Baptist Health, Physician Group Partner On Efficiency Initiative

Little Rock-based Baptist Health and a group of more than 200 physicians announced a major initiative today aimed at reducing health care costs through utilizing technology for efficiency, constructing “pay-for-performance” contracts, and developing more collaborative medical relationships.

The announcement will lead to a new organization called Baptist Health Physician Partners.

“Baptist Health and a group of outstanding physicians from multiple specialties have been working for 18 months in designing this new organization that will further improve quality and reduce costs for our patients,” said Russell D. Harrington, Jr., President and CEO of Baptist Health. “What is unique about this endeavor is that it is a physician-driven, physician-led, physician-managed, and hospital supported care delivery strategy.”

Baptist Health Physician Partners will partner with more than 200 physician  across Arkansas and the group said it will be seeking additional members for the consortium.

Baptist Health Physician Partners Board of Managers is chaired by Dr. Chris Cate, a general surgeon, and includes eleven other physicians as well as five members of the senior leadership team of Baptist Health.

“Physicians who choose to join Baptist Health Physician Partners will commit to uphold standards of quality that are recognized by the physicians themselves as best practices, consistent with scientific evidence, and 'the right thing to do,'” said Cate. “We will use technology to communicate with one another regarding individual patient care and the performance of the group as a whole to ensure the high standards are upheld and that care is delivered in the most efficient manner possible. In addition, physicians will gain the ability to participate jointly in contracts with payers and employers based on quality performance and outcomes of the entire group.”