UC San Diego Health System and Imperial (Calif.) Valley Family Care Medical Group today announced an affiliation agreement to improve patient access to care in the Imperial Valley region.
IVFCMG, which includes more than 20 clinical providers and 13 clinics, will become a member of UC San Diego Physicians Network as part of the affiliation.
Imperial Valley patients will have increased access to specialty care and clinical trials as well as priority transfers to UC San Diego Health System for advanced medical and surgical care, according to the report. The affiliation will build on the organizations' current relationship, in which UC San Diego provides Imperial Valley with tertiary care for complex cardiovascular disease, primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, telemedicine stroke consultations and advanced care for high-risk pregnancies, trauma and burn patients.
The two organizations plan to implement EHRs to streamline care and implement a model of delivery that optimizes care through evidence-based best practices.
"This affiliation with UC San Diego Health System is an excellent way to bring the benefits of academic medicine to the Imperial Valley community," Vachas Palakodeti, MD, president of IVFCMG, said in a statement.
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