Introducing the 2026 CARE Award Winners
Introducing the 2026 CARE Award Winners
Celebrating the leaders in life-changing care.
Celebrating the leaders in life-changing care.
The CARE Awards, given annually at the Accountable Care Symposium, recognize six organizations within our ACO network doing the transformative work of driving value-based care forward in their communities in distinct and determined ways.
The CARE Awards, given annually at the Accountable Care Symposium, recognize six organizations within our ACO network doing the transformative work of driving value-based care forward in their communities in distinct and determined ways.
Changemakers of the Year
Changemakers of the Year
Most systems treat primary care as a cost center. Wellvana helps you rewrite the math, with risk-bearing models that improve outcomes, expand financial opportunity, and strengthen loyalty.
Most systems treat primary care as a cost center. Wellvana helps you rewrite the math, with risk-bearing models that improve outcomes, expand financial opportunity, and strengthen loyalty.
Metroplex Care Group
Metroplex Care Group
Independent Practice
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
Leading performance across ACD and AWV measures
Zero readmissions across 85 inpatient admissions
Direct partnership with a pharmacy operation enables medication management optimization, polypharmacy review, and vaccination initiatives
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Hired a care navigator for proactive patient engagement, built a dedicated care coordination team for gap closure, and added a quality director to embed continuous improvement.
“Metroplex embodies the notion that great things come in small—but mighty—packages. Their team is structured intentionally as a unit, so that they can proactively address patient needs and anticipate downstream scenarios. They embrace what’s working, don’t hold on to things that aren’t, and always deliver “the wow.” ”
“Metroplex embodies the notion that great things come in small—but mighty—packages. Their team is structured intentionally as a unit, so that they can proactively address patient needs and anticipate downstream scenarios. They embrace what’s working, don’t hold on to things that aren’t, and always deliver “the wow.” ”
– Elias Fark, Senior Regional Director, Wellvana
Greater Regional Health
Greater Regional Health
Community Hospital
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
CHARTIS’ Top 100 CAH in 2025
Highest preventive care intervention performance for community hospitals with a score of 93.5%
AWV performance sustained above 70% since 2023
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Deep-dive diagnosis-level analysis for hypertension, ED physician coding education, provider-level comorbidity documentation engagement, and ongoing colorectal screening advancement have created a replicable, scalable model.
“For nearly a decade, Greater Regional has approached value-based care with the same attention they bring to every patient they serve—this is not an organization that just checks boxes for the sake of checking boxes. When I think of partners who are relentless in their pursuit of better, Greater Regional is always on my list.”
“For nearly a decade, Greater Regional has approached value-based care with the same attention they bring to every patient they serve—this is not an organization that just checks boxes for the sake of checking boxes. When I think of partners who are relentless in their pursuit of better, Greater Regional is always on my list.”
– Georgia Thompson, Regional Vice President, Wellvana
Ardent Health
Ardent Health
Health System
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
80+ VBC arrangements and 238K+ lives managed under value-based care
2025 Q4 risk ratio of 2.77%—more than 3.5x the ACO average of 0.77%
Built out care access infrastructure with a post-acute navigator nurse and rural paramedicine program to better serve community needs
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Eighty-six percent of all scheduled encounters completed with ambient AI producing measurable clinician efficiency gains: 39% reduction in documentation time, 37% reduction in after-hours "pajama time,” 25% fewer post-appointment documentation completions, and 19% faster encounter closure.
“This award has been a goal for Ardent and is years in the making. Starting in 2023, Ardent re-committed to primary care, implemented novel tech solutions, and sought our collaboration to provide more effective and efficient care to their nearly 40,000 Medicare beneficiaries across four states.”
“This award has been a goal for Ardent and is years in the making. Starting in 2023, Ardent re-committed to primary care, implemented novel tech solutions, and sought our collaboration to provide more effective and efficient care to their nearly 40,000 Medicare beneficiaries across four states.”
– David Latzer, Market President, Wellvana
Quote from Award winner here
Quote from Award winner here
Award Winner
Award Winner
Partners of the Year
Partners of the Year
Most systems treat primary care as a cost center. Wellvana helps you rewrite the math, with risk-bearing models that improve outcomes, expand financial opportunity, and strengthen loyalty.
Most systems treat primary care as a cost center. Wellvana helps you rewrite the math, with risk-bearing models that improve outcomes, expand financial opportunity, and strengthen loyalty.
Khatib Family Practice
Khatib Family Practice
Independent Practice
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
Top performer across ACD and PCIP measures
Strong proactive patient outreach and deep knowledge of their patient population
Leading network performer on key metrics driving ACO performance including IP utilization and SNF admits
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Successfully managing both capitated and fee-for-service populations while maintaining value-based care discipline.
“You don’t get these kinds of results without having deep knowledge of your patients. Dr. Khatib has that knowledge—and so does his team. That’s what makes them so effective. Their collective understanding of what their patients need is at the heart of our value-based care principles.”
“You don’t get these kinds of results without having deep knowledge of your patients. Dr. Khatib has that knowledge—and so does his team. That’s what makes them so effective. Their collective understanding of what their patients need is at the heart of our value-based care principles.”
– Jessica Lowery, Regional Vice President, Wellvana
Monument Health
Monument Health
Community Hospital
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
Top 10 network performer, with standout results across key quality and care metrics
Launched Next Day ED Follow-Up Program resulting in measurable reduction in ED utilization across both total and avoidable ED visits
Increased CCM enrollment by 50% within eight months
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Workflow redesign, team training, community partnerships, and outcomes focus have produced compounding results—demonstrating that disciplined execution, not market advantage, drives top performance.
“Monument developed an approach to coordinated care to keep vulnerable populations out of unnecessary care cycles, investing in a systemwide redesign that delivered savings. These efforts speak to both their commitment to value-based care and to doing what’s right for their community.”
“Monument developed an approach to coordinated care to keep vulnerable populations out of unnecessary care cycles, investing in a systemwide redesign that delivered savings. These efforts speak to both their commitment to value-based care and to doing what’s right for their community.”
– Mary Kay Sassetti, Senior Regional Director, Wellvana
Avera Health
Avera Health
Health System
Highlight Reel
Highlight Reel
12.4% readmission rate and 20.6-day SNF length of stay
Ranked top 10 in-network, with best-in-class PCIP performance
Facilities ranked in CHARTIS' Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals, Top 100 CAHs, and NRHA's Top 20 CAHs in 2025
Notable Achievement
Notable Achievement
Navigated major change management while continuing to grow; advanced their care management program, launched CCM billing, and moved from “good” to “great" on Annual Wellness Visits despite simultaneous organizational expansion.
“Avera Health's patient-centered care is more than a philosophy—it’s a way of operating that the entire team believes in. Watching them build something special here has been a highlight for me. This is truly a culture that refused to settle and learned to win as one.”
“Avera Health's patient-centered care is more than a philosophy—it’s a way of operating that the entire team believes in. Watching them build something special here has been a highlight for me. This is truly a culture that refused to settle and learned to win as one.”
– Jade Jagers, Market President, Wellvana