SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
RENO, Nev. – The Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health, the region’s leader in heart care, and Sierra Nevada Cardiology Associates (SNCA), a premier cardiology practice, are excited to announce a new alliance between their organizations.
SNCA approached Renown Health and both agreed that an enhanced patient care model with improved collaboration and integration would result in several direct patient benefits.
“It just makes sense that those of us caring for the heart health of the community would come together and work more closely to improve our collective programs,” said Dr. Joe Stevenson, President of SNCA.
Patient Impact and Benefits
For patients, there is no change in how they access heart care services. SNCA physicians will continue to provide care at all area hospitals. Additionally, all SNCA physicians will continue to participate in all of their current insurance plans.
Another very important benefit of this new alliance will be the addition of pharmaceutical and device trials and other types of medical research. The alliance makes greater involvement in research possible, which will help bring the latest technologies and drugs to patients who might not benefit from traditional therapies.
Area employers and insurers seeking new models for purchasing cost-effective, well integrated cardiac care services for their plan members will also benefit. The integration of SNCA services with all of Renown’s cardiac services will increase coordination and reduce duplication, providing greater efficiencies and better patient care while helping reduce costs.
The alliance also provides the hospital-physician collaboration needed to support the changes anticipated with federal health care reform referred to as “accountable care,” as some of the health care reform provisions envision improved integration and collaboration. Starting in 2012, “Accountable Care Organizations” are expected to lead the way in quality and process improvements that will provide the best patient experience.
Other benefits of the new alliance include improved preventive care services and better overall coordination of heart care services in the community.
National Trends
The alliance between Renown Institute for Heart & Vascular Health and SNCA follows a national trend where physicians and health networks are creating alliances to provide the integration of hospital and physician services, diagnostics and treatment thus simplifying the process of care for patients and their families. More integration is widely believed to lead to a better patient experience and improved patient outcomes. Reno Heart Physicians, another local premiere cardiology group practice, has also approached Renown about a more integrated relationship. Renown cannot comment given that discussions are ongoing. The American College of Cardiology reports that two-thirds of cardiologists have already integrated with their hospitals or anticipate doing so within the next three years.
