Saint Thomas Health, NHC Announce Clinical Integration Agreement
(Nashville, Tenn., July 27, 2016) Saint Thomas Health and National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE MKT:NHC) announced today that they have entered into an agreement to create a clinically integrated continuum of care for Saint Thomas Health patients. Saint Thomas is a part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system. This Clinical Integration Agreement, effective August 1, 2016, is the first of its kind in the Middle Tennessee area. Through the agreement, Saint Thomas Health and NHC will work together to provide their healthcare services to optimize the outcomes for Saint Thomas Health patients throughout the region. The agreement is designed to create enhanced clinical processes and ongoing data exchange, which will enable the healthcare providers to measure, maintain, and enhance their performance and quality standards.
The announcement was made by Karen Springer, President and CEO of Saint Thomas Health, and Steve Flatt, President of NHC. Both leaders said that this new continuum of care will promote the two companies’ quadruple aim of quality, safety, experience and value.
“Like health systems all across Ascension, Saint Thomas Health is committed to creating clinically integrated systems of care that provide compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable,” Springer said. “This work supports our aim of delivering high-quality, affordable care with enhanced patient and provider experiences.”
“Saint Thomas Health and NHC each have long histories of providing excellent care in their respective settings,” said Flatt. “Now we are excited about working closely with Saint Thomas Health in this clinically integrated continuum of care. The benefit for the patient will be better communication, coordination, and quality of care, from the hospital to any post-acute setting to their return home. We look forward to working with Saint Thomas Health in this unique program designed to deliver better healthcare services to this community.”
About Saint Thomas Health
Saint Thomas Health is Middle Tennessee’s faith-based, not-for-profit health care system united as one healing community. Saint Thomas Health is focused on transforming the health care experience and helping people live healthier lives, with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. The regional health system includes nine hospitals: Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital and Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital in Centerville, Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville, Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville and Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury. A comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities complement the hospital services and cover a 68-county area. Saint Thomas Health is the Tennessee ministry of Ascension, the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States. For more information, visit www.STHealth.com. View as PDF