Chicago Health Colleagues is:
- A physician-led, physician-driven collaboration
- A clinically integrated network designed to benefit its member physicians
- Focused on improving the quality and efficiency of care, supported by reliable data
- A means to coordinate health care providers to improve quality, reduce variability and reduce expense
- An arrangement empowering the network to collectively negotiate contracts on behalf of its members
- A legal structure allowing network members to be financially rewarded for demonstrated performance
- A model that lays a foundation for the future realities of affordable, accountable health care
Chicago Health Colleagues is not:
- A hospital-led initiative
- A hospital takeover of private practice
- Physician employment or a path to hospital employment
- Intended to reduce choices or limit services
- A mechanism to gain negotiating leverage over payers
- An Independent Practice Association/ Physician Hospital Organization messenger contract model
- A return to capitation (1980s) or an assumption of full financial risk
