BMC and Clear One Health Plans team up to offer first Focused Patient Care Model

Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC), the largest provider of quality, comprehensive and convenient physician healthcare in Central Oregon, has joined with Clear One Health Plans to offer the region’s first Focused Patient Care Model, similar to a Medical Home Model, beginning January 1, 2010. BMC’s team of more than 100 physicians and other providers care for approximately 3,800 Clear One Medicare Advantage members all of whom will qualify for the program.

“We are drawing upon the success of our experience in the ‘Health Buddy’ Medicare cost savings demonstration project as our foundation,” said Marvin Lein, CEO of Bend Memorial Clinic.

“Recent studies have shown that the medical home model is an effective method to improve healthcare while also reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction,” said Dr. Sean Rogers, BMC’s Medical Director and practicing Internist. “Essentially, patients will receive better care by both preventing complications arising from manageable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart conditions and high blood pressure, while increasing availability of same-day appointments when office visits are needed. A physician-led team focuses on managing all care needed by the patient.”

“Our focused patient home model in collaboration with Bend Memorial Clinic will provide Clear One Medicare Advantage members better access to quality care through open scheduling, dedicated teams and increased member satisfaction with their care, all while reducing health care costs,” said Patricia Gibford, president and CEO of Clear One Health Plans. A Clear One Nurse Case Manager, embedded at BMC and as part of the team, will coordinate chronic care and disease management services for members with chronic illness to better manage the condition through increased access to the physician team. Ultimately our goal is to improve members’ health and wellbeing through a physician-team approach to ensure members receive better overall access, appropriate treatment, and improved quality of life.”

Specific Benefits of the Medical Home Model include:

• Physician Team Accountability: Physicians and medical personnel proactively focus on preventative care measures; efforts to help patients on a continual basis; ability to connect patients with appropriate specialists within the physician team; and overall quality treatment and care outcomes.
• Open Scheduling: Improved scheduling and more same-day appointments for treatment will improve access to care.
• Nurse Case Manager: Nurse Case Managers will coordinate chronic disease care with the patient and the physician team, which will improve care while reducing the chance for duplicate tests and unnecessary hospitalizations, which ultimately lead to lower costs. When needed, the Nurse Case Manager will also work closely with physicians and others to better coordinate the transitions to and from hospital care.
• Better Use of Physician Skills: The model encourages and recognizes the value of physician-led teams spending time to anticipate patient care needs while finding ways to prevent illness and expensive reactive care.