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FEATURE continued
In the letter of intention, Tower Health and Penn Medicine
agreed to establish an Affiliation Steering Committee, with equal
representation from both organizations. It is expected to take approximately
six months to evaluate potential areas of collaboration.
New Approaches
Kevin B. Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania
Health System, said the alliance will allow for the development of
new approaches to patient care.
" Both Penn Medicine and Tower are committed to providing
the very best care for patients in the regions we serve together, "
Mahoney said. " With the shared goal as our chief mission, forming
a stronger alliance would allow us to work together to develop new
approaches for delivering superior, cost effective and accessible
patient care in our local communities. "
In September, a Penn Medicine spokesperson said the health
care system will not have any additional details to share with the
public until the strategic planning process has been completed.
" Penn Medicine is pleased to have signed a non-binding letter
of intent to explore the formation of a strategic alliance with Tower
Health, " the spokesperson said. " As organizations which share a
strong commitment to innovations and approaches that provide
the very best care for patients in the regions we both serve, we are
united in our goals of improving patient access and devising new
strategies for more cost-effective care. We look forward to working
with Tower Health leadership on a strategic planning process in
the coming months to evaluate potential areas of opportunity for
collaboration. "
In the July press release, Tom Work, chairman of Tower Health's
board of directors, said the organization is excited to work with
Penn Medicine to finalize the terms of the alliance.
" This marks just the beginning of the next chapter of Tower Health
as we remain steadfast in implementing our ongoing turnaround
initiatives, " she said. " Penn Medicine is a unique, world-class health
system with outstanding leadership and clinical expertise, and we
are incredibly optimistic about our future and the services that our
strategically affiliated organizations have the potential to provide. "
According to the announcement, the decision for the alliance
came at the conclusion of a months-long process considering all
possible options for the future of Tower Health.
" Tower Health's financial turnaround has achieved positive
momentum since March, as operational improvements have taken
hold and patient volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels, "
the statement said.
Tower Health has declined further comment on the alliance.
But on Aug. 25, Tower Health announced that its Tower Health
Transplant Institute and related transplant nephrology (a specialty
of internal medicine that focuses on the treatment of diseases that
affect the kidneys) and hepatology (medicine that focuses on diseases
of the liver) practices would transition to Penn Medicine.
" Among our criteria for considering a strategic alliance as one
possible path forward, the board wanted to find a compatible
health system that shares our patient-focused values and represents
an opportunity to not only stabilize, but strengthen the care we
deliver, " Work said. " Penn Medicine is one of the premier health
care systems in the country, embodying all of the key attributes we
were looking for in a strategic affiliation. "
Ongoing Turnaround
Sue Perrotty, president and CEO of Tower Health, said the
alliance is a part of Tower Health's ongoing turnaround.
" From our board to our dedicated physicians, caregivers and
administrative and support staff, everyone at Tower Health has
worked incredibly hard to achieve this positive milestone, " Perrotty
said. " We are stabilizing and strengthening our health system for
decades to come.
12 Philadelphia Medicine : Fall 2021
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