Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and Massachusetts General Hospital signed an affiliation agreement to align clinical operations, the organizations announced Wednesday.
The partnership will improve Brewer-based EMHS' telemedicine services, cancer care, population health initiatives, research capacity and care coordination, executives said.
"MGH clinicians in such specialties as neuroscience, telemedicine, transplant, cardiac, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery and trauma are excited to have the opportunity to work with their neighbors to the north," said Dr. Peter Slavin, president of Massachusetts General Hospital, which is owned by the state's largest health system, Partners HealthCare.
Mass General, Boston's renowned teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School, already helps EMHS' Acadia Hospital deliver telepsychiatry services to its adolescent patients, Slavin added.
More providers are forming joint partnerships rather than going for mergers and acquisitions to reap the benefits of scale. These types of partnerships can boost their regional presence while adding to their service portfolio.
EMHS is Maine's second-largest provider behind MaineHealth. Maine is one of the most rural states with the highest concentration of Medicare beneficiaries and the oldest population, according to U.S. Census data.
EMHS includes nine hospitals, nearly 12,000 employees, more than 700 employed physicians, nearly 40 primary-care centers, five retail pharmacies, a home care arm, a free-standing cancer center, and a network of rehabilitative and long-term care facilitates.
It is transitioning its fragmented electronic medical record system to a Cerner system, according to a 2017 investor presentation.
The health system also participates in an accountable care organization that offers population health and care-management services to health plans and employers.
EMHS reported $13.18 million in operating income on total revenue of $1.65 billion in 2017, up from a $34.27 million operating loss on total revenue on $1.52 billion the year prior.
Its expenses climbed 6% to $1.57 billion in 2017 from $1.48 billion in 2016.
