In what may be a sign of changes to come, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and UNC Health Care announced this week that they will collaborate to launch a novel patient-centered practice, to be located and opened in Orange or Durham County in the fourth quarter of 2011. According to a BCBSNC news release, the partnership will develop a new type of medical practice that will go beyond the “medical home” and will enable teams of health care providers to work collaboratively with patients and families in delivering high quality, coordinated care for about 5,000 BCBSNC members.
An expanded set of services are expected to be included:
- Non-traditional visit formats (e-visits, televisits, home monitoring)
- On-site mental health
- On-site nutritionist
- On-site pharmacy and medication management
- On-site laboratory
- Case management and coordination of care for patients requiring hospitalization
- Group and educational visits
- Extended weekday and weekend hours
- State-of-the-art information technology
Read more about the BCBSNC-UNC Health Care announcement in these reports (click headline to view story):
UNC Health, BCBS plan joint facility, by Alan M. Wolf, 1-11-11, The News & Observer
Blue Cross, UNC Health to set up new NC practice, 1-11-11, WRAL-TV
