Healthcare collaborations that compound success

Published: 07/01/2016
Updated: 03/07/2022

The Greater Phoenix healthcare and biomedical ecosystem is comprised of over 9,000 enterprises that support more than 200,000 jobs. Collectively, through a number of innovative partnerships and collaborations, Greater Phoenix is leading the charge in providing better health outcomes.

The region offers a thriving environment of hospitals, academic institutions, biosciences companies, research centers, incubators and accelerators, all in partnership with one another to make breakthroughs in translational research and healthcare delivery innovations. This unique ecosystem relies on each of its members and assets in order to deliver the highest-quality care to patients, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

The UA College of Medicine and Banner Health have partnered to form a health network that will be an affiliate to the university and contribute to subsidize program costs while expanding clinical residency.

Collaborations such as this, as well as Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s partnership with Dignity Health for pediatric research, Northern Arizona University’s treatment and research partnership with Mayo Clinic and many others, are actively positioning the Greater Phoenix region as a leader in cost-effective research and care delivery.

“We are proud to be making Arizona a national and international destination for world-class healthcare,” said Wyatt Decker, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic Arizona. “Through our partnerships with institutions such as Arizona State University, TGen, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and others, we have advanced medical research with the goal of providing the best possible care for patients.”

Diverse Population, Talented Healthcare Workforce

The healthcare and bioscience employment growth rate in Greater Phoenix is currently outpacing the national average, with a 36 percent increase in the past decade, and is expected to grow 28 percent in the next decade, which outpaces the projected national growth of 18 percent. The region’s population of 4.4 million — more than two-thirds of Arizona’s population and job base — is expected to grow to 5.5 million within the next 10 years.

Greater Phoenix is also a hub for clinical trial activity, with access to a large patient population of diverse characteristics. There are 1,311 active clinical trials in Arizona with 29,291 participants, whose investments produce an economic impact of $618.4 million. With Hispanics representing 30 percent of the population, people ages 65 and older making up 13.8 percent of the population and among the top three metro areas with the highest concentration of Native Americans nationally, Greater Phoenix holds opportunity to perform clinical trials with underrepresented populations.

A Premier Wellness Destination

In a new era of value-based delivery, personalized medicine aims to tailor care and wellness to individuals’ genetic, biological and genomic characteristics. Institutions such as Cancer Treatment Centers of America, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Sun Health Center for Health and Wellbeing, Banner’s MD Anderson Cancer Center and many more are leading the innovative efforts to customize healthcare.

“Banner is helping to shape the future of healthcare through innovative uses of technologies such as Telemedicine and through partnerships with groups like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, University of Arizona and Cerner Corporation,” said Peter Fine, CEO of Banner Health.

Collaborations are at the core of patient care in Greater Phoenix. While maintaining continuity with their primary clinician, patients can also take advantage of a robust ecosystem of world-class healthcare providers. With a patient-first approach, providers focus on an overall pleasant health and wellness experience, with minimal wait times, convenient text and online scheduling and modern online patient portals.

By building healthier communities through innovative urban design as well as providing affordable care and lifestyle amenities, Greater Phoenix is quickly becoming a top destination for visitors and their families seeking care.

“We are excited to provide high quality, affordable healthcare to all within Greater Phoenix,” said Linda Hunt, CEO of Dignity Health. “Thanks to private and public sector collaborations, this region is emerging as a true healthcare destination and leader in innovation.”

Photo Credit: Media Production at the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix