The Chartis Group Launches Center for Rural Health

Chartis Center for Rural Health will provide services, tools and research tailored to the needs of rural care providers

CHICAGO, IL – September 19, 2016 — The Chartis Group, a national advisory services firm dedicated to healthcare, announced today the formation of the Chartis Center for Rural Health (CCRH). The CCRH will deliver tailored services, performance management solutions, research and education to rural hospitals and facilities that care for more than 60 million Americans. Leveraging a fully dedicated team, the Chartis Center for Rural Health brings together, under one banner, both the tools and extensive research of Chartis’ iVantage Health Analytics – and the leading-edge thought leadership of Chartis’ consulting practices.

“There are over 2000 healthcare providers delivering care to the 62 million people living in rural America. The nation’s rural healthcare providers face a unique set of issues when compared to their urban and suburban counterparts. Against a challenging geographic, demographic and economic backdrop, rural hospitals and critical access centers must deliver high quality cost effective care at the right access points; prepare for and adjust to new reimbursement models; and recruit, retain and align with a continuum of providers to serve their communities. In establishing the Chartis Center for Rural Health, we are asserting our dedication to partner with US rural providers to collectively advance access, quality and efficiency of care as well as exploring new delivery models as the industry and technology continue to evolve,” said Ken Graboys, Co-Founder and CEO of The Chartis Group.

The CCRH will be led by nationally known rural health thought-leader and advocate Michael Topchik. Mr. Topchik has a long-standing career working with rural health providers and networks to advance care through rural-relevant analysis, research and advocacy. He has consulted and led research with rural providers seeking to assess and evaluate Accountable Care Organizations, Coordinated Care Organizations and shared savings opportunities in several statewide efforts. Mr. Topchik has also been instrumental in shaping iVantage Health Analytics’ annual Rural Relevance Study: Vulnerability to Value, which explores the state of rural healthcare in America, a report widely used by health networks, advocacy groups and policy makers.

“If we are to advance healthcare delivery across the country, the needs of rural communities and their providers must be addressed. We are fortunate to be able to pair iVantage’s long history of rural healthcare analysis and research with Chartis’ decades of experience providing thought leadership to the healthcare industry. I look forward to bringing the full capabilities of the Chartis Center for Rural Health to the rural healthcare provider September 19, 2016 Page 2 community,” said Mr. Topchik.

The announcement is made in advance of the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Critical Access Hospital Conference, to be held September 21 in Kansas City, MO, where Thomas Graf, MD, National Director for Population Health Management at The Chartis Group, will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Graf’s keynote — “Delivering and Demonstrating Value in Rural Health: Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Providers” – will review quality and cost in rural communities, discuss the implications of new payment models on rural providers of care, and offer insight for how rural providers can pace the transformation necessary to be successful today and tomorrow.

To learn more about the Chartis Center for Rural Health, visit chartisrural.com.

About The Chartis Group
The Chartis Group (Chartis) is a national advisory services firm dedicated to the healthcare industry. Chartis provides strategic planning, value-based care, advanced performance, and informatics and technology consulting services, and a suite of leading-edge decision support tools to the country’s leading healthcare providers. Chartis has been privileged to work with over two-thirds of the academic medical centers on the US News and World Report “Honor Roll of Best Hospitals,” seven of the 10 largest integrated health systems, four of the five largest not-for-profit health systems, nine of the top 10 children’s hospitals, emerging and leading accountable care organizations, hundreds of community-based health systems, and leading organizations in healthcare services. The firm is comprised of uniquely experienced senior healthcare professionals and consultants who apply a distinctive knowledge of healthcare economics, markets, clinical models and technology to help clients achieve unequaled results. Chartis has offices in Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Portland and San Francisco. For more information, visit chartis.com.

About iVantage Health Analytics, a subsidiary of The Chartis Group
iVantage Health Analytics (iVantage) is a leading provider of healthcare analytic and performance management analytic tools. Health system and hospital leadership teams across the country rely on the company’s software and services to deliver customized insights on clinical and financial performance, strategic planning, market assessment and payment optimization. iVantage’s analytics are the basis of continuing thought leadership and insight in the areas of healthcare policy and research. In 2015, iVantage was acquired by The Chartis Group, a national advisory services firm dedicated to the healthcare industry. Learn more at iVantageHealth.com.

Contact
Amy O’Brien
Principal and Vice President of Strategy and Business Development
The Chartis Group
[email protected]
312.932.3060

Terri Sanders
Director of National Marketing
The Chartis Group
[email protected]
312.932.3051