Bend Memorial clinic partners with N.J. management firm
Bend Memorial Clinic, Central Oregon’s biggest multi-specialty physician group, announced Thursday it has signed a letter of intent to partner with a New Jersey health management company in a bid to cut costs and improve both its finances and patient care.
“This landmark venture with Summit Health Management will offer Bend Memorial Clinic great stability and vitality,” the announcement said.
“The relationship will further allow BMC to maintain its independence as a physician-owned medical group, while providing access to a wide range of administrative, clinic and financial management services designed to expand and improve patient care.”
“The end goal Lower costs, better patient outcomes and better caregiver/patient experience,” the statement added.
BMC has struggled with its finances since the implementation of a costly new electronic health records system two years ago. It has cut about 100 positions, for a total of 568 employees, including 84 physicians.
Summit Health Management also announced a second move Thursday to extend its patient care and physician group management model outside of New Jersey.
It announced the formation of Summit Medical Group Arizona, joining 51 Phoenix-area providers currently affiliated as Arizona Primary Care Physicians.
Here’s more from the announcement regarding BMC:
Summit Health Management will provide Bend Memorial Clinic, a pillar of the Central Oregon medical community for 71 years, with comprehensive administrative, clinical and financial management services.
With 120 health care providers, 30 specialties and state-of-the-art medical technologies, BMC will gain access to SHM’s proprietary patient care and practice management model which has demonstrably improved outcomes and reduced costs at Summit Medical Group in New Jersey, one of the largest independent multi-specialty physician groups in the nation.
“This is an important milestone in the long and distinguished history of BMC that will ensure the strength and vitality of our physician-owned and governed medical group,” said Dr. David Holloway, chief executive officer of Bend Memorial Clinic.
“Summit Health Management and BMC are cut from the same cloth with shared values,” said Russell Massine, MD, chief governance officer of Bend Memorial Clinic. “We are committed to ensuring that there is no interruption in the high quality care our patients receive and delivering on our brand commitment of providing patients the Total Care™ they expect and deserve.”
About Summit Health Management
Founded in 2014, Summit Health Management (SHM) offers a physician-led, professionally-managed model of management services for Summit Medical Group in New Jersey and mid- to large-sized physician practices across the United States. Developed by physicians for physicians, SHM provides an innovative alternative to traditional options for the integration of multi-specialty group practice and the delivery of value-based care. SHM’s practice management services are focused in five discrete but inter-related categories essential to running a successful, enterprise-scale medical group: organizational structure and governance, operations management, revenue management, physician management, and population health management. For more information, visit www.summithealthmanagement.com.
A bout Bend Memorial Clinic
Bend Memorial Clinic includes more than 120 providers with 30 specialties and services including urgent care, primary care, specialty care, imaging and clinical services. With five locations, BMC is the largest multi-specialty group in Central Oregon and provides quality, convenient healthcare known as TotalCare™. The Clinic has provided primary and specialty care since 1946. For more information, please visit www.bendmemorialclinic.com.
