Q & A with Eric Kohleriter, M.D., President and Medical Director for Bay Valley Medical Group

We sat down with Dr. Eric Kohleriter to discuss Bay Valley Medical Group’s exciting new partnership with University HealthCare Alliance. We are sharing this interview to help you better understand the recent affiliation.

What is University HealthCare Alliance?
University HealthCare Alliance (UHA) was established January 1, 2011, as a not-for-profit medical foundation organized to own and operate multi-specialty medical clinics in Northern California. It seeks to affiliate with high quality, community-based physicians in the Bay Area. UHA’s unique structure allows for preserving a private practice environment for individual physicians and medical groups while providing a link to Stanford University Medical Center--one of the world’s leading medical institutions.

Is UHA affiliated with any other medical groups?
In addition to Bay Valley Medical Group (BVMG), UHA is affiliated with Menlo Medical Clinic in Menlo Park. Currently, with BVMG and Menlo Medical Clinic, UHA operates six clinic sites. It has plans of partnering with additional community-based physicians and groups on the peninsula and in the East Bay.

How is UHA associated with the Stanford University Medical Center?
UHA was formed by Stanford Hospital & Clinics and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Why has Stanford formed a medical foundation?
Health care is undergoing many changes from a regulatory perspective, making it more important than ever for doctors and hospitals to work together. Stanford’s and UHA’s mission is to deliver value to its patients. An affiliation between Stanford and community physicians enables everyone to provide better coordinated preventive, chronic, acute and long-term care. And as millions of new individuals become eligible for health insurance in the coming years, Stanford, UHA and Bay Valley Medical Group will be ready to respond to the increased demand.

How will BVMG and its patients benefit by the affiliation with UHA?
Partnering with UHA supports BVMG’s long-term strategy of strengthening our ability to adapt to changes occurring in medicine—whether the changes are caused by local, regional or national forces. We’ve served our communities for over 57 years and we want to continue this longstanding tradition of providing personalized, quality care to our patients. Our medical group will benefit from UHA’s commitment to invest in our infrastructure so that we can improve our facilities, clinical operations and information systems. UHA will also help BVMG grow to offer more physicians and clinic sites. These investments and this support will lead to enhanced care and service to our patients.

So, BVMG is not going away?
No. On the contrary, BVMG will continue to offer care at our four, current clinic sites in Castro Valley, Danville, Hayward and Pleasanton. We will also maintain our network of over 400 affiliate physicians in southern Alameda and Contra Costa counties. If anything, we will become larger as we grow in partnership with UHA.

How will patient care at Bay Valley Medical Group be affected?
There will be no impact to BVMG patients in terms of their ability to see BVMG physicians at any of our clinic sites or in an affiliate physician office. Over the next year, patient service will be enhanced as UHA assists BVMG with implementing the electronic health record as well as with creating patient and physician internet portals. Increased connectivity and the use of information technology will enable BVMG to communicate more efficiently with its patients. We will also have easier access to specialist and hospital records so that we can better coordinate inpatient and outpatient care of our patients.

Will BVMG patients be able to see their same specialists and be admitted to their local hospital?
Yes; absolutely. This was an important consideration in choosing to partner with UHA. This affiliation will not disrupt any patterns of care. BVMG physicians will continue to coordinate specialty and hospital care and maintain referrals to local specialists and hospitals. BVMG has always referred to Stanford when patients need more highly specialized, tertiary care. This affiliation will further enhance and solidify a longstanding relationship between BVMG and Stanford Hospital & Clinics.

Will patients need to switch insurances to be able to continue with BVMG?
No. BVMG will continue to participate in all of the major HMO and PPO health plans as well as with Medicare and other governmental programs. There should be no disruption of care to any patients because of insurance or choice of primary care physician.

It almost sounds too good to be true?
BVMG is very excited about this affiliation. We see a true partner in UHA. It is an organization that shares our mission of providing compassionate care to our patients. UHA will strengthen our medical group. It will also support our relationships with local physicians and hospitals. Together, we aim to adapt to the rapidly changing health care environment and successfully serve the community for many more years to come.

Bay Valley Medical Group’s customer service department is available to assist patients by providing additional information or answering questions. The staff is available Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:30 pm at 510-785-5000.