Baton Rouge General (BRG) announced it has signed a management services arrangement with the area’s largest gastroenterology group, Gastroenterology Associates (GA), LLC. The agreement will provide full-time dedicated gastroenterology professionals in Baton Rouge General Perkins Road gastroenterology center as well as additional coverage for gastroenterology procedures in its hospitals.
“Gastrointestinal and digestive problems are incredibly common in Louisiana,” said BRG acting President and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro. “By working together with Gastroenterology Associates, we can offer more patients the comprehensive, expert services that have created an unparalleled patient experience for the people of Louisiana.”
The agreement will go into effect January 9, 2017 and will provide expanded service for patients at the BRG gastroenterology center. “We are excited about the opportunity to further our mission of delivering the highest quality gastroenterology care in the area,” said GA CEO Alan Donner. “Our comprehensive services combined with BRG’s history of patient quality will only enhance the care we can provide to patients in our community.”
Last fall, BRG outlined its strategic plan in its “Future of Healthcare” report. Partnering with other healthcare providers is a critical component of the plan, allowing BRG to expand its reach, enhance coordination among providers, and increase convenience and satisfaction for patients. “Partnering with providers who share our commitment to creating exceptional experiences through high quality care is exactly what we mean when we talk about transforming healthcare,” said Dr. Kenny Cole, Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at BRG. “Across the country, these types of agreements have been proven to improve care quality and health outcomes.”
BRG’s programs have been recognized many times for their high quality and safety. The hospital was recently named in the nation’s top 10 percent of hospitals for patient safety by Healthgrades. BRG is the only hospital in Baton Rouge to receive an ‘A’ for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group for 5 years in a row. And, the BRG gastroenterology practice boasts some of the highest patient satisfaction scores available, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars in a national patient satisfaction survey.