June 9, 2011
UW Medicine, Valley Medical Center form strategic alliance
The chief executive officers of UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center (VMC) have announced the formation of a strategic alliance in which Valley Medical Center, Public Hospital District #1 of King County, will join UW Medicine effective July 1, 2011.
UW Medicine currently includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine and Airlift Northwest. The creation of this strategic alliance follows several months of in-depth due diligence, discussion with respective boards, communication with key stakeholders, and preparation of a strategic alliance agreement, which was approved by the governing boards of both organizations.
The strategic alliance will increase access to additional healthcare services for South King County residents and offer a seamless continuum of care for patients from primary care through the most complex quaternary needs, in addition to aligning best practice models, expanding clinical, teaching and research programs, and positioning UW Medicine for future healthcare reform opportunities, such as the creation of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO).
“This strategic alliance provides exciting opportunities to combine efforts on important initiatives that will benefit patients and the community,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO of UW Medicine and dean of the UW School of Medicine. “UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center share a commitment to providing outstanding clinical care with an emphasis on patient safety and service. This alliance will further support our mission to improve the health of the public and enhance our ability to provide national leadership for healthcare reform.”
”In my 28 years at Valley Medical Center, the work of the Presidents Advisory Council in guiding us toward a strategic alliance with UW Medicine is the most significant and visionary accomplishment that has been made on behalf of our community because it will help facilitate the most comprehensive clinical care available for the people in our community,” said Rich Roodman, CEO, Valley Medical Center. “The possibilities from aligning with a world-class organization of this caliber are endless, and well deserved by the people of South King County. I applaud the Valley Board of Commissioners, the UW Medicine Board of Trustees and the UW Board of Regents for their decisions to proceed.”
About UW Medicine
UW Medicine trains health professionals and medical scientists, conducts research to improve health and prevent disease, and provides primary and specialty care to patients throughout Seattle/King County and the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region. UW Medicine includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW School of Medicine, UW Physicians, and Airlift Northwest. UW Medicine also shares in the ownership and governance of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance with Seattle Childrens Hospital and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and shares in ownership of Childrens University Medical Group with Seattle Childrens Hospital.
UW Medicine has major academic and service affiliations with Seattle Childrens Hospital, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, and the VA Hospital in Boise, Idaho. The UW School of Medicine has been ranked #1 in the nation in primary-care training for the past 17 years by US News & World Report. It is the top public institution for receipt of biomedical research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and second among all institutions for NIH funding, public and private. UW Medicines 2,000 faculty physicians and nearly 5,000 volunteer and part-time faculty include four Nobel Laureates, 32 members of the National Academy of Sciences, and 33 members of the Institute of Medicine. For more information about UW Medicine, visit http://www.uwmedicine.org/.
About Valley Medical Center
Valley Medical Center (VMC) is a 303-bed acute care hospital and clinic network committed to providing safe, quality, compassionate care for more than 63 years. The oldest and largest public district hospital in the State of Washington, VMC proudly serves over 400,000 residents in South King County. Dedicated to patient safety and improving the overall health of the community, VMC is a thriving medical center that focuses resources on major disease areas and specialties, including: emergency and trauma care, joint replacement, neuroscience, childbirth and Level III neonatal ICU, surgical services, critical care, cancer services, breast health, sleep medicine, diabetes education and much more. Through Valley Medical Group, a network of primary care clinics serve as a medical home for care management, urgent care clinics provide a safety net of after-hours care and walk-in consult and treatment, and over a dozen specialty clinics provide convenient access throughout the district.
As the largest nonprofit healthcare provider between Seattle and Tacoma, Valley Medical Center is South King Countys only disaster recovery facility and offers advanced emergency care in its Level III Trauma Center. VMCs joint replacement program was proudly rated #1 in Washington by HealthGrades for 2009 and 2010. Ranked Top 10 in the Nation as a Best Place to Work in Healthcare for 2009 and 2010, Valley Medical Center attracts world class clinicians through state-of-the- art facilities and technology, award-winning teamwork and an atmosphere of medical excellence. For more information, visit www.valleymed.org.
