Four private and public health agencies that serve San Joaquin's low-income residents have launched a collaboration intended to boost care coordination, improve outcomes and ensure long-term cost savings, the Stockton Record reports.
Collaboration Details
The four members of the collaboration are:
- Community Medical Centers;
- Health Plan of San Joaquin;
- San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services; and
- San Joaquin General Hospital.
The Blue Shield of California Foundation provided the alliance with a $500,000 grant. In addition, the Community Clinics Initiative -- a collaboration between Tides Foundation and The California Endowment -- gave the group a second $500,000 grant.
Collaboration Goals
The four members will share patient data electronically using a health information exchange that will launch Oct. 31. With the exchange, the groups hope to better integrate mental health care, primary and specialty care, disease management support, and clinical and community preventive services.
In addition, staff members of the participating groups will be coached on how to coordinate patients' primary and mental health care (Goldeen, Stockton Record, 2/7).