BayCare expanding presence through medical group acquisition
Most Gessler providers and team members will join BayCare, as well as its physician and advanced practice providers group.
Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images
BayCare Health System, based in Clearwater, Florida, will be acquiring Gessler Clinic, a physician-owned medical group, with the former to begin operating at the Gessler Clinic locations effective December 2.
BayCare is the region's largest nonprofit healthcare provider. Gessler Clinic is a physician-owned medical group that has served the Winter Haven community since 1957. It currently covers 20 specialties with more than 40 providers.
"Gessler's long-standing dedication and high-quality service to its patients make it a natural fit to expand BayCare's commitment to the community," said BayCare Co-Chief Operating Officer Lou Galdieri. "This transition underscores a mutual vision to elevate healthcare delivery in Winter Haven and Polk County."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Gessler Clinic's main location is across the street from Winter Haven Hospital, and many of its providers already practice there and at Winter Haven Women's Hospital, said BayCare.
The two hospitals joined BayCare in 2013, adding not only acute care facilities to the health system but also outpatient behavioral health services, a community blood center and primary care practices.
BayCare has since deepened its commitment in Polk County, purchasing Bartow Regional Medical Center and a Winter Haven-based urgent care center. In addition, BayCare opened two additional urgent care centers in surrounding cities, expanded specialty and primary care practices, and established a family medicine physician residency program.
Most Gessler providers and team members will join BayCare, including BayCare Medical Group, the largest physician and advanced practice providers group serving the West Central Florida and Tampa Bay regions.
BayCare boasts 16 hospitals, including a dedicated children's hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. BayCare also is the region's largest provider of pediatric and behavioral health services, and has an extensive ambulatory outpatient network.
In 2022, BayCare was named, for the fourth year in a row, among the nation's top 20% of health systems for clinical and operational excellence by FORTUNE/Merative.
THE LARGER TREND
Dr. Nishant Anand, executive vice president and chief medical officer for BayCare, spoke about value-based care at HIMSS22 in Orlando, saying it would continue to accelerate – adding that the best way forward for health systems, from both a financial and clinical quality standpoint, is to have a clear transition plan and a robust population health framework.
Anand said BayCare's value-based journey has been successful largely through the use of evolving payment models, which allowed the health system to use value-based contracting toward a better population health model – one that's also reliant on data, analytics, patient and provider engagement, and care coordination.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: Jeff.Lagasse@himssmedia.com
