2 minute read
Thinking Vertically
Vertically Supporting and fostering integration across the GI industry
At PE GI Solutions, a key part of the company’s continuing evolution centers on achieving better clinical alignment around what I refer to as the “vertical model of care” for GI. In such a model, gastroenterologists delivering care to patients work off medical records and other electronic documentation shared with and used by the other providers involved in the GI care journey of those patients, such as an ASC, anesthesia, pathology, infusion and pharmacy.
To achieve this vertical model requires a combination of clinical and patient experience integration, supported by business integration. We have made progress toward achieving such cohesiveness through our ongoing work around improving patient access and care coordination. We are also benefiting from an acceleration in information sharing through the development of more integrated technology solutions, such as advances in EMRs and revenue cycle platforms, and solutions focused on the patient experience.
While we are proud of what we have accomplished on this voyage thus far, we recognize there is still considerable work to do around determining how to best achieve integration across settings and technologies. Our company’s commitment to this long-term goal is not just about business efficiency. It is more about our priorities around improving clinical delivery, access to care, timeliness of the delivery of care, and integration of patient care decision-making.
We know that, as these areas are strengthened, it means GI patients will be supported by a better care model—one that sees a practice, ASC, and the other areas I highlighted better aligned. This will also extend to health systems, so when patients require care at a hospital, a bridge exists that extends the care link between providers.
Our business model is still developing, and we are working toward providing consistent GI services market by market. This will take time as our markets are developing at different paces. A shorter-term goal of the PE GI Solutions team is to encourage gastroenterologists and providers of GI support services to be educated on and thinking about the vertical model. This is as much an effort around informing our clients as it is communicating with providers with whom we are not yet engaged.
Why is the latter important to us? Consider a GI practice lacking an effective way to digitally engage with patients. We would like to talk to this practice about the options and opportunities that exist. This will hopefully open a door to a relationship where we can deliver support in a more formal manner. Even if it does not, we will still share that guidance because our company’s model is about supporting GI. When providers get better, patient care gets better. And if we want to maximize the benefits of the vertical model of care for GI, we need as many people on board as possible.
