The Wisconsin divisions of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System have joined Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin, a clinically integrated network in Wisconsin that already includes four other Catholic health systems.
With the addition of Hospital Sisters Health System's six Wisconsin hospitals and the Prevea Health physician organization, Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin now includes more than 5,000 physicians, 42 hospitals and 500 clinics.
Established in 2005 as a consortium of independent hospital systems and physicians, the network formerly known as Quality Health Solutions launched its accountable care strategy in 2010, joining Wisconsin health care providers and creating an infrastructure to manage the health of populations. Quality Health Solutions was renamed Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin in 2013.
The organization now includes six Wisconsin health systems and a medical college. Catholic health systems Agnesian HealthCare of Fond du Lac, Wis., and Columbia St. Mary's of Milwaukee joined Integrated Health Network in 2011; Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare of Glendale, Wis., joined in 2012; and Ministry Health Care of Milwaukee joined in 2013. Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin also are part of Integrated Health Network.
The clinically integrated network functions as an accountable care organization, contracting primarily with commercial insurers, employers, Medicare Advantage plans and health insurance marketplace plans. To manage the health of populations within these plans, Integrated Health Network collects and analyzes data from all of its provider organizations. Providers use this information and best practice protocols to improve patient care and reduce health care costs, according to Therese Pandl, president and chief executive of the eastern Wisconsin division of Hospital Sisters Health System. Integrated Health Network's providers have care navigators who help ensure patients get care and also assistance with problems they encounter in improving their health.
Hospital Sisters Health System has 14 hospitals; eight in Illinois and six in Wisconsin. It owns 50 percent of Prevea Health, a physician group based in Green Bay, Wis. Hospital Sisters Health System, Prevea and Dean Health Plan of Madison, Wis., jointly own an insurance product called Prevea360 Health Plan. St. Louis' SSM Health owns Dean Health Plan.
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