The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and St. Vincent Health System in Little Rock announced Aug. 30 they have entered into a nonbinding letter of intent to explore opportunities for an affiliation to deliver collaborative and integrated services.
“As the state’s only academic health center, UAMS’ mission is to lead the way in improving the health and health care of all Arkansans by educating tomorrow’s health care workforce, searching for cures through medical research and providing excellent clinical care,” UAMS chancellor Dr Dan Rahn said.
“An aging population; a shortage of physicians, nurses and other professionals; inaccessibility to care in rural areas; and the uncertain impact of health care reform are just a few of the challenges facing the health care system of the future,” Rahn said. “If we are to meet those challenges, we must continue to develop and expand strategic affiliations with other health care organizations that share our vision and values to bring our strengths together to improve outcomes and efficiency in our services and expand training opportunities. We are excited about the opportunities a possible affiliation with St. Vincent could bring.”
A collaboration between the two health systems could benefit all Arkansans. The hospitals said the affiliation could lead to expanded opportunities for research, which can be translated to the bedside; increased training and educational opportunities for doctors, nurses and staff; and the ability to attract well-known physicians, nurses and health care professionals to the state.
“Health care is the economic engine for central Arkansas and the state,” said Peter Banko, president and CEO of St. Vincent. “UAMS and St. Vincent have been neighbors for decades with a tremendous amount of cultural compatibility. It is the right thing to do and the right time for us to explore opportunities to improve access across the state, lower costs, enhance quality, train the best and brightest health care professionals, and bring to the bedside cutting-edge treatments and technologies.”
UAMS and St. Vincent have been in discussion for the last several weeks and have been exploring various affiliation opportunities. Any alliance that is pursued will preserve UAMS’ public identity and St. Vincent’s Catholic identity, including women’s and reproductive health care services. Entering into a letter of intent will facilitate the ability of UAMS and St. Vincent to review the other’s financial and operational information. The review is conducted under the letter of intent’s nondisclosure agreement, which ensures that each party can share information that would otherwise be considered proprietary.
UAMS is the state’s only academic health center, with colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, health professions and public health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute.
UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 775 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees.
St. Vincent Health System was founded in 1888 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The system includes the 615-bed St. Vincent Infirmary; St. Vincent North in Sherwood; St. Vincent Morrilton and St. Vincent West, an outpatient campus in west Little Rock. The health system is now owned by Catholic Health Initiatives, a national nonprofit health organization based in Englewood, Colo.
UAMS, St. Vincent explore affiliation
