Dr. Sandy Melzer Appointed Seattle Children’s Executive Vice President for Networks, Population Health

SEATTLE, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle Children's announced today that Dr. Sandy Melzer has been appointed Seattle Children's executive vice president for networks and population health. Melzer, who currently serves as senior vice president and chief strategy officer, will continue to oversee the hospital's strategic planning department.

In his new role, Melzer will focus on leading clinical and business transformation to help Seattle Children's achieve the 'Triple Aim' in healthcare – better outcomes and patient experience at lower costs, said Jeff Sperring, chief executive officer, Seattle Children's.

"Sandy has done a tremendous job as senior vice president and chief strategy officer, leading Seattle Children's strategic planning and business development efforts," Sperring said. "This new appointment recognizes Seattle Children's increased focus on strategies to ensure our ability to serve every child and family who needs us – regardless of their ability to pay or their health plan coverage – in this changing and complex healthcare environment."

Melzer's work includes developing systems that facilitate coordinated care between Seattle Children's Hospital specialists, primary care physicians and other community providers, like the Pediatric Partners in Care (PPIC) project, which aims to improve outcomes and reduce costs of care for medically complex patients with multiple medical issues.

"One of our primary initiatives will be to develop new business models that evolve from expanding accountable care," Melzer said. "A key strategy is implementation of the Seattle Children's Care Network (SCCN), a collaboration between Children's University Medical Group (CUMG) providers and more than 150 primary care physicians in our community."

Melzer also will work with the entire leadership team to position Seattle Children's as the preferred pediatric provider in all Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which have emerged over the last two years in response to healthcare reform, Sperring said.

"As we continue to face an unpredictable and challenging healthcare market, this new role affirms Seattle Children's commitment to care transformation, collaboration and value in healthcare," Sperring said.

About Seattle Children's

Seattle Children's Hospital, Foundation and Research Institute together deliver superior patient care, advance new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and serve as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho – the largest region of any children's hospital in the country.

Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's Hospital specializes in meeting the unique physical, emotional and developmental needs of children from infancy through young adulthood. For more than 100 years, the hospital has been dedicated to providing top-quality care to every child in who needs it, regardless of the family's ability to pay.

Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Foundation gathers community support and raises funds for Seattle Children's Hospital and Seattle Children's Research Institute.

Located in downtown Seattle's biotech corridor, Seattle Children's Research Institute is pushing the boundaries of medical research to find cures for pediatric diseases and improve outcomes for children all over the world. Internationally recognized investigators and staff at the research institute are advancing new discoveries in cancer, genetics, immunology, pathology, infectious disease, injury prevention and bioethics, among others.

For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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SOURCE Seattle Children's