LivingWell Health Center by HealthSpring in Gallatin, Tenn. marks its
second anniversary this month as it opens a new in-house pharmacy.
The Gallatin LivingWell center opened in December 2006. It was founded
on the “medical home” philosophy of expanded on-site medical care with
an emphasis on quality and a focus on exceptional customer service for
patients.
“HealthSpring is pioneering these senior-focused medical home centers,”
LivingWell Vice President Andrea Kampine said. “We are proud of our
position as the market leader in developing and managing centers that
provide the very highest quality healthcare and services for seniors.
“Establishing an on-site pharmacy is a part of this full-service
approach to healthcare for our members,” Kampine said. “We strongly
believe that providing members with high-quality, convenient healthcare
is going to help them stay healthier and improve their quality of life.”
“LivingWell pharmacists will work with patients and their doctors to
develop complete, customized medication plans,” Kampine said. “The
pharmacists will also be available to meet one-on-one with each patient
to answer questions, review any potential interactions, suggest possible
cost-saving alternative medications and go over instructions for taking
the medications, Kampine said.”
HealthSpring CEO Herb Fritch is passionate about establishing the
company’s position as a leader in senior-focus medical homes. “We
absolutely believe the medical home concept allows Medicare
beneficiaries to spend more time with their doctors and get better care,
including much more extensive preventive care, in a warm and friendly
environment where they can develop a sense of community,” he said.
“That’s the core of HealthSpring’s strategy with our LivingWell Health
Centers, and we’re seeing its success here in Gallatin.”
The Gallatin LivingWell Health Center is operated in conjunction with
Sumner Medical Group, a local physician group that has worked for
several years with HealthSpring on improving care quality, even prior to
opening the LivingWell center. Data from this partnership shows
compliance with 31 quality-of-care measures has more than doubled in
four years. These measures include diabetic foot and eye exams,
mammograms and colon screenings.
HealthSpring data show that increased compliance with such quality
measures reduces member ER visits and hospitalizations by up to 10
percent.
HealthSpring also operates LivingWell Health Centers in Mobile, Ala.,
and Houston, Tex. All the centers are designed exclusively for
HealthSpring Medicare members and are based on the medical home concept.
HealthSpring President Mike Mirt said HealthSpring’s LivingWell Health
Centers demonstrate the company’s innovation. “We think it’s essential
to take a forward-thinking approach,” he said. “Our LivingWell centers
represent a new approach to healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries, and
it’s making a real difference in the health of our members.”
HealthSpring (NYSE:HS) is based in Nashville, Tenn., and is one of the
country’s largest coordinated care plans whose primary focus is the
Medicare Advantage market. HealthSpring currently owns and operates
Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi,
Tennessee and Texas and also offers a national stand-alone Medicare
prescription drug plan. For more information, visit www.healthspring.com.
HealthSpring
Jolene Sharp, 615-234-6710
Corporate Manager,
Media Relations
jolene.sharp@healthspring.com
