Watertown Area Health Services and UW Health Finalize Partnership
WATERTOWN - Three months after announcing they were pursuing a partnership agreement, Watertown Area Health Services and UW Health 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.
"Watertown Area Health Services is very committed to keeping local health care strong," said Watertown Area Health Services CEO John Kosanovich.
"We firmly believe that an affiliation with UW Health will help us achieve our mission of providing the best in health care for our patients," Kosanovich added. "This partnership will allow local residents convenient access to UW's world-class medical specialists, clinical programs and health research."
"The opportunities for mutual benefit are considerable," said Dr. Jeffrey Grossman, president and CEO of the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation and senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. "This partnership will enhance care, medical education and research."
Working Together on Best Practices in Health Care
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 Watertown hospital and its other services will continue to be led by a local board of directors. With the health care field changing rapidly, Patrick Caine, Board Chairman for Watertown Area Health Services, said the affiliation will ensure quality health care 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 University of Wisconsin 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.
About UW Health
UW Health includes:
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison
- American Family Children's Hospital
- A variety of clinics throughout the region
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
- And the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, the largest group practice in the state
The UW 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.
About Watertown Area Health Services
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 10 percent 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: 02/29/2008
