Baylor Scott & White Health Reports First-Year Milestones

DALLAS, Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Baylor Scott & White Health marks the first anniversary of its merger, the organization has achieved the major goals established after becoming the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas in October 2013.

"We promised the communities we serve and the state of Texas that the merger would create tangible benefits and keep a laser focus on putting the patient first in everything we do," said Baylor Scott & White Health CEO Joel Allison. "We can already validate we are beginning to deliver on these commitments, as we continue to become a truly integrated delivery network."

The commitments included:

• Increasing patient access to quality care: Baylor Scott & White Health serves a population larger than the state of Virginia. It includes 49 hospitals, more than 800 access points for 5.3 million annual patient encounters, more than 5,800 active physicians, 35,000 employees, and the Scott & White Health Plan.
• Advancing population health initiatives: The Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance, the system's accountable care organization (ACO), is now one of the nation's largest based on physician participation, and it is growing rapidly. In its first 23 months, hospital admissions among the Quality Alliance's initial 34,000 members decreased 4.3 percent.  Thirty-day hospital readmissions were down 18 percent for this particular population and the total cost of providing health care to the members was $13.9 million less than projected, accounting for 7 percent savings. Baylor Scott & White Health also helped spearhead the formation of Texas Care Alliance, composed of 9 health systems in Texas, which will share clinical and administrative data and best practices to improve quality and efficiency, lower health care costs and accelerate medical innovation in patient care.
• Delivering community benefit: When combined, the reported community benefit figure by Baylor Health Care System and the reported community benefit figure by Scott & White Healthcare totaled more than $861 million** dedicated to areas including charity care, community education programs, prevention screening events, medical education and research.
• Re-branding access points: The former Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco became Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center in June.  In April, Baylor Scott & White Health flags rose at hospitals across North and Central Texas showing that now "We Are One" under the Baylor Scott & White Health name.
• Integrating the two merging systems' corporate functions, sharing best practices and gaining synergies: In the past year, most corporate functions have been integrated, clinical integration is now underway and $39 million in efficiencies have been achieved. 

"The real goal of our integration process is to find ways to better serve the millions of Texans who count on us," said Allison. "This merger was the right thing to do for our communities, and we are confident it will improve their health, while also improving quality and lowering costs."

About Baylor Scott & White Health
Baylor Scott & White Health, the organization formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, is today the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $9 billion* and serving a population larger than the state of Virginia, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The organization now includes 49 hospitals, more than 800 access points, more than 5,800 active physicians, 35,000 employees and the Scott & White Health Plan. For More Information visit:

www.BaylorScottandWhite.com

* based on audited fiscal year 2013 financial statements

** Calculated for Baylor Scott & White not-for-profit hospitals in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 311.

SOURCE Baylor Scott and White Health