University Medical Center in Louisville, Ky., and the University of Louisville announced Wednesday that they have entered a partnership bringing together University Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center with KentuckyOne Health in Louisville.
This agreement ends more than a year-long partnership search for University Hospital, part of University Medical Center and UofL. The hospital had been part of a three-way merger last year between Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare in Louisville and St. Joseph Health System in Lexington, Ky., which is owned by Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives. However, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear blocked the merger between the public and Catholic organizations, leaving the hospital without a partner.
In February, the hospital issued a request for proposals for a partner, hoping to combat financial challenges and make improvements. In September, the RFP deadline was delayed so the hospital could continue negotiations. In October, UofL's board of trustees gave David Dunn, MD, executive vice president of health affairs, the authority to sign a deal between University Hospital and a private partner.
According to the release, the collaboration with KentuckyOne Health is essential for University Hospital and James Graham Brown Cancer Center, which is part of University of Louisville's Health Sciences Center, to continue serving as an academic medical center and a regional safety net hospital. KentuckyOne Health emerged as a preferred partner for UMC and UofL due to alignment in several key areas, such as strategic goals, mission, vision, culture and history.
The partnership will be structured as a joint operating agreement between UMC and KentuckyOne in which KentuckyOne oversees day-to-day operations. UMC will retain ownership of its assets and will operate University Hospital's Center for Women and Infants. All current UMC policies for women's health, end-of-life care and its pharmacy will remain unchanged, including a full range of reproductive services.
KentuckyOne Health has committed to maintaining University Hospital's current levels of charity care and community involvement. UofL, UMC and KentuckyOne Health have also entered into an academic affiliation agreement, ensuring the continued training and education of healthcare providers.
The agreements for the partnership have been signed by the partners along with Gov. Beshear. The entities followed the Commonwealth procurement process, which was recommended by Gov. Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway.
Work on the partnership will begin immediately with an implementation on or before March 1, 2013, according to the release.
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This agreement ends more than a year-long partnership search for University Hospital, part of University Medical Center and UofL. The hospital had been part of a three-way merger last year between Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare in Louisville and St. Joseph Health System in Lexington, Ky., which is owned by Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives. However, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear blocked the merger between the public and Catholic organizations, leaving the hospital without a partner.
In February, the hospital issued a request for proposals for a partner, hoping to combat financial challenges and make improvements. In September, the RFP deadline was delayed so the hospital could continue negotiations. In October, UofL's board of trustees gave David Dunn, MD, executive vice president of health affairs, the authority to sign a deal between University Hospital and a private partner.
According to the release, the collaboration with KentuckyOne Health is essential for University Hospital and James Graham Brown Cancer Center, which is part of University of Louisville's Health Sciences Center, to continue serving as an academic medical center and a regional safety net hospital. KentuckyOne Health emerged as a preferred partner for UMC and UofL due to alignment in several key areas, such as strategic goals, mission, vision, culture and history.
The partnership will be structured as a joint operating agreement between UMC and KentuckyOne in which KentuckyOne oversees day-to-day operations. UMC will retain ownership of its assets and will operate University Hospital's Center for Women and Infants. All current UMC policies for women's health, end-of-life care and its pharmacy will remain unchanged, including a full range of reproductive services.
KentuckyOne Health has committed to maintaining University Hospital's current levels of charity care and community involvement. UofL, UMC and KentuckyOne Health have also entered into an academic affiliation agreement, ensuring the continued training and education of healthcare providers.
The agreements for the partnership have been signed by the partners along with Gov. Beshear. The entities followed the Commonwealth procurement process, which was recommended by Gov. Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway.
Work on the partnership will begin immediately with an implementation on or before March 1, 2013, according to the release.
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