• Valley Preferred At-A-Glance
    Click on the elements for descriptive information.

    Greater Lehigh Valley Independent Practice Association (GLVIPA)

    A professional association of 1,100 physicians in active practice throughout the Lehigh Valley (PA) region. GLVIPA is a joint owner of the Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization (LVPHO) and Valley Preferred; it provides its members with a variety of practice support, educational and advocacy services.

    Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization (LVPHO)
    Valley Preferred

    Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization (LVPHO) is a healthcare delivery organization that is jointly owned by the 1,100 physicians of the Greater Lehigh Valley Independent Practice Association (GLVIPA) and Lehigh Valley Health Network. LVPHO serves local businesses and the community by empowering its member physicians to deliver quality health care in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

    Valley Preferred is the operating brand (dba) for the network of physician/hospital providers of the LVPHO. Valley Preferred Local refers to the 1,100 physicians of LVPHO. Valley Preferred Regional extends service throughout 11 counties of eastern Pennsylvania and includes:

    • 4,000 physicians*
    • 19 hospitals
    • 5,700 client employers*
    • 166,000 health plan members*

    *Approximated at time of issue

    Lehigh Valley Health Network

    Lehigh Valley Health Network is a nationally-recognized healthcare network serving the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro region of Pennsylvania. The network has close to 1,300 primary care and specialty physicians, operates three hospital campuses in Allentown and Bethlehem, along with health centers, physician practices, community clinics, pharmacy services, imaging services, home care, hospice, multi-location medical lab testing, and insurance services. Lehigh Valley Health Network is consistently ranked among "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report.


    Disease Management NCQA CERTIFIED

    Based on a highly effective partnership between the patient, physician and Valley Preferred RN health coaches, individuals are empowered to become better managers of their own care and more compliant with the recommendations of their physicians. Utilization of Valley Preferred's Disease Management programs enables appropriate patient attention and care while enhancing your practice throughput and resource allocation.

    Valley Preferred Disease Management programs are targeted to the most prevalent chronic conditions in our region and available for members of select health plans and Lehigh Valley Health Network Choice Plus.

    The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has reviewed and certified both the Disease Management Program and the Disease Management systems developed by Valley Preferred and provided regionally by Lehigh Valley Health Network.

    Features of the Valley Preferred Disease Management Program include:

    • Patient report cards sent to physicians
    • Patients stratified to low, moderate, high risk of morbidity
    • Face-to-face coach/patient appointments in select practices
    • Teachable moments impress importance of preventive care

    Diabetes

    Individuals are taught the importance of eye and foot exams, controlling blood sugar, and cholesterol management. By paying attention to these key self-care behaviors, individuals will feel better day-to-day and prevent the long term complications of heart and blood vessel disease.

    Asthma

    The nurse coach provides guidance in identifying and avoiding asthma trigger factors, and assures that the individual works with their physician to develop an asthma action plan. Daily control of asthma can avoid urgent Emergency Department visits.

    Valley Preferred's Disease Management for asthma includes programs for both adults and children.

    Obesity

    This lifestyle management program focuses on overall good health, with specific attention to exercise and nutrition. The coach encourages the individual to set goals that are motivating and customized to reach their own priorities.

    Vascular Disease

    The nurse coach assists individuals with peripheral and cardiac vascular disease to understand and manage the symptoms of their disease, and maintain their best quality of life.

    Congestive Heart Failure

    Individuals with heart failure are often re-admitted to the hospital or require Emergency Department care. The nurse coach provides education about heart failure and how to self monitor for early stages of an exacerbation of the disease.

    Hypertension

    Individuals with hypertension are at risk for both acute and chronic diseases. The nurse coach provides education and encouragement for reducing the effects of hypertension on the blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and other organ systems.

    Hyperlipidemia

    Individuals with hyperlipidemia are taught about the different kinds of cholesterol, dietary and medication control, and risk factors. Paying close attention to the cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of future debilitating diseases.

    Clinical Practice Guidelines

    Recommendations issued on an ongoing basis by LVPHO peer physicians in concert with national evidence-based standards; focused on optimizing patient outcome quality, satisfaction and value.

    Clinician Self-Audits

    Designed by Valley Preferred to capture key data, LVPHO self-audits offer physicians and advanced practice clinicians an objective way to evaluate and improve care. Annual results of self-audits provide aggregate view of population health and individual practice outcomes.

    Electronic Documentation of Care Goals

    Documentation of patient goals of care assure clinicians provide optimum quality of care and care coordination for patients with advanced complex illness, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and malignancies.

    Quality Improvement Projects

    Individuals or groups of physicians identify an opportunity to improve local care delivery, conduct preliminary research and recommend procedure changes to achieve best-practice standards. Dozens of these Quality Improvement Projects have led to system changes that directly impact patient care quality.

    Educational Seminars

    Throughout the year, LVPHO/Valley Preferred conducts a "Members Only" series of educational seminars on topics of professional interest featuring speakers of regional and national renown.

    Access to: Clinically Integrated Programs

    "Defragmenting" medical care through Clinical Integration has been a primary focus of LVPHO/Valley Preferred for well over a decade. During that span, we have innovated multiple Clinically Integrated programs and data-sharing systems driving measurable progress in quality and efficiency for LVPHO members, their practices and patients.

    Achieving Clinical Excellence Incentive Programs

    Valley Preferred's performance-based incentive program, Achieving Clinical Excellence provides member physicians with clear incentives to meet financial, efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction goals. There are two subsets to this incentive plan:

    • PARTICIPATION Programs: Through quarterly incentive payments, member physicians are encouraged to participate in Valley Preferred initiatives that promote education, outreach and care coordination.
    • QUALITY & EFFICIENCY Programs: Through annual incentive payments, physician practices are encouraged to meet quality and efficiency goals.

    LVPHO & Valley Preferred

    To learn more about the Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization (LVPHO) and Valley Preferred, contact Joseph Candio, Jr.:

    Phone: 610.969.0237
    Email: josephjr_candio@lvhn.org

    Joe, and one of the following Valley Preferred Associate Medical Directors, would be happy to meet at your convenience:

    • Jonathan Burke, DO
    • Joseph Habig, II, MD
    • Glenn Kratzer, MD
    • John Nuschke, MD
    • MaryAnn Peifer, MD

    BeneFIT Wellness Solutions

    Valley Preferred's corporate wellness program, BeneFIT provides regional employers with performance-proven ways to help employees and their families live healthier. Led by Valley Preferred's own team of Certified Health Education Specialists, BeneFIT brings wellness to the worksite with award-winning resource tools, including the BeneFIT Toolkit, and an integrated team of clinicians, fitness, nutrition and community health experts.

    Clinical Outcome Measurements

    Clinician Self-Audits are aggregated and compiled into a results picture for each practice. Results determine annual incentives for meeting performance criteria. Distinct criteria available for both primary and specialty practices. Patient report card is provided to physician.

    Generic vs. Brand Prescribing

    Percentage of generic to brand prescribing is compared to LVPHO goal.

    Inpatient Length of Stay

    Average number of days a practice's admitted patients are at Lehigh Valley Health Network compared to the LVPHO goal.

    Disease Management Patient Engagement

    Valley Preferred Disease Management programs empower patients to become better managers of their own care and more compliant with physician recommendations. Incentives are provided to engage patients with the most prevalent chronic conditions (see list at left), and appropriate health care plans, in the appropriate Valley Preferred Disease Management program(s).


    Patient-Centered Medical Home NCQA CERTIFIED

    The Patient-Centered Medical Home is a new model of care designed to strengthen the clinician-patient relationship by replacing episodic care with coordinated care and long-term wellness. Transitioning local primary care practices to NCQA-recognized Patient-Centered Medical Homes is being driven by Valley Preferred in concert with Lehigh Valley Health Network. Multiple support services and incentives are available to help member physicians and their practices advance to this model of 21st century primary care.

    EHR Technological Support

    In recent years, Valley Preferred's Achieving Clinical Excellence has enabled more regional practices to begin or complete the transition from paper to electronic health records.

    Practice Transition Support

    Through a team effort of Valley Preferred and Lehigh Valley Health Network, a systematic program of training, incentives and education is available to support member physicians and their practices in transitioning to this new model of care.

    Quarterly Learning Collaboratives

    Because the Patient-Centered Medical Home is based on coordinated team care, a quarterly series of educational summits sponsored by Valley Preferred are conducted for caregivers involved in the Patient-Centered Medical Home process, including physicians, CRNPs, PAs, nurses, office staff, case managers and social workers.