New positions created as step toward clinical integrated network
Munson Healthcare recently announced the appointments of a medical director and executive director for population health management as the health system moves to further embrace the changes and challenges of health care reform.
Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness said James R. Whelan, M.D., has assumed the medical director position and Kimberly M. Speese the executive director role.
“Jim and Kim both bring significant experience to these positions through similar work they’ve been doing with the Wexford Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) serving the Cadillac community, and the Crawford PHO serving the Grayling community,” Ness said. “They will be instrumental in our population health management work with Northern Physician Organization (NPO) and other local community physician organizations. One of our top priorities is to work collaboratively with the physicians throughout our Munson Healthcare regions to improve how we deliver care.”
A family practice physician in Cadillac, Dr. Whelan has served as the chief medical officer at Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital and as medical director for the Wexford PHO.
Speese has served as the executive director for the Wexford PHO since 2011, and previously worked with Metro Health’s PHO in Grand Rapids.
Ness said that as the health care model changes from one based on volume to one based on value, hospitals and physicians are being asked to work together to improve care and reduce costs.
“As health care reform continues to evolve, it is critical that we have physicians and providers working together, using proven protocols and measures, to improve patient care, decrease costs and demonstrate value to the market,” he said.
Across the nation, engaging providers is the focus of many health systems and providers as a means to population health management. As a regional system, Ness said Munson Healthcare is focusing on a solution for the entire region.
“We want to draw on the very best of what is currently available and partner with multiple organizations to serve individual communities and the entire region,” Ness said.
More information on Munson Healthcare is available at munsonhealthcare.org.