Over the past seven years, Detroit-based Wayne State University School of Medicine and Detroit Medical Center have had a tumultuous relationship. But now the organizations are working toward reaching a contract agreement, according to Crain's Detroit Business.
The organizations' existing contract was created in 2009, but expires March 31. Through it, DMC has annually paid Wayne State for administrative, clinical and teaching services. But that amount has been steadily declining. In 2009, Wayne State received $68 million, but it only received $51 million in 2015.
Why has the amount decreased? DMC and Wayne State say it's for a few reasons, including "DMC assigning private [physicians] for follow-up care rather than WSU specialists," according to the report.
But more recently, leaders from both organizations — DMC CEO Joe Mullany and David Hefner, Wayne State vice president for health affairs — have been meeting to work out a new contract.
DMC and WayneState each have specific goals, which they're willing to help each other achieve, according to Crain's. DMC wants to become a top 15 academic health system as measured by Truven Health Analytics. Wayne State wants to receive a top 40 medical school ranking as measured by National Institutes of Health.
Mr. Mullany is hoping for a multiyear contract between the organizations. "We want more alignment because their success is our success," he added. "Right now we have a vendor relationship, and a weak one. We want much more."