The two health systems aim to expand digital medicine services to personalize care for their patients.
New Orleans–based Ochsner Health and Pascagoula, Mississippi–based Singing River Health System have signed a strategic partnership agreement, the health systems announced on Wednesday. The goal of this strategic partnership is "to advance quality of care and increase access to healthcare technology, critical services and more for communities along the Gulf Coast."
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The partnership will focus on a number of initiatives, including:
- Expanding healthcare innovations in telehealth and AI
- Increasing access to clinical research trials and clinical education to help advance innovation
- Expanding access to care for patients in Louisiana and Mississippi
- Sharing patient data to enable patient continuity of care
Leaders from Ochsner and Singing River will form a Strategy and Oversight Committee to manage the strategic partnership.
The partnership is strengthened by the health systems' previously established relationship.
“We have worked with Ochsner on a number of successful clinical and operational initiatives, and this strengthened partnership is a natural next step. We have a lot of things in common, including strong reputations as leaders in providing high-quality, compassionate care," Singing River Health System CEO Lee Bond said in a statement.
“We have tremendous respect for Singing River Health System, its Board of Trustees, and CEO Lee Bond. We admire what they have done to advance healthcare in coastal Mississippi, and we are honored and excited to work together to expand services and improve the health and wellness of the communities along the Gulf Coast," Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas said. "This partnership is a natural progression of Ochsner’s relationship with Singing River, and we look forward to enhancing access to high-quality, cost-effective, and innovative care.”
On June 15, Singing River Health System also signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire HCA Healthcare's Garden Park Medical Center, according to an earlier announcement.
Related: Emerging From Pandemic: LCMC Health CEO Details How the New Orleans System Is Moving On
Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.
Photo credit: New Orleans, Louisiana - February 9, 2020: Ochsner Medical Center banner and exterior. / Editorial credit: Travel_with_me / Shutterstock.com