Recent Network Developments
Stay up-to-date on news related to the Population Health Services Organization (PHSO), Physician Network, and general ambulatory developments.
UC San Diego Health Accepting Anthem Blue Cross Members
January 1, 2025
UC San Diego Health accepts Anthem Blue Cross. If you are an Anthem Blue Cross patient who is seeking access to care at UC San Diego Health, please call 800-926-8273 and we will help coordinate access to our primary and specialty care networks. We look forward to providing high-quality care to you and your family.
For help with billing and insurance questions, please call 800-926-8273 or visit here.
UC San Diego Health’s PHSO Recognized for Achievements in Ambulatory Quality Improvement
December 15, 2024
We are delighted to announce that California’s Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) has recognized UC San Diego Health Physician Group and its network for exceptional achievements in Ambulatory Quality Improvement.
UC San Diego Health was the only regional medical group awarded the prestigious Bangasser Memorial Award for outstanding improvement in clinical quality and patient care. Given to the top 10 percent of medical groups in the state, the designation celebrates patient screening and outcome improvements from 2023 including:
– 2,500 more patients with their blood pressure under control
– 10,000 more patients immunized for influenza
– 7,500 more patients screened for depression
“This recognition is due to the dedication and hard work of our care teams who collaborate year-round to improve the health and well-being of our community,” said Parag Agnihotri, MD, chief medical officer of Population Health Services at UC San Diego Health. “Together, we continue to advance team-based care and improve the health of the patients we serve throughout San Diego and beyond.”
Learn more: IHA AMP Program Award
View UCSD Health PHSO End-of-Year Outcomes for 2024
UC San Diego Health Pioneers Apple Vision Pro in Surgery
November 1, 2024
UC San Diego Health is leading the nation in evaluating the use of Apple Vision Pro for minimally invasive surgeries. In collaboration with the Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, surgeons are exploring how spatial computing apps can transform operating room workflows and enhance patient outcomes.
The feasibility study began after two months of testing at the Center for the Future of Surgery, with the first surgeries successfully performed under strict Institutional Review Board guidelines. Surgeons used Apple Vision Pro to access real-time displays of patient imaging, vital signs, and surgical camera views in an ergonomic, digitally streamlined setup.
The study aims to address ergonomic challenges and overcrowded surgical environments, where traditional monitors often lead to musculoskeletal pain. This innovative effort highlights UC San Diego Health’s commitment to pioneering digital health solutions and advancing care through cutting-edge technology.
Learn more: Becker’s Hospital Review
Learn more: UC San Diego Health Press Release
UC San Diego Health Receives 2023 Richard L. Doyle Award for Innovative Care Management Program
February 1, 2024
UC San Diego Health has been awarded the 2023 Richard L. Doyle Award for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare by MCG Health for their integration of evidence-based tools into their care management program. This initiative, recognized for its seamless implementation and alignment with individual needs, has led to significant cost savings and a three-year accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
By integrating MCG’s tools into their electronic health record (EHR) system, Epic, UC San Diego Health Population Health has achieved notable reductions in hospital readmissions, improved patient outcomes, and consistently high satisfaction scores, marking a transformative step towards achieving the Quadruple Aim of healthcare.
About MCG Health
MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, provides unbiased clinical guidance that gives healthcare organizations confidence in delivering patient-centered care. MCG’s artificial intelligence and technology, infused with clinical expertise, enable its clients to prioritize and simplify their work. MCG’s world-class customer service ensures that clients maximize the benefits of licensing MCG solutions – demonstrating improved clinical and financial outcomes.
To learn more about the Richard L. Doyle Award, and MCG Health, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health Recognized in Top 10% of Clinical Quality Performers under California’s IHA Program
November 20, 2023
The Integrated Healthcare Association’s (IHA) Align.Measure.Perform (AMP) program gathers Commercial HMO and Medicare HMO data from 13 health plans and over 200 California provider organizations to establish consistent standards and create reliable benchmarks for measuring population health.
UC San Diego Health has been recognized in the Top 10% for Clinical Quality. The Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) team consistently tracks and enhances progress on the AMP Program, ensuring high-quality care year-round.
About the Integrated Healthcare Association AMP Program
The IHA’s AMP program uses standard measurement to promote healthcare quality in Medicare Advantage, providing aggregated performance data that allow participants to understand how they’re performing compared to the market and their peers. The program aligns with the measures and methodologies that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses for its Star Ratings programs for health plans. The top performing provider organizations receive annual recognition awards.
To learn more about the IHA AMP program, please visit here.
For a list of Top Performers in Clinical Quality, Patient Experience, and Cost Domains, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health Partnering with Tri-City to Deliver World-Class Medical Care in North County
November 8, 2023
The Tri-City Healthcare District has made a significant decision by selecting UC San Diego Health as its future healthcare partner after extensive public discussion and unanimous board approval. The partnership will involve the development of a Joint Powers Agreement that grants UC San Diego Health administrative, clinical, and operational management responsibilities for all healthcare services.
A diverse community board will offer input and guidance, ensuring the delivery of affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services across various specialties in the region. UC San Diego Health’s national recognition for quality outcomes and innovation played a crucial role in this decision, with the goal of enhancing patient access to leading-edge healthcare. The partnership will focus on expanding specialty programs, modernizing facilities, enhancing cybersecurity, and eventually reopening the Labor and Delivery service at Tri-City, offering a bright future for healthcare in North County San Diego.
To learn more about the partnership model agreement, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health and Alvarado Hospital Join to Better Serve Community
October 30, 2023
UC San Diego Health has received approval from the Regents of the University of California to acquire Alvarado Hospital Medical Center from Prime Healthcare. This acquisition, set to be completed by late 2023, marks a significant development in UC San Diego Health’s expansion efforts to better serve the community.
Alvarado Hospital Medical Center has a rich history of providing high-quality healthcare services to the College Area community for over five decades. UC San Diego Health plans to integrate the facility into its network of clinics and hospitals, enhancing access to specialized care while preserving the hospital’s legacy and expanding services, such as behavioral health.
To learn more about the acquisition and expansion effort, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health Achieves National Recognition in ‘Rise to Immunize’ Campaign
October 16, 2023
UC San Diego Health has been recognized as a high-performer in AMGA’s National Rise to Immunize Challenge campaign. In Q2 2023, UC San Diego Health achieved national recognition by securing the 2nd rank in the influenza measure, and 3rd rank in the bundle measure (Influenza, Pneumococcal, Td/Tdap and Zoster) on this campaign. The UC San Diego Health clinical teams’ invaluable efforts in enhancing adult vaccination rates have been pivotal in primary healthcare, contributing significantly to saving lives year after year.
About AMGA’s Rise to Immunize
The Rise to Immunize® (RIZE) is a four-year initiative by the AMGA Foundation, aiming to empower medical groups and health systems to collectively administer 25 million vaccines by 2025, with a focus on increasing adult immunization rates and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases.
To learn more about the Rise to Immunize program, please visit here.
America’s Best Hospitals: 2023-2024 National Honor Roll
September 11, 2023
For over 30 years, U.S. News & World Report has aimed to assist patients and their doctors in finding the most suitable hospital for their specific medical needs through its Best Hospitals rankings. These rankings encompass over three dozen healthcare services, such as cancer care and heart bypass surgery. Hospitals with exceptional performance in various states and regions are designated as Best Regional Hospitals, and the top ones receive national recognition on the Honor Roll.
For the first time in the academic medical center’s history, UC San Diego Health was recognized on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals National Honor Roll. In 2023-2024, this distinction was awarded to only 22 hospitals nationwide for outstanding patient care. UC San Diego Health is the first health care system in San Diego County to ever earn this recognition.
To learn more about the America’s Best Hospitals, please visit here.
Best Regional Hospitals: San Diego, CA
September 4, 2023
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Hospitals ranks hospitals in both states and major metro areas, and recognizes hospitals in every region of the country. Within a state or metro area, the regional hospital rank is determined by a hospital’s performance in the adult specialty rankings analysis and by its scores across each of the twenty-one procedure and condition areas.
UC San Diego Health has once again ranked No. 1 in San Diego, placing it among the nation’s best health care providers. Only 12% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking, a designation given for medical providers that excel at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care, and patient experience.
To learn more about the Best Regional Hospitals in San Diego, CA, please visit here.
Rancho Family Medical Group Partners with San Diego Medical Group
July 14, 2023
San Diego Medical Group (SDMG) and Rancho Family Medical Group have announced a strategic partnership to increase and improve access to primary care services in San Diego County. SDMG was started in 1995 by Dr. Paul Wagner (Internal Medicine) and is located in the Hillcrest region of San Diego. Since then, the group has joined UC San Diego Health’s Physician Network and has added Dr. Igor Gavrilyuk and Abbeygail Jiongco, NP. Learn more about San Diego Medical Group’s care team.
Dr. Wagner and his team have been committed to providing excellent primary care for the past 27 years and Rancho Family Medical Group is looking forward to continuing the tradition.
Rancho Family Medical Group has twelve locations across Riverside County and is a member of the UC San Diego Health Physician Network. Their goal is to approach medicine differently by offering more cohesive care at the highest quality. They pride themselves on making the community healthier and happier. Learn more about Rancho Family Medical Group’s care team.
‘UCSD at Home’ Wins Big at the Improvement Excellence Awards
June 30, 2023
In a remarkable feat of innovation and dedication, the ‘UCSD at Home’ program from UC San Diego Health Population Health Services has secured not only the prestigious Grand Prize but also claimed the title of Crowd Favorite at this year’s Improvement Excellence Awards.
The Improvement Excellence Awards, held by UC San Diego Health on June 29, 2023, celebrated the outstanding improvement work taking place within the organization. With an impressive 51 projects submitted, the competition was fierce, showcasing initiatives that brought about transformative changes both locally and throughout the entire organization
UCSD at Home, a revolutionary care program designed to provide medical services in the comfort of patients’ homes, stood out from the competition. Its local impact and commitment to patient-centric care earned it the top honors in the Improving Access category, winning the Improvement of the Year award.
By bringing healthcare directly to patients’ residences, UCSD at Home not only reduces the need for hospital visits but also enhances the safety and well-being of patients. This innovative approach to care delivery ensures that individuals receive the treatment they need while remaining in familiar surroundings, reducing the risk of exposure to infections and promoting a holistic healing experience.
“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, who have relentlessly strived to provide exceptional care to our patients while ensuring their safety and comfort,” expressed Dr. Parag Agnihotri, CMO at UC San Diego Health Population Health Services Organization.
About the UCSD at Home Program
The UCSD at Home program launched in July of 2022 and spans a multitude of UC San Diego Health service lines with the project implementation including over 100 team members. The UCSD at Home – ED to Home program ensures that care for patients leaving the emergency department is coordinated utilizing an interdisciplinary care team approach, which includes the Population Health Care Team, Home Health, and Physicians.
To learn more about the UCSD at Home program, please visit here.
Visit here to learn about the category winners and judging criteria of the Improvement Excellence Awards.
To learn more about what the Population Health Care Team does for you, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health Opens New Clinic in Bankers Hill
June 12, 2023
UC San Diego Health recently opened a new clinic in Bankers Hill. The clinic will provide expert adult heart care and primary care services.
Cardiovascular services include: general cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, heart failure, adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), onsite echocardiograms and stress testing, and more. Meet the providers at this location here.
Jamshid Akhavan, MD is a board-certified family medicine physician who treats acute and chronic conditions in patients of all ages. Before joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Akhavan provided primary care and urgent care services in the Los Angeles area. Meet Dr. Akhavan here.
The clinic is located at 2131 Third Ave, San Diego, CA. There is complimentary valet and metered street parking available. The office phone is (858) 657-7000.
To learn more about the clinic and services, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health PHSO Partnering with Perlman Clinic to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services
May 3, 2023
The UC San Diego Health Population Health Organization (UCSD PHSO) is focused on expanding access to behavioral health services and improving integration with primary care providers.
The CalHIVE Behavioral Health Integration Improvement Collaborative is a three-year program operated by the California Quality Collaborative (CQC) that begins in July 2023. It is open to California-based provider organizations looking to initiate or expand integration of behavioral health services into primary care. The participants are expected to pilot their defined integration model at one or more practices. The focus of the programs will aim to improve chronic disease outcomes across depression screening, response and remission, diabetes, and more.
The CQC will offer participants funding of up to $100,000 over the duration of the program, as well as the opportunity to engage with peers from other provider organizations in an improvement collaborative model to share ideas. To learn more about the CalHIVE Collaborative, please visit here.
About the California Quality Collaborative (CQC)
The Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH) created the California Quality Collaborative for helping care teams gain the expertise, infrastructure and tools they need to advance care quality, be patient-centered, improve efficiency and thrive in today’s rapidly changing environment.
To learn more about the CQC, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health now accepting Anthem Priority Select
April 7, 2023
The UC San Diego Health Population Health Organization (UCSD PHSO) is proud to announce it is now serving as the Management Services Office (MSO) for Palomar Health Medical Group (PHMG) Anthem Priority Select patients. Anthem Priority Select is a new low-cost, quality HMO product offered by select employers. The services began on January 1, 2023.
About Palomar Health Medical Group (PHMG)
Palomar Health Medical Group (PHMG) is an organization formed by the alignment of two of North San Diego County’s largest healthcare providers, Arch Health Medical Group and Graybill Medical Group. This new name aligns the medical groups more closely with Palomar Health to enhance the patient experience through the entire healthcare system. To learn more about PHMG, please visit here.
To learn more about the accepted health insurance plans at UC San Diego Health, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health PHSO Recognized as a 4.5 Star Provider Organization by IHA
March 14, 2023
The Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) has awarded its top-performing provider organizations for the Align.Measure.Perform (AMP) Medicare Advantage program in Measurement Year (MY) 2021. UC San Diego Health Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) received a 4.5/5.0 star award.
The 4.5 star designation recognizes a high level of Medicare Advantage quality achievement. To earn this recognition, a provider organization must achieve an overall star rating of 4.5 across all clinical quality measures reported by IHA. Only 43 of 174 (25%) participating provider organizations achieved this performance level in MY 2021
About the Integrated Healthcare Association AMP Program
The IHA’s AMP program uses standard measurement to promote healthcare quality in Medicare Advantage, providing aggregated performance data that allow participants to understand how they’re performing compared to the market and their peers. The program aligns with the measures and methodologies that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses for its Star Ratings programs for health plans. The top performing provider organizations receive annual recognition awards.
To learn more about IHA, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health PHSO ‘Love Your Heart’ Event
February 23, 2023
The UC San Diego Health Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) ran a no-cost blood pressure screening event for the community during Valentine’s Day week. Knowing your blood pressure numbers is a vital first step toward heart health. Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death in San Diego County.
The 2022 event had over 46,400 participants screened online and in-person at 287 sites across the U.S. and Mexico, with over 6,000 blood pressure cuffs distributed across San Diego County.
About Love Your Heart
Love Your Heart is an annual event in which organizations from across the U.S. and Mexico join together to provide FREE blood pressure screenings to the public on or near Valentine’s Day. The event brings together community partners to prevent heart disease and stroke and empowers the public to take control of their heart health, know their blood pressure numbers, and know what they mean.
To learn more about the Love Your Heart event, please visit here.
Parag Agnihotri, MD, CMO, Population Health Services & Physician Network
UC San Diego Health Achieves 2023 Connect Accreditation through Epic
February 13, 2023
Connect Accreditation is an achievement for Connect hosts that have happy Connect sites, demonstrate good Epic use, and are following Connect best practices. It also allows prospective organizations to find a great Connect host, knowing that there are others like them live and successful on that instance.
UC San Diego Health is one of 50 organizations to have achieved a Connect Accreditation for 2023. To view the full list, please visit here.
About Epic Systems
Epic develops software to help people get well, help people stay well, and help future generations be healthier. There are more than 280 million patients that have a current electronic record in Epic. The software is used in academic medical centers, community hospitals, multi-specialty groups, rehab centers, patients’ homes, and more. To learn more about Epic Systems, please visit here.
UC San Diego Health PHSO Contributes to Award-Winning AI Platform at Prime Health Innovation Challenge
February 10, 2023
The Prime Health Annual Innovation Challenge is a 5-month program that advances healthcare through technological innovation, aiming to improve health equity, access, quality, and cost for underserved communities in Colorado and California. The UC San Diego Health Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) partnered with the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering on an AI platform called CIPRA.ai, and were among hundreds of healthcare and technology participants.
“We are excited to have collaborated on CIPRA.ai with the aim of improving the care of patients with Hypertension. CIPRA.ai is helping patients with self-management and education towards adopting a healthier lifestyle and lowering cardiovascular risk”, said Parag Agnihotri, MD, CMO for Population Health Services Organization (PHSO) and the UCSD Health Physician Network.
The Innovation Challenge was powered by the Colorado Health Foundation and California Health Care Foundation. Sujit Dey, PhD, Jacobs Family Endowed Chair in Management and Engineering Leadership at University of California San Diego, remarked on their achievement, “we are excited to receive the Prime Health’s 2022 Innovation Challenge – ‘People’s Choice Award’. CIPRA.ai‘s innovative Blood pressure management AI platform was made possible thanks to the collaboration with UCSD Health’s PHSO team. We are glad to bring this innovative AI product designed towards improving health equity, quality and cost to our communities.”
To view the full list of Innovation Challenge winners, please visit here.
To learn more about CIPRA.ai, please visit here.
About Prime Health
Prime Health advances health justice, equity, access, quality and cost through innovation, collaboration, and community building. Together with the communities they serve, Prime Health delivers impact and equity-focused, value-based, and technology-driven health reform. They improve care by accelerating the adoption of sustainable and impactful solutions, technologies, clinical models, and partnerships.