For pediatricians, serving patients effectively is the central goal of their practice. This is made easier when smaller, independent practices can connect with others to share resources as well as clinical risk.

Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) are at the center of a movement toward improved resource sharing. Understanding the basics of CINs and how they can benefit your patients and your practice is the first step in evaluating whether this may be the right path for you to take.

To make understanding CINs simple, Dr. George Rogu, owner of RBK Pediatrics in Commack, New York, explored this topic on a recent episode of the PediaTricks podcast.  

What is a Clinically Integrated Network?

A clinically integrated network (CIN) is any group of practices or physicians that coordinate their goals through an integrated information-sharing system. This includes delivering evidence-based care, improving quality and efficiency, and a holistic approach to the coordination of care to improve the overall care of their patients. 

In the medical world, for individual physicians or practices to become a group, they must be connected somehow and CINs afford them this opportunity. Typically, this comes in the form of a shared tax ID, allowing them to apportion financial and clinical risks. 

Working together under a clinically integrated network allows physicians to maintain their independence while gaining access to value-based contracts with insurance carriers. If a few practices pool their resources, they can negotiate better rates with insurance companies, reducing overall medical costs for their patients. 

How Do CINs Benefit Practices and Patients?

While the cost advantages of joining a CIN are clear, other benefits can be gained when skilled physicians, care providers, and other clinical staff share resources.

• Sharing actionable data is extremely valuable. It allows providers to reach out to patients and provide better quality care. 

• Practices can learn from each other and share tips and best practices that can help them improve patient care across the board. There’s always something to be learned through collaboration.

How Office Practicum EHR Helps Support this Collaborative Process

Extrapolating information from an EHR is the trickiest part of creating actionable data that can be shared among practices and providers. All EHRs have some reporting capacity, but the simpler it is to use, the easier it will be for providers to master. The last thing anyone wants to do is manually upload their data onto a dashboard. 

A simple to use, yet robust EHR like Office Practicum can help CINs by providing a central vein of information they can all access — a single source of truth, if you will. The technology allows pediatric practices to get out of their medical silos by making it easier for data to flow freely. In turn, access to this data then allows healthcare providers to focus more of their attention on patient care.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of clinically integrated networks for independent practices, and how an EHR can help facilitate the creation of a patient-serving CIN, you can listen to the whole “Clinically Integrated Networks” podcast now. 

EHRs are the key to streamlining operations, identifying efficiencies, and freeing up valuable time for clients. OPs EHR and Revenue Cycle Management solutions offer features designed to help keep your practice’s financial and clinical operations running smoothly, so you can focus on what you do best – taking care of your patients. To learn how Office Practicum can help your pediatric practice operate at its best, contact us today.