Slidell (La.) Memorial Hospital and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System have signed a letter of intent to form a partnership with a joint operating agreement that is expected to strategically benefit both organizations, as well as their physicians and patients.
Together, the organizations with share best practices, expand services and implement technology that is both advanced and patient-centered. SMH and Ochsner will also continue quality improvements and cost reduction by coordinating and improving resources.
SMH CEO Bill Davis expressed excitement over the pending partnership.
"Combining the complementary strengths of both organizations means we will be able to offer more to our patients together than we can apart," said Mr. Davis. "We look forward to working with Ochsner to create an integrated system that delivers nationally recognized care to the citizens we serve."
Focuses of the SMH-Ochsner partnership include preventative healthcare, patient education and delivering care that is high-quality, coordinated and patient-centered. Under the agreement, SMH will become part of Ochsner Health Network, and a Strategic Oversight Committee with members from both organizations will coordinate joint activity.
The partnership is one of the latest in the healthcare industry, which increasingly emphasizes collaboration.
"Partnerships like this one are crucial for standalone community hospitals and individual providers as well as for larger systems," said Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Ochsner Health System. "We are lucky to have two organizations with common cultures partnering together to improve the delivery of healthcare and to continue to make our communities stronger and healthier."