Janet laced up her orthopedic shoes and was ready to go. Her body felt the best it had in years, and she had Dr. Shork to thank. At her last annual wellness visit, he had introduced her to Carrie, a remote care nurse who now called her every week to chat about steps to proactively improve her health. All those steps had added up to a monumental one: She could now play tag with her granddaughter, pain free.
Janet laced up her orthopedic shoes and was ready to go. Her body felt the best it had in years, and she had Dr. Shork to thank. At her last annual wellness visit, he had introduced her to Carrie, a remote care nurse who now called her every week to chat about steps to proactively improve her health. All those steps had added up to a monumental one: She could now play tag with her granddaughter, pain free.
Carrie had Janet on her list to call that day. But right now, she was focused on Harry and his breathing. He’d called in a panic, confused about his medication and convinced he needed an ambulance. With the calmness of a hostage negotiator, born out of her decade as an ER nurse, Carrie talked him down and quickly called Dr. Shork to set up a same-day appointment. She even arranged a ride for Harry. It would be there in 15 minutes.
Carrie had Janet on her list to call that day. But right now, she was focused on Harry and his breathing. He’d called in a panic, confused about his medication and convinced he needed an ambulance. With the calmness of a hostage negotiator, born out of her decade as an ER nurse, Carrie talked him down and quickly called Dr. Shork to set up a same-day appointment. She even arranged a ride for Harry. It would be there in 15 minutes.
It had been 15 months since Harry lost Victoria, his beloved wife whose love notes on pink post-its had helped him always remember what meds to take and when. Now, as he navigated a healthcare system that left him feeling lost and alone, Carrie had become a source of a light, a true advocate helping him keep one foot in front of the other.
It had been 15 months since Harry lost Victoria, his beloved wife whose love notes on pink post-its had helped him always remember what meds to take and when. Now, as he navigated a healthcare system that left him feeling lost and alone, Carrie had become a source of a light, a true advocate helping him keep one foot in front of the other.
As he finished his appointment with Dr. Shork, he joked with Gina at the front desk that he may have scared Carrie off with this most recent episode. She assured him Carrie would check in again with him in a few days if not sooner. In the meantime, she gave him a pill organizer and set daily alarms in his phone so he'd know when exactly to take his medication. She left him with one final warning. “I know you and Carrie are buddies, but I still better be your favorite!” Harry chuckled on his way out the door. Laughing again felt good.
As he finished his appointment with Dr. Shork, he joked with Gina at the front desk that he may have scared Carrie off with this most recent episode. She assured him Carrie would check in again with him in a few days if not sooner. In the meantime, she gave him a pill organizer and set daily alarms in his phone so he'd know when exactly to take his medication. She left him with one final warning. “I know you and Carrie are buddies, but I still better be your favorite!” Harry chuckled on his way out the door. Laughing again felt good.
For Gina, it was the everyday interactions that she loved most about her job. Greeting patients with a sincere smile may seem like a small thing, but to Gina it could change a life. She wanted everyone to feel a part of the neighborhood, at home in her clinic. She’d been working for Dr. Shork for her whole adult life (she’d never give the exact number, “a proper lady never reveals her age”) but recently it felt less stressful and more satisfying.
For Gina, it was the everyday interactions that she loved most about her job. Greeting patients with a sincere smile may seem like a small thing, but to Gina it could change a life. She wanted everyone to feel a part of the neighborhood, at home in her clinic. She’d been working for Dr. Shork for her whole adult life (she’d never give the exact number, “a proper lady never reveals her age”) but recently it felt less stressful and more satisfying.
As Dr. Shork said goodbye to his last patient of the day, an early sunset breaking through the exam room blinds, he couldn’t help but think about how far he’d come. A year ago, he'd been burnt out and ready to sell. Now his passion was back. His patients were healthier. His practice was thriving financially like never before because he had a team behind him – experienced pros, nurse care managers, medical coders, a whole support system that truly cared. Their dedication meant he no longer had to see 70 patients a day then spend all night catching up on charts just to make payroll. He’d fallen in love with his life again. It felt like the way medicine was meant to be.
As Dr. Shork said goodbye to his last patient of the day, an early sunset breaking through the exam room blinds, he couldn’t help but think about how far he’d come. A year ago, he'd been burnt out and ready to sell. Now his passion was back. His patients were healthier. His practice was thriving financially like never before because he had a team behind him – experienced pros, nurse care managers, medical coders, a whole support system that truly cared. Their dedication meant he no longer had to see 70 patients a day then spend all night catching up on charts just to make payroll. He’d fallen in love with his life again. It felt like the way medicine was meant to be.
From Hospitals to Holistic Health
From Hospitals to Holistic Health
In San Antonio, internist Saleh Jaafar, MD, and pulmonologist Jairo Melo, MD, were losing patients, revenue and sleep. The tangled web of primary care, specialists, surgery centers, emergency rooms and nursing homes was hardly working as a system. The busy physicians had ambitious plans to coordinate care but limited business experience or capital to execute at scale. Then they met venture capitalists Charlie Martin and Devin Carty. Martin Ventures was working on an entirely new business thesis after building Vanguard Health Systems and seeing all the well-intended care that goes to waste. They increasingly understood the traditional healthcare system wasn’t really designed for health. Too many patients lacked a quarterback with skin in the game to guide their care. So they designed a company to change that. They called it Wellvana. The word casts a vision for communities made healthy as care focuses entirely on quality rather than quantity. The name also transcends the current state of healthcare to a future where there’s no more suffering caused by a broken system, where patients are put first, and providers lead the way.
In San Antonio, internist Saleh Jaafar, MD, and pulmonologist Jairo Melo, MD, were losing patients, revenue and sleep. The tangled web of primary care, specialists, surgery centers, emergency rooms and nursing homes was hardly working as a system. The busy physicians had ambitious plans to coordinate care but limited business experience or capital to execute at scale. Then they met venture capitalists Charlie Martin and Devin Carty. Martin Ventures was working on an entirely new business thesis after building Vanguard Health Systems and seeing all the well-intended care that goes to waste. They increasingly understood the traditional healthcare system wasn’t really designed for health. Too many patients lacked a quarterback with skin in the game to guide their care. So they designed a company to change that. They called it Wellvana. The word casts a vision for communities made healthy as care focuses entirely on quality rather than quantity. The name also transcends the current state of healthcare to a future where there’s no more suffering caused by a broken system, where patients are put first, and providers lead the way.
Life-Changing Moves
Life-Changing Moves
With high-minded aspirations, the startup went deep in one market — San Antonio — and, in 2019, established a network consisting of providers that agreed to work collaboratively with Wellvana to deliver value-based care that improves outcomes and lowers the total cost of care. Primary care doctors and specialists in the San Antonio area joined an MSSP Accountable Care Organization, managed in part by Wellvana, and had access to Medicare Advantage contracts, geared to keep seniors healthy while lowering the cost of care. As Wellvana grew, CMS created new opportunities to serve patients in traditional Medicare, such as through its Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model, a predecessor program to the ACO REACH Model. Through the GPDC Model, Wellvana could now take full financial risk on behalf of primary care practices and help them succeed through data insights, coding assistance and high-touch clinical support. As adoption accelerated through COVID-19, Wellvana emerged as a leader in the next generation of value-based enablers. Its high-performing physicians are making a better living and keeping patients healthier in 23 states and counting. In spite of its rapid growth, the company remains grounded in the belief that there can be no shortcuts to “Wellvana.” But, by caring for patients and supporting providers, everyone can win in value-based care.
With high-minded aspirations, the startup went deep in one market — San Antonio — and, in 2019, established a network consisting of providers that agreed to work collaboratively with Wellvana to deliver value-based care that improves outcomes and lowers the total cost of care. Primary care doctors and specialists in the San Antonio area joined an MSSP Accountable Care Organization, managed in part by Wellvana, and had access to Medicare Advantage contracts, geared to keep seniors healthy while lowering the cost of care. As Wellvana grew, CMS created new opportunities to serve patients in traditional Medicare, such as through its Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model, a predecessor program to the ACO REACH Model. Through the GPDC Model, Wellvana could now take full financial risk on behalf of primary care practices and help them succeed through data insights, coding assistance and high-touch clinical support. As adoption accelerated through COVID-19, Wellvana emerged as a leader in the next generation of value-based enablers. Its high-performing physicians are making a better living and keeping patients healthier in 23 states and counting. In spite of its rapid growth, the company remains grounded in the belief that there can be no shortcuts to “Wellvana.” But, by caring for patients and supporting providers, everyone can win in value-based care.
