Together but separate – connected but apart. That’s how you could describe the new affiliation agreement between Henderson’s Methodist Hospital and Evansville’s Deaconess Hospital. The accord was announced in a release sent to employees Thursday and allows Methodist to remain independent with some support from Deaconess.
Both parties say they recognize this affiliation as the best option for ensuring Methodist Hospital’s continued ability to serve the local community’s healthcare needs. The release says the affiliation will enable Methodist Hospital to remain independent and provide higher quality, lower-cost care to the communities it serves and increase access to care.
“This relationship with Deaconess Health System will enhance our ability to deliver more services locally, by local and surrounding area physicians,” said Benny Nolen, President and CEO at Methodist Hospital. “We know clinical alignment will advance our efforts to provide quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve. This relationship will also strengthen the ability of our hospitals in both Henderson and Union Counties to meet the needs of patients now and in the future.”
“We look forward to working with Methodist Hospital leaders, staff and physicians to improve the health care services for the people in western Kentucky,” said Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess Health System. “Both Methodist Hospital and Deaconess are local hospitals, whose leaders and physicians understand and support local governance, as well as locally-provided healthcare.”
Both parties have been discussing this merge for months and recently asked the public to comment on a possible affiliation through an online poll.
More details about the affiliation will be released as it becomes available.