Affiliation agreement to enable organizations to work collaboratively on coordinating care, improving access and quality, creating efficiencies Peoria, Illinois (September 9, 2013) – Officials of UnityPoint Health – Methodist and Proctor in Peoria today signed an affiliation agreement to form one health system.
The affiliation of the hospital campuses, outpatient clinics and other sites of care will create a stronger, broader system of care to better serve patients in the region. The Boards of Directors of Methodist Health Services Corporation (MHSC) and Proctor Health Care Incorporated (PHCI), the parent companies of both organizations, previously approved the terms of the agreement signed today.
Methodist and Proctor expect to complete the affiliation in the fourth quarter of 2013, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
“The focus of our affiliation is to improve the experience for our patients by coordinating their care and providing the high quality services both organizations are known for,” said Debbie Simon, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Methodist.
“Forming a health system that makes use of both Proctor Hospital’s north Peoria campus and Methodist’s downtown campus will better enable us to accomplish these goals and increase access to care.”
“Proctor is excited to be joining Methodist so we can work together as a single health system with two locations,” said Paul Macek, president and CEO of Proctor. “Our affiliation will ensure that our high quality and high value services will thrive within a great and respected organization, to the benefit of patients in Peoria and throughout Central Illinois.”
The affiliation agreement outlines a new, collaborative vision for the two organizations. By combining operations into a single health system, Methodist and Proctor can further develop a value-based way of delivering health care services. The elements of this modern, patient-centered delivery system include improving care coordination, expanding access to care with more clinical space and sites, sharing best practices on care processes to improve quality and efficiency, and optimizing the use of resources.
“This is a time of great change in health care. By coming together, Methodist and Proctor are working to take the transformative steps that will ensure that health care in our region measures up to the challenges of the 21st century health care,” said Peter Johnsen, chair of the MHSC board.
Under the agreement, MHSC will become the sole corporate member of PHCI. The board of MHSC will add three members from the PHCI board. MHSC will continue to be a senior affiliate of UnityPoint Health, based in West Des Moines, Iowa; Methodist joined UnityPoint Health in October 2011.
The agreement creates a unified health system with two hospital campuses. The identities of each campus will incorporate the well-respected names that patients recognize and trust – UnityPoint Health – Methodist and UnityPoint Health – Proctor. The agreement covers all of the operations of Proctor, including the physicians employed by Proctor, its clinic sites and other services, such as the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery and the Hult Center for Healthy Living.
“These are two great community assets that together will be even greater,” said Dennis Triggs, chair of the PHCI Board. “The Proctor community is proud of its history and looks forward to furthering its mission as an integral part of the new organization.”
Simon will be president and CEO of the combined entity. “This is a great community, and I am privileged to lead these two organizations and this new vision of health care for the future,” Simon said.
Through the coordination and efficiency of resources, technology and purchasing, the newly combined organization will provide greater health care value, quality and access to Peoria and the surrounding region.
Bill Leaver, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health, said, “This affiliation creates a strong organization that will serve the region‟s health care needs in a very effective manner. The UnityPoint Health mission is „Best Outcome for Every Patient Every Time‟ – it is what we strive for. This affiliation will offer that to a greater portion of the region.”
The affiliation agreement is subject to approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. Pending regulatory approval, the affiliation is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year.