[Providence] – Nearly 670 physicians representing a wide array of specialties have joined the new Providence Partners for Health, pioneers in an innovative alliance aimed at improving quality and controlling healthcare costs.

The 668 physicians, based across a wide geographical area stretching from the South Bay to the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo valleys, were admitted to the new alliance this week. Interest in the joint venture, which was announced in October, far exceeded expectations, surpassing an initial goal to recruit 250 physicians for membership in PPH by the first of the year.

“The response has been astounding,” said Kerry Carmody, chief operating officer for Providence Health & Services, Southern California. “The interest from physicians shows they are poised to meet the challenges of the changing healthcare landscape and they are eager to partner with their colleagues and with Providence to improve quality for their patients and the communities they serve while reducing costs.”

Providence Partners for Health, LLC, is a joint venture owned equally by member physicians and Providence Southern California. Physicians on staff at one or more of the five Providence medical centers in the San Fernando Valley and the South Bay – or in the areas served by those hospitals – will lead and govern the alliance.

“We believe PPH creates a unique opportunity for us to work together, collaboratively, to design more effective care delivery models that focus on achieving a higher quality, improved patient experience and more affordable care,” said John Armato, M.D., chairman of the new alliance.

PPH was created in response to healthcare reform, providing the opportunity for doctors and hospitals to share clinical data to improve quality across-the-board and to create efficiencies that cut costs.

“The overwhelming response to Providence Partners for Health indicates that physicians in our community are excited about working collaboratively with each other and with Providence to provide patients with high quality care at a reasonable cost.” said Dr. Omaran Abdeen, chief of staff at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, one of five Providence medical centers in the Los Angeles Area..

Member physicians have agreed to share their data on quality, receive feedback on performance from their physician colleagues and demonstrate adherence to PPH-developed care guidelines with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients. PPH will focus on achieving clinical integration by forming teams of physicians, clinicians and experts who will identify opportunities for advancing medical care, including standardizing practices shown to provide the best results.

To support physician members, Providence has developed shared programs and an organizational infrastructure that includes information technology, a data warehouse and an electronic medical records system, essential tools for providing health care in the current market.

The partnership positions Providence for success in the current reform-based healthcare environment, including participation in pay-for-performance, narrow networks and value-based purchasing programs, which incentivize and reward providers for demonstrating improved quality and controlled healthcare costs. For example, PPH will serve as the PPO provider network for Providence’s own employees and dependents, with shared financial incentives for achieving improved quality outcomes and reduced costs of care.

For information about PPH, visit providencepartnersforhealth.org.

About Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services, Southern California, is a Catholic, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality and compassionate health care and reaching out to the poor and the vulnerable in the communities it serves. Providence California operates five acute care medical centers in the Los Angeles area: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and its new Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center; Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills; Providence Tarzana Medical Center; and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in Torrance and San Pedro. The region also has numerous ancillary facilities including Hospice care, long-term care, numerous outpatient clinics and Providence High School in Burbank. For information, please visit providence.org.