New River Medical Center selects CentraCare

New River Medical Center has selected CentraCare Health System as their affiliation partner following an extensive analysis of local health systems and the benefits an affiliation would bring to New River Medical Center, its patients and the community.

Affiliation with a large health system will benefit patients by improving access to physicians, enhancing availability of local specialty services and promoting coordination of care for patients.  Affiliating will also help position New River Medical Center to grow market share, improve availability of financial resources, prepare for health reform and the rise of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), enhance hospital/physician relationships, and ensure long-term viability of local care.  While New River Medical Center’s primary partner will be CentraCare, patients will continue to benefit from the relationships New River Medical Center has developed with specialty physician groups outside of the CentraCare system.

The Affiliation Task Force, a group established by New River Medical Center’s nonprofit board, led the affiliation process and made the recommendation to select CentraCare Health System.  Affiliation Task Force members include Ervin Danielowski, board member; Candy Benoit, board member; Bob Esse, community member; Steve Heath, community member; Dr. Mark Bonneville; and Dr. Troy Ivey.

The task force heard presentations from Allina, CentraCare, Fairview and North Memorial; toured affiliate hospitals and corporate offices; interviewed board members, leadership and physicians; and analyzed system attributes before selecting CentraCare as the best fit for New River Medical Center and the community.

“The availability of local health care is vital to our communities,” said Ervin Danielowski, New River Medical Center Board Chair.  “CentraCare has a proven track record of investing in the health of our community through their partnerships in the Big Lake Clinic and Monticello Cancer Center, and we are confident in their ability to provide health care services locally, invest in women’s services and ensure the financial stability of our local hospital.  CentraCare has been a great partner to work with, and we are looking forward to tightening that relationship.”

If CentraCare Health System’s Board of Directors approves the affiliation partnership, documentation regarding the process and partnership will be drafted and signed, and the process of due diligence will begin.  Depending on the timing and structure of the process, an interim management agreement may be discussed.

“After 47 years of taxpayer support, affiliating with CentraCare will enhance New River Medical Center’s financial viability and help protect our hospital district taxpayers,” said Danielowski, “but most importantly, CentraCare will bring additional services, specialists and expertise to provide quality local health care for our patients and community.”