About VCCN
Virginia Children’s Care Network is a clinically integrated network supported by CHoR in collaboration with community pediatricians across the region.
CINs like Virginia Children’s Care Network can serve as a mechanism for achieving the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s quadruple aim:
- Improving patient experience
- Improving population health
- Enhancing provider wellbeing
- Reducing health care costs
Virginia Children’s Care Network is entirely pediatric-focused and led by pediatricians in the community.
Mission and vision to improve pediatric care through a clinically integrated network
Mission
Virginia Children’s Care Network will improve the health of Virginia’s children by improving access to medical services, coordinating care, enhancing communication and professional satisfaction, and expanding opportunities for quality, safety, research and education.
Vision
Virginia Children’s Care Network will lead the region in providing integrated, high quality, effective and efficient family-centered pediatric health care for all children.
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinically integrated network (CIN)?
A clinically integrated network allows providers to join together to:
- Identify and adopt clinical protocols
- Measure and incentivize efforts to improve healthcare quality and efficiency.
- Develop systems to monitor compliance with approved clinical protocols.
- Achieve the quadruple aim of increasing patient experience, increasing quality, decreasing cost and improving provider experience.
- Enter into provider-directed contractual arrangements with health plans to financially recognize improvement of healthcare quality and efficiency.
What are the requirements to participate in VCCN?
Aside from basic criteria, such as holding a valid and unrestricted professional license to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a physician or advanced practice provider (APP) and maintaining malpractice insurance, the primary expectation is that participating providers actively support the quality improvement initiatives adopted by VCCN’s leadership. This entails staying informed of current projects, attending informational programs and modifying practice patterns to drive better more efficient care.
How will participation in VCCN affect your practice’s current contracts?
VCCN intends to pursue value-based arrangements that recognize the improved quality that VCCN-affiliated practices deliver through our coordinated efforts. The decision to enter into a specific incentive contract will be made by VCCN’s provider-led board.
What are VCCN’s quality improvement areas of focus?
Specific areas for quality improvement initiatives and related data monitoring are determined by VCCN’s provider-led board, but will generally be aimed at upholding evidence based standards of care for children and improving outcomes for children of all levels of complexity and their families.
How will clinical integration change the patient
experience?
Patients and their families will benefit from better continuity of care and information sharing between providers in the VCCN network. Patients may experience changed and improved disease management, episodic care management and overall improved healthcare quality encouraged by the adoption of VCCN’s clinical protocols. Through shared IT infrastructure, this will lead to better tracking of health issues and medications between primary care providers and specialists, an improved system to provide notice for preventive care needs and less time spent providing repetitive medical histories.
Is there a fee to join?
VCCN does not currently require a fee or capital contribution to participate. VCCN’s provider-led board may decide to collect dues at a later date depending on the work undertaken by VCCN and the associated operational costs.
If we already participate in another similar provider network, can my practice still join VCCN?
Yes. VCCN is a non-exclusive network, meaning that practices may join other provider collaborations such as clinically integrated networks, accountable care organizations, physician hospital organizations and independent physician associations. Any future decisions regarding exclusivity would be made by VCCN’s provider-led board.
