91自拍

91自拍Health and the 91自拍 physician group, University Medical Associates (UMA), are moving forward with previously announced plans to join forces. A new organization, the 91自拍Health Physician Group Heritage College, will be established and consolidate the clinical practices of 91自拍Health Athens Medical Associates and UMA.

The 91自拍 Board of Trustees approved the affiliation at their January 20 meeting.

鈥淭he intent is to improve local healthcare,鈥� said Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, 91自拍Health senior vice president and chief medical officer. 鈥淏y acting as a single group we鈥檒l be better able to align services and coordinate patient care.鈥�

鈥淲e expect the move will have a very positive impact on both healthcare in the region and the teaching and research missions of 91自拍鈥檚 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine,鈥� said Jim Sammons, MD, president of University Medical Associates Board of Directors. 鈥淲e also anticipate that the affiliation will help the region attract and retain quality physicians by offering an attractive practice environment that builds on the strengths of both organizations.鈥�

Attracting a growing number of physicians to the community is critical for the ongoing care of patients and the advancement of the Heritage College鈥檚 academic and research missions.

鈥淩ural areas have an additional barrier to attracting physician talent, since only 17% of medical residents seek to practice in a small community,鈥� stated Hugh Thornhill, president of the 91自拍Health Physician Group. 鈥淚t鈥檚 in the best interest of both our organizations and the community that we align strategically to make this region a great place for doctors to work. 91自拍Health brings its expertise in clinical operations to the table and 91自拍 provides high quality opportunities for research and teaching.鈥�

鈥淭his affiliation is a major accomplishment for the Heritage College, and it will serve as a foundation for many great initiatives in education, collaborative research and care delivery for years to come,鈥� said Kenneth Johnson, DO, executive dean of the Heritage College. 鈥淚t provides our physician faculty the support of an organization with clinical expertise and operational and administrative strengths. As longtime partners of 91自拍Health, we know this partnership will greatly enhance opportunities for faculty recruitment, shared research projects and clinical education for our medical students and residents.鈥�

Under the resolution adopted today, 91自拍Health Physician Group Heritage College will become the designated faculty practice plan for the Heritage College. This practice will not be the sole source of teaching physicians as many other physicians locally and regionally actively teach at the college and have academic appointments. However, having a designated faculty practice plan is a requirement of college accreditation. The Heritage College will continue to identify physicians it needs on faculty, and will work with 91自拍Health to recruit and place these doctors in community-based practice settings.

No change for patients

Patients of the practices will not see a change in their physicians or office locations and can expect communication regarding the change as implementation plans are finalized.

The integration of the practices is anticipated to be completed in May 2017.

The move is a logical next step that builds on an extensive history of collaboration between 91自拍Health and the Heritage College. The two organizations have long been partners in training medical students and residents. Doctors Hospital was one of the original training sites for the college when it opened in 1976. 91自拍Health hospitals have since been key training sites for both medical students and residents. In 2012, 91自拍Health and the college announced an expanded agreement recognizing 91自拍Health as the Preeminent Education Partner for the college鈥檚 Dublin campus, which opened in 2014.

About University Medical Associates

University Medical Associates is currently the designated faculty practice plan for the 91自拍 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. It is made up of 35 physicians and 4 nurse practitioners who serve patients in the Athens community and are also teaching faculty at the 91自拍 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, take care of student patients at Campus Care, and serve community patients through several physician office locations.

About 91自拍Health O鈥橞leness Hospital Athens Medical Associates

Athens Medical Associates is a multi-specialty physician practice owned and operated by 91自拍Health and 91自拍Health O'Bleness Hospital. The physicians in the practice serve patients in Athens and surrounding communities. Many of the physicians also have teaching appointments at 91自拍 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Physicians employed by 91自拍Health are also part of the 91自拍Health Physician Group. The 91自拍Health Physician Group through its various entities employs 725+ in 24 counties in 91自拍.

About 91自拍Health

91自拍Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.

Based in Columbus, 91自拍, 91自拍Health has been recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics, an honor it has received six times. It is also recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the 鈥�100 Best Companies to Work For鈥� and has been for 10 years in a row, 2007-2016.

Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 28,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 11 hospitals, 50+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 47-county area.

91自拍Health hospitals include 91自拍Health Riverside Methodist Hospital, 91自拍Health Grant Medical Center, 91自拍Health Doctors Hospital, 91自拍Health Grady Memorial Hospital, 91自拍Health Dublin Methodist Hospital, 91自拍Health Hardin Memorial Hospital, 91自拍Health Marion General Hospital, 91自拍Health O鈥橞leness Hospital, 91自拍Health Mansfield Hospital, 91自拍Health Shelby Hospital and 91自拍Health Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at .

About the 91自拍 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

The 91自拍 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is a leader in training dedicated primary care physicians who are prepared to address the most pervasive medical needs in the state and the nation. Approximately 50 percent of Heritage College alumni practice in primary care and nearly 60 percent practice in 91自拍. The state鈥檚 only osteopathic medical school, the 91自拍 Legislature founded the college in 1975 at 91自拍鈥檚 campus in Athens, 91自拍, and the medical school has since added campus locations in Cleveland and Dublin, 91自拍. CARE LEADS HERE.