Medtronic and Medical University of South Carolina Announce Five-Year Value-Based Healthcare Collaboration to Enhance Patient Outcomes

On February 14, 2019, Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) and the Medical University of South Carolina announced a five-year value-based care collaboration aimed at transforming and enhancing care for patients in South Carolina. This partnership will focus on developing solutions that improve patient health outcomes and care experiences while reducing costs.

In South Carolina, more than three million people suffer from at least one chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease. The estimated total cost of managing chronic diseases in the state from 2016 to 2030 will reach $687 billion. The initial focus of this partnership will be to alleviate the high prevalence of chronic and acute diseases in South Carolina.

“We are committed to fundamentally improving patient care through our partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina,” said Omar Ishrak, Chairman and CEO of Medtronic. “Medtronic has a long history of collaborating with healthcare institutions to create and develop new markets that address a range of clinical challenges. This collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina represents a deeper level of engagement, and we look forward to working together systematically to develop scalable solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.”

In an initial project, both parties plan to standardize the entire patient care pathway for complex vascular diseases, ultimately establishing a model that covers the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care of patients with vascular diseases, thereby enabling these patients to derive maximum benefit from medical interventions. This evidence-based model aims to assist clinicians in identifying and treating patients at an earlier stage.

Medtronic and the Medical University of South Carolina also plan to develop standardized care pathways for joint replacement patients, aligning with the bundled payment models adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These phased care pathways aim to establish best practices and efficient processes that reduce costs while improving the quality of patient care. Similarly, Medtronic and the Medical University of South Carolina intend to create standardized treatment protocols for patients requiring enhanced respiratory monitoring or tracheostomy for respiratory support, with the goal of minimizing adverse events and optimizing nursing care.

This partnership also provides the Medical University of South Carolina with a unique opportunity for future healthcare professionals to gain insights into value-based care beyond their existing curriculum.

“Leading the Transformation of Healthcare ServicesShared Vision and Drive“This forms the foundation of our strategic partnership with Medtronic,” said David J. Cole, M.D., President of the Medical University of South Carolina and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. “It is all about maximizing patient benefit. Our shared goal is to deliver the best possible clinical outcomes for patients at the lowest possible cost. This is the essence of value-based healthcare. We will collaborate to combat chronic diseases and address the health needs of local communities in South Carolina and beyond. We look forward to an innovative and productive collaboration with Medtronic, and to sharing the tangible results achieved as we advance this strategic partnership.”

The Medical University of South Carolina and Medtronic are both working with their partners to advance value-based healthcare in the United States. This month marks the first anniversary of Medtronic’s collaboration with Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The partnership seeks to identify better, value-centered treatment approaches for patients across more than 70 major conditions. The collaboration with Lehigh Valley Health Network will provide a replicable model for implementing and expanding value-based programs at the Medical University of South Carolina.

In August 2018, the Medical University of South Carolina announced that its strategic partnership with Siemens Healthineers would outline a blueprint for the transformation of healthcare delivery systems, providing safe, equitable, timely, effective, efficient, and patient-centered medical services.

Medical University of South Carolina and Medtronic will seek opportunities to exchange experiences with their respective partners and collaborate to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

The Medical University of South Carolina, established in Charleston in 1824, is the oldest medical school in the American South. Today, the Medical University of South Carolina upholds a distinguished legacy in education, research, and patient care. Its six colleges—Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Clinical Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy—educate and train more than 3,000 students and 750 residents. The university employs over 14,000 staff members, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliated entities operate with an annual total budget exceeding $2.6 billion, generate an annual economic impact of over $3.8 billion, and secure more than $275 million in annual research funding.

The Medical University of South Carolina operates an 800-bed medical center, which includes a renowned children’s hospital in the United States,AAshley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive diseases and oncology surgery), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), a Level I trauma center, the Institute of Psychiatry, and the state’s only transplant center. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Medical University of South Carolina Health as the number one hospital in South Carolina for the fourth consecutive year. Visit musc.edu to learn about its academic programs or clinical services, and visit muschealth.org for information on patient services.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Medtronic is one of the world’s largest providers of medical technology, services, and solutions, dedicated to alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people globally. With more than 86,000 employees, Medtronic serves physicians, hospitals, and patients in over 150 countries and regions worldwide. We collaborate with partners around the globe to jointly advance the development of healthcare.

Contributed by: Medtronic