UNC Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina have teamed-up to launch a primary care practice anchored in Family Medicine and committed to embracing the patient-centered medical home model for patients with chronic conditions. The joint venture is the first of its kind in North Carolina. Known as Carolina Advanced Health, the practice has been designed from the ground up to enable teams of health professionals to collaborate on care of patients with chronic diseases that include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma and major depression. UNC Health Care CEO Bill Roper, MD, MPH, and BCBSNC CEO Brad Wilson officially opened the clinic on Wednesday and both spoke of the need to lower health care costs by utilizing personalized and coordinated care, including prevention, disease management, and team-based approaches. NCAFP EVP Greg Griggs and COO Brent Hazelett attended the opening on behalf of the Academy.

For complete information on the practice, see www.carolinaadvancedhealth.org.