Patients First Health Care Signs Two Agreements with SSM Health Care St. Louis

WASHINGTON, MO, Sept. 21, 2011 - Patients First Health Care signs two agreements with SSM Health Care St. Louis to explore the possibility of integration.  This move is part of the three-phase plan the company announced in August 2011 to respond to critical state of health care in the region and sweeping changes brought about by health care reform.

The first, is a 110-day, non-binding agreement to explore the possibility of partnership to provide cancer care and other ancillary services to meet the needs of the community.  Collaboration between the two organizations allows Patients First Health Care to retain its independence and focus on its core business of primary and multispecialty care.  It also keeps cancer care and ancillary services local for the patients and families Patients First Health Care serves.

Second, Patients First Health Care and SSM Health Care St. Louis have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of creating a clinically-integrated delivery organization through a Value Based Delivery Network (VBDN).  This new, jointly-formed organization would seek to change the way health care is delivered by making it more patient-centered, efficient and cost effective.   This means working together to develop the best local medical care options for patients to ensure superior clinical outcomes while managing cost.

Both agreements are non-binding and subject to membership approval. At the end of negotiations, Patients First Health Care may decide to integrate with SSM Health Care St. Louis or enter into a non-binding agreement with another health care system.

“Across the country there are prominent examples of physician-hospital relationships that have demonstrated improved results through an integrated approach to care delivery,” said Joseph Gubbels, chief executive officer for Patients First Health Care.  “Our intention in exploring an innovative partnership with SSM Health Care St. Louis is to ensure local, quality, coordinated, and cost-effective health care for our communities. For patients, that means the same Patients First Health Care physicians and convenient community locations they know and trust, supported by physician-hospital collaboration that prepares us for the changes taking place in health care.”

“SSM Health Care St. Louis shares a common philosophy with Patients First Health Care,” said Robert Porter, president, programs and services/chief strategy officer of SSM Health Care.  “The most effective way to fundamentally redesign the way health care is delivered is to make it local with physicians and hospitals working in partnership with one another in the best interest of the patient.”

Patients First Health Care has a long history of working with SSM Health Care.  In March 2009, Patients First Cardiovascular entered into an agreement with SSM Heart Institute to provide advanced cardiac services at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton. Currently, all Patients First Health Care inpatient cardiovascular procedures are performed at SSM St. Clare Health Center. In May 2011, Patients First Health Care entered into a co-operative agreement with SSM Cancer Care whereby locum medical oncologists and hematologists were provided to Patients First Cancer Center.

“The partnership between Patients First Health Care and SSM Health Care has been very beneficial for our patients,” said Dr. David Chalk, chairman of Patients First Health Care.  “Competition has been good for the communities we serve as well. During the next 110 days we’ll be focused on improving the local delivery of health care and making sure all of our patients can be best served today and in the future by the integration of our organizations.”