Atrius Health
{{Short description|American independent physician-led healthcare organization (formed 2004)}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2017}}
Atrius Health is a Massachusetts based healthcare organization with a system of connected care for adult and pediatric patients in eastern and central Massachusetts.{{Cite web|url = http://www.atriushealth.org/aboutUs/whoWeAre.asp|title = Atrius Health: Who We Are|website=Atriushealth.org }} Atrius Health's medical practices work together with the home health and hospice services of its VNA Care subsidiary and in collaboration with hospital partners, community specialists and skilled nursing facilities.{{cite web|url=https://www.atriushealth.org/about-us/our-care-network|title=Atrius Health - Our Care Network|website=Atriushealth.org}} Atrius was acquired by Optum on May 31, 2022, which caused it to lose its tax-exempt status, although its charitable assets were transferred to the Atrius Health Equity Foundation.{{cite news |last1=Tozzi |first1=John |title=UnitedHealth's Deal for Atrius Doctors Cleared by Massachusetts AG |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/unitedhealth-s-deal-for-atrius-doctors-cleared-by-massachusetts-ag-1.1755162 |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=BNN Bloomberg Newsletters |agency=Bloomberg |publisher=Bell Media |date=2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421230330/https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/unitedhealth-s-deal-for-atrius-doctors-cleared-by-massachusetts-ag-1.1755162 |archive-date=21 April 2022 |location=Toronto, Ontario}}{{Cite web |title=News & Media {{!}} Atrius Health Joins Optum |url=https://www.atriushealth.org/news-media/2022-releases/atrius-health-joins-optum |website=www.atriushealth.org |language=en-US|access-date=2 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820024442/https://www.atriushealth.org/news-media/2022-releases/atrius-health-joins-optum |archive-date=2022-08-20 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last1=Morse |first1=Susan |title=Massachusetts AG agrees to $236 million Optum and Atrius Health merger |url=https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/massachusetts-ag-agrees-236-million-optum-and-atrius-health-merger#:~:text=Massachusetts%20AG%20agrees%20to%20%24236%20million%20Optum%20and%20Atrius%20Health%20merger,-Should%20the%20deal |website=Healthcare Finance |publisher=HIMSS Media |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=25 Apr 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Morse |first1=Susan |title=Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court approves Optum's acquisition of Atrius |url=https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/massachusetts-supreme-judicial-court-approves-optums-acquisition-atrius |website=Healthcare Finance |publisher=HIMSS Media |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=2022-05-02 |quote=Optum Care will purchase Atrius' charitable assets for $236 million, with the proceeds going to the Atrius Health Equity Foundation.}}
The Atrius Health groups operate as a model for accountable care organizations (ACOs){{cite web|title=ACO FAQs|url=http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/January/13/ACO-accountable-care-organization-FAQ.aspx|website=Kaiserhealthnews.org|date=14 September 2015 }}{{Failed verification|date=May 2020}} with responsibility for the quality and cost of care for many of their patients since before the term was coined by Elliott S. Fisher in 2006.{{cite news|last=Aiello|first=Marianne|title=Elliott Fisher: Data-Driven ACO Visionary|url=http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/PHY-259200/Elliott-Fisher-DataDriven-ACO-Visionary.html|newspaper=Health Leaders Media|date=December 2, 2010|access-date=December 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524130154/http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/PHY-259200/Elliott-Fisher-DataDriven-ACO-Visionary.html|archive-date=May 24, 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2009, Atrius Health became one of the first organizations to sign on to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Alternative Quality Contract (AQC).{{Cite web |url=http://www.bluecrossma.com/visitor/newsroom/press-releases/2009/newsRelease07202009.html |title=News Release - Visitor - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts |access-date=2015-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206190553/http://www.bluecrossma.com/visitor/newsroom/press-releases/2009/newsRelease07202009.html |archive-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead }}
Atrius Health is also a participant in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Pioneer ACO program. In 2015, Atrius Health's Pioneer ACO's quality scores were the highest among Pioneer ACO's in Massachusetts and the third-highest among Pioneer ACOs nationally.{{Cite web|title = How Atrius Health is Standing Tall Among Pioneer ACOs {{!}} Healthcare Informatics Magazine {{!}} Health IT {{!}} Information Technology|url = https://www.hcinnovationgroup.com/policy-value-based-care/article/13025720/how-atrius-health-is-standing-tall-among-pioneer-acos|website=Healthcare-informatics.com|access-date = 2016-02-19}}
Atrius Health has also earned Stage 7 recognition from HIMSS Analytics, the highest level possible nationally for the use of health information technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.himssanalytics.org/about/NewsDetail.aspx?nid%3D82117 |title=HIMSS Analytics Honors, Atrius Health and its affiliate, Reliant Medical Group, with Stage 7 Ambulatory Award |access-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206204739/http://www.himssanalytics.org/about/NewsDetail.aspx?nid=82117 |archive-date=2015-02-06 }}
Leadership
Steven Strongwater became president and CEO of Atrius Health in August 2015.{{Cite web|title = Atrius names new CEO |url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/05/28/atrius-names-new-ceo/45QHw0n3aGGX48FfmZhl0I/story.html|work=The Boston Globe|access-date = 2016-02-17}} Joe Kimura is chief medical officer and an internist at Atrius Health. In 2012, Kimura was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top 25 Clinical Informaticists in the United States.{{Cite web|url = http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20121103/MAGAZINE/311039952|title = Modern Health Care: Top 25 Clinical Informaticists|website=Modernhealthcare.com | date=7 September 2011 }} Since 2014, he has served as co-chair of the Office of National Coordinator HIT Policy Federal Workgroup on Advanced Health Models and Meaningful Use.{{Cite web|title = Advanced Health Models and Meaningful Use Workgroup {{!}} FACA|url = https://www.healthit.gov/facas/health-it-policy-committee/hitpc-workgroups/advanced-health-models-and-meaningful-use-workgroup|website = Healthit.gov|access-date = 2016-02-17|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160225120833/https://www.healthit.gov/facas/health-it-policy-committee/hitpc-workgroups/advanced-health-models-and-meaningful-use-workgroup|archive-date = 2016-02-25|url-status = dead}}
History
Founding medical groups Dedham Medical Associates and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates formed Atrius Health as a loose affiliation in 2004. They were then joined by Granite Medical Group in 2005. They entered a formal merger in 2015.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.atriushealth.org/about-us/history |publisher=Atrius Health |access-date=19 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=New Atrius will be streamlined, smaller - 3 doctors groups to merge; 3 others opt to split off | author=Priyanka Dayal McCluskey |date= December 9, 2014
|url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/12/09/independent-atrius-doctors-groups-merge/YZ9abGpI8Olg51o7K6PppN/story.html| website=The Boston Globe }} Atrius took on VNA Care Network & Hospice as a subsidiary providing integrated home health and hospice subsidiary in 2017. PMG Physician Associates followed suit on June 1, 2017.{{cite news |last1=Atrius Health |title=Welcome PMG Physician Associates! |url=https://blog.atriushealth.org/2017/06/welcome-pmg-physician-associates/ |access-date=19 May 2020 |work=Atrius Health Blog |date=June 2, 2017}} Atrius Health was acquired by Optum on May 31, 2022.
= Timeline =
- 2004: Dedham Medical Associates, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Southboro Medical Group and South Shore Medical Center formed HealthOne Care System
- 2005: Granite Medical Group joined HealthOne Care System
- 2007: HealthOne Care System changed its name to Atrius Health
- 2007: Hired Ed Noffsinger,{{cite web|title=Edward B. Noffsinger |url=http://healthspottr.com/fh100/636-edward-b-noffsinger |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917221743/http://healthspottr.com/fh100/636-edward-b-noffsinger |archive-date=2011-09-17 }} the "Father of Shared Medical Appointments" to launch a program of Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs{{cite news|last=Donnelly |first=Ally |title=Shared Medical Appointments Help Provide Better Care |url=http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2008/12/01/Shared-medical-appointments/1228188165.html |newspaper=NECN |date=December 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207135622/http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2008/12/01/Shared-medical-appointments/1228188165.html |archive-date=2009-02-07 }}) as a way for patients to have better access to their physicians and other providers and to learn from other patients during a 90-minute group visit{{cite news|last=TERGESEN|first=ANNE|title=Group Healing|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703811604574533460290578596|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=December 19, 2009}}
- 2009: Began working with Simpler Consulting{{cite news|last=ROSE|first=JILL|title=On the Road|url=http://www.inside-healthcare.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2937&Itemid=204|newspaper=Inside Healthcare|date=August 1, 2011}} to improve care deliveries through Lean transformation.{{cite web|title=Lean Transformation|url=http://www.lean.org/whatslean/|website=Lean.org}}
- 2009: Signed a five-year Alternative Quality Contract{{cite news|title=Fee for Service: How Long Will It Be Around?: New Payment Models: Do They Help?|url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/751386_2|newspaper=Medscape}} (AQC) with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to improve the quality of care and cut medical costs{{cite news|last=Syre|first=Steve|title=Hospitals' cost gamble|url=http://archive.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2011/09/16/blurring_the_lines_between_medical_care_and_health_insurance/|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=September 16, 2011}}
- 2009: Created the Atrius Health Foundation to support innovative solutions to improve healthcare and help in emergency situations like the 2010 earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- 2011: Reliant Medical Group (formerly Fallon Clinic) joined Atrius Health{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Brandon|title=Fallon Clinic To Join Atrius|url=https://www.wbjournal.com/article/fallon-clinic-to-join-atrius|newspaper=Worcester Business Journal|date=June 21, 2011}}
- 2013: VNA Care Network & Hospice joined Atrius Health{{Cite web |url=http://www.vnacarenetwork.org/about |title=VNA Care Network & Hospice - About Us |access-date=2015-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206155457/http://www.vnacarenetwork.org/about |archive-date=2015-02-06 |url-status=dead }}{{Citation needed|reason=Year of affiliation isn't indicated in reference.|date=July 2024}}
- 2013: VNA of Boston became a subsidiary of Atrius' subsidiary VNA Care Network Foundation.{{cite web |title=Notice of Material Change |url=https://www.mass.gov/doc/visiting-nurse-association-of-boston-inc/download |website=Mass.gov |publisher=State of Massachusetts |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=2013-07-03 |quote=VNA Care Network Foundation ... will become the indirect parent of ... Boston VNA and Hospice}}
- 2015: Atrius reorganizes: South Shore Medical Center in Norwell, Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, and Southboro Medical Group in Southborough leave the association, while Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Dedham Medical Associates, and Granite Medical Group merge into one corporation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/12/09/independent-atrius-doctors-groups-merge/YZ9abGpI8Olg51o7K6PppN/story.html|title=New Atrius will be streamlined, smaller|first=Priyanka |last=Dayal McCluskey |date=9 December 2014|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=21 May 2019}} VNA Care Network Foundation is an integrated subsidiary.{{Citation needed|reason=VNA isn't mentioned in the Globe article|date=July 2024}}
- 2015: Atrius Health invests $10 million into an Innovation Center aimed at developing and improving patient-centered care delivery models to improve care quality and efficiency in interacting with patients{{Cite web|title = Atrius launches 'innovation center' |url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/04/26/atrius-launches-innovation-center/w60aVIFmnFM3PtPFo5qVYM/story.html|work=The Boston Globe|access-date = 2016-02-24}}
- 2015: Steven Strongwater joins Atrius Health as president & chief executive officer{{Cite web|title = Atrius Health's new CEO focused on innovation to move physician group forward - Boston Business Journal|url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/health-care/2015/06/new-atriusceo-focused-on-innovation-to-move.html|website=Boston Business Journal|access-date = 2016-02-24}}
- 2016: Atrius' subsidiary, VNA Care Network Foundation, rebranded as VNA Care, and will include VNA Care Network & Hospice, VNA of Boston, and VNA Hospice Care.{{cite web |title=New name for VNA Care |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/business/briefs/2016/07/31/new-name-for-vna-care/27403807007/ |website=Telegram & Gazette |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=28 Jul 2016}}
- 2022: Atrius Health is acquired by Optum, at which point it lost its not-for-profit status and its charitable assets were transferred to the Atrius Health Equity Foundation.