Will Explore the Funding and Measurable Value of Hospitalist Programs
Cogent Healthcare's Ron Greeno, M.D., co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of the hospitalist company, has been selected to presentat Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)'s annual ANI Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.
Co-presenting with Dr. Greeno is Mike Finley, M.D., Regional Chief Medical Officer , and Shawn Barnett, VP/Chief Financial Officer, of 312-bed CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, located in Texarkana, Texas. The two organizations have worked in partnership since 2005.
The presentation, Funding a Hospitalist Program, will explore how a hospital obtains and allocates funding for its hospitalist program and how the program directly impacts performance and financial returns. In addition, Finley and Barnett will discuss the significant return on investment that is possible from a comprehensive hospitalist program, such as the one created by CHRISTUS St. Michael and Cogent.
"With pay-for-performance, Accountable Care Organizations and bundling on the horizon, tighter physician-hospital integration will be critical to a hospital's financial success," said Dr. Greeno.
"As hospitals search for smart ways to closely align with physicians, one common-sense strategy is creating a fully-integrated hospitalist program. We believe this is a timely topic for the financial leaders of our nation's hospitals."
Dr. Greeno, who created Cogent's hospitalist program management model, is considered a pioneer in hospital medicine – the fastest growing field in the history of American medicine with more than 30,000 hospitalists practicing today.
"Five years ago, CHRISTUS St. Michael faced what many hospitals do – an aging medical staff, a gap in emergency call coverage, and dragging patient throughput," says Dr. Finley, "We turned to a partnership with Cogent as one important solution to these issues. Together, we established a strong, comprehensive hospitalist program by first recruiting the right doctors for the program and then surrounding them with the resources and support needed to be successful."
CHRISTUS St. Michael's program has led to superior performance on CMS core measures, a decrease in length of stay and mortality rates, an increase in patient and physician satisfaction and a broader referral network of physicians in outlying communities.
From a financial perspective, Barnett adds, "The hospitalist program currently in place has realized over $1M annually net of cost. Those savings are combined cost reductions in the form of length of stay and lower utilization of services. This does not include capital redeployment or additional secondary market volumes from improved access."
The presentation will begin at 2:45 p.m. UTC/GMT, on Tuesday, June 22, at the Sands Expo Center and Venetian/Palazzo Resort.
About Cogent Healthcare
Founded in 1997, Cogent is a pioneer and leader in the field of hospital medicine and critical care medicine. The company partners with hospitals to build and manage highly performing hospitalist programs and intensivist programs. In order to relentlessly improve the care and efficiency of hospitalized patients, the Cogent model offers a comprehensive System of Care that supports hospitalists with structure, a coordinated care team, data driven processes, rigorous ongoing training and experienced leadership. Cogent physicians lead the profession by setting best practices for hospital medicine and providing a national mentoring program. For more information, visit www.cogenthealthcare.com.
About CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, established in 1916 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as the Michael Meagher Memorial Hospital, today serves residents of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. With a mission "To extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ," CHRISTUS St. Michael offers comprehensive services ranging from specialized care for women and a Level III NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) to comprehensive cancer and heart services. CHRISTUS St. Michael is a recognized regional leader for surgery, heart care, heart surgery, and cancer care. The St. Michael Emergency Department treated nearly 70,000 patients in FY2009, more than any area ED. CHRISTUS St. Michael provides patient-centered quality care through the Center for Joint Replacement, our Primary Stroke Center awarded with a Performance Achievement Award by the American Heart and American Stroke Associations, as well as day surgery, open heart surgery, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation, diagnostic radiology, therapeutic and wellness programs. CHRISTUS St. Michael is nationally recognized as the #3 "Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work," in the nation, and has been named a "Best Place to Work in Texas," for five years in a row, reaching #6 in the state for 2010. For more information on CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, visit www.christusstmichael.org.
Contacts:
Cogent Healthcare
Marissa Murphy, 615-254-0575
