Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1412045
100 HEALTHCARE NEWS Louisiana hospital inks affiliation to avoid $200M Epic EHR price tag By Jackie Drees W oman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., entered contract negotiations with LCMC Health to join the New Orleans-based system's Epic EHR platform, according to an Aug. 3 Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Woman's Hospital began looking for a partner in June that would share its Epic EHR system so the 165-bed hospital wouldn't have to buy access on its own; the hospital estimated that a solo implementation would cost it $200 million over the next seven years. LCMC Health was selected among several Louisi- ana healthcare systems that responded to Woman's Hospital's information request. LCMC owns Children's Hospital New Orleans, East Jefferson General Hospi- tal, West Jefferson Medical Center, New Orleans East Hospital and University Medical Center, according to the report. Woman's Hospital estimated that contract negotia- tions with LCMC will take 12-18 months, and it is unclear how much it will take the hospital to hook up to LCMC's Epic system. "We are not selling the hospital. We remain indepen- dent and our brand remains unchanged. Both orga- nizations will maintain separate support and admin- istrative functions," Woman's Hospital CEO Barbara Griffith said in an email to hospital staff, according to the report. "But these advancements will give our staff more connectivity to patients and other physi- cians, allowing us to make faster and more informed decisions." n Physician assistant salary by state: Alaska is No. 1 By Ayla Ellison W ausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health has acquired seven hospitals, 21 physician clinics and air and ground ambulances from Ascension Wisconsin, part of St. Louis-based Ascension. The transaction closed Aug. 1, about seven months after the two health systems entered into an agreement. The fol- lowing seven Wisconsin hospitals are included in the deal: • Eagle River Hospital • Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill • Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff • Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley • Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk • St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander • St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point Aspirus, a nonprofit system, added 2,700 team members when the deal closed. The system said the names of the hospitals and clinics will change by December to reflect the Aspirus brand. "This acquisition will help Aspirus provide better and more connected care to thousands and thousands more people in our region," Aspirus President and CEO Matthew Hey- wood said in a news release. "We are excited to work with our new team members to serve more communities like the ones we call home." n Ascension sells 7 Wisconsin hospitals, 21 clinics By Ayla Ellison W ausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health has acquired seven hos- pitals, 21 physician clinics and air and ground ambulances from Ascension Wisconsin, part of St. Louis-based Ascen- sion. e transaction closed Aug. 1, about seven months aer the two health systems entered into an agreement. e following seven Wis- consin hospitals are included in the deal: • Eagle River Hospital • Good Samaritan Hospital in Merrill • Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff • Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley • Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk • St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander • St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point Aspirus, a nonprofit system, added 2,700 team members when the deal closed. e system said the names of the hospitals and clinics will change by December to reflect the Aspirus brand. "is acquisition will help Aspirus pro- vide better and more connected care to thousands and thousands more people in our region," Aspirus President and CEO Matthew Heywood said in a news release. "We are excited to work with our new team members to serve more communities like the ones we call home." n