Affiliation formed to ensure best care for community during time of profound change
September 29, 2010 - Charlottesville, VA. In a move to increase Martha Jefferson's ability to provide high quality, comprehensive health care services to patients, Martha Jefferson Hospital is pleased to announce its intent to merge with Sentara Healthcare. The Martha Jefferson Health Services Board voted unanimously on the decision.
Martha Jefferson will join with Sentara, enhancing its ability to achieve best practices in healthcare delivery, acquire cutting edge technology and integrated information systems, and provide a higher level of medical care to the community. Combined, these attributes will better position Martha Jefferson to address health care reform and other profound changes affecting the healthcare environment.
"We are always looking to the future at Martha Jefferson, and as part of our strategic planning process, we have determined we would be in a stronger position to continue delivering on our mission of improving the health status of our community by joining an integrated system," said Jim Haden, Martha Jefferson Hospital President and CEO. "Working with Sentara Healthcare, a healthcare organization that has consistently demonstrated excellence in quality initiatives and patient safety, and that has a culture and value system similar to ours, is the best way to ensure we are well-positioned to continue providing the clinical outcomes and personalized care our community expects. It will also enable our employees to continue to have a great environment in which to provide that care."
It will take six months or more to undergo a due diligence phase and complete regulatory review. One of the guiding principles used throughout the process was that Martha Jefferson will continue governance over important local issues. To this end, the Directors of the Martha Jefferson Health Services Board will continue to serve on the Board of the hospital.
"We are pleased Martha Jefferson has selected Sentara as their preferred partner for continuing its Caring Tradition," said David Bernd, CEO of Sentara Healthcare. "We have worked with this health care organization for many years and know Martha Jefferson is highly regarded."
Bernd continues, "Health care reform has encouraged consolidation among health care providers leading to integrated systems being best positioned to render quality care effectively and economically in the future."
Based in Norfolk, VA, Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit integrated health care system comprised of eight Virginia-based acute-care hospitals, home care services, medical transport, an insurance plan (Optima Health) and other healthcare-related services.
In addition to merging with Sentara, Martha Jefferson is committed to further collaborations with other local healthcare providers, including the University of Virginia Medical Center, to improve the services delivered to the community.