Well - Summer 2012 - (Page 5)

Partners in Health Care Carolina Advanced Health helps those with chronic illnesses through a collaborative approach. I BY STEPHEN R. WERK n December 2011, UNC Health Care and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) launched a groundbreaking medical practice in Chapel Hill. This unique collaborative venture aligns the two organizations to improve outcomes of patients with chronic diseases while reducing health care costs. David R. Rubinow, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and director of Innovation and Health Care System Transformation, co-led UNC Health Care’s collaboration with BCBSNC. The new practice, named Carolina Advanced Health, brings together a comprehensive, coordinated team of primary care physicians and other health care professionals, including professionals trained in internal medicine, family medicine, behavioral health, nutrition, medication management, laboratory services and care management.The collective mission is to improve all aspects of care that contribute to the better health and long-term wellness of each patient. “The collaborative nature of this practice, which is the rst of its kind in North Carolina, is truly exciting,” says Thomas K. Warcup, DO, medical director of Carolina Advanced Health. “I believe by incorporating BCBSNC as a partner and working together on a basis of mutual trust and common goals we’ll be able to improve patients’ quality of life and enhance overall health care value.” Carolina Advanced Health is a three-year pilot practice designed to provide integrated care to 5,000 BCBSNC members with chronic conditions, including diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, COPD/obstructive lung disease, heart disease and congestive heart failure. PHOTO: ERIK SVENSSON Thomas K. Warcup, DO, medical director of Carolina Advanced Health, speaks with a patient. A Unique Approach “The focus of Carolina Advanced Health is not just on diagnosing and treating a speci c disease, but approaching care from a holistic perspective,” says Carol Lewis, MBA, a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and the lead project manager behind the design and implementation of the practice. “This allows us to better identify all the underlying factors and risks contributing to chronic illness and to address them all in an integrated manner.” Carolina Advanced Health incorporates a three-pronged, patient-centered approach to providing care: • Comprehensive, proactive and continuous care • Self-support services to help patients play a greater role in managing their illnesses • Access to the practice’s team of physicians and health care professionals Carolina Advanced Health relies on its multidisciplinary team of health care providers and a state-of-the-art disease registry to help it measure the severity of chronic illnesses and adhere to established, evidenced-based protocols designed to improve treatment and clinical outcomes. “We want to better engage patients in the management of their disease so they are more involved partners in health care treatment and can make healthier decisions,” says Lewis. An integral part of that is improving patient awareness and knowledge, which are essential to changing behavior that can negatively a ect their health. Patients in the pilot program will have access to services designed to help them be more involved in their own health care. Working together to develop the practice has given everyone involved the opportunity to examine areas of health care that need to be redesigned and to target challenges that can be approached creatively through a joint e ort. “Both health care organizations strongly believe it is very possible to deliver comprehensive, high-quality medical services that will improve patient outcomes and bend the cost curve,” adds Dr. Rubinow, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and director of Innovation and Health Care System Transformation. “Certainly, an important component of the practice is eliminating the ine ciencies that are driving up health care costs.” For more information, please visit www.carolinaadvancedhealth.org. www.unchealthcare.org 5 http://www.carolinaadvancedhealth.org http://www.unchealthcare.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Summer 2012

Well - Summer 2012
Contents
UNC Health Care News
Community
Partners in Health Care
Summer Safety
Diving In
Nutrition
Calendar

Well - Summer 2012