Mission Health and Care Partners Sign Agreement
Asheville, NC (April 3, 2013) – At the invitation of CarePartners Health Services, Mission Health has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for CarePartners to become an affiliated member of the Mission Health system.
The signed MOU symbolizes the beginning of a collaboration that will ultimately enhance patient care in western North Carolina.
“We are honored to enter into a formal affiliation with Mission Health,” said Tracy Buchanan, PT, MBA, President and CEO of CarePartners Health Services. “As a trusted partner and leader in healthcare, Mission Health’s goals align with our vision of improving the delivery of healthcare for our patients and communities. This affiliation will enhance our ability to extend our network of care while working with a nationally recognized Top 15 Health System.”
“The emerging health care environment requires providers to explore more integrated delivery systems for the best possible patient care,” said Dr. Myron Smith III, a member of the CarePartners Board of Directors and an orthopedic surgeon with Blue Ridge Bone and Joint. “Together, CarePartners and Mission will discover and pursue opportunities for more timely, efficient and appropriate care delivery systems to help achieve exceptional clinical outcomes.”
CarePartners identified Mission Health as an ideal partner to help further its commitment to improving the health and wellness of the community The two healthcare organizations have developed an increasingly close, positive and collaborative relationship over the years. Through this affiliation, patients will benefit from acute and post-acute care expertise from both CarePartners and Mission Health in the development of clinical services and quality care delivery systems.
CarePartners and Mission Health are committed to providing exceptional service—Mission Health for acute care and CarePartners for post-acute care. This affiliation will allow them to better manage patient transitions over the entire continuum–from the acute through the post-acute care setting. Both organizations are committed to identifying opportunities for innovation and developing programs to meet the community’s needs.
“CarePartners is a strong and valued member of the western North Carolina community,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health. “It is a privilege to collaborate with an organization that has, over the years, gained the community’s respect for their exceptional healthcare services. Through this affiliation, we will take advantage of our organizations’ shared strengths to enhance the quality and improve the value of the services available to the communities we jointly serve. We all know that the entire healthcare system must continually improve its quality while constraining costs. Our relationship with CarePartners will help both of us serve the community more effectively.”
The MOU outlines the major terms of the proposed relationship between CarePartners and Mission Health. The due diligence process will begin immediately, and a definitive contractual agreement will be finalized at the completion of the process slated for October 2013.
