The Hill Physicians Medical Group and the Baylor Health Care System

In these case studies for The Commonwealth Fund, Dr. Nichols and Tom Emswiler examine high-performing health care systems to see how they achieve better outcomes at lower cost. Both the Hill Physicians Medical Group, an association of physicians in individual practice, and the Baylor Health Care System, a highly integrated delivery system, have successfully standardized care, implemented electronic medical records, and improved clinical outcomes.

Hill Physicians Medical Group
Hill Physicians Medical Group is the nation's largest independent practice association, with more than 2,200 physicians, 800 in primary care. Established in 1984 in Northern California, Hill serves 332,000 patients enrolled in seven HMOs, two Medicare Advantage plans, and Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid Program. Hill member physicians have practices at 1,600 offices, and work in 30 hospitals and 15 urgent care centers. Hill demonstrates how an affiliated group of independent physicians can improve clinical outcomes, increase efficiency, and engender physician support for quality improvement and cost reduction activities. Working with health educators, member physicians have improved patient care: the number of diabetics in control of their blood sugar levels increased by 42 percent and patients in control of their cholesterol levels increased by 32 percent. Through the group, physicians are informed about and encouraged to participate in quality improvement initiatives and receive health information technology training and products.

To read Tom Emswiler's post on Hill Physicians Medical Group on New Health Dialogue, click here. 

Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Health Care System is a nonprofit integrated delivery system based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Baylor comprises a network of hospitals, primary care and specialty care centers, rehabilitation clinics, senior health centers, and affiliated ambulatory surgery centers. Founded over a century ago, it has grown from a one-building hospital to a 3,000-bed integrated system that uses electronic health records and numerous quality improvement tools. Baylor owns a 450-physician medical group subsidiary and is affiliated with 3,000 independent physicians who deliver care at 15 Baylor-owned, leased, or affiliated hospitals and six "short-stay" hospitals. Baylor uses training programs, as well as physicians, to encourage systemwide initiatives and cement the quality mission across the system. The system has successfully implemented electronic health records, decreased mortality rates, and standardized care.

To read Tom Emswiler's post on Baylor Health Care System on New Health Dialogue, click here.