In a marked departure from healthcare's current payment system, University of Vermont Medical Center CEO John R. Brumsted, MD, has revealed an ambitious goal to have 80 percent of all healthcare provided by the medical center tied to quality of care, instead of volume of services, by 2018.
Dr. Brumsted made the announcement while speaking at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges in Baltimore. He argued this aggressive approach is the best way to increase quality, collaboration and cost effectiveness, and furthermore, that it will create a powerful incentive to shift providers' focus to prevention and wellness.
"It will be a very big challenge to achieve this goal, but this transformation must be done as quickly as possible so we can provide what our patients deserve; superb care delivered seamlessly at the lowest possible cost," said Dr. Brumsted.
UVMC is the hub of the University of Vermont Health Network, a partnership that includes five rural hospitals and hundreds of providers across Vermont and northern New York State. UVMC has also partnered with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in leading a statewide accountable care organization in Vermont that over the last 3 years has saved millions of dollars and met or exceeded federal quality measures.