Baptist Health and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, both based in Little Rock, Ark., formed a strategic alliance to improve population health and offer more educational opportunities, while maintaining their independence.
Under a statement of strategic intent, the two organizations plan to increase graduate medical education opportunities by adding more residency programs. They plan to first launch a residency program in internal and family medicine at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock.
They are also evaluating ways to improve clinical care and population health management. Baptist Health and UAMS are working together to roll out a Medicare ACO for 50,000 patients in 2018, and have plans to work with Little Rock-based Arkansas Children's, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Bost to launch a coordinated care effort for Arkansas Medicaid patients.
"Arkansas faces a wide range of significant health challenges, including obesity, cancer, heart disease, mental health and premature death," UAMS Interim Chancellor Stephanie Gardner, PharmD, EdD, said in a statement. "Through this enhanced alliance, UAMS and Baptist Health can better help address those challenges to improve the health and well-being of Arkansans."
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