10 hospitals form Kentucky Healthcare Collaborative, vows to raise standards of care in the state
Alliance includes 10 hospital systems, will more possibly to come from across the state.
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A new alliance of 10 Kentucky healthcare systems, now officially known as the Kentucky Healthcare Collaborative, has announced three primary objectives, the entity said Thursday.
The three primary areas of focus will be: raising the standards of care, addressing Kentucky's poor health statistics, and slashing the cost of care through "greater efficiencies".
"As we begin to rollout our new vision for St. Elizabeth, to lead Northern Kentucky to become one of the healthiest communities in America, this Collaborative will help us achieve this vision not only for Northern Kentucky, but all of Kentucky," says Garren Colvin, St. Elizabeth President and CEO. "Through the Collaborative, all of our organizations will be able to accomplish collectively what no single one of our organizations could do alone."
As the collaborative moves forward, it will broaden its reach and extend opportunities to other systems across the state.
William L. Shipley, is slated to take the helm as the Collaborative's inaugural Executive Director. Shipley brings more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare executive to the table in areas such as developing and overseeing multi-facility alliances like this newest one, the organization said in a statement.
"The Kentucky Health Collaborative has created a governance structure that supports the inclusion and participation of healthcare providers regardless of location within the state, size or profit structure. The solutions we expect to develop through the Collaborative have worked well for similar networks across the country, and I am honored to be a part of this important process."
The first 10 members of the Kentucky Healthcare Collaborative are Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Baptist Health, Ephraim McDowell Health, LifePoint Health, Norton Healthcare, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, The Medical Center, UK HealthCare and Owensboro Health.
According to published reports, just days ago Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin said he would protect Medicaid in the Commonwealth from drastic spending cuts proposed in his $21 billion two-year budget plan. But he also renewed his pledge to dismantle the state health insurance exchange, known as Kynect, saying it will be gone in a year.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn
