A New Partnership, for the Greater Good

MADISON - Two systems are better than one.

Emphasizing their common vision, leaders of Watertown Area Health Services (WAHS) and UW Health in Madison recently announced an affiliation that will link Watertown's independent community hospital and physician network to the extensive resources of UW Health.

Although WAHS will remain independent, the new affiliation includes plans to expand the range of specialized health care services provided in Watertown to patients of the region. If patients require more advanced care, they will have easy access to the comprehensive medical and surgical services available at UW Health.

"The mission of Watertown Area Health Services is to provide the best in health care to our patients," says John Kosanovich, chief executive officer of WAHS. "We firmly believe that an affiliation with UW Health will help us achieve our mission."

Dr. Jeffrey Grossman, senior associate dean for clinical affairs at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said, "Watertown Area Health Services has shown a commitment to be a leader in both the quality of care and the delivery of excellent customer service. UW Health has built a national reputation in those areas, and so the idea of forming a partnership was appealing to us."

Kosanovich and Grossman said that, in addition to patient benefits, each organization will gain from working more closely with the other. UW Health's research and educational efforts will be strengthened through the link to the community, and UW Health and Watertown will jointly work on advances such as electronic health records, continuous quality improvement programs and the implementation of best practices in health care. UW Health includes UW School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, American Family Children's Hospital, a variety of clinics throughout the state and UW Medical Foundation, the largest physician group practice in the state. It also includes the state's only federally designated comprehensive cancer center. The School of Medicine and Public Health conducts hundreds of clinical research studies each year, offering opportunities for patients to receive the most advanced treatments available.

WAHS is an independent, non-profit provider of health care and well-living services to area communities. With UW Health Partners Watertown Regional Medical Center 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 and Johnson Creek; 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.

WAHS has consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of health systems in the country for patient satisfaction and has earned repeated recognition for its use of technology to promote the highest quality medical care.

Date published: 6/26/2008