President and Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Healthcare System.