Leading Health Maintenance Organisation, Avon Healthcare Limited (Avon HMO) has rewarded three hospitals as part of its ongoing Provider Incentive Programme. Three Lagos-based hospitals, National Air Force Hospital (Ikeja), Med-In Specialist Hospital (Ogudu) and Bee Hess Hospital (Akowonjo) and their HMO officers received diesel supply and plasma TVs.
The Avon HMO Provider Incentive Programme rewards hospitals and HMO officers who are timely, consistent and accurate in submitting utilisation data on primary care as well as secondary and tertiary care services. Mrs. Adesimbo Ukiri, MD/CEO of Avon HMO, described this incentive as a key step taken by Avon HMO to advance the collection, availability and use of robust medical utilisation data.
“In Nigeria, we are seeing an increase in chronic diseases and escalating healthcare costs. If HMOs are to offer health plans that truly cater to the current and future needs of our people, we need comprehensive data to guide our product development initiatives”, Ukiri added.
Launched in 2015, the programme is part of the company’s vision to set new standards and drive the industry forward. Ukiri explained further that the data being collected would identify and track disease prevalence and patterns, especially at primary care levels and inform our disease prevention and wellness initiatives.
She noted that this approach highlights why managed care organisations such as Avon HMO provide more than just health insurance. “Ultimately this will help achieve better patient experience, minimise disease re-occurrence and reduce re-admission rates for the same diagnosis,” she added.
Head, Provider Services, Avon HMO, Dr. Adebanjo Oni, said he hoped that the efforts of Avon HMO would kick start a transformation in the HMO industry and lead to increased awareness on the importance of maintaining accurate and robust medical data. Dr. Olugbenga Awosika, Medical Director, Med-In Specialist Hospital, Ogudu, Lagos, one of the rewarded hospitals, stated that one reason why his hospital is in partnership with Avon HMO is because “Avon is innovative and purpose driven.
“No other HMO shows as much interest in the use of data as Avon HMO and this speaks volumes about their passion for quality healthcare delivery”, Awosika noted.
