Watertown Area Health Services Links With UW Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2008
On Monday, February 25, Watertown Area Health Services and UW Health said that the leadership of both organizations have approved the agreement that will link Watertown's independent community hospital and physician network to the extensive resources of UW Health.
Both organizations said the new relationship would make highly specialized services more accessible to Watertown-area residents without duplicating services. By working together, both Watertown and UW Health will be able to enhance primary and specialty care in a cost-effective manner.
John Kosanovich, CEO, said, “Watertown Area Health Services is very committed to keeping local health care strong. We firmly believe that an affiliation with UW Health will help us achieve our mission of providing the best in healthcare for our patients. This partnership will allow local residents convenient access to UW’s world class medical specialists, clinical programs, and health research.”
Dr. Jeffrey Grossman, senior associate dean for clinical affairs at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said, “The opportunities for mutual benefit are considerable. This partnership will enhance care, medical education and research. ”
Kosanovich and Grossman agreed that the two organizations will jointly work on advances such as electronic health records, continuous quality-improvement programs and the implementation of best practices in health care.
The hospital and its other services will continue to be led by a local board of directors. With the healthcare field changing rapidly, Patrick Caine, Board Chairman for Watertown Area Health Services, said the affiliation will ensure quality healthcare in the community well into the future. “Joining with UW Health will allow us to continue successfully competing in our region, and to do so on the basis of outstanding quality and service,” said Caine.
“This partnership is a model for how UW Health serves the people of Wisconsin through collaboration and sharing of resources,” said Donna Katen-Bahensky, president and CEO of UW Hospital and Clinics. “I am delighted that we could join in this important endeavor.”
Representatives from UW Health and Watertown will be working behind the scenes over the next several months to develop an affiliation implementation schedule.
UW Health includes University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison; the brand-new American Family Children's Hospital, which opened in August; a variety of clinics throughout the region; the UW Paul P. Carbone Cancer Center; and UW Medical Foundation, the largest group practice in the state. The School of Medicine and Public Health expends millions of dollars in clinical research studies, which offer opportunities for patients to receive the most advanced treatments available.
Watertown Area Health Services is an independent, non-profit provider of health care and well-living services to area communities. With Watertown Memorial Hospital as its cornerstone, Watertown Area Health Services has grown over the last decade to include comprehensive centers of excellence in women's health, bone and joint health and a brand new Heart and Vascular Center; clinics in Watertown, Juneau, Lake Mills, Johnson Creek, Ixonia, and Waterloo; senior housing ventures in Watertown and Waterloo; mental health counseling; wellness and prevention services; a unique cancer care partnership at the UW Cancer Center Johnson Creek Watertown Area Health Services has consistently ranked in the top ten percent in the country for patient satisfaction and has earned repeated recognition for its use of technology to promote the highest quality medical care.
Clockwise from top left, Jane Barnet (President/CEO University Health Care, Inc), Pat Caine (Watertown Area Health Services Board Chairman), John Kosanovich (WAHS CEO), and Donna Katen-Bahensky ( President/CEO University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics)
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