MDNews - Greater Kansas

MEDICAL MISSION AT HOME IN WICHITA HELPS 200+ PATIENTS More than 200 participants were provided with free medical services and resources, including exams, onsite lab testing and pharmacy, and hearing, vision and dental screening during the daylong Ascension Via Christi Medical Mission at Home in Wichita. Several community part - ners, including Wichita State and Newman universities and the City of Wichita, and more than 600 volunteers helped during the April 13 event held at a Wichita public elementary school. RADIATION ONCOLOGIST RETURNS TO STORMONT VAIL HEALTH Stormont Vail Health is proud to announce that John Ma, MD, PhD, will re-join their team and practice as a radiation oncologist. He will be located at the Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center, 1414 SW Eighth St. Dr. Ma is no stranger to Stormont Vail Health. From 2015 to 2017, he provided radiation oncology services for Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center through a partnership with Radiology and Nuclear Medicine LLC. He is looking forward to returning to Stormont Vail because of the relationships he built here. "It's the people that truly make this place special," Dr. Ma says. "I've had the privilege of working with the physicians and support staff here and it's an honor to be coming back to serve the community with such wonderful people." An interest in physics — a passion that continues today — led him to earn a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics while he received his medical degree from The University of Mississippi, Jackson, in 2009. He com - pleted a clinical fellowship with the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Mississippi, in 2010. He also completed a clinical intern- ship with the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2011. Back at The University of Mississippi, he completed his residency with the Department of Radiation Oncology, in 2015, serving as the Chief Resident from 2014–2015. "Growing up, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and later died due to complications from the disease," Dr. Ma says. "Since then, there have been tremendous strides and improvements in technology thanks, in part, to physics. I enjoy being able to use both my passions and medical knowledge to assist my patients as they are going through their toughest battles." BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS, HUTCHINSON CLINIC PARTNER TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND LOWER COSTS FOR HUTCHINSON CLINIC PATIENTS With an eye toward improving population health and member expe- rience while better controlling the overall cost of health care, the Hutchinson Clinic has entered into an accountable care agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. This agreement will sup - port patients of the health system's Hutchinson-based primary care physicians associated with Hutchinson Clinic, according to Matt All, President/CEO of the state's largest health insurer. The Accountable Care Organization (ACO) agreement, BlueStem+, is designed to create better overall outcomes for patients, and in doing so, lower healthcare costs over time for members. The agreement has been in place since Jan. 1, 2019, and initially includes an annual pay - ment to Hutchinson Clinic if certain quality and financial measures are achieved. In the latter years of the agreement, Hutchinson Clinic will continue to be eligible for such payments, but also will assume risk if certain cost and quality targets are not achieved. BlueStem+ adds incentives to improve population health and member experiences while reducing overall health care costs over time. ACOs have proven they can reduce hospital admissions, reduce readmissions and prevent unnecessary emergency room visits. Care coordination seeks to provide enhanced preventative care and improve overall health and the avoidance of chronic conditions. "The Hutchinson Clinic has chosen to enter into this type of arrange - ment because it allows our primary care physicians to focus on health care instead of sick care and aids in identifying small issues before they become bigger health concerns," says Mike Heck, Hutchinson Clinic CEO. "Our goal is to keep patients healthy while providing an exceptional patient experience and improving overall community health outcomes. The goal of the agreement, according to All, is to help patients by increasing coordination among providers, focusing on preventive health care and ensuring patient care is based on evidence. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is proud to be leading the shift toward new reimbursement partnerships with providers that im - prove both quality and total cost of care for patients," All says. "We are confident this new approach will improve the overall health of Kansans while better controlling health care costs and positively impacting premiums for employers and members. n Editorial Calendar 2019 August/September SPECIAL SECTION: Pediatrics CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Pediatric Oncology SPECIAL SECTION: Degenerative Disease CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Parkinson's Disease October/November SPECIAL SECTION: Oncology CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Pancreatic Cancer SPECIAL SECTION: Gastroenterology CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Irritable Bowel Syndrome December/January SPECIAL SECTION: Bariatrics CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Sleep Apnea SPECIAL SECTION: Orthopedics CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Pediatric Orthopedics NATIONAL FEATURES: • HealthcareTrends Roundup • Hospital Security • Social Media Missteps • Translational Medicine • Retail Clinics • Charitable Care 2 2❱❱❱❱❱ H O S P I T A L R O U N D S

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