Baptist Memorial Health Care Joins Premier, Inc.'s

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baptist Memorial Health Care has joined Premier, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: PINC ) QUEST ^® collaborative of nearly 350 hospitals across nearly 40 states that are setting new standards in healthcare.

Consistently ranked among the top integrated healthcare networks in the nation, Baptist's Memphis-based 14-hospital system is also one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the U.S. and offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South. The health system will work with QUEST hospitals on innovative approaches to reducing mortality and costs, and improving safety, patient and family engagement, appropriate hospital use and the delivery of evidence-based care.

"We're excited to be a part of QUEST because it will be a great benefit to our patients," said Paul DePriest, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Baptist. "By joining this collaborative we will be working with other top performing providers to share our insights and best practices. We believe this effort is a great way to help ensure we continue delivering the best care possible as the healthcare landscape becomes even more challenging for hospitals."

Based on an analysis of QUEST results since its inception in 2008, participants have avoided nearly 112,000 deaths and saved $10.1 billion. QUEST hospitals have also outperformed the nation in the federal health law's Hospital Value-based Purchasing (VBP) Program (from July 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012), by earning financial bonuses 64 percent of the time compared to similar non-QUEST hospitals (50 percent). In addition, QUEST can help hospitals:

• Avoid up to two percent in Medicare cuts as part of VBP;
• Avert up to three percent of Medicare payment penalties for higher-than-expected readmission rates;
• Prevent being fined one percent of Medicare payments for high rates of hospital‐acquired conditions; and
• Better manage the $250 billion in Medicare reimbursement cuts by 2020.

"QUEST has influenced many health reform policies, and lessons learned from the collaborative are being used to create new top performance measures and rational payment policies based on what can realistically be achieved," said Wes Champion, senior vice president of Premier Performance Partners. "The collaborative is helping providers spread the innovative practices that are happening in healthcare across this country. We look forward to working with Baptist to accelerate their performance goals, as well as the expertise they will bring to benefit the collaborative and further transform care delivery."

The standards of top performance in QUEST can be adopted by any hospital in the country, and have been implemented at those of various sizes, geographies and teaching statuses, including disproportionate share and safety net facilities.

QUEST uses Premier's proven collaborative methodology and is one of the nation's largest collections of hospitals sharing data and best practices to drive rapid and sustained improvement. QUEST hospitals voluntarily and transparently compare and benchmark their performance against one another. They then share their experiences and leverage integrated data analytics, customized improvement plans, and detailed process maps to provide higher quality, safer and more cost-effective care.

QUEST hospitals access Premier's integrated technology and social networking platform, PremierConnect ™. PremierConnect houses patient data on 1 in 4 U.S. hospital discharges, evidence-based best practices from 2.5 million daily clinical transactions, and $40 billion in annual provider purchases. It enables providers to interact in real-time and ensure best practices are being implemented nationwide.

About Baptist Memorial Health Care

One of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the United States, Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South. Baptist recently was ranked No. 2 among large employers and No. 23 overall nationally in Modern Healthcare magazine's top 100 "Best Places to Work in Healthcare." The Baptist system, which consistently ranks among the top integrated healthcare networks in the nation, comprises 14 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas; more than 4,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 400 doctors; home, hospice and psychiatric care; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by the Baptist College of Health Sciences.

About Premier, Inc., Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient

Premier, Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC ) is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting more than 2,900 U.S. hospitals and nearly 100,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and advisory and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. www.premierinc.com .

Alven Weil Premier, Inc. 704.816.5797