The Value Care Alliance (VCA) has named Kirsten Anderson, M.D., an experienced physician executive with an extensive background in population health management, as its first Chief Medical Officer.
"As CMO, Dr. Anderson will further the mission of the VCA and its member hospitals, which is consistent with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement triple aim: improving the patient experience of care; improving the health of populations; and reducing the cost of healthcare," said Patrick Charmel, President of the VCA as well as one of its founding members, Griffin Hospital. "Dr. Anderson will bring experience from both the provider and insurer/payer perspective to our efforts to enhance care delivery programs that will help VCA members manage patients across the care continuum."
Founded in 2013, the VCA is the largest collaboration of independent healthcare providers in the state. It is comprised of: Griffin Hospital in Derby; Middlesex Hospital in Middletown; St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport; and the Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN), which is comprised of Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, and Norwalk Hospital.
Since its inception, the VCA has been changing the healthcare delivery landscape in Connecticut and now participates in accountable care agreements with multiple payers to improve the coordination and delivery of patient care to private health plan members in Connecticut. The VCA also participates in state programs such as Patient Centered Medical Home+ (PCMH+) and the Community and Clinical Integration Program.
"The VCA's goal is to promote high-quality, high-value healthcare to patients, through collaboration across member hospitals, and also by utilizing payer and provider partnerships," said Dr. Anderson. "I am pleased to provide leadership to create cross-cutting programs that will enable the delivery of population health management to the Alliance members."
Dr. Anderson's career has focused on population health management, improving patients’ health through implementation of evidence-based medicine and best practices for medical cost containment. Her experience also includes program development in the post-acute care environment, as a Vice President at Kindred Healthcare and Chief Clinical Officer at CareCentrix. Prior positions include Chief Medical Officer for Accountable Care Solutions for Aetna, part of Healthagen, where she guided clinical strategy, promoted sales and retention of customers, and designed new programs to work collaboratively with Aetna’s health system accountable care partners. Her clinical experience includes working as a general internist in primary care in Wallingford, CT, and serving as medical director for a multispecialty physician organization.
Dr. Anderson is a graduate of Harvard College and obtained her medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. She received her M.P.H. from the Columbia University School of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology, and completed her residency in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She is board certified in Internal Medicine.