The healthcare industry is changing, and healthcare systems including Perry Memorial Hospital are evaluating how to address their sustainability and growth. One path that has proven successful for several independent facilities across the country is to explore partnerships with other healthcare providers
“With many partnerships, patients in smaller rural communities continue to work with their primary care providers whom they know and love yet can be more easily referred to other partners and facilities when needed.” said Annette Schnabel, DPT, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO, Perry Memorial Hospital. “Emergency departments continue to save lives locally, while patients gain access to more services regionally through the partnership, according to their personal healthcare needs.”
Larger healthcare groups see the value in partnering with smaller rural hospitals and providers. Organizing health care for both the short term and the long term is a factor when patients as consumers choose a primary care provider. Convenience of primary care and options for complex treatments will continue to be a major decision factor as the consumer makes choices for their healthcare.
“Our mutual goal is for patients to continue to receive quality health care at local health care facilities, while having the opportunity to access specialty providers and larger facilities when needed, “said Bob Sehring, CEO, OSF Healthcare. “Collaboration and improved technology, including use of telehealth services, allows consumers to choose options that are both convenient and high quality.”
As healthcare costs continue to increase, the challenge for health care facilities, particularly those in rural communities, is how to continue to provide quality patient care amid the ever-growing burden of increasing costs. Integrating clinical care and support services enables the small hospitals to address cost inefficiencies while increasing or maintaining quality care.
With all this in mind, Perry Memorial’s management and Board of Directors began a strategic planning process in July 2018. Perry received a grant from the State of Illinois to evaluate and identify the transformation necessary for Perry to be an ongoing provider for its community into the future. Using the grant funds, Perry hired Kaufman Hall, a national healthcare consulting and planning organization, to educate management and the Board about healthcare trends. The Board’s commitment, as they began their educational process with Kauffman Hall, included doing their own research and participating in comprehensive group conversations on how to provide Princeton, and Perry’s multi-county service area, with local quality healthcare well into the future.
This process brought us to look at potential options for Perry… more to come. Community members may submit questions and help shape subsequent updates at: perrymemorial.org/osfrelationshipquestions.