Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, Ill., signed a letter of intent May 31 to explore the possibility of bringing the 135-bed hospital into the Urbana, Ill.-based Carle health system.
Under the proposal, RMH would become an independent unit of Carle, according to both parties.
"Integration would mean that our organizations are aligned in missions, visions, values and strategic planning to best serve our patients," David Allen, CEO of Richland Memorial Hospital, said in a prepared statement. "The potential is exciting, and if approved, will mean the ability to offer our community so much more than we could on our own as a standalone hospital."
The two organizations have collaborated before. They entered a clinical affiliation agreement in 2014, and RMH is currently part of Carle's Rural Alliance for Exceptional Care, partnering with regional hospitals to address health needs and disparities, a news release states.
Carle includes two hospitals, a 429-physician group practice, Health Alliance Medical Plans and other healthcare entities including the engineering based Carle Illinois College of Medicine being developed with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Mr. Allen said one of the most important components of a possible integration is the ability to have Epic as RMH's information system.
In the coming months, RMH and Carle will work through details and address regulatory requirements. The organizations' respective boards and the state of Illinois must approve integration. If approvals are met integration is expected to occur in 2017.
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