Tuality Healthcare and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to pursue an affiliation that would integrate Tuality’s clinical enterprise with OHSU’s health care enterprise. If a final agreement is reached, Tuality’s clinical operations will be managed by OHSU, under the strategic direction of a recently announced management company called OHSU Partners.
Tuality and OHSU have a history of collaboration, including the Tuality / OHSU Cancer Center, which opened in 2002. Tuality and OHSU also share a commitment to creating greater value for patients by improving outcomes, increasing access to care and managing costs. The affiliation will integrate the clinical enterprises, bringing the strength of Tuality’s deep community relationships together with OHSU’s distinct role as a provider of highly complex and advanced specialty care.
“The board believes strongly that an affiliation with OHSU is the best way to continue providing the finest care for our patients and community for years to come,” said Tuality Board of Directors President Mark Rosenbaum.
This news follows more advanced discussions between OHSU and Salem Health, which are expected to result in a final affiliation agreement by October. Last week, it was announced that, as part of those discussions, a management company called OHSU Partners was being created to operate the clinical enterprises of OHSU and Salem Health as an integrated health system.
“We believe we can employ a model that strengthens each organization’s leadership in health care transformation,” said Peter Rapp, Executive Vice President of OHSU Healthcare and recently announced CEO of OHSU Partners. “It’s an Oregon-based approach to building sustained, community-based strength as a way to improve outcomes and value for patients.” OHSU and Tuality will now enter a period of due diligence and expect to reach a final agreement by the end of the year.
“We look forward to a bright future in collaboration with OHSU – an exceptional health care organization focused on improving the health of our communities here at home,” stated Tuality President and CEO Manny Berman.
About Tuality Healthcare
Tuality Healthcare is a leading health care provider in Washington County, serving a market area of 350,000 and growing. Tuality is a non-profit, community-based organization with hospitals in Hillsboro and Forest Grove, and numerous physician and outpatient clinics. Tuality offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical services, including comprehensive cardiac, cancer and stroke care. Tuality has a medical staff of 300 doctors and other health care professionals, and is one of the region’s largest employers with a staff of over 1,200. Tuality also provides free and low-cost health classes and support groups for the community through the Tuality Health Education Center. Tuality Health Alliance administers the Oregon Health Plan for portions of Washington County and the Tuality Healthcare Medical Plan. For more information, please visit www.tuality.org or www.facebook.com/Tuality.
About Oregon Health & Science University
OHSU is a nationally prominent research university and Oregon’s only public academic health center. It serves patients throughout the region with a Level 1 trauma center and nationally recognized Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. OHSU operates dental, medical, nursing and pharmacy schools that rank high both in research funding and in meeting the university’s social mission. OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute helped pioneer personalized medicine through discoveries that identified how to shut down cells that enable cancer to grow without harming healthy ones. OHSU Brain Institute scientists are nationally recognized for discoveries that have led to a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and new treatments for Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke. OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute is a global leader in ophthalmic imaging, and in clinical trials related to eye disease.
For more information, contact:
Gerry Ewing
Director of Corporate Communications
Tuality Healthcare
Office: (503) 681-1654
Cell: (971) 217-0757; (503) 544-1255
gerry.ewing@tuality.org
Beth Heinrich
Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications
Oregon Health & Science University
Office: (503) 494-0193
Cell: (503) 501-6619
heinricb@ohsu.edu