Organizations have worked together on various initiatives in the past
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Through these discussions, the organizations are evaluating how the formation of a regional, integrated delivery system might enhance the quality, continuity, availability and affordability of health care services…
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Leaders of WellSpan Health and Harrisburg-based PinnacleHealth announced last week that they are formally evaluating opportunities to strategically align the two health care organizations.
Community board members and management began meeting in March 2009. Discussions are expected to conclude in approximately six months.
Through these discussions, the organizations are evaluating how the formation of a regional, integrated delivery system might enhance the quality, continuity, availability and affordability of health care services at each stage of life for individuals across central Pennsylvania and parts of northern Maryland.
According to Bruce Bartels, president of WellSpan Health, the two organizations share common values as non-profit, community-based health care leaders which are focused on bringing together physicians, hospitals, home care, ambulatory care and other clinical services to create a patient-centered approach to health care in local communities.
PinnacleHealth and WellSpan have worked together for many years through various initiatives, including the Central Pennsylvania Alliance Laboratory (CPAL), which performs tests not offered in a hospital lab; Quest Behavioral Health, an administrator of mental health and substance abuse benefits and employee assistance programs; and PrimeSource Health Network, a preferred provider organization which became part of WellSpan’s SOUTH CENTRAL Preferred network in 2007.
About PinnacleHealth
PinnacleHealth was formed in 1996 with the merger of Capital Health System and Polyclinic Medical Center and the subsequent merger with Community General Osteopathic Hospital in 1998.
The health care network serves Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties with more than 60 locations, including four multi-specialty health campuses (Community, Cumberland, Harrisburg and Polyclinic), two acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, FamilyCare physician practices, home health and hospice services and an array of other ambulatory health care services.
To learn more about Pinnacle Health, visit their Web site at
www.pinnaclehealth.org
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