The West Shore Medical Center Board of trustees has decided to explore strengthening the hospital’s current relationship with Munson Healthcare.
The Board voted this week to authorize and direct administration “to enter into a letter of intent with Munson Healthcare and to formulate a plan of reorganization for West Shore Medical Center that would permit closer affiliation between West Shore Medical Center and Munson Healthcare, for the Board’s future consideration.”
“The Board will appoint a committee of Trustees, administrative staff, physicians, and legal counsel to explore - over the coming months - options for a closer relationship with Munson Healthcare,” said John Hoch, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “When complete, the Board will take their recommendation to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners.”
In exploring a closer relationship with Munson Healthcare, Hoch said the Board remains focused on positioning the hospital for a strong and successful future – ensuring the right mix of close-to-home health care services in Manistee and surrounding communities for many years to come. The Board strongly believes that a closer relationship with the Munson Healthcare system could provide the hospital access to the resources needed to realize that goal.
West Shore Medical Center CEO James Barker said the delivery of health care continues to change rapidly and it is becoming critical for hospitals to be tightly integrated into a larger health system to support the new models of care. That care includes accountable care models, looming requirements for bundled payments to hospitals and physicians from the federal government, and responsibilities for population health management.
“Many rural community hospitals across America are struggling to survive. Our hospital’s strong clinical quality and sound financial position make this the best time to explore our options from a position of strength,” Barker said. “This hospital is a valued community resource and our Board is committed to taking the steps needed to ensure it remains strong for many years to come.”
West Shore Medical Center first affiliated with the Munson Healthcare system in 1998. Over the past 17 years, Barker said the hospital has developed a strong working relationship with system leadership as well as with the eight other hospitals in the system.
“Leadership at both organizations understands the challenges confronting health care and the importance of working together to meet them,” Barker said. “Building on the close relationship and integration we already have just makes sense.”
While Manistee County owns West Shore Medical Center, no tax dollars support the hospital. The county does not participate in the hospital’s operation.
Hoch said the Board did not set a deadline for its exploration to be complete.