Brentwood, Tenn.-based RCCH HealthCare Partners and Seattle's UW Medicine are partnering to own and operate rural community hospitals across the Pacific Northwest.
RCCH will operate and manage the facilities in Washington, Alaska and Idaho, and UW Medicine will provide clinical and quality expertise. The two organizations said smaller community hospitals in the region are looking for partnerships with larger hospitals to support growth and quality improvement.
"UW Medicine is partnering with RCCH through this public-private partnership to provider expertise in patient safety and quality improvement," UW Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Ramsey said in a statement. "Helping hospitals throughout the region improve their quality and safety is part of UW Medicine's overall mission to improve the health of the public."
UW Medicine owns four hospitals and RCCH operates 16 regional health systems in 12 states. The two already have an existing relationship. Olympia, Wash.-based Capital Medical Center, owned and operated by RCCH and a member of UW Medicine's Accountable Care Network, will be the first hospital to come under the joint partnership. RCCH is looking for additional opportunities.
Community hospitals under the partnership will retain their identities and names but will be branded as a "UW Medicine Community Health Partner."
"The healthcare landscape in our country is changing rapidly and we look forward to working with a world-class organization like UW Medicine to find the best ways to ensure that high quality care is available to people in communities throughout the region," said RCCH Chairman and CEO Marty Rash.
