Frequently asked questions

A clinically integrated network allows providers to join together to:

• Identify and adopt clinical protocols
• Measure and incentivize efforts to improve healthcare quality and efficiency
• Develop systems to monitor compliance with approved clinical protocols
• Achieve the quadruple aim of increasing patient experience, increasing quality, decreasing cost, and improving provider experience.
• Enter into provider-directed contractual arrangements with health plans to financially recognize improvement of healthcare quality and efficiency

Potential long-term benefits include:

• Entering into provider-directed contractual arrangements with health plans to financially recognize improvement of healthcare quality and efficiency
• Development of a community-wide database of key indicators to enable future pediatric driven population health initiatives
• Other potential benefits that other CINs have implemented, such as group purchasing, EHR assistance and/or interoperability, and more

VCCN will be both entirely pediatric-focused and led by community pediatricians throughout our region. As a specialized pediatric network, we believe that we will be uniquely situated to improve the quality and cost of care rendered in our community by populating VCCN’s Board and Board committees with provider representatives dedicated to pediatrics.     

Provider engagement and empowerment are critical to our success. To this end, VCCN’s management is vested in its Board. The majority of the Board members will include general pediatricians and subspecialists participating in VCCN. The Board will drive VCCN’s clinical programs, including the adoption of protocols and benchmarks. The Board will be supported by several committees, which include: a quality committee, a network development committee, and a future committee for finance and contracting activities. A practice manager advisory committee will advise the Board on business-related matters.

Aside from basic criteria, such as holding a valid and unrestricted professional license to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a physician or advanced practice provider (APP) and maintaining malpractice insurance, the primary expectation is that participating providers actively support the quality improvement initiatives adopted by VCCN’s leadership. This entails staying informed of current projects, attending informational programs, and modifying practice patterns to drive better more efficient care.

VCCN intends to pursue value-based arrangements that recognize the improved quality that VCCN-affiliated practices deliver through our coordinated efforts. The decision to enter into a specific incentive contract will be made by VCCN’s provider-led Board.

Specific areas for quality improvement initiatives and related data monitoring are determined by VCCN’s provider-led Board, but will generally be aimed at upholding evidence based standards of care for children and improving outcomes for children of all levels of complexity and their families.

Patients and their families will benefit from better continuity of care and information sharing between providers in the VCCN network. Patients may experience changed and improved disease management, episodic care management, and overall improved healthcare quality encouraged by the adoption of VCCN’s clinical protocols. Through shared IT infrastructure, this will lead to better tracking of health issues and medications between primary care providers and specialists, an improved system to provide notice for preventive care needs, and less time spent providing repetitive medical histories.

VCCN does not currently require a fee or capital contribution to participate. VCCN’s provider-led Board may decide to collect dues at a later date depending on the work undertaken by VCCN and the associated operational costs.

Yes. VCCN is a non-exclusive network, meaning that practices may join other provider collaborations such as clinically integrated networks, accountable care organizations, physician hospital organizations, and independent physician associations. Any future decisions regarding exclusivity would be made by VCCN’s provider-led Board.

For more information, or to request a meeting to discuss participation, please use our “Contact Us” form ,or email us at: VCCN@vcuhealth.org.