St. John's ranks 15th among nation's Top 100 Integrated Health Systems
Feb. 16, 2006

St. John's has earned the No. 15 spot on the 2006 "IHN (Integrated Health Systems) 100" ranking by Verispan. The Chicago-based research firm has ranked health care networks for nine years. Verispan's rating system evaluates each network's ability to operate as a unified organization in each of eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization and physicians.

“The high level of integration of care and information management achieved at St. John’s Health System has resulted in marked improvement in clinical outcomes especially for patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma and congestive heart failure,” says Dominic Meldi, M.D., St. John’s Board chairman. “We remain committed to the concept that integration of hospital, physician clinic, and health plan will position us most effectively to achieve our mission of improving the health of the communities in which we serve.”

A successfully integrated health system has all aspects of health care working together and the ability to create processes that fill in the gaps between care.

“St. John’s believes in the importance of prevention and medical management, particularly for those patients with chronic diseases,” says Janet Pursley, RN, Vice President, St. John’s Health Plans. “By linking the events of care and enabling patients to care for themselves better between the events, we facilitate the relationship between the physician and the patient to help them improve health care outcomes.”
 

The success of this care management approach has drawn national attention, particularly during the past year.

Last February St. John’s was selected as a participant in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) physician group practice demonstration project. During the three-year project, CMS rewards participating physician groups that improve patient outcomes by coordinating care for chronically ill and high-cost beneficiaries in an efficient manner.
 

 “Some of the benefits of being in an integrated system – we can be more flexible – we can also be more responsive,” says Kim Day, St. John’s Health System President/CEO. “It’s easier in an organization when everyone’s objectives are aligned. Our whole objective is to provide, and enhance the health status of the communities we serve. “

For more information, and to see the top 100 networks, see the IHN information page at www.verispan.com