Grand Rapids, MI, July 22, 2009. The U.S. health care system is increasingly regarded as having reached a state of crisis. Our nation spends more money on health care than most other advanced countries in the world, yet ranks low in international comparisons of lifespan and other qualitative outcomes. A 2004 report in the Annals of Family Medicine concluded that if every American had a medical home, health care costs would decrease by 5.6 percent, resulting in national savings of $67 billion dollars per year and improved care quality
“Many studies have found that the coordinated and comprehensive approach of a medical home model of care, leads to improved health outcomes and lowers the overall cost of care.” according to Dave Blair, MD, president of Advantage Health Physician Network. “The Patient-Centered Medical Home will help us transform the delivery of primary care” he added.
Advantage Health Physician Network (AHPN), Saint Mary’s Health Care (SMHC) physician offices and other closely affiliated primary care physician offices – Brookville Pediatric Internal Medicine, Gerald VanWiernen, MD, Jupiter Family Medicine, Alger Pediatrics and Family Medicine Specialists – have been selected as a Patient-Centered Medical Home designated practice by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The AHPN and SMHC offices receiving this designation include:
- Advantage Health Physician Network Caledonia Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Downtown Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network East Beltline Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- Advantage Health Physician Network Jenison Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Kentwood Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Northeast Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Northwest Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Rivertown Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Southeast Family Medicine
- Advantage Health Physician Network Southwest Family Medicine, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
- Advantage Health Physician Network Walker/Standale Family Medicine
- Heritage Pediatrics
- Saint Mary’s HealthLink Browning Claytor Family Medicine and Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
- Saint Mary’s HealthLink Sparta Family Medicine
- Saint Mary’s Wege Institute Family Practice
- Saint Mary’s Wege Institute Internal Medicine
About Advantage Health Physician Network (APHN) is a progressive network of experts specializing in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, who work with patients and our team of affiliated specialists to provide a more complete approach in health care. Our offices are located throughout the greater metropolitan area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit
www.advantagehealth.org
About Saint Mary’s Health Care (SMHC)
Saint Mary’s Health Care is an integrated network of health care excellence offering a unique combination of capabilities to deliver a health care experience that is more complete and personally satisfying. Our commitment to offer the latest technology and most highly skilled physicians in a holistic, patient-centered environment has made us a progressive leader in cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrine care, kidney transplants, and integrative health care.
The network encompasses more than 2,400 employees, a 336-bed, JCAHO-accredited teaching hospital, The Lacks Cancer Center, The Wege Institute for Health and Learning, the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, the Hauenstein Center, Saint Mary’s Southwest, three fitness centers, five community outreach centers and affiliations with home health care, rehabilitation services, and the area's premier primary care network, Advantage Health Physician Network. Saint Mary’s has several times been awarded the Governor’s Award of Excellence and named one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to work for. Saint Mary’s is a member of Trinity Health, the country’s fourth-largest Catholic health care system.
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