54
HEALTHCARE
NEWS
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Note: Ad page number(s) given in parentheses
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(pgs. 46-49)
Washington
hospital votes
to split from
Virginia Mason
By Alia Paavola
T
he board of Virginia Mason Memorial,
a 256-bed hospital in Yakima, Wash.,
voted to end its affiliation with Virginia
Mason Health System ahead of a potential
merger, according to the Yakima Herald-
Republic.
In July, Seattle-based Virginia Mason Health
System announced plans to merge with Ta-
coma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan.
Virginia Mason Memorial's board of directors
voted to split from Virginia Mason Oct. 28
before that merger is finalized. e board said
it wants to become an "independent, local
healthcare system" instead of joining a larger
system.
"I think this relationship for the almost last
five years has been beneficial for both of us,"
David Hargreaves, chairman of the Virginia
Mason Memorial board told the Yakima
Herald-Republic. "I think we learned a lot and
gleaned a lot from them. I just think being
part of a larger system, we just didn't feel at
this time was the best fit for us."
e board's decision comes aer a group of
retired physicians affiliated with Virginia Ma-
son Memorial argued a merger would result
in fewer specialty services, fewer specialized
physicians and lower quality patient care.
Virginia Mason Health System officials
disagreed, arguing the merger could improve
healthcare locally.
"e combined new health system with CHI
Franciscan will be focused on developing
innovative models of care delivery across the
entire continuum of care, while enhancing
quality and the patient experience," a Virginia
Mason Health System spokesperson told the
Yakima Herald-Republic. "It is our hope that
we will maintain and expand access points for
patients in Yakima." n
