Four health systems form Longitude Health 

Photo: The Good Brigade/Getty Images

Baylor Scott & White Health, Memorial Hermann Health System, Novant Health, and Providence have formed Longitude Health, an organization that said it would invest in solutions built by them, for patients.

The founding health system members will collectively make investments over the next five years towards its mission of identifying, developing and scaling solutions to enhance core operational functions and transform health system performance. 

The organization is seeking other like-minded and high-performing health system members to join the organization over time.

Leading the new organization as CEO is Paul Mango, former chief of staff at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, deputy chief of staff for Policy for the Department of Health and Human Services and McKinsey's U.S. Health Care Practice Leader and Global Health Care Practice Leader. Mango will also serve as a board member for Longitude Health. 

The new CFO is Brett Moraski, whose previous executive roles include founding managing partner at SEMCAP Health, operating partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners and LLR Partners, corporate VP of Transformation at Wellpoint and senior vice president of Corporate Strategy and Development at Highmark Health.

In addition to Mango, the Longitude Health Board is made up of the chief executive officers of the founding member organizations. Pete McCanna of Baylor Scott & White Health has been appointed as the board chair.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Longitude Health said it would draw on the expertise of its member health systems and others to identify, develop and implement performance solutions and capabilities to deliver high-quality, affordable healthcare and to improve access and the patient experience.

In the short term, Longitude Health intends to make multiple strategic investments over the next two years. 

Initiatives include improving health system performance across key dimensions, including cost, quality, access and patient experience – and empowering healthier futures by building equity value derived from developing and scaling new capabilities to achieve sustainable change.

THE LARGER TREND

Another hospital team effort is Risant Health, formed by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals' last year.

The nonprofit was created by Kaiser to expand and accelerate the adoption of value-based care in diverse, multi-payer, multi-provider, community-based health system environments, Risant said.

Geisinger Health was the first health system to join the organization, followed by Cone Health. In September, Risant Health said it would make available a minimum of $1 billion in capital to Cone Health over the next five years to support investments in facilities, health equity and other capital projects,

ON THE RECORD

"Longitude Health will scale the next generation of capabilities faster and more effectively than if individual health systems attempted to do so themselves," said Pete McCanna, CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health and founding member. "We aim to set a new standard, demonstrating that new approaches can optimize organizations' performance and quality and drive positive systemic change to benefit patients."

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org