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December 17, 2008
Marquette General Health System, Dickinson County Healthcare System announce affiliation agreement
As part of a shared long-term commitment to provide healthcare excellence to residents of the southern Upper Peninsula, Marquette General Health System and Dickinson County Healthcare System have signed a three-year affiliation agreement. The Partners in Leadership Agreement is designed to enable both healthcare systems to formally share their expertise in clinical and administrative areas of healthcare delivery.
The Partners in Leadership Agreement is an example of how hospitals across the country are finding ways to pool knowledge and resources in order to continue to provide high quality services to their patients in a fiscally responsible, cost effective manner. The new affiliation agreement will enhance the abilities of both MGHS and DCHS to meet objectives in the delivery of healthcare services to their respective communities. This affiliation agreement, while encouraging the sharing of resources, does not limit or restrict either hospital from developing similar partnerships with other healthcare facilities, and allows both MGHS and DCHS to maintain their own identities and operations.
This mutually beneficial regional affiliation also supports the strategic plans of both healthcare institutions and encourages patients to receive the best possible care, right here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Similar affiliation agreements have been offered by MGHS to other hospitals throughout the UP.
“As the healthcare industry continues to face the challenges of rising costs and shrinking federal and state reimbursements and the need to continue to provide care that is still affordable for its patients, healthcare leaders need to find creative and innovative solutions,” commented John Schon, DCHS Administrator / CEO. “I look at the Partners in Leadership Agreement as a springboard toward future initiatives that will make a significant impact upon healthcare operations for both our institutions and for our patients.”
“Marquette’s broad expertise as a Regional Medical Center, for example, could help our patients by helping our hospital provide medical specialties in Dickinson County that are currently not available,” continued Schon. “Certain specialties can only exist when there is a large enough population to support them. I see the sharing of physicians as being an area with great potential.”
MGHS President and CEO A. Gary Muller, FACHE, agreed.
“Rapid changes in the healthcare environment such as emerging technology, reimbursement issues and market competition make partnerships between organizations with aligned missions and values imperative,” said Muller. “We’re pleased to be affiliated with DCHS as we move toward our common goal – supporting local healthcare delivery in DCH System’s market area and strengthening the role of MGHS as the specialty referral center for the UP residents. This will improve the U P economy while providing quality healthcare close to home.”
MGHS and DCHS have worked collaboratively since 2000 on services such as radiation therapy services for cancer patients, telehealth and the UP Regional Blood Center. This most recent affiliation further strengthens the teams of both institutions by sharing knowledge and resources.
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