Employer and health plan interest in contracting with “centers of excellence” continues to grow. Most recently, Walmart, America’s largest private employer, announced that it will expand its Walmart Cancer Centers of Excellence (COE) program to include virtually all cancers (see Walmart Expands Centers of Excellence Associate Health Benefit to Include Virtually All Cancers). Walmart’s Cancer COE, which is…

A center of excellence (COE) designation can be a strategically advantageous option for high-performing provider organizations. But the concept has changed over time. Historically, a research center has operated a COE program to promote best practices related to specific health care conditions but the definition has expanded (see Centers Of Excellence In Healthcare Institutions: What…

There are many models for bringing these specialized services with maximum “value” to market, and the one that has really grabbed my attention in recent years is the center of excellence (COE) approach. In 2023, OPEN MINDS conducted its innovation adoption survey (see Innovation Adoption Among Specialty & Primary Care Provider Organizations: The Results Of The…

Data and analytics are the preeminent tools for executive teams looking to prove their “excellence” with great consumer experience, superior quality of care, and reduced costs. Doing this well is critical to gaining a preferred relationship with payers and—if it fits an organization’s strategy—becoming a center of excellence (COE).

This month, as we concentrate on…