The potential merger between Deaconess Health and Jennie Stuart Health remains high in the community’s thoughts, and Jennie Stuart released a statement recently about the joint venture.
In the statement released Sunday titled “Deaconess’ Commitment to Jennie Stuart Health”, official says that while they work toward a long-term vision, Jennie Stuart will continue to operate as it does today without any change in day-to-day responsibilities or the ways patients receive care. The merger would grant greater resources to Jennie Stuart Health for both quality of care and access to patient care.
It goes on to call Deaconess the right choice, with key commitments such as all Jennie Stuart staff and physicians who are in good standing will be retained upon completion of the merger. Deaconess would also make a $95 million financial commitment, including $90 million in capital to Jennie Stuart and $5 million to the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation.
Deaconess would fully support to cost of IT enhancements, including integration into the Epic electronic health system.
Both systems intend to keep a locally managed Board of Trustees made of members from the communities served by Jennie Stuart, maintaining the hospital as an essential acute care hospital and ongoing financial support for the foundation.
Previously, the Board of Trustees has stated that purchasing and implementing an electronic healthcare record system would cost between $30 million and $40 million.