Key Takeaways
- UC San Diego Health and West Health have launched a $40 million initiative to develop a coordinated care model over six years.
- The project aims to enhance patient care by leveraging digital health technologies and EHR data across various healthcare settings.
- Led by Dr. Theodore Chan, the initiative will focus on integrating virtual care and health data into clinical practice, especially for senior patients.
New Initiative for Coordinated Care
UC San Diego Health, in collaboration with West Health, has unveiled an ambitious six-year program worth $40 million aimed at enhancing coordinated care for patients. This initiative seeks to implement a tech-enabled model that can be applied across healthcare facilities, ultimately making it available for health systems nationwide.
The West Health Accelerator will be located at the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, a facility dedicated to developing advanced healthcare technologies. The initiative will utilize digital health technologies, data analytics, and electronic health records (EHRs) to improve care coordination throughout a patient’s healthcare journey. Emphasizing timely and personalized care, the program will span hospitals, outpatient clinics, and where feasible, patients’ homes.
Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health, highlighted that as the organization expands its medical and surgical programs, the accelerator will facilitate consistent and reliable care across multiple facilities and during home visits, aided by wearable technologies.
The program will be spearheaded by Dr. Theodore Chan, chair of the emergency medicine department at UC San Diego Health, who will serve as the accelerator’s inaugural executive director. Dr. Chan’s team plans to work on initiatives that integrate virtual care platforms and health data into everyday clinical practices, signifying a shift towards more interactive and data-driven patient care.
UC San Diego Health currently operates three hospitals and a network of clinics, with the expectation that this new initiative will significantly enhance care delivery, especially in light of the increasing demand for senior care. This is not the first collaboration between UC San Diego Health and West Health; over the past decade, they have focused on setting standards for elderly patient care, contributing to developments such as California’s first accredited senior emergency care unit and the proliferation of Geriatric Emergency Department accreditations across the region.
West Health has a history of partnering with various healthcare organizations, including Mass General Brigham, Northwestern Medicine, and Duke-Margolis. Recently, they announced a $12 million commitment to support technology adoption and expansion initiatives with the American Hospital Association’s Research and Education Trust.
This new initiative represents a significant step toward modernizing patient care and improving outcomes through integrated care models and advanced technologies.
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