October 3, 2005 Boston, Mass. -- Tufts Medical Center and NEQCA, the largest independent group of primary care physicians in New England, announced today that they have formalized their agreement to establish a new platform upon which to build a unique and competitive physician network for the region.

Through the new partnership, NEQCA physicians become the first members of New England Quality Care Alliance, NEQCA. This physician network will expand services to patients, while preserving the independent private practice model of community-based health care delivery. Tufts Medical Center will be the principal tertiary care provider for the network, which currently includes approximately 125 physicians.

NEQCA will enable and encourage its participants to pursue further network development and expansion, quality improvements, coordination of patient care, health plan contracting and improved physician -and- patient-oriented information technologies.

The partnership will not affect physicians’ relationships with community-based specialists or community hospitals. NEQCA physicians will maintain their independent practices with preferred access to Tufts Medical Center for complex, tertiary care, such as advanced cardiac treatment, neurosurgery, high risk maternity and other conditions requiring highly specialized treatments and technologies.

"Through NEQCA, we can enhance quality, pursue leading edge technology initiatives and explore new models for efficient, cost effective and quality health care delivery,” said Tufts Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Ellen Zane. “Please join me in extending a warm welcome to the physicians of NEQCA who are new members of our Medical Center community.”