Cropped Photo of doctor holding stethoscope

The Facts

VIPN IS

  • A program led and managed by physicians on the medical staffs of three Dignity Health hospitals – Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest..
  • A network of physicians opting to collaborate with the hospitals to utilize evidence-based, quality initiatives to improve quality and efficiency of care.
  • A network of physicians who will collectively negotiate with health plans and local self-insured employers for improvement in reimbursement, based on its ability to achieve quality benchmarks.

VIPN IS NOT

  • Capitation.
  • A program led by hospitals.
  • Physician employment.
  • Costly to physicians.
  • An agreement that will put individual physician fees at risk.

Why physicians join VIPN

  • Clinical integration is a proven method to improve the quality and cost of patient care.
  • The network provides a support system for private practice physicians facing healthcare reform challenges.
  • Independent physicians are able to jointly contract with health plans for commercial patients, with recognition for achievement of quality benchmarks.
  • Physicians receive access to business intelligence information technology.
  • Physicians also receive visibility across the full continuum of care.

Benefits of joining VIPN

  • Proven method to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care.
  • Provides a support system for private practice physicians facing health care reform challenges.
  • Enables physicians to engage in joint contracting with fee-for-service payers for commercial patients, with financial incentives based on achievement of quality benchmarks.
  • Access to business intelligence information technology.
  • Data visibility across the full continuum of care.

To participate, physicians must

  • Sign a physician participation agreement.
  • Agree to the quality initiatives selected and defined by physicians.
  • Share quality data with VIPN via the technology provided by the program.
  • Be accountable for compliance with VIPN policies and procedures.
  • Comply with VIPN technology requirements.

VIPN management

  • Physician-led committees and a physician-dominated board of managers.
  • Organizational development funds provided by the hospitals.

Zero enrollment costs

  • There are no enrollment costs.
  • There are no ongoing participation fees.

Did you know?

  • Membership in the Valley Integrated Provider Network (VIPN) is non-exclusive and does not limit a physician’s ability to contract with health plans independently or through another clinical integration program, accountable care organization (ACO), independent practice association (IPA), physician organization (PO) or physician hospital organization (PHO).
  • VIPN will focus on new and innovative payer agreements available only through VIPN.
  • Each potential payer agreement with VIPN is carefully reviewed by the physician Board to ensure it presents a real or potential economic benefit to physicians.
  • You can terminate your participation at any time, for any reason, upon a 60 day notice.
  • All quality initiatives and physician participation criteria are developed by VIPN physicians.
  • Quality performance is measured across your entire patient population, not just that of a single insurance company. You have access to a web-based tool with the ability to compare yourself against local, regional and national quality benchmarks.
  • Any information you share with VIPN is confidential. It is used to measure performance and identify opportunities for improvement, to assist you in improving your quality scores and for demonstrating the overall performance of VIPN to the community.
  • Physicians compose a significant majority of the VIPN Board of Managers.