The Good Samaritan Health System and WellSpan Health today announced the signing of an affiliation agreement that will enable Good Samaritan to join WellSpan Health’s regional non-profit health system while enhancing a local system of care in Lebanon County.
Good Samaritan had announced its intent to find an affiliation partner in June of 2013. Good Samaritan and WellSpan announced their intent to explore an affiliation in February of 2014.
Over the past several months, the organizations completed a due diligence process to determine if an affiliation would benefit both organizations and, more importantly, the communities they serve. The affiliation agreement was approved by the respective volunteer boards of both organizations. The transaction will be submitted for regulatory review.
According to WellSpan Health President and CEO Kevin H. Mosser, M.D., the two health care organizations will further develop Lebanon County’s community-based system of care, which includes The Good Samaritan Hospital, respected physicians in the community, convenient ambulatory services and other health care services that area residents require across the lifespan.
WellSpan has also developed and enhanced local systems of care in Adams County, York County and most recently in Lancaster County through its affiliation with Ephrata Community Hospital.
“We believe this affiliation will help improve health care in Lebanon County and throughout the WellSpan Health service area,” Mosser said. “By jointly recruiting physicians and by sharing best practices, we’ll be able to improve patient access to needed services and continue efforts to deliver the high-quality health care that patients deserve.”
New Opportunities in Lebanon County
“WellSpan Health and Good Samaritan have a strong connection in mission, vision, and passion for patient care,” said Robert J. Longo, president and CEO of Good Samaritan Health System. “As we prepare for the many changes that will be necessary in today’s era of health care reform, we knew that it was important to find a partner that was ready to navigate these changes while also maintaining a clear commitment to quality patient care.
“For the past several years, WellSpan has worked with Good Samaritan to provide physician staffing for our cardiothoracic program,” Longo said. “The partnership has allowed us to wisely manage expenses while we continue to deliver one of the best-in-nation cardiac programs to our community. Although we substantially reduced staffing costs, we were able to attain a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, which means our quality of care is on par with the top 15 percent of cardiac programs nationally. This affiliation will enable us to replicate that success, which ultimately benefits patients in Lebanon County as we strengthen our local system of care."
- WellSpan and Good Samaritan developed an affiliation agreement that supports the following goals:
- Improve health care across Central Pennsylvania while enhancing local systems of care in Lebanon, Lancaster, Adams and York counties.
- In an era of health care reform, prepare for the transition from current care models to the new requirements for managing population health and wellness.
- Maintain existing relationships and clinical partnerships with other local health care providers.
- Enhance a model of care that is based on an individual’s relationship with a primary care physician who coordinates all the care an individual requires across the lifespan.
- Offer stronger medical, nursing and allied health educational resources to address a projected shortage of physicians and health care professionals.
Next steps
While the transaction undergoes regulatory review, WellSpan and Good Samaritan will collaborate in a public service campaign that will communicate important health messages in various community settings, including grocery stores, movie theaters and shopping malls. The campaign, which will encourage people to eat healthier, wash their hands regularly and stay active, was inspired by the organizations’ mutual interest in the overall health and well-being of the Lebanon County community.
After the affiliation is finalized, plans include having representatives from each organization participate on the WellSpan Health and Good Samaritan governing boards.
About Good Samaritan Health System
Since 1889, the Good Samaritan Health System (www.gshleb.org) has served the health care needs of Lebanon County. The Good Samaritan Hospital is a modern, fully-equipped, fully-accredited 170-bed acute care facility and the only community hospital in the county. Good Samaritan includes employed physician practices for primary care and certain specialties, diagnostic lab and imaging services, physical therapy, wound care and hyperbaric medicine, home health, hospice, and durable medical goods. Good Samaritan has been named “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®” by The Joint Commission, honored with the “Excellence in Patient Care” award given by the Studer Group, and earned the Blue Distinction Center+ designation for cardiac care from Highmark Blue Shield. You can learn more by visiting www.gshleb.org.
About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of a multispecialty medical group of more than 730 providers, a home care organization, four respected hospitals, more than 11,200 employees, and 130 patient care locations. WellSpan is consistently recognized by IMS Health as one of the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks in the United States and has been recognized by Health Imaging and IT as one of the nation’s “Top 25 Connected Healthcare Facilities.” IMS Health is the leading provider of information, services and technology for the health care industry.
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