Kaiser, Emory Healthcare Partner on Integrated Care Model in Atlanta
Emory Healthcare, the clinical arm of Emory University, and Kaiser Permanente have announced a partnership in metropolitan Atlanta. The two organizations said that, building on each other’s strengths, they will expand and improve their capabilities in population health management, ambulatory and hospital care, research and academics.
Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital will become the primary hospitals for Kaiser Permanente physicians and members.
Emory Healthcare has more than 17,000 employees and seven hospitals. It has $3.3 billion in annual net revenue and provides $73.5 million in charity care. System-wide, it has 2,046 licensed patient beds, over 2,000 physicians practicing in more than 70 specialties and serves metro Atlanta with 200 locations. Kaiser Permanente has 375,000 members in 28 counties in metro Atlanta and four counties near Athens.
In announcing their formal agreement, the two organizations, including their physician and clinical leadership, said they would work to improve community health, address disparities, make healthcare more affordable, and enhance education for healthcare professionals.
The agreement commits both organizations to create an integrated care and coverage model for Kaiser Permanente members at Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. In anticipation of this agreement, Kaiser Permanente has provided a capital contribution toward expansion of both hospitals to accommodate the new and existing patients while maintaining quality, service and access.
The collaboration will include development of infrastructure and joint capacity planning, and the implementation of collaborative processes on physician staffing, enhanced technology, care coordination, active engagement of patients and families, and ongoing evaluation of performance measures.
“The long-term benefits of this collaboration will serve as a national model for other health systems and extend beyond our two organizations,” said Jonathan Lewin, CEO of Emory Healthcare and executive vice president for health affairs of Emory University, in a prepared statement. “Patients and communities far beyond Georgia will benefit from the transformation in care, affordability, research, prevention and health outcomes that will come from this initiative. Emory and Kaiser Permanente share closely aligned missions to serve our communities and bring together the best of academic scholarship, research and patient- and family-centered care.”