Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, N.C., has partnered with a group of physician practices to form a clinically integrated network that will include nearly 2,300 physicians.
The Carolinas Physician Alliance includes physicians from nine practices in 12 counties surrounding Charlotte, including Charlotte Radiology and Surgical Specialists of Charlotte. Additional groups are expected to join in the coming months, according to a news release.
The physician-led alliance will work toward implementing best practices to improve quality and cost of care for patients. Initial focus areas for the alliance will be evaluating ways to decrease unnecessary treatments and readmissions and better management of chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma.
The board will have equal representation from physicians part of independent practices and those part of systems. Dr. Mark Aldous, a physician at Northeast Digestive Health Center in Concord, N.C., will be chair of the alliance's board.
The board will hire Carolinas Physician Alliance staff including the CEO, COO and medical director.
Carolinas HealthCare System began efforts to create a clinically integrated network a year ago. The 35-hospital system worked with local physicians to determine areas of focus for the alliance.
