Tandigm Health Names Chief Medical Officer

PHILADELPHIA, PA., Aug. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tandigm Health, a leading network of primary care physicians in southeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to improving quality and efficiency through a transformational system of physician-led, coordinated care, announced today the appointment of Kenneth Goldblum, M.D., as chief medical officer. He will report to Tandigm Health President and CEO Anthony Coletta, M.D.

Earlier today, Tandigm Health announced that it has entered into multi-year agreements with nearly 270 physicians in the three months since announcing the innovative partnership between HealthCare Partners (a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners) and Independence Blue Cross. Through their participation, Tandigm Health has developed a leading network of primary care physicians dedicated to improving quality and efficiency using a transformational system of physician-led coordinated care. As the newly appointed CMO, Dr. Goldblum will provide senior clinical leadership to these physicians and oversee the development and implementation of this innovative care delivery model.

Dr. Goldblum, who is a practicing, board-certified internist and geriatrician, has extensive experience in physician integration and quality improvement having founded and led a single hospital physician health organization (PHO), a multi-hospital PHO, a large primary care group practice, and a 250- doctor independent primary care association.

"It has been my career-long passion to improve care for patients through a better and more organized care model. I'm also committed to supporting primary care physicians with tools that enable them to deliver great care and feel professionally satisfied," said Dr. Goldblum. "Joining Tandigm Health gives me an opportunity to be part of a new company at the onset of shaping how health care gets delivered. I am truly energized by this unique company that brings the expertise in physician-centric coordinated care from HealthCare Partners — combined with Independence Blue Cross — one of the country's largest, most innovative Blues, to design a new way to deliver higher quality care."

"Dr. Goldblum is a widely regarded expert in quality of care with specific expertise in population health management, and as a practicing internist and geriatrician," said Dr. Coletta. "Beyond impeccable credentials, Dr. Goldblum has displayed a passion and talent for creating a partnership between the insurance industry and the medical community with a shared goal of improving care and reducing medical costs."

Dr. Goldblum joined Tandigm Health in August after serving as the medical director of Gateway Medical Associates, a large primary group practice in Exton, PA, where he has served since 1998. He also transitions to Tandigm Health from his role as chief medical officer of Renaissance Health Network (Renaissance), an independent primary care association in suburban Philadelphia, where he has served since 2006.

Over the past year, Dr. Goldblum has also served as senior vice president with Navvis Healthways, a physician health organization, where he worked with hospital systems and physicians to help develop collaborative, clinically integrated organizations. He will also transition from this position as he joins Tandigm Health.

Dr. Goldblum is often sought after to speak nationally about pay-for-performance, clinical integration, and accountable care organizations, and he also brings consultative experience as a member of the Board of Directors for the Health Care Improvement Foundation and Quality Insights of Pennsylvania — two organizations that are committed to health care initiatives aimed at lowering costs and improving the safety, outcomes, and care experiences of all patients, residents, and consumers across the Philadelphia region.

Dr. Coletta adds, "I am extremely pleased that Dr. Goldblum has chosen to continue his career at Tandigm Health, where he can put his clinical, business, operational, and thought leadership experience to work to help transform health care in the Philadelphia region."

Dr. Goldblum received a bachelor of arts in mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was selected for Phi Beta Kappa. He also attended medical school there and received his medical degree with honors as a member of the honorary medical society Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Goldblum completed his residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

About Tandigm Health

In April 2014, affiliates of Independence Blue Cross and DaVita HealthCare Partners joined together to form Tandigm Health, LLC. Tandigm Health is a unique company that draws on the expertise of Independence, one of the country's largest, most innovative Blue insurers, and HealthCare Partners, a nationally recognized leader of physician-centric care, in creating a network of physicians that are dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable health care in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. For more information please visit tandigmhealth.com.