CONTINUUM HEALTH ALLIANCE AND ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION

Continuum Health Alliance and Atlantic Health System (AHS) announced today that they are working together to offer primary care physicians in Northern New Jersey solutions to better serve their patients and communities in the changing health care landscape.

Through their collaboration, AHS, the region’s largest health care system, and Continuum, the state’s premier health care management company, are developing an AHS affiliated primary care network of physicians, called Primary Care Partners.

Targeted to launch in the fall, Primary Care Partners will offer community physicians information technology solutions, operational and administrative support, scheduling and patient navigation systems, customer service training, revenue cycle management, and other practice management solutions.

“We are working on innovative solutions to help physicians prepare for the future of health care and continuously exploring ways to give primary care physicians the support they need to best care for their patients,” said David Shulkin, MD, president, Morristown Medical Center, and vice president, Atlantic Health System. “We are looking forward to leading the way as we partner with Continuum to expand access to primary care in our region and continue to grow a robust primary care presence for our community.”

“Our collaboration with AHS and the community will help physicians navigate the uncertainty of today’s complex health care reform. Our work together will help physicians focus on improved patient care, quality and access, “said John M. Tedeschi, MD, Continuum CEO.

Continuum Health Alliance, LLC

Continuum Health Alliance, LLC (“Continuum”) is a regional healthcare management company founded in 1998 by nationally-renowned pediatrician John M. Tedeschi, MD. Continuum offers operational oversight and optimizes business processes, enabling physician groups and hospitals to better serve their patients. The company’s comprehensive service portfolio offers dynamic solutions for administration, finance, revenue cycle management, and information technology. Continuum also collaborates with hospitals to create and manage medical group networks, hospitalist programs, and innovative hospital-based programs; and helps medical providers navigate and respond to the regulatory requirements mandated by America’s health care reform legislation.  The company presently oversees an aggregate client workforce of more than 1,800 employees located in approximately 85 medical offices and hospital settings. Learn more at www.challc.net. 

About Atlantic Health System

Atlantic Health System is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey, comprised of Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center in Summit and Newton Medical Center. The three medical centers -- all accredited by The Joint Commission -- have a combined total of 1,308 licensed beds and more than 2,750 affiliated physicians providing a wide array of health care services to the residents of Northern and Central New Jersey. Specialty service areas include advanced cardiovascular care, pediatric medical and surgical specialties, neurology, orthopedics, and sports medicine. Each of these programs has earned top ratings and recognitions in their respective fields. Atlantic Health System is the official health care partner of the New York Jets and an official health care provider of the New Jersey Devils.

Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute performs more heart surgeries than any other hospital in New York or New Jersey, and is one of 20 facilities across the country to perform catheter-based repair and replacement of valves on both sides of the heart. Atlantic Health System’s spine program – where surgeons perform more spine surgery than anywhere else in New Jersey – is one of just 13 hospitals across the country that has received the Gold Seal of ApprovalTM from The Joint Commission, achieving Disease-Specific Care Certification for cervical and lumbar spine treatments. With the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute based at Overlook Medical Center, the hospital serves as the hub for the New Jersey Stroke Network, and serves about 40 percent of the state’s stroke patients. The system’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital offers more than 100 board-certified physicians in 20 pediatric specialties. Morristown Medical Center is designated a Level I Regional Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons and a Level II by the state of New Jersey.

Atlantic Health System has been chosen for the past three consecutive years by FORTUNE® as one of the magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®.” The organization has also been recognized four times by AARP as one of the “Best Employers for Workers over 50.” Inside Jersey magazine partnered with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. and ranked Morristown Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in New Jersey and the No. 1 hospital for treatment of heart failure and coronary surgery in the state. The survey findings also establish Overlook as No.1 for the treatment of neurological disorders and No. 2 for stroke treatment in NJ.  Atlantic Health System is a Major Clinical Research Affiliate with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and is the primary academic and clinical affiliate in New Jersey of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and The Mount Sinai Hospital.