What’s ahead for Legacy Health Partners in the second half of 2025

By Albert Chaffin, MD
Medical Director, Legacy Health Partners

A decade of clinical integration—and growing momentum

Ten years after launch, LHP’s Clinical Integration (CI) Program continues to deliver measurable value: cervical cancer screening is up 7.2 percent, childhood immunizations have doubled, and emergency department use has fallen 29 percent per 1,000 patients since 2015.

Building on that record, LHP’s Board of Managers and provider-led committees have discussed some ambitious but attainable improvement goals and areas where LHP can support our entire network to thrive.

Priority	Why it matters	Key actions underway
Chronic disease focus	Diabetes & hypertension drive avoidable cost and morbidity	Compiling hypertension treatment algorithms Outlining ideal systems to have in place for diabetes and hypertension recall Ensuring documentation for eye exams is as complete as possible Pharmacist-led Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) pilot for uncontrolled hypertension
Support data review and gap closure	Many clinics still lack seamless EHR connectivity	Obtaining read-only remote EHR access from additional practices Practices review “open gaps” on dashboard each month
Equity & access	Network growth depends on timely primary care	Evaluating additional primary care practices for LHP membership
Provider education	Engaged clinicians outperform on CI measures and are aware of best practices and resources	Clinically relevant modules enhance skills, knowledge and performance Upcoming Clinical Collaboration series for pain management and AI in everyday medicine
Shaping the 2026 Clinical Integration Program	Continuing to measure what matters brings value to patients, providers and payors	Share tactics that have driven improvement on existing measures Assess what important areas are missing and add measures that are actionable and improve population health

Clinical Collaboration Series: hot topics, high engagement

Last year’s standing room only sessions on psychiatric crisis care, obesity treatment, and menopause showed the power of peer-to-peer learning. This year we covered a refresher on colorectal cancer screening and will introduce these new topics:

• Evidence-based pain management pearls: ketamine and psilocybin
• AI in everyday medicine: pragmatic demos, not hype

Each session will come with toolkits, patient handouts, and CME credit. One participant captured the mood: “We’re all excited!”

A network that leads together

The Board of Managers keeps LHP grounded in day-to-day clinical realities while pushing us to innovate. Your insights, questions, and feedback are essential. Please stay engaged and help shape what comes next.

On behalf of myself and the Board, thank you for your commitment to delivering value and improving health across our communities.

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Sun safety and dermatology spotlight

Protecting skin health: what primary care teams should know

Skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer in the United States, but the good news is that many cases are preventable. As the first line of defense, primary care teams play a critical role in both prevention and early detection. With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to remind patients about sun safety and skin health.

Sun protection: simple steps with big impact

Encouraging patients to adopt sun-safe habits can significantly reduce their risk of skin cancer. Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should be applied generously and reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Lotion-based sunscreens are generally more effective than sprays, offering better coverage.

Protective clothing is another key defense. Recommend UPF-rated garments, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Patients should also be advised to avoid peak UV exposure hours—typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.—by seeking shade or planning indoor activities during that time.

It’s important to educate patients of all skin tones. While melanin offers some natural protection, it does not eliminate the risk of skin cancer. Everyone, regardless of skin type, should practice sun safety.

Special considerations for vulnerable populations

Certain groups require extra attention. Infants under six months should not use sunscreen; instead, they should be kept in the shade and dressed in protective clothing. Immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for developing skin cancers and may benefit from more frequent skin checks.

When to refer: recognizing suspicious lesions

Primary care providers should be familiar with the ABCDE rule for identifying potential melanomas:

A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn’t match the other
B – Border: Edges are irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined
C – Color: Multiple colors or unusual shades are present
D – Diameter: Greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
E – Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or symptoms

Other red flags include lesions that don’t heal, especially in sun-exposed areas, or moles that bleed, itch, or cause pain. The “ugly duckling” sign—when a lesion looks different from others on the body—can also be a clue. A personal or family history of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, warrants closer monitoring.

Referral best practices

When referring patients to dermatology, include clinical photos and a detailed history of any changes. If available, dermatology e-consults can help triage cases more efficiently. For high-risk patients, encourage annual full-body skin exams.

LHP dermatologists in network

• Michele Thompson, MD Dermatology
• Broadway Medical Clinic-Dermatology
• Dermatology Associates
• Goodskin Dermatology
• Knott St. Dermatology
• Epiphany Dermatology (previously Norris Dermatology & Laser NW)
• NW Dermatology Institute
• Phoebe Rich Dermatology & Research Center
• Oregon Clinic-Dermatology
• The Portland Clinic-Dermatology
• Vancouver Clinic-Dermatology
• Willamette Dermatology

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Announcements, deadlines, and reminders

• Mark your calendars for two exciting Clinical Collaboration Series events coming this fall. Stay tuned for registration details for both events!
  • October 8, 2025 – AI in Healthcare: Tools, Trends & Safe Use
    In this engaging session, we will explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Learn about current tools, emerging trends, and how to use AI responsibly and effectively in clinical settings.
  • October 27, 2025 – Pain, Psychedelics & Possibility
    Don’t miss this provocative panel discussion as we unpack the science and clinical realities of ketamine and psilocybin—two compounds gaining traction in the treatment of chronic pain and psychological distress.


• Earlier this year, Legacy Health implemented TeamBirth within its family birth centers at all six of its hospitals, providing a framework for communication, shared decision-making and amplifying the patient voice during labor and delivery. This program ensures patients, and the clinicians caring for them, have input and understanding during the delivery of care. For more information about TeamBirth and to schedule a Family Birth Center tour, visit Legacy Health.


• LHP publishes data and reports in the LHP Reporting Suite so practices can track and monitor quality outcomes and utilization patterns for their patients. These online resources for dashboards, reporting, and tools provide actionable data at your fingertips so you can coordinate with providers within the LHP network to control costs, improve performance on value-based contracts, and improve coordination of care.


• Have you and your staff been working on an improvement project? LHP is accepting applications for our annual LHP Quality Awards and we want to recognize your entire staff for your hard work and continue to share information and ideas across our network. Download the application form and submit it by October 31. LHP provides financial awards to the top three winners ($2000, $1500, $1000 respectively) to help support your efforts and recognize clinics by delivering team treats, awards, and sharing how you implemented improvements so other practices can try similar strategies. We look forward to learning about your projects and celebrating your results. Good luck!


• For primary care: Be sure to review the Member Attribution report in Power BI for a list of the LHP patients attributed to you. If you believe a member is attributed to you in error, download the Reattribution Request Form from the LHP Team Site and include the patient’s correct PCP and email the form to LegacyHealthPartners@lhs.org before Sept. 30.


• In case you missed it: Last month, we launched this year’s LHP video library to complete 1) the annual Clinical Integration Education video and 2) choose one learning module by December 19. Completing both activities helps providers participate in our network and stay informed about resources and relevant topics as you continue your learning.