Baylor Scott & White Health is joining the Cleveland Clinic's cardiovascular network in another example of major academic medical centers coming together to expand their reach. The two systems will host a news conference Thursday with their respective cardiovascular physician leaders.
The Cleveland Clinic in August formed a cardiovascular alliance with North Shore-LIJ Health System, designating the Great Neck, N.Y.-based system as its exclusive partner for heart-related referrals in the New York region.
North Shore became the second member of the Cleveland Clinic's Cardiovascular Specialty Network, which also includes MedStar Health in Columbia, Md.
The Baylor partnership will follow a similar model and is the first in the southwest.
Major academic health systems are forming collaborations as a way to experiment with accountable care organizations and attract insurers, said Sarah Wilson, an analyst at Decision Resources.
“Health systems want to retain their independence,” she said. “A lot of them are doing well on their own. They have a lot of clout in their marketplaces. Generally speaking, health systems that are doing well are willing to take more risk with this ability to put a little more money on the line.”
The Cleveland Clinic has formed bundled payment contracts with a number of large national employers, and its local affiliations allow it to direct patients to hospitals and physicians that are closest to their homes.
Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System completed its merger with Scott & White last year.
Follow Beth Kutscher on Twitter: @MHbkutscher
