Group Health Cooperative and Franciscan Health System agreed to a five-year contract renewal on Thursday that reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to broadening their parternship beyond the acute-care setting and to exploring innovating models for patient care.
Franciscan has been a key provider of acute-care services for Group Health clients in the South Sound since 1996. While most admissions of Group Health enrollees for inpatient care occur at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, all five of the group’s hospitals, including , and several Franciscan Medical Group physicians, care for Group Health patients.
According a joint news release, physicians and staff at both organizations will collaborate to improve coordination of services; evaluate new models for care delivery; maximize the utilization of electronic health records; and explore co-developing insurance products and other resources that can enhance access, quality and safety.
Both organizations will also reach out to share best practices and improve care coordination with leading providers in the South Puget Sound region.
"We could not ask for a better partner than Group Health, which is recognized as one of the leading providers of coordinated patient-care services in the nation," Franciscan Chief Executive Officer Joe Wilczek said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to work with Group Health and other providers in the community to create opportunities for better care delivery, better outcomes, and better health."
The new five-year contract takes effect in January.
