Patrick Courneya, MD, Discusses the Policy Implications of Integrated Care Models

Patrick Courneya, MD, CHIE, Health Plan Medical Director, HealthPartners, Inc, says integration is not necessarily a description of a business model, but a description of a care model. He adds that effective integration of care delivery across different organizations, especially large multispecialty groups, is made possible through efficient communication structures.

Dr Courneya adds that large multispecialty groups must be committed to executing integration, and be willing to subject themselves to public reporting of performance measures. This willingness will help them realize whether or not they are living up to their full potential as a large integrated multispecialty group.

“I’m actually more interested in judging their performance not based on what they’re called, but based on what their results are,” Dr Courneya said.