University of Michigan Health and Holland Hospital have announced a strategic alliance that will benefit health care patients across west Michigan by allowing both organizations to identify and pursue opportunities that support high-quality clinical services locally.
The alliance was approved by U-M’s Board of Regents on Dec. 7. The Holland Hospital Board of Directors approved the agreement at its meeting Nov. 14. The three-year agreement takes effect immediately.
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The strategic alliance does not constitute a merger or acquisition, and the alliance does not change Holland Hospital ownership, governance or organizational integration. U-M Health is the clinical division of Michigan Medicine.
Patti VanDort, president of Holland Hospital, said one key goal of this alliance aims to provide clinical specialties to lakeshore residents that Holland Hospital is not able to offer alone, and to reduce the need for patients to travel to receive the specialty care they need.
“The partnership will improve local access to care and give patients greater choice and value,” VanDort said. “Holland Hospital has enjoyed a collaborative and positive relationship with University of Michigan Health over the years, and we are enthusiastic for the opportunity to deepen our alliance to continue serving the evolving needs of our patients and the communities we serve.”
“At the University of Michigan Health, we are working to make sure residents of Michigan have access to the right care close to home. Holland Hospital is a high performing organization that we know will be a strong partner in our efforts,” said Marschall Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, which includes the U-M health system and the Medical School.
“This collaboration will provide the Holland community with local access to U-M Health specialists that Holland Hospital couldn’t otherwise offer,” said David Miller, president of U-M Health. “We have already partnered with Holland Hospital on treatment services such as neuroscience. We know this collaboration will bring more choice and local access that will improve patients’ experience.”
The joint initiative brings together the expertise of both organizations, offering patients access to specialists at U-M Health in Ann Arbor and U-M Health West in Wyoming, Michigan, in addition to the care offered by providers at Holland Hospital.
The alliance focuses on providing care locally. In cases where highly specialized sub-specialty care is clinically indicated, patients may be referred to Ann Arbor, but pre-and post-care will be done locally.
Among the initiatives being considered is a clinical partnership in support of a newly constructed ambulatory site in West Michigan.
VanDort said the decision to partner was based on shared cultures and values, and the organizations look forward to working together on a mutual commitment to enhance care locally through joint initiatives and clinical programs that will best serve patients.
Miller said U-M Health is committed to ensuring Michiganders have access to the right care in the right place.
“That means keeping care close to home as much as possible by collaborating with hospitals around the state to expand local access to specialty care,” he said.
“Holland Hospital’s excellence in quality, value and patient experience, as well as its commitment to keeping care local, make this an ideal partnership to enhance health care services for the lakeshore region.”
