ROCKWOOD CLINIC, DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER AND VALLEY HOSPITAL TO JOIN EFFORTS IN NEW INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM
Proposed health system will combine two of region’s most established,
most esteemed providers to share strengths, enhance resources,
expand services and positively impact patient care
SPOKANE, WASH (October 20, 2009) – The board of directors of Rockwood Clinic has unanimously agreed to enter into a non-binding letter of intent with CHS Washington Holdings, LLC. The letter paves the way for Rockwood, Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center to develop an integrated healthcare delivery system (IHDS).
Once created, this new system will represent the most progressive health system in the Inland Northwest, combining the expertise, resources and services of three leading Spokane healthcare providers that have each been delivering quality care to patients in the region for many decades. Once formed, the IHDS will encompass inpatient hospital care; primary care and specialty medicine physician practices; ambulatory surgery centers; urgent care facilities; outpatient physical therapy centers; and outpatient imaging, infusion and radiation therapy services.
“The physicians of Rockwood Clinic believe that to best serve the community, we must align ourselves with a nationally recognized healthcare system and offer our medical services more fully across the continuum of care,” said Craig Whiting, M.D., interim chief executive officer of Rockwood Clinic. “Alignment with this prestigious company and these two fine hospitals, and creation of a fully integrated healthcare delivery system, is realization of our vision for Rockwood Clinic.”
“Our hospitals are extremely fortunate to have some of the finest physicians in the region on our medical staffs,” said Robert Hartman, M.D., chief medical officer for both Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital. “Alignment with the Rockwood physicians – and all of the assets of Rockwood Clinic – is a significant and exciting development for our hospitals and the communities we serve.”
The transaction will be invisible to patients. As a subsidiary of the IHDS, Rockwood Clinic will continue to operate under its own brand. No changes are anticipated to its staffing or management. Rockwood will continue to be guided by a board of directors comprised of physicians operating under by-laws established and approved by Rockwood.
The proposed IHDS will be guided by a strategic planning committee comprised of Rockwood physicians and members of the hospitals' boards of trustees, medical staffs and management representatives. The committee will provide insights and guidance to all of services of the proposed IHDS.
“Integrated delivery is the future of healthcare. As forward thinking organizations, discussions leading to this day have taken place for quite some time,” said Kevin Sweeny, M.D., president of the Rockwood Clinic board of directors. “The board has conducted extensive research in the last several months has been consistently impressed with CHS and their affiliates. We were delighted to discover that our organizations share many common goals for patient care and quality excellence.
“Like Rockwood Clinic, Deaconess and Valley hospitals are on a very positive trajectory for growth. Our physicians look forward to playing an increased role in the hospitals’ futures, and to broadening our services across the continuum and throughout the region.”
The proposed transaction is not expected to require regulatory approval, although the transfer of licenses, due diligence and other customary conditions of closing will need to be met. The transaction is anticipated to close before the end of the year.