PITTSBURGH, Pa., Dec. 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Officials at Highmark Health, Allegheny Health Network, Highmark Inc. and Johns Hopkins Medicine today announced the signing of a new master collaboration agreement that will complement the formal oncology collaboration that began earlier this year. These collaborations aim to leverage the collective strengths of the organizations and improve the availability and affordability of health care to Pennsylvania patients.
"Highmark Health is proud and excited to expand the scope of our partnership with Johns Hopkins to improve patient care today and in the future," said David L. Holmberg, president and chief executive officer of Highmark Health. "Our goal is to ensure that patients have affordable access to high-quality health care services, and the increased collaboration we anticipate with Johns Hopkins through this agreement is an important step in the fulfillment of that mission."
"In this ever-changing health care environment, the goal is to provide better care for better value for patients, caregivers and payers," says Brian Gragnolati, senior vice president of the Johns Hopkins Health System. "It makes sense to find synergies with other entities with similar missions and different strengths."
The joint objectives of the new collaboration include:
- Improving access to provide additional options for affordable health care
- Exploring opportunities for economic efficiencies, including group purchasing, supply chain initiatives and establishing joint ventures, to reduce costs and improve care
- Utilizing the vast knowledge and resource base of Johns Hopkins' Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality to improve care
- Engaging in complex data analysis to identify opportunities to enhance clinical capabilities and improve health outcomes
- Leveraging electronic medical record platforms for both organizations
- Facilitating collaborations on research and education to expand discovery and bring the most relevant knowledge and clinical techniques to the communities served by the organizations
"This truly is a unique opportunity for our organization to more closely collaborate with one of the world's most accomplished and respected health care institutions so we can enhance the scope and capabilities of the services we offer to the western Pennsylvania region," said Tony Farah, M.D., Allegheny Health Network's chief medical officer. "It demonstrates clearly to all of our patients and the community that Allegheny Heath Network and Highmark Health are committed to meeting their health care needs and to helping advance the future of medicine both locally and nationally in innovative and meaningful ways."
"The very same spirit of collaboration in the pursuit of excellence that defines the culture of caring at Allegheny Health Network is what compels us to partner with pioneering institutions like Johns Hopkins to further advance medicine," said John Paul, Allegheny Health Network president and chief executive officer. "We are excited about the opportunities this new relationship will afford us."
About Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a $7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, "Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine," is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and 41 Johns Hopkins Community Physicians practices in 35 locations. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, has been ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 22 years of the survey's 25 year history, most recently in 2013. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org.
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves nearly 39 million Americans in more than 40 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing network in the nation. Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.2 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks. Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and Health + Wellness Pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.highmarkhealth.org.
This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/12/prweb12410785.htm