Grinnell Regional Medical Center began discussions this
fall with Mercy Health Network of Iowa that focus on the potential development
of a different form of alignment between the organizations. No decisions have
been made at the time of this publication.
The primary goal of the conversation is to determine
if it makes sense to integrate GRMC more fully into the Mercy system.
“Although nothing changes today—and may not—our board
believes it is time to investigate whether now is the right time to develop a
stronger relationship with Mercy,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC’s CEO and
president.
GRMC has been affiliated with Mercy Health Network
since July 1, 2009. Under the agreement in place since then, GRMC has
contracted services and shared best practices with all of the Mercy network
hospitals. During the past six years, MHN has assisted GRMC with physician
recruitment efforts; shared expertise on quality, safety, and service
initiatives; provided group access to specialized expertise such as legal
services; and allowed GRMC to be part of a larger purchasing pool for things like
equipment.
A first meeting with the task force assigned to
contemplate a different form of alignment was held at the end of September.
Members of the GRMC family serving on the task force include Todd Reding, GRMC
board chair; Wendy Kadner, chair elect of the GRMC board; Ron Collins, MD,
internal medicine physician and current president of the GRMC medical staff;
Nicholas Kuiper, DO, general surgeon and a member of the GRMC board of
directors; Doris Rindels, vice-president of operations; Kyle Wilcox, vice-president
of finance and business development; and Linden.
A stronger affiliation with Mercy has the potential to
offer several benefits for area residents as healthcare consumers.
“Healthcare is changing and GRMC is always planning and
looking ahead to those changes. To that end, we are exploring the benefits the
Mercy network could provide while keeping the needs of our community front and
center. At this time, no decisions have been made,” Reding says.
One benefit could include an influx of capital to
sustain medical services in Grinnell. GRMC has done well over the years thanks
to philanthropic support from the community, but additional capital will be
needed eventually to sustain the physical campus and the purchase of expensive
clinical and information technologies.
A stronger affiliation will also expand the benefits
of scale and purchasing power available to GRMC.
“The discussion is focusing on how the organizations may work closer together to
strengthen access to care and enhance quality and clinical efficiency. We are
also exploring new delivery system models and payment programs consistent with
the incentives in the Affordable Care Act and healthcare reform in general,”
Reding says.
“We
do not know what the headline will say after the conversations are completed,”
he adds. “What we do know is that we are committed to providing quality care
consistent with the needs of our community. Our ability to do this successfully
is reliant on a progressive system that is viable in our new healthcare
environment. We are actively looking at new models so that our medical center
can remain the amazing institution it is today.”
The GRMC board of directors is committed to a
transparent process about the affiliation talks. Individuals with questions or
concerns are invited to contact the medical center at 641-236-2300 to speak
with either Reding or Linden.
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