At the end of September, University Health Network (UHN) - a clinically integrated network and accountable care organization (ACO) based in Knoxville that includes The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), University Physicians' Association and others in East Tennessee - announced an affiliation with the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN). The goal of the new relationship with UHN is to create a statewide network to improve quality and reduce the cost of healthcare across Tennessee.

The agreement creates a relationship between UHN, which is comprised of 87 practices and more than 1,000 providers and VHAN's 12 health systems, more than hospitals, 350-plus practices and 5,000 providers. Through this connection, all providers participating in UHN, including UTMC, are in-network for people across Tennessee who are covered by select insurance plans working with VHAN.

"When like-minded organizations like UHN and VHAN work together to solve large-scale population health problems, communities across the Southeast can benefit tremendously," said David R. Posch, MS, executive vice president of Population Health for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and executive director of VHAN.