St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Mont., is partnering with Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital and the University of Utah School of Medicine, both in Salt Lake City, to enhance its pediatric care, according to a Billings Gazette report.
Officials told the Billings Gazette St. Vincent will work with the children's hospital and medical school to provide more specialty pediatric care in the area while sharing information and resources.
St. Vincent's goal with the partnership is to use the Utah organizations' physicians, resources and expertise to improve care for complex pediatric patients in Billings, while making transfer to the children's hospital easier for patients who can't get the care they need in Billings, according to the report.
Katy Welkie, CEO of Primary Children's, told the Billings Gazette the partnership will focus first on combining expertise in the organizations' clinical programs, and then on expanding training options. The three parties also are slated to create joint research opportunities.
"I'm hoping that this partnership both increases the quality of care and reduces some of the burden on parents," Ms. Welkie told the Billings Gazette.