Centralizing Care around the PCMH

Redesigning Roles for Better Population Health Management

Centralizing Care around the PCMH: Redesigning Roles for Better Pop Health Management

WellSpan Health, a community-owned not-for-profit health system and a leader in population health management, knows what it takes to align health care services with the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). WellSpan's leadership has committed to a complete re-design of care team roles, not just in primary care, but throughout the hospital, specialty practices and community-based services. Their innovative model builds on the trusted relationship between patients and their primary care team to ensure high-quality, coordinated care, based on the needs of the patient and family. WellSpan shared the story of their transformation work across the community and described key strategies which include implementing decision making tools, data transparency, team meetings, patient partners and performance improvement efforts.

Ann M. Kunkel, RN, BSN

Director, Care Management, WellSpan Health
Ann M. Kunkel, RN is the Director of Case Management for WellSpan Health. Ann has been with WellSpan Health since 1989. She originally joined York Hospital as a Behavioral Health Nurse in 1989. From 1990 to 1992, she held a Medical Oncology Nurse position and in 1993, she assumed the role of Utilization Management Nurse. She was one of the first UM nurses at York Hospital responsible for the development of Care Coordination and Case Management services for Behavioral Health. In 1996, she was named Director of Care Management for York Hospital and 1999 she transitioned to Director of Case Management for WellSpan Health. She implemented a dyad Case Management Model at both York and Gettysburg Hospitals that have received regional accolades from the Health Care industry.    read more

Chris Echterling, MD

Medical Director, Bridges to Health and Healthy York Network, WellSpan Health
Chris received his bachelors and MD from Penn State University.  During his Family Medicine Residency at York Hospital, he was an AAFP Mead-Johnson Award Recipient.  After serving in the National Health Service Corps where he helped open a middle school-based health center, he joined WellSpan Health where he helped found HealthConnect, a mobile healthcare program for the uninsured and now serves as Medical Director of Healthy York Network, a regional healthcare charity program.  He served as Medical Director of York Hospital Community Health Center for 12 years and is now Associate Medical Director for Quality and Innovation of the WellSpan Medical Group (750+ providers in more than 64 practices).  He led the WellSpan SuperUtilizer Pilot and now serves as Medical Director of Bridges to Health – an ambulatory ICU program for high utiliz read more

Karen Jones, MD, FACP

Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, WellSpan Medical Group
Karen Jones, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer for the WellSpan Medical Group (WMG) comprised of ~750 primary care and specialty care providers across south central Pennsylvania and in northern Maryland.    She serves as Physician Champion to the RWJF-funded Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) project in South Central PA which brings providers, consumers and payers together to improve quality and engage patients in our community while also working to reduce unnecessary utilization.  . Dr. Jones served on two advisory committees to PA Governor Rendell’s Chronic Care Commission, co-chaired the steering committee for the South Central PA Chronic Care Collaborative, and is on the physician advisory council to the PA Healthcare Quality Alliance. read more

Laurie Brown

Clinical Director for Quality and Innovation, Wellspan Medical Group
Laurie Brown is the Clinical Director for Quality and Innovation for Wellspan Medical Group.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Business Administration degree from York College of Pennsylvania.  She began her nursing career in acute care and later ambulatory care nursing.  She has over twenty years of healthcare management experience, having served as the Director of the Outpatient Clinics and Practice Administrator for the WellSpan Medical Group prior to her current role.  As Clinical Director of Quality and Innovation, Laurie works with the Medical Director and the quality team to develop and implement a comprehensive quality improvement program that supports excellence in patient care and a culture of quality and safety across the Medical Group.  read more
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