The integrated Physician Network (iPN) is a quality improvement collaborative that began in 2004 when a group of independent physicians in the North Denver/Boulder area began implementation of a common electronic medical record (EMR). The iPN worked to embed key "evidence-based" care protocols in the EMR to provide real-time decision support at the point of care. Participating physicians have secure, web-based access to patient data, including demographics, referrals, medications, allergies, problem lists, procedures, alerts, laboratory and radiology reports creating a 'multi-specialty clinic without walls'. Integrated Physician Network, with over 160 providers across 30 practice sites, is partnered with Colorado’s largest not-for-profit healthcare system, Centura Health. Physician members include 7 primary care practices, a Federally Qualitfied Community Health Center and several other specialties including Orthopedics, Cardiology, Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Anesthesia. These independent physician practices are clinically integrated through population-based quality initiatives, benchmarking and sharing of best practices.
A core competence of iPN support is EMR implementation, making conversion from paper charts to a robust CCHIT-approved EMR rapid, effective and physician-friendly. More importantly, the iPN provides the critical 'behind the scenes' support--IT and performance improvement--that allows physicians to do what they do best: taking care of patients. The result is a regional accountable care organization that results in world-class care coordination and demonstrably better, more patient-centered, efficient and cost-effective healthcare.
