Ochsner and Christus Health Agreement to Improve Access to Care
Although Ochsner and Christus Health have had a partnership for several years, the two entities have finalized a joint venture where Ochsner will be a minority member of Christus Health Southwestern Louisiana. Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Ochsner Health System, and Jeff Puckett, executive vice president and COO of Christus Health discussed the goals of the joint venture in an article by Becker’s Hospital Review.
Mercy Makes Cloud-based Imaging Platform Available to Small and Midsize Hospitals
Mercy Technology Services (MTS), the IT division of the St. Louis-based health system, has developed a new cloud-based picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and is commercializing it for other hospitals, according to Healthcare IT News. The PACS is being touted as an efficient and affordable platform developed as a result of Mercy’s own efforts to innovate its technology and workflows. Marketed as a way to help hospitals drive efficiency with their imaging processes that require radiologists to spend too much time tracking down imaging reports, it uses the premise that cloud-based PACS can allow for big savings and cost efficiencies at cash-strapped small hospitals.
Mercy Health Partners with Bowling Green State University
In an effort to increase education opportunities in nursing and related programs, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and Mercy Health have signed a letter of intent for BGSU to take over operations of Mercy College of Ohio. Officials indicated that it will take a few years to bring the Catholic college under the control of the public university. “What became clear to us is we have a lot of shared values, including in the importance of securing professionals in the workforce as well as a commitment to bettering our communities,” said Mercy Health-Toledo President and CEO Bob Baxter. Read more about the partnership at The Blade’s website HERE.
Franciscan Health Seeks to Expand in Northern Indy Suburb
Franciscan Health is exploring plans to build a $130 million orthopedic center in the northside suburb of Carmel, the Indianapolis-Star reports. Using projections that the need for hip and joint replacements will increase significantly in the next ten years, Franciscan plans construction of over 250,000 square feet of space. Dr. James Callaghan, president and chief executive officer for Franciscan Health Central Indiana said, “The goal is to create a center based on the depth of our orthopedic research and outstanding clinical outcomes.”
