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NAVICENT HEALTH

Partnerships with Community Hospitals Improve Value

O n July 1, 2014, Navicent Health and Recent changes in the healthcare industry have “Our partners have been pillars in their
Oconee Regional Health System made alliances among healthcare providers a community for decades, and local healthcare is
(ORHS) in Milledgeville announced positive and necessary trend. In a statement foundational to a strong and healthy
their intent to enter a strategic released in August 2013, Earl V. Rogers, community. As the face of healthcare continues
partnership in order to create and expand President of the Georgia Hospital Association to change, strategic alignments with
healthcare services for Milledgeville and its (GHA), addressed the many challenges community partners ensure the viability and
seven surrounding counties. One week later, on hospitals face today. longevity of healthcare providers, increasing a
July 7, Navicent Health and Putnam General community hospital's capabilities while keeping
Hospital (PGH) in Eatonton announced a “When you combine the uncompensated care quality healthcare close to home,” said Starr
similar partnership. burden with continued reductions in Medicare Purdue, Chairman of Navicent Health's Board
“The primary goal of Directors.
of these and Medicaid payments to
partnerships is to hospitals, there are several Navicent Health, along with ORHS and PGH,
create a medical hospitals in the state facing is setting the standard for a national trend in
neighborhood in great difficulty staying strategic community alliances.
each community, financially viable,” said Rogers.
improving the Navicent Health, ORHS and PGH are also
value of healthcare According to GHA, a Georgia members of Stratus Healthcare, a strategic
for patients, Department of Community non-equity network of health systems, hospitals
providers and Health Hospital Financial and physicians that was formed in July 2013.
payors. We will Survey found that 55 percent of The new partnerships between Navicent
provide the Georgia's rural hospitals lost Health, ORHS and PGH will allow the
respective money in 2011. healthcare entities to work together in a more
communities with formal manner.
joint services
focused on quality, “The purpose of Stratus Healthcare is to
as well as permit members to strengthen one another.
increased service These partnerships are very much Stratus
offerings. All of based,” said Saunders.
this is in an effort
to keep healthcare To learn more about Navicent Health, please visit
local,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President www.navicenthealth.org. To learn more about Stratus
and CEO of Navicent Health. Healthcare, please visit www.stratushealthcare.org.

By formally partnering with Navicent Health,
ORHS and PGH will enjoy increased coverage
for their patients along the continuum of care,
enhanced outpatient services, increased access
to specialists, and enhanced physician
recruitment. All parties will enjoy greater cost
savings through shared resources, and
improved patient outcomes through shared
best practices.

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