Capella Health

Charleston, SC. June 19, 2015 – Capella-MUSC Health Network. It’s the name everyone is using, so Capella Healthcare and MUSC Health simply made it official, announcing today the new name for their collaboration. A new website has also been unveiled – www.CapellaMUSCHealthNetwork.com – in preparation for welcoming a new hospital – KershawHealth – to the network this summer.

The clinically integrated network – initially called Midlands HealthONE Network – was formed last November to enhance the health and wellness of the families and communities the two organizations serve together in South Carolina. Senior leadership quickly realized that name would be too limiting as the network grew.

Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, SC, became the first affiliate, with its acquisition by Capella Healthcare on January 1. KershawHealth in Camden, SC, is expected to join this summer.

The formation of this regionally-based healthcare delivery network brings together MUSC’s academic expertise, clinical excellence, and commitment to education and research with Capella’s proven expertise in managing community-based hospitals.

“We’re pleased at the significant progress we have made working together with our first community hospital partners,” said Michael Wiechart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capella Healthcare. “The most important outcome of our work will be expanded local care and seamless access to advanced care. It’s about the value of the local hospital to their community.”

That’s why, he said, when new signage is unveiled at the hospitals this summer you won’t see the new network name or the Capella name.

“Our focus will continue to be on the local hospital and on its affiliation with MUSC Health, which is a nationally recognized academic medical center. People don’t care about a ‘network’ or about how we collaborate; they focus on having access to outstanding care as close to home as possible and on the compassion of their caregivers. And that’s our priority as well.”

People from throughout the region will benefit from the collaboration since it provides a way for hospitals to work together – along with these two nationally recognized organizations – to enhance local offerings.

“The Capella MUSC Health alliance takes advantage of both organizations’ strengths,” says Dr. Patrick J. Cawley, CEO of MUSC Medical Center. “This enables our affiliated facilities to better align their own resources and for all of us to share our expertise. The outcome of our partnership is enhanced and expanded local care as well as seamless access to higher levels of care when appropriate. We’re also able to jointly implement and monitor clinical protocols and to collaborate on clinical workforce development to achieve the highest quality of care in the most efficient manner possible.”

In the midst of dramatic industry change, many healthcare providers are building clinically integrated networks and other partnerships in order to deliver quality outcomes and cost-effective care while staying attuned to the needs of local communities.

“MUSC Health is the premier academic medical center in South Carolina and one of the top performing healthcare providers in the nation,” continues Wiechart. “Capella’s collaboration with MUSC Health uniquely positions our affiliated hospitals to better serve their communities.”

Benefits of the initiative include:

• Increased access to high-quality, best practice, advanced local care for patients
• MUSC Health-affiliated specialist and medical resident rotations
• Collaborative recruitment and placement of services which meet community needs
• Value-added advanced telehealth services including telestroke, teleneurology, and E-ICU services
• Specialized training for local clinical staff through jointly developed and shared educational resources
• Streamlined referral processes for advanced care as needed when care cannot best be delivered locally.

About Capella Healthcare

Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, TN., Capella currently owns and/or operates 13 acute care and specialty hospital facilities in six states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. The company has access to significant leadership and financial resources, investing 100% of net cash flow in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities. The company was recognized in 2012 and 2013 by Modern Healthcare as one of the nation’s fastest growing health care companies. For more information, visit www.CapellaHealthcare.com. Twitter: @CapellaHealth

About MUSC Health

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.7 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (one of 66 National Cancer Institute designated centers) Level I Trauma Center and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic offerings, visit www.musc.edu. For more information on patient care services, visit www.muschealth.org

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Media Contacts:

MUSC Health:
Heather Woolwine, MA
T: 843-792-7669Pager: 843-792-0590 (ID 12878)
[email protected]

Capella:
Beth B. Wright
T: 615-764-3010
M: 615-260-5234
[email protected]