Highmark, Allegheny and Hopkins Sign Collaboration Agreement

Pittsburgh-based healthcare financing and delivery system Highmark Health, its subsidiary Allegheny Health Network, and Johns Hopkins Medicine have signed a new master collaboration agreement that will complement the formal oncology collaboration that began earlier in 2014.

The partners say the joint objectives of the new collaboration include:

*Improving access to provide additional options for affordable health care

*Exploring opportunities for economic efficiencies, including group purchasing, supply chain initiatives and establishing joint ventures, to reduce costs and improve care

*Utilizing the resource base of Johns Hopkins’ Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality to improve care

*Engaging in complex data analysis to identify opportunities to enhance clinical capabilities and improve health outcomes

*Leveraging electronic medical record platforms for both organizations

*Facilitating collaborations on research and education to expand discovery and bring the most relevant knowledge and clinical techniques to the communities served by the organizations

These collaborations aim to leverage the collective strengths of the organizations and improve the availability and affordability of healthcare to Pennsylvania patients.