The Vanderbilt University Employee Benefit Health Plan (Vanderbilt Health Plan) and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt have entered into an agreement with Cumberland Pediatric Independent Practice Association (Cumberland Pediatric IPA) to provide comprehensive medical management to pediatric enrollees under its care.
Pediatricians will oversee and coordinate the care of patients across all settings, and seek new ways to meet the needs of children with chronic conditions.
Dexter Shurney, M.D., Medical Director of the Vanderbilt Health Plan, summarized Vanderbilt’s objectives, “This agreement provides us a venue for continuous improvement. While many programs start with adults because of the higher incidence of chronic disease, we are pleased to invest in care of our children, who have a number of unique healthcare needs.”
“Solutions we create in partnership with Cumberland Pediatric IPA will improve our processes and benefit all children we serve,” said Margaret Rush, M.D., Chief of Staff, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
Cumberland Pediatric IPA members will work together to improve preventive care and health promotion in their offices, and to identify improvements in transitions of care between their offices and other care settings.
Elizabeth Pierce, M.D., Cumberland IPA Medical Director commented on behalf of the physicians, “This opportunity to demonstrate the collective capability of our practices is very gratifying. This enables and encourages us to find creative solutions that address the needs of every child.”
The parties will work together to measure the health status of pediatric enrollees and the quality and cost of care provided on their behalf.
Vanderbilt Health Plan provides health insurance benefits to Vanderbilt University employees and their dependents; numbering in excess of 48,000 individuals.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is recognized as one of the Best Children’s Hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report.
Cumberland Pediatric IPA is a community of over 300 pediatric physicians, including 130 pediatric specialty-care physicians, providing care to the children of middle Tennessee.
