New Intermountain Healthcare company launched to elevate value-based care

 Intermountain Healthcare, the Salt Lake City-based network of hospitals, clinics and health services, has formed a new comprehensive health platform company focused on elevating value-based care capabilities with providers, payers, healthcare systems and accountable-care organizations. The new company, named Castell, will enable other organizations to accelerate their transition from volume-based to value-based systems of care, while keeping care more affordable and accessible.

“Intermountain Healthcare’s mission is to help people live the healthiest lives possible. This commitment is the same no matter where, when or with whom people get care,” said Dr. Marc Harrison, Intermountain president and CEO. “Castell is a critical component of Intermountain’s broad vision for healthier communities. It creates a new path for providers to access the support they need to provide high quality, affordable care to their patients across the nation.”

Rajesh Shrestha has been named as the president and CEO of Castell. In addition to leading Castell, Shrestha serves as vice president and chief operating officer of Community Based Care for Intermountain Healthcare. He has more than two decades of experience accelerating other health companies move from fee-for-service to value-based care.

“Healthcare’s ongoing shift from volume- to value-based systems of care enables providers, health systems and payers to take a more holistic approach to managing the health of their patients, but also creates more financial risk or rewards,” said Shrestha. “The health platform capabilities, tools and resources that Castell provides will strengthen the ability of the health ecosystem to thrive in a value-based care environment.”

Castell’s foundation is built on lessons learned and adapted based on the successes and obstacles encountered at Intermountain, within local provider networks and other population health-focused programs, Shrestha said.

Castell will offer a platform of tools and services to support transformation and improvement, including a value-based clinical care model called “Reimagined Primary Care”; a technology and analytics platform to guide care; streamlined affiliated network management; digital tools to address virtual care, patient experience and social determinants of health; access to cutting-edge initiatives and innovation coming out of Intermountain Healthcare; and an opportunity to utilize care pathways and clinical best practices developed by Intermountain Healthcare.

Intermountain has experienced many successes with its value-based care management programs, the company said. For example, in 2018, Intermountain introduced its “Reimagined Primary Care” model for physicians and patients, which is now being extended to more providers through Castell.

Intermountain’s focus on preventive care has enabled physicians to spend more time with high-risk patients to get upstream of potential health issues. After just one year, the program produced strong results, including a 60 percent reduction in Medicare Advantage admissions and 25 percent fewer commercial insurance admissions, Intermountain said. It has also improved patient ratings and physician satisfaction.

“Proven methods for simplifying value-based care are needed across the healthcare industry,” said Shrestha. “Backed by Intermountain’s day-to-day frontline experience with a focus on population health management, Castell will deliver impactful solutions that help other organizations improve outcomes and keep costs more affordable.”