Our Vision

Carilion Clinic’s current transformation started with a bold vision — to provide the best possible outcome for every patient by bringing doctors together in an accountable medical group.

In 2006, Carilion’s board of directors recognized that patient care in our region was not well coordinated. Patients were waiting too long to see their doctors. There was waste and costs were rising too quickly.

And so we began a 10-year commitment to transform Carilion into Carilion Clinic.

The physician-led, patient-centered clinic model is best exemplified by the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic. By integrating patient care among world-class physicians, and with a commitment to healing enabled by medical education and research, these world-renowned clinics have significantly improved the delivery and quality of healthcare in their communities.

How a clinic approach benefits you

This approach benefits you in several powerful ways.

It improves the care you receive. Doctors working together in an accountable medical group develop standards of care and best practices so that your chances of returning to a healthy life are better. You benefit from the collective training, expertise and opinions of multiple specialists and support teams working side by side to more effectively coordinate your care.

You can more easily access the care you need. By having more physicians in our region, care is more available and timely. Information about your care is safely stored and tracked through an electronic medical record. Physicians consult your medical records with ease and coordinate appointments among each other.

Costs are better controlled. After all, physicians order most all tests, procedures, hospital stays and medications. It’s estimated that as much as 30 percent of all medical care is unnecessary, resulting nationally in approximately $700 billion of waste each year. These resources could help cover the cost of uninsured patients, or the costs of needed services that lose money like level one trauma care, LifeGuard helicopters, or the many pediatric sub specialists our children require. Only through physician leadership for new and better ways to provide care can costs be controlled.

We're just getting started

Results at established clinics have shown that an integrated approach to healthcare — with a team of physicians working together to do what’s best for the patient — rates highly in healthcare quality, value and satisfaction.

At Carilion Clinic, we recognize we have a long way to go before we can claim that kind of success. But we’re making progress to improve healthcare in our region.

Physician leadership

Just two years ago, we announced our plans to convert to a clinic-style organization. In addition to our board of directors, we formed a board of governors, made up mostly of physicians, to guide our operations and decision making. We reorganized into clinical departments, such as surgery, medicine and pediatrics, and hired physician department chairs to help lead them.

More physicians

Already, more than 150 physicians in many specialties have joined Carilion Clinic, many from prestigious medical schools and academic centers. They are helping to fill community need and to improve accessibility to care. That brings to more than 450 physicians working together to improve outcomes for thousands of patients every year.

A new medical school and research institute

To train more doctors and provide an atmosphere of learning, medical breakthroughs and the most up-to-date treatment for our patients, we’re partnering with Virginia Tech to build a medical school and research institute in Roanoke.

Electronic medical records

We’re currently implementing an enterprise-wide electronic medical record.

Lower costs

Our Carilion Clinic physicians set as a goal to decrease the cost of each hospital stay by an average of $200 this year. They’ve exceeded it.

Higher quality

Our physicians were successful in meeting their goal of decreasing the number of hospital-acquired infections.

They’ve organized peer reviews and physician conferences to discuss complex patient cases so they can find your best options for care. Our doctors are participating in research trials and bringing in new drugs so that your chances of surviving a disease or condition are more promising.

We understand that meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight and that it requires hard work and focus. We have a long way to go and are far from getting it right.

But we are well on our way.

We know that if we are true to our mission of putting patients first and in the center of everything we do, your care will not only be better but also less costly.

That’s value you can count on and our commitment to you.