Sometimes, small health systems offer certain advantages over larger competitors.
NorthBay Health is a nonprofit system comprising two hospitals: NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, Calif. Despite being in close proximity to industry giants such as Sacramento-based Sutter Health and Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, NorthBay leverages its smaller size as an asset.
"We're smaller, so we think we can be more nimble," Dr. Cassani said. "We want to understand the opportunities out there and where we might be able to expand in partnerships."
Dr. Cassani has been a healthcare executive since 2008, with roles at five systems over the past 16 years, including his current position at NorthBay Health. He stepped into this role in October, after working with the system since January as part of a consulting team that developed NorthBay's current growth strategy.
Here are four priority projects for Dr. Cassani and NorthBay Health:
1. The system is actively recruiting about 160 providers — a 140% increase — for its ambulatory network over the next five years. Many of the new providers will be primary care physicians, but the team is also looking to recruit in specialized departments.
2. Most of NorthBay's physicians and advanced practice providers work under a professional service agreement as independent contractors. However, to stay competitive, NorthBay is creating a medical foundation and a medical group that will provide employment options for physicians. Providers will have a choice between independent contractor or parallel employment tracks.
"We aim to foster cultural growth across both models under the overarching umbrella of NorthBay Health, alongside improvements in governance within the new medical group," he said. "It's a great opportunity to evolve the healthy culture that already exists here as we make these changes."
3. Geographic expansion is another priority. The system plans to expand primary and urgent care clinics in five locations with the goal of having a clinic within 15 minutes of every Solano County resident. It's also expanding specialty hubs — including services such as diagnostic imaging, laboratory draw stations, and specialist rotations — with the aim of having one within 30 minutes of residents.
4. The system is also focusing on business development and partnership opportunities, as well as improving infrastructure and data management, and expanding its community presence.