BEND, OR – Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC), the largest provider of quality, comprehensive and convenient physician healthcare in Central Oregon, has joined with Clear One Health Plans to offer the region’s first Focused Patient Care Model, similar to a Medical Home Model, beginning January 1, 2010.

BMC’s team of more than 100 physicians and other providers care for approximately 3,800 Clear One Medicare Advantage members all of whom will qualify for the program.

“We are drawing upon the success of our experience in the ‘Health Buddy’ Medicare cost savings demonstration project as our foundation,” said Marvin Lein, CEO of Bend Memorial Clinic.

“Recent studies have shown that the medical home model is an effective method to improve healthcare while also reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction,” said Dr. Sean Rogers, BMC’s Medical Director and practicing Internist. “Essentially, patients will receive better care by both preventing complications arising from manageable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart conditions and high blood pressure, while increasing availability of same‐day appointments when office visits are needed. A physician‐led team focuses on managing all care
needed by the patient.”

“Our focused patient home model in collaboration with Bend Memorial Clinic will provide Clear One Medicare Advantage members better access to quality care through open scheduling, dedicated teams and increased member satisfaction with their care, all while reducing healthcare costs,” said Patricia Gibford, president and CEO of Clear One Health Plans. "A Clear One Nurse Case Manager, embedded at BMC and as part of the team, will coordinate chronic care and disease management services for members with chronic illness to better manage the condition through increased access to the physician team. Ultimately our goal is to improve members’ health and wellbeing through a physician‐team approach to ensure members receive better overall access, appropriate treatment, and improved quality of life.”

Specific Benefits of the Medical Home Model include:

• Physician Team Accountability: Physicians and medical personnel proactively focus on preventative care measures; efforts to help patients on a continual basis; ability to connect patients with appropriate specialists within the physician team; and overall quality treatment and care outcomes.
• Open Scheduling: Improved scheduling and more same‐day appointments for treatment will improve access to care.
• Nurse Case Manager: Nurse Case Managers will coordinate chronic disease care with the patient and the physician team, which will improve care while reducing the chance for duplicate tests and unnecessary hospitalizations, which ultimately lead to lower costs. When needed, the Nurse Case Manager will also work closely with physicians and others to better coordinate the transitions to and from hospital care.
• Better Use of Physician Skills: The model encourages and recognizes the value of physician‐led teams spending time to anticipate patient care needs while finding ways to prevent illness and expensive reactive care.

For more information, please visit
http://www.bendmemorialclinic.com/html/ne_news_events.htm.

About Bend Memorial Clinic
Bend Memorial Clinic includes more than 100 physicians representing 15 branches of medicine and 30 specialty services including Urgent Care, Occupational Medicine, Primary/Specialty Care and Clinical Services. With five locations throughout the Central Oregon Region, BMC is the largest multi‐specialty group east of the Cascades and functions as a comprehensive referral center for physicians and communities throughout the state. The Clinic has provided primary and specialty care since 1946. For more information, please visit www.bendmemorialclinic.com.

About Clear One Health Plans
Clear One Health Plans offers affordable health plans to meet the needs of employers, providers, and consumers. The Company provides health insurance, including Medicare Advantage plans, commercial plans, individual plans, and administrative services to individuals and businesses throughout the West. The Company also offers life, disability, dental, vision and voluntary benefits programs, as well as employee benefit services to self‐funded employers, associations, Taft‐Hartley Trusts, and Chamber of Commerce plans. Clear One is dedicated to the development of community‐based employee benefits programs, health insurance, and ancillary plans. For information call 888‐863‐3637, visit www.clearonehp.com.