Health Services engages physicians to ensure they have the tools necessary to assess and ultimately improve their clinical performance. These tools help physicians assess their patient care and identify strengths as well as areas for improvement. Our quality-oriented educational initiatives for Valley Preferred physicians include:
Nurse Support
Our RN Health Specialists work with physicians to support healthier patient lifestyles; encourage such risk factor modifications as proper nutrition, weight control and exercise; and invite increased patient participation in disease management. Our specially trained nurses also help identify “Goals of Care” for patients approaching the end of life, leading to happier patients and families and fewer costly high-tech interventions.
Pay-For-PerformanceValley Preferred works with all strata of the health care industry toward the goals of delivering better health for patients and better value. Our Performance-Based Incentive Program establishes clear benchmarks for physicians to meet quality, financial and patient-satisfaction goals. We offer incentives for physicians who provide care that is consistent with nationally established pathways, protocols and procedures, and we provide special coaching and follow-up for physicians whose care is not consistent with national parameters.
Physician Self-Audit
Valley Preferred physicians can measure outcomes on a per-patient basis through our self-auditing program. A panel of Valley Preferred physicians review outcomes and measure them against national peer standards to evaluate the performance of physicians and their practices.
Information Technology Assistance
Valley Preferred supports the introduction of information technology into our physicians’ daily workflow to improve the quality of patient care and the efficiency of our member practices.
For example, to promote the use of Electronic Medical Records, or EMRs, Valley Preferred hosts speakers from EMR-driven institutions and conducts surveys on EMR initiatives. We believe EMRs will help improve patient care and safety in hospital and outpatient care, as well as facilitate advancements in data collection and measurement for pay-for-performance programs.
Valley Preferred is also helping to develop a health data repository for the Lehigh Valley area—a single storage location for the most critical health data for residents of the region—leading to improved care and reduced costs through the elimination of redundant testing procedures.
Results
Our integrated health programs help patients make a variety of better lifestyle choices, which lead to better health and better job performance:
Adult Asthma
- 98% of patients have bronchodilator rescue medications prescribed
- 90% of pediatric asthma patients have a written action plan maintained in their medical record
Comprehensive Diabetic Care
- 98% of adult patients with diabetes had a HbA1C measurement at least once in the past year
- 85% had 2-4 HbA1C measurements within the past year
- 63% had LDL cholesterol less than 100mg/dl
- 63% had their blood pressure controlled – Goal is 130/80
- 50% had a pneumococcal vaccine administered within the last 7 to 10 years
- 54% received an influenza vaccination during the most recent influenza season
Coronary Artery Disease
- Over 80% of patients had a fasting lipid profile measured in past 12-15 months
- Over 70% of patients had a LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl
- Over 90% of these identified patients receive treatment with lipid lowering medication
- 77% of patients hospitalized with an acute MI received persistent beta-blocker treatment 6 months after