CARLE AND HOOPESTON REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER CONSIDER INTEGRATION
Expanded affiliation would enhance healthcare services in Vermilion County and region
Urbana, Ill. – Carle Foundation Hospital and Hoopeston Regional Health Center are considering an expanded affiliation and integration. The proposal would bring Hoopeston – including its primary care facilities in Hoopeston, Cissna Park and Rossville—into the Carle organization as an independent operating unit of Carle.
Building on an already strong partnership between Hoopeston and Carle, the proposed integration would significantly expand community healthcare services for patients in Vermilion County while also enhancing advancement opportunities for employees.
Carle and Hoopeston’s top priorities are to further enhance the quality of healthcare services being performed in Vermilion County and to provide additional specialty services to the area.
“The ability for a Vermilion County area resident to receive the same type of treatment available at Carle, here in Hoopeston, will be a major enhancement for the communities we serve,” said Russ Leigh, chairman of the Hoopeston Regional Health Center Board. “This will be a partnership we can be proud of.”
This integration will allow for improved patient conveniences and efficiencies between the organizations, especially as electronic medical records, labs and imaging, and business processes are combined or brought online.
“Access to high quality care should not be limited by where a person lives,” said James C. Leonard, MD and president and CEO of The Carle Foundation. “We, as healthcare providers, must find ways to increase our ability to care for the people of the region. Integrating with Hoopeston Regional Health Center is the right thing to do.”
For employees, this change may offer a number of enhancements.
“We intend to provide employees an even better place to work, not only with improvements to the environment of care, but also with the potential for enhanced benefits packages and through greater opportunities for advancement,” said Harry Brockus, CEO of Hoopeston Regional Health Center.
The proposal does not include Hoopeston’s long-term care facility or independent living facilities.
Hoopeston and Carle, whose physicians have been teaming together to care for patients since November 2009, are finalizing details of the integration and completing appropriate regulatory requirements, including filing a certificate of need to secure state approval. Final approvals must be received from the two respective boards and the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. If all approvals are met, a closing date of October 2012 is anticipated.
About Hoopeston Regional Health Center
Hoopeston Regional Health Center is a Critical Access Hospital serving Hoopeston, Vermilion County and the surrounding area. Employing more than 250 staff members, with 18 physician and mid-level providers, the 25 bed HRHC is committed to providing quality, dependable health services. Because of that dedication the staff and administration of Hoopeston Regional Health Center is constantly seeking out new ways to make getting medical care convenient. In addition to the hospital, with clinics in Hoopeston, Rossville, and Cissna Park, the team is constantly striving to provide “Better Care. Close to Home.”
About Carle
Based in Urbana, Ill., The Carle Foundation is the not-for-profit parent company of an integrated network of healthcare services. At its core are Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Physician Group and Health Alliance Medical Plans. The 325-bed regional care hospital has achieved Magnet® designation, the nation's highest honor for nursing care. The Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Cancer Center, Carle Spine Institute and Carle Heart and Vascular Institute bring additional advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Carle Physician Group, the outpatient practice serving more than 200,000 unique patients annually, is comprised of more than 300 physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality care in 50 specialties located in nine communities across central Illinois. As an integrated system, Carle remains a committed partner in strengthening the health and well-being of the communities we serve. |