MIDLAND, Mich., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of MidMichigan Health and the Board of Trustees of Gratiot Health System have voted that Gratiot Health System will become a full affiliate of MidMichigan Health. MidMichigan Health and Gratiot Health System have been engaged in confidential, formal discussions to consider a closer affiliation for the past nine months.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040413/MMHLOGO )
Gratiot Health System’s Board of Trustees approved a full affiliation with MidMichigan Health on December 6, 2004. MidMichigan Health’s Board of Directors voted on December 13, 2004, and the MidMichigan Corporate Membership voted on December 15, 2004 to sign an agreement that Gratiot Health System will become fully affiliated with MidMichigan Health. The organizations have been affiliated since April 1999 when MidMichigan Health acquired a 32.8 percent equity interest in Gratiot Health System. The transition to fully affiliate will occur over the next several months as regulatory requirements are met.
During the past five years, the two organizations have had a strong working relationship and have formed many successful joint ventures. “The full affiliation is a natural fit for the two organizations,” said Terence F. Moore, president of MidMichigan Health. “Gratiot Health System is a strong, quality health care facility with a highly experienced and professional board of trustees and administrative team. In addition, Gratiot’s medical staff is composed of high quality physicians who care about their patients and the hospital’s role in the community. We are very pleased to have Gratiot become an important part of MidMichigan Health.”
“MidMichigan Health is a well respected, extremely strong healthcare organization. We are proud to be a partner with them,” said Nancy Gallagher, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gratiot Health System. “The full affiliation enables us to continue to develop even stronger services for our community.”
“The affiliation will enable us to coordinate our efforts and provide care more effectively and efficiently for the convenience of our patients,” said Thomas DeFauw, president of Gratiot Health System. “Gratiot Health System will continue its growth as a full service facility and maximize its potential under the continued guidance of a local board of trustees. This affiliation will enable us to promote preventive healthcare by doubling the number of health fairs and free health screenings to the communities we serve.”
A name change will occur within the next several months from Gratiot Community Hospital/Gratiot Health System to “Gratiot Medical Center, an affiliate of MidMichigan Health.” “This affiliation will enable us to reach our full potential in serving the community,” Gallagher said. “It prepares us for the future and the future needs of our employees, medical staff and our patients.”
According to Moore, “The addition of Gratiot Medical Center to the MidMichigan Health family that also includes MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland, MidMichigan Medical Center - Clare, MidMichigan Medical Center - Gladwin and eight other healthcare affiliates strengthens our abilities to improve the quality of life for the people in the communities we serve. Both Gratiot and MidMichigan share a common vision that the purpose of this affiliation is to better serve our patients and community.”
A full affiliation with Gratiot strengthens the network of care provided by both Gratiot and MidMichigan as it did when MidMichigan Health affiliated with the medical centers in Clare (1982) and Gladwin (1985). MidMichigan Medical Centers in Midland, Clare and Gladwin are wholly owned, non-profit affiliates of MidMichigan Health.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040413/MMHLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comMidMichigan Health
CONTACT: Donna Rapp, Senior Vice President of MidMichigan Health,+1-989-839-3350, donna.rapp@midmichigan.org ; or Penny Daniels, PublicRelations & Marketing Director of Gratiot Health System, +1-989-466-3393,pdaniels@gratiothealth.com
