Nebraska Health Network Names the Most Engaged Clinic and Value-Based Care Leader Award Recipient
Published April 22, 2024
Nebraska Health Network Names the Most Engaged Clinic and Value-Based Care Leader Award Recipient
(Omaha, Neb., 4/22/2024): Nebraska Health Network honored network participants at its 2024 Spring Meeting on April 9.
NHN created the William Palmer, MD, Leadership Award in 2022 to honor the late Dr. Palmer. He was a board-certified rheumatologist and a long-time supporter of value-based care and the NHN. The William Palmer, MD, Leadership Award recognizes an individual for their inspiring leadership, implementation of innovative practices and efforts to embrace and advance value-based care initiatives.
The 2024 honoree is Donald Darst, MD, an internal medicine physician and founder of Midwest Regional Health Services. Dr. Darst is a member of the NHN Board of Directors and served as Board Chair from 2020 to 2022. He is described as a visionary leader passionate about helping patients and embracing value-based care to benefit patients and providers.
“Dr. Darst has been a leader in promoting value in health care since the early days of the patient-centered medical home,” said Lee Handke, PharmD, MBA, NHN CEO. “He was one of the first physicians in the region to hold himself accountable by openly sharing his clinic’s quality performance with patients. As an active participant in the NHN, Dr. Darst supported our efforts to take health care into the future, to challenge the status quo and to improve care for all patients. We are very grateful for his passion and vision.”
Primary Care Physicians, LLP, received the Most Engaged Clinic Award. This award honors individuals or teams who, in the previous year, strengthened the work of our accountable care organization.
“Primary Care Physicians as a highly engaged team that strives to do more,” said Kristien Simons, MSN/MBA, RN, NHN population health coordinator. “They embrace learning opportunities, involve their entire team and look for ways to heighten their quality performance.”
Primary Care Physicians is located at 12728 August Avenue in Omaha and opened in 1977. Their team of physicians and advanced practice providers deliver care for the whole family.
Award entries are accepted throughout the year. If you’d like to nominate an individual, visit NebraskaHealthNetwork.com/Awards.
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2024 Recipients
DON DARST, MD
Primary Care Physicians LLP
About the NHN
Formed in 2010, Nebraska Health Network is the accountable care organization for two leading health systems in Nebraska: Methodist Health System and Nebraska Medicine. We have more than 5,500 primary care and specialty physicians and advanced practice providers working throughout the Omaha metropolitan area, Fremont and western Iowa. Together, we work to transform health care and provide patients with the highest possible quality of care at the lowest cost.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
The NHN team welcomes the opportunity to speak with you on a number of industry topics including, but not limited to:
- Value-based Care
- Advanced Payment Models
- Cost and Quality Initiatives
- Medicare Shared Savings Program