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                        JeffNEWS, October 5, 1994
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                           Integration Update


Main Line Health
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Jefferson is moving toward the goal of integration with determination . 
"Integrated Health Care Delivery" implies a high level of service that 
appears seamless to the consumer while encompassing a complete spectrum of 
care. Providing this is a daunting task but one that is necessary when 
serving a community that needs greater access to the benefits of health 
care in all its forms. Together with Main Line Health, we are forming the 
Healthshare Group, a new institution that will join the two organizations 
and potentially others.  Our respective boards have approved a letter of 
understanding that establishes a blueprint for governance and keeps us 
moving on a timetable that anticipates system implementation beginning 
later in l995.  


Ford Road
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Upon approval by the University Board of Trustees, the Ford Road Campus 
will become a satellite ambulatory and short stay surgical center.  As a 
result, the emergency room, the ICU/CCU and the inpatient medical/surgical 
beds will close effective January l, l995. Ford Road will continue to house 
Children's Rehabilitation Hospital, the Sub Acute Unit, the Dialysis 
Program and the Osteoporosis Center. Existing inpatient and outpatient care 
services to be restructured include the short procedure unit, the short 
stay unit, diagnostic services and therapeutic services.


Management Services Organization
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As you know, a rapidly changing healthcare delivery system is placing 
new and increased demands on all providers of healthcare services including 
primary-care physicians.  Although one alternative for such practices is 
acquisition by a larger entity such as a hospital, hospital system or 
payer, we believe that some primary-care physicians wish to remain in 
private practice and can do so if they can obtain efficient and cost-
effective practice management support. Jefferson is therefore developing a 
regional Management Services Organization (MSO) to be an alternative to 
physicians who do not want to be purchased or acquired. If you know a 
primary-care practice that would like more information about this service, 
please call Evelyn Eskin at  215-893-0263.


Information Systems
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In order to support building an integrated care delivery system, 
Jefferson has completed a plan for  Universitywide decision making in the 
area of Information Systems. The plan is built on the belief that complete 
patient care information must be available whenever patients receive care, 
that cost and patient care information need to be combined to optimize care 
delivery and that electronic patient data bases are essential to be able to 
examine care, identify variations and define best practices. The project 
outlines processes  and a sequence of projects that are essential to the 
fulfillment of these objectives over the next three years.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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