Using the Patient Centered Medical Home as its model, ProHealth Physicians, a Farmington, Conn.-based physician group, is leveraging information technology to improve care for patients with chronic diseases.

The 88-physician group is developing a care coordination program in collaboration with CIGNA, a Philadelphia, Pa.-based global health services company. ProHealth will use CIGNA’s Well-Informed Program to identify potential gaps or omissions in care – particularly patients with chronic conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes.

“Through the use of technology and enhanced data tools, the healthcare professionals in our practice will be enabled to make informed decisions, develop care plans and offer educational materials that allow patients to better engage in self-care that extends beyond the office visit,” said Jim Cox-Chapman, chief medical officer of ProHealth Physicians.

Officials say ProHealth will develop and adopt care guides for five chronic conditions - diabetes, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, asthma and a fifth chronic condition that will be identified later.

“By focusing on data and identifying which patients are at higher risk, we can employ better care coordination to ensure that patients in that category get better care,” said Cheryl Lescarbeau, vice president of clinical performance at ProHealth Physicians.

The enhanced care program is a population-based pilot that involves a pay-for-performance perspective to improve care and reduce costs, said Richard Salmon, MD, medical director of CIGNA.

“The expectation is that ProHealth Physicians will achieve affordability by using a medical home model,” said Salmon. “When it comes to affordability, you improve cost of care by removing preventable patient visits.”