Dive Brief:
- Oconee Regional Health Systems and Central Georgia Health System, both in Georgia, have signed a letter of intent to form a partnership to develop joint healthcare services. The relationship is not a merger, but is intended to improve population health through better economies of scale.
- The two systems are already in the process of developing an outpatient primary care facility in Milledgeville, which should open in the next three to four months.
- While the financial elements of the deal have not yet been announced, ORHS president and CEO Jean Aycock did reference financial pressures threatening many Georgia hospitals as an incentive for the partnership.
Dive Insight:
Increasingly, hospitals are looking to non-traditional partnerships as the trend towards consolidation marches on. All mergers are not created equal, and a large number of "hybrid" structures are emerging. Yesterday, Healthcare Dive took an in-depth look at six kinds of mergers and partnerships that are gaining popularity. Stay tuned as more details surrounding this particular deal evolve.
Oconee Regional operates Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville and Oconee Regional Health Ventures and Jasper Health Services in Monticello. Central Georgia Health System operates Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon (a 637-bed hospital and the only teriary hospital between Atlanta and Jacksonville, FL).