(Lewiston, Idaho; Brentwood, Tennessee; and St. Louis) MARCH 20, 2017 – After a nearly six-month review, the attorney general of the state of Idaho has approved the transition of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston to RCCH HealthCare Partners.
“Our goal in this process has been to strengthen St. Joseph so its associates, physicians and volunteers are able to continue to provide exceptional, caring health services,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension, the nation’s largest non-profit health system. “We believe the alignment of SJRMC with RCCH will mean a bright future for the ministry and continue to benefit local residents for years to come.”
RCCH, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, works with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care, and its values align closely with those of St. Louis-based Ascension. In addition, RCCH has a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest, providing high quality, compassionate healthcare services in 17 regional markets, including Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, Oregon; Capital Medical Center in Olympia, Washington; and Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana.
“We’re looking forward to the associates and physicians of St. Joseph joining our 14,000 employees and 2,000 affiliated physicians and mid-level providers in providing outstanding community-based healthcare,” said Marty Rash, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RCCH HealthCare Partners. “We will live up to the trust that Ascension, St. Joseph and the Lewiston community have placed in us. Our goals will include working together with healthcare professionals and community leaders, led by local boards that are 100 percent made up of community leaders and physicians, to ensure the continued provision of high-quality, compassionate healthcare and to expand and enhance services provided locally.”
As part of the agreement, Ascension will maintain its commitment to the Lewiston region through a permanent $23 million donation to an independent foundation, which is to be formed by the Idaho Attorney General following the transaction closing, combined with a $2 million donation from RCCH, dedicated solely to serving healthcare needs of the Lewiston community consistent with the Catholic mission of SJRMC.
In addition to the $25 million donation to support community health, the transaction will benefit Lewiston in the following ways:
- Significant annual local tax revenue;
- An agreement by RCCH to invest $57 million for up-to-date equipment, technology and ambulatory care facilities over the next five years;
- Expansion and integration of care, including clinical services and acute care;
- A “Catholic Tradition Agreement” between RCCH and the Most Rev. Peter F. Christiansen, bishop of the Diocese of Boise;
- An agreement by RCCH to continue charity care at the same general level of care as provided prior to completion of the transaction and to provide financial support for the hospital’s community benefit program;
- An agreement by RCCH to hire all employees subject to normal screenings and background checks at current position and compensation levels, and to maintain the level of services currently provided as part of the transaction.
“There is still work to be done as we move forward to finalize the transaction,” Rash said. “We are committed to providing open and transparent communications with the Lewiston associates, physicians, nurses and other stakeholders as we move toward completing the transaction.”
Meanwhile, governmental reviews continue in the state of Washington regarding a separate transaction to transition Ascension’s Lourdes Health Network in Pasco to RCCH.
About Ascension
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Approximately 160,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers serve in 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia as part of Ascension’s Healthcare Division. Through its Solutions Division, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.
About RCCH Healthcare Partners
RCCH HealthCare Partners works with communities to build strong regional healthcare systems that are known for high quality, compassionate patient care. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, RCCH HealthCare Partners operates 17 regional health systems in 12 states. RCCH HealthCare Partners has more than 14,000 employees and 2,000 affiliated physicians and mid-level providers. For more information, visit the website at www.RCCHHealth.com.
About St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is the largest full-service medical center between Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington, providing advanced-level specialty healthcare. Our commitment to providing exceptional care for our community means having highly skilled and certified physicians on our healthcare team and a quality facility with the latest in medical technology. St. Joseph has more than 120 board-certified physicians and providers, active in both primary care and specialty practice. At St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, we are committed to personal care. We seek to enhance the quality of life of the citizens we serve in our local communities through the promotion of health, by assuring compassion, sharing knowledge, providing technology, and communicating a love for what we do. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center – together in health. For more information, visit www.sjrmc.org.
