Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin, a Brookfield-based network of independent Wisconsin health care systems, has announced the addition of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System and Green Bay-based Prevea Health.
The organizations have signed a letter of intent and will work to finalize the agreement in the next several weeks.
The addition of HSHS and Prevea Health will increase Integrated Health Network’s growing accountable care organization to 42 hospitals, 500 clinics and more than 5,000 physicians spanning northern, central and eastern Wisconsin, offering patients a broad choice of providers.
Integrated Health Network’s current network members are Agnesian HealthCare, Columbia St. Mary’s, Froedtert Health, Ministry Health Care, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and many independent physician partners.
“When we launched our accountable care strategy in 2010, our intent was to create a statewide network of hospitals, clinics and physicians that would offer what all of us want: care in our own community from a doctor we know and trust, at a cost we can afford,” said Peter Pruessing, chief executive officer of Integrated Health Network. “IHN is well on its way to that goal. Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea Health are a perfect complement to our geographic footprint and support our approach to care management.”
Hospital Sisters Health System operates HSHS St. Vincent’s Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital and HSHS Medical Group in Chippewa Falls.
Prevea Health, a physician partnership with Hospital Sisters Health System, has more than 300 primary and specialty care providers, 20 health centers and 27 employer-based clinics in the northeastern Wisconsin region. Prevea Health, together with HSHS and Dean Health Plan, jointly own Prevea360 Health Plan, which serves residents of northeast Wisconsin.
“IHN has the infrastructure in place for its members to truly collaborate on improving quality and efficiency,” said Therese Pandl, president and chief executive officer of Hospital Sisters Health System’s Eastern Wisconsin Division. “We are impressed by IHN’s care model, data analytics and quality measures, and by the active involvement of doctors in changing their day-to-day practices. Being part of an established alliance that is already working with health insurers will help us prepare for coming changes in health care delivery to the benefit of our patients and our communities.”
Prevea Health president and chief executive officer Dr. Ashok Rai said, “Joining this pioneering group of collaborative partners will enable us to develop new, cost-effective ways to coordinate care, share best practices and succeed in the coming era of population health management. It will also help strengthen our Prevea360 Health Plan offerings in northeast Wisconsin.”
As a result of successfully achieving full clinical integration, Integrated Health Network can contract directly with health insurers on behalf of its members collectively under a single signature. Members must meet specific goals for care quality and coordination to participate.
