The Crittenton Hospital Medical Center Board of Trustees has selected Ascension Health Michigan as its top choice as the health system it seeks to join, following months of evaluating proposals from various health systems. A letter of intent has been signed to proceed with a six-month due diligence process to complete the business evaluation and details of the transaction.
Crittenton Board Chair Robert Lenihan said his organization was seeking a health system partner with a high-quality reputation and medical staff, financial strength, and commitment to the community, and they found it in Ascension Health Michigan. “We conducted a very thorough vetting process and determined that as part of Ascension Health Michigan, Crittenton has the opportunity to continue as a thriving community asset well into the future,” Lenihan said.
Crittenton President and CEO Roy Powell added: “With our new partner, plans will begin to immediately strengthen several clinical services and build program volume. Crittenton will be a complement to the strategic strength of Ascension Health Michigan and remain committed to its lowest-cost, highest-quality position as well as its strategies that recognize the importance of primary care physicians. The financial and operating strength of the health system will dramatically improve the financial and operating foundation of Crittenton and continue its upward trend of financial stability.”
Ascension has a significant state-wide footprint in Michigan, including St. John Providence Health System in southeast Michigan, Borgess Health in Kalamazoo, Genesys in Grand Blanc, St. Mary’s of Michigan in Saginaw and St. Joseph Health System in Tawas. Crittenton’s location in Rochester is approximately midway between the service areas of Genesys and St. John Providence.
Crittenton brings a strong Northern Oakland County presence to Ascension Health’s statewide service area, and increases its ability to pursue its goal of creating a clinically integrated system of care that will be positioned to manage the health of populations in partnership with insurers. Several months ago, Ascension Health Michigan aligned with Trinity Health and physicians across the state to form Together Health Network, a clinically integrated network that is well positioned to provide state-wide access to care for population health management.
“The addition of Crittenton to the Ascension Michigan family is a great fit for both organizations,” said Gwen MacKenzie, Senior Vice President, Ascension Health, and Market leader of the Michigan ministries. “This move was a very high priority for our national Ascension Health strategy to provide person-centered care through regional clinically integrated systems of care. Crittenton provides a needed geographic presence in our service area, so we can look forward to providing accessible services to new populations. Many people have worked on this project for several months, but I particularly want to thank Jean Meyer, St. John Providence President and CEO, for her leadership."
“The support of the Crittenton medical staff was a significant factor in this decision,” said Peter Korda, MD, Crittenton’s Chief of Staff. “Our physicians are looking forward to working together on clinical program development that will benefit our patients with a continuum of care across the region.”
There is already some precedent for clinical partnership. In April 2014, St. John Providence and Crittenton partnered to open the St. John Hospital Rochester Hills Cancer Center. Physician-led network development is a high priority within Ascension Health Michigan, and the addition of Crittenton will provide even more accessibility and convenience for patients.
According to Scott Eathorne, MD, President and CEO of Together Health Network, “We have found that physician leadership is our biggest asset in creating networks of care that are patient centered, high quality and low cost. We look forward to establishing a relationship with the physicians associated with Crittenton.”
Crittenton will now be part of the largest non-profit health system in the country, Ascension, and will enjoy the support of a national system that is benefiting from shared best clinical practices, cost efficiencies and quality improvements.
According to Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, Ascension Health President of Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, “This proposed arrangement is another example of Ascension’s efforts to build new relationships and develop collaborations as we create clinically integrated systems of care to better meet evolving community needs with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. We look forward to being able to finalize this agreement and to welcoming the associates and physicians of Crittenton Hospital Medical Center to our community of Michigan Health Ministries.”
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center (located at 1101 W. University Drive, Rochester, Michigan) is a 290-bed acute health care facility serving communities in Oakland, Macomb and Lapeer counties. The medical staff of nearly 500 physicians provides a wide range of medical specialties. As a fully accredited teaching facility, Crittenton provides a campus for residents from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine who are specializing in Family Medicine, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT). Crittenton is also a teaching campus for nurses from Oakland University’s School of Nursing. For more information visit www.crittenton.com or call 248-652-5000.
Ascension Health Michigan
The Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health include Borgess Health in Kalamazoo, Genesys Health System in Grand Blanc, St. John Providence Health System in Metro Detroit, St. Joseph Health System in Tawas and St. Mary’s of Michigan in Saginaw. Together, the health systems employ more than 30,000 associates and are a major economic driver in the state, with $1.5 billion in payroll each year. In fiscal year 2013, the Michigan Health Ministries provided more than $240 million in community benefit and care of the poor.
