/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

ACMC in talks to be part of new regional health system

MARSHALL — A new regional health care system is being planned in southwestern and central Minnesota, and Affiliated Community Medical Centers intends to be part of it, health care executives said Thursday.

ACMC Health and Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar announced that they’ve taken the first steps toward a regional partnership together with CentraCare Health, a not-for-profit health care system based in central Minnesota. It’s a move that will help coordinate health care for communities in the organizations’ service areas, executives said.

“This is new and innovative, and we’re very excited about it,” said Dr. Cindy Firkins Smith, president and CEO of ACMC Health.

On Wednesday, both the Rice Memorial Hospital Board and ACMC Health physicians voted to enter a partnership with CentraCare Health. CentraCare’s health network includes hospitals in St. Cloud, Long Prairie, Melrose, Monticello, Paynesville and Sauk Centre. The network also includes nursing homes and senior housing and 19 clinics.

A partnership between CentraCare, Rice Memorial Hospital and ACMC was a good fit for a couple of reasons, said Smith and Mike Schramm, CEO of Rice Memorial Hospital. For one, the three health care organizations already have a working relationship.

In the case of ACMC and Rice Memorial Hospital, “We’ve been longstanding strategic partners for years,” Schramm said. Rice Memorial has also collaborated with CentraCare. Schramm said patients at Rice Memorial often go to the St. Cloud area for specialist care, like cardiology or neurology.

Having a more integrated network for the three health care providers will help enhance local health care services, Schramm said.

“We think we’re better off together than working independently,” he said.

Another reason the partnership was a good fit was a shared vision for health care in the region, executives said.

“ACMC Health, Rice Memorial Hospital, and CentraCare share the same values,” said CentraCare Health President and CEO Kenneth Holmen, in a news release Thursday. “We believe that in times of sickness, every one of us wants the best care possible, and we want it in our community. Our patients want these things too.

“This partnership will help us achieve this vision for west central and southwest Minnesota.”

There’s more work to be done before a regional partnership can be approved later this year, Schramm and Smith said.

“We’ve got plenty of details to work out,” Schramm said. As part of the process, all three health care organizations will gather input from stakeholders.

Smith said the regional partnership won’t disrupt patient care for ACMC. Patients can still see their regular health care providers at ACMC locations in Marshall, Granite Falls, Redwood Falls, Willmar, Litchfield, New London and Benson. In the case of communities like Marshall, in the southern part of ACMC’s service area, it’s likely that people will still mainly travel to Sioux Falls for specialist care, Smith said.

There aren’t major changes planned for Rice Memorial Hospital either. The news release said the hospital is still owned by the city of Willmar.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today