"Hospitals and physicians together are facing future expectations for rapid improvements in quality of care and value as accountable health networks that would be difficult to achieve independently," noted Mary Durfee, MD, Quality Medical Director and President of IHA, PC.  "This alignment will create a fully integrated health system able to deliver superior quality of care that is coordinated and safe."

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor's Chief of Staff Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, PhD, MD, supports the planned merger. "St. Joe's has expressed a desire to partner with physicians to share goals, accountability and outcomes for patients across the entire continuum of care. This will distinguish St. Joe's as a premier patient-centered care management organization that is closely aligned with physicians."

Concurrently, IHA, SJMHS and its parent organization, Trinity Health, Novi, Mich. are accelerating affiliations and joint ventures with the University of Michigan Health System.  "We view the University as our primary academic health system partner.  We hope to collaborate on a full range of services and programs, such as pediatrics and medical education and the improvement of patient-centered primary and specialty care services," said Mike Slubowski, Trinity Health's President of Health Networks.  The most recent example was the creation of the Pennant Health Alliance in West Michigan.  Announced on September 22, Trinity Health, the University of Michigan Health System and Metro Health launched this new business-to-business support-services network, designed to strengthen independent community hospitals and physician practices.  Slubowski also is leading Trinity Health's effort to create accountable health networks in the nine states in which Trinity Health operates. 

SOURCE Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and IHA