MDNews - Greater Kansas

VIA CHRISTI, KANSAS IMAGING CONSULTANTS PARTNER TO INTEGRATE RADIOLOGY Via Christi Health, a member of Ascension, the nation's largest Catholic and not-for-profit healthcare system, has announced plans to become the sole owner of Anatomi Imaging, a joint venture it has operated since 2000 with its physician partners at Kansas Imaging Consultants. As part of this transition, radiologists from Via Christi Clinic, which had provided outpatient radiology services to clinic patients, will join Kansas Imaging Consultants, which already provides the majority of radiology services for patients at Via Christi's Wichita hospitals. "This integrated approach to providing radiology services is another step toward achieving our Vision 2020 goal of becoming a clinician-led, high-reliability organization that delivers safe, person-centered health care," says Karl Ulrich, MD, Via Christi's Chief Operating Officer. "It enables us to consolidate our imaging footprint, while providing better- coordinated diagnostic evaluations for our patients." Two Via Christi Clinic radiologists, Dave Simms, MD, and Steve Taylor, MD, worked with Tim Benning, MD, of Kansas Imaging Consultants to lead and develop this integrated approach to delivering imaging services. Jack Shellito, MD, and Kim Shank, both senior leaders at Via Christi Clinic, also were involved in the process. Under the agreement, KIC will become the exclusive provider of radiol - ogy physician services in Wichita for Via Christi. "We have been considering how best to consolidate duplicative radiology services since our Vision 2020 strategic planning process in 2012," says Ulrich. "Our new, integrated approach meets the triple aim of delivering higher-quality, lower-cost care that improves the health of the populations we serve." Having one integrated radiology practice also will help with the recruit - ment of radiology subspecialists, avoid duplication of capital investment in expensive new technologies and align with Ascension's national strat - egy of developing regional, clinically integrated systems of care. The Via Christi Clinic radiologists are expected to join Kansas Imaging Consultants in March. WICHITA NEPHROLOGY GROUP EXPANDS TO WEST WICHITA Wichita Nephrology Group physician Mohamad Sandid, MD, will be expanding nephrology services to patients in west Wichita at 9000 W. Central, Wichita, Kansas, 67212 beginning February 2015. Dr. Sandid is accepting new patients. Please call 316-263-5891 to refer a patient. ■ +++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ + +++ + +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOSPITAL ROUNDS Mohamad Sandid, MD M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Greater Kansas | 1 5

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