WILMINGTON, Del. (Aug. 24, 2023) – The Delaware Children’s Health Network has been rebranded KidWell Network to convey the organization’s commitment to improving children’s care through wellness and prevention, coordination of services, and data-driven decision-making. Given the growth of value-based care, the name change provides more flexibility to continue expanding across Delaware and beyond as networks such as these aren’t limited by geography or state lines.
The KidWell Network currently comprises more than 150 pediatricians and over 600 specialists in 30 practices across Delaware with growth plans in the works.
The KidWell Network was originally named the Delaware Children’s Health Network (DCHN) when formed in February 2019 by Nemours Children’s Health. DCHN/KidWell is Delaware’s first and only state-wide pediatric clinically integrated network (CIN), created with the purpose of improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of care provided to children and to enhance the health and experience of all the patients served.
“The Kidwell Network has empowered my practice with additional resources, like quality improvement efforts, and care coordination that have improved the overall health of the children we care for,” said Jay Ludwicki, MD, Chair of Board of Managers, KidWell Network. “I am excited about the network opportunities ahead. We have an amazing opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of children and families.”
The KidWell Network creates an all-inclusive view of patients’ health using data from clinical and claims systems. This collection of information creates a foundation for better population health management while also providing individual patients with more informed care.
“The rebranded KidWell network will allow us to further scale learnings and simultaneously reduce costs while also improving care for children,” said Kara Odom Walker, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Population Health Officer, Nemours Children’s Health. “We’re excited to continue strengthening our work with physician groups as we collaborate to reform pediatric health care, going well beyond medicine in Delaware and elsewhere.”
The benefits for patients and their families include:
- Improved coordination and efficiency of care, with access to care management support such as pharmacy, nursing and social workers
- More relevant and actionable information and higher satisfaction
- Improved quality outcomes with network of providers routinely sharing best practices
- Lower costs and higher value
For physicians, participation in the KidWell Network demonstrates dedication to whole child health and being a part of a well-developed organization committed to a shared vision of reforming healthcare. As a member of the first and only statewide CIN in Delaware dedicated exclusively to children, patients will receive higher quality, more efficient care from like-minded providers who share data and information and follow consistent clinical programs and protocols.
To date, the CIN has resulted in more than $12.5 million in incentives for quality, shared savings, and addressing social determinants of health. In 2022, DCHN achieved $5.1 million in shared savings and earned an additional $700,000 for meeting our overall quality performance goals.
KidWell is also part of an initiative with a Delaware Medicaid ACO to incentivize efforts for health equity to reduce health disparities and enhance access to health care for some of Delaware’s most vulnerable and low-income children.
For more information about KidWell, visit https://kidwellnetwork.org.
About Nemours Children's Health
Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children’s hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children’s seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also caring for the health of the whole child beyond medicine. Nemours Children’s also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org. Nemours KidsHealth is a pioneer and leader in pediatric health content that has been trusted by millions worldwide for more than 25 years.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
Media Contact: Che Parker, che.parker@nemours.org
Nemours has a number of service regions. Selecting your region will help us show you the right contact information and the most relevant content for you.