Southwest and PeaceHealth Begin Affiliation Talks
03/19/2010
Southwest Washington Health System &
PeaceHealth begin talks around possible affiliation —Regional health care leaders share common heritage, mission—
Southwest Washington Health System and PeaceHealth both trace their roots back to pioneering nuns who built the region’s first institutions of hope and healing. Mother Joseph, of the Sisters of Providence, founded the Northwest’s first hospital, St. Joseph’s in Vancouver in 1858. Mother Francis Clare founded a different St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fairhaven, Washington in 1891. Now the two health systems that grew from these early beginnings are entering formal discussions about joining together in an affiliation.
Southwest’s President and CEO Joseph M. Kortum announced today that Southwest and PeaceHealth have agreed to enter a process of formal discussions between the two health care organizations. Southwest and PeaceHealth believe that strengthening the ties between the two systems will improve the quality and scope of medical services provided to our communities.
“We are excited by the promise and potential of an affiliation between Southwest and PeaceHealth, two organizations that share a similar heritage and passion for providing high quality, accessible and affordable health care for our communities,” said Kortum.
Together, both organizations will be better able to leverage their collective health care expertise and resources for the benefit of southwest Washington patients and communities.
“Our board looked at several possibilities for helping to grow our already advanced capabilities — including maintaining the status quo as an independent hospital,” explained Kortum. “We feel that PeaceHealth truly understands our commitment to this community and will help us preserve and enhance our mission of high quality and affordable health care services for our community.”
“We are pleased to begin formal discussions with Southwest," said Alan Yordy, President and CEO for PeaceHealth. "We see this as an opportunity to work together to bring value to our communities through access, quality services and a shared commitment to caring for the poor and vulnerable."
The formal discussions will begin immediately, with the process continuing through 2010. For more information, please visit www.swmedicalcenter.org/ or www.peacehealth.org/.
PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth is a Bellevue, WA-based not-for-profit health care system with medical centers, critical access hospitals, medical group clinics and laboratories located in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PeaceHealth has provided exceptional medicine and compassionate care to Northwest communities for more than a century. During the most recent fiscal year (ended June 30, 2009), PeaceHealth provided patient care to these communities through more than 53,000 inpatient admissions, 500,000 outpatient registrations, and 1 million medical group encounters. PeaceHealth consistently receives national recognition for innovations in patient-centered care, patient safety, health care technology and cost efficiency.
Southwest Washington Health System
Southwest Washington Health System (SWHS) is a regional network of facilities, medical practices, and health plan entities. Members and affiliates of SWHS are governed by individual board of directors. Through the alliance of providers, the goal of SWHS is to best serve the residents of Clark County and beyond. A not-for-profit 501(c)3 parent corporation, SWHS includes the following organizations: Southwest Washington Medical Center, a not-for-profit, tertiary-level hospital; Southwest Medical Group, a multi-specialty group serving Clark County; Family Medicine of Southwest Washington, a three-year family practice residency program; Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation; Columbia United Providers, a community-based health plan for Medicaid patients; Southwest Imaging Center - Fisher's Landing, a free-standing diagnostic imaging service; Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center LLC, an ambulatory (day) surgery facility; and Property & Building Company LLC. For more information, visit www.swmedicalcenter.org.
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