Campbell County Health’s
Board of Trustees has agreed to negotiate a
potential Letter of Intent with
UCHealth for a formal collaboration. The relationship would not be a buyout or
purchase, but rather a formal collaboration that would provide CCH with
access to some of UCHealth’s resources, training and expertise,
while keeping CCH locally owned and operating as an independent county
hospital district.
The proposed relationship would provide access to services that could support
the setting of future goals and strategy, so that the organization can
stay focused on quality. The arrangement would strengthen CCH’s
economic vitality, currently employing approximately 1,200 people and
contributing an annual impact estimated at $408 million to the local economy.
UCHealth, based in Colorado, already collaborates with the hospitals in both
Laramie and
Cheyenne. Hospitals and healthcare systems in Wyoming and all over the country
have moved toward such arrangements as a way to reduce expenses, share
state-of-the-art technology, and improve access to administrative and
clinical expertise.
The process of negotiating a Letter of Intent with UCHealth will allow
the community’s stakeholders, including the
medical staff , CCH employees and the
community to provide input on the relationship and will help identify those elements
important for the CCH Board to consider.
Will the voters lose control of the local hospital?
Under any proposal, the Board would like to make it clear that Campbell
County Health would remain an independent, community-owned health system
with no change to the elected Board of Trustees. Ownership would not change
and decisions would remain local.
No new
taxes nor an increase in the mill levy (collected through property taxes) would
be requested of the community.
Patients will not be required to go to other UCHealth facilities for care.
The patient and his or her doctor should decide the best options for patient
treatment.
What types of services can UCHealth provide to the local community?
May include, but not limited to:
Provide CEO support, consultative or project support and networking access.
Participation in educational offerings for Board members, management, medical
staff and employees.
Access to qualified
administration and management specialists with a focus on quality outcomes.
Opportunities for the CCH medical staff to participate in grand rounds,
tumor boards, and other professional interactions.
It is the intent of the Board of Trustees that employees remain employees of CCH.
Would the agreement bring new competition in to the market?
No. The goal of the Board of Trustees is to ensure that care is provided
to the patient closest to home. CCH also intends to make the latest EHR
technology available via contract for independent practitioners.
Who do I contact if I have any comments or concerns?
Please send any comments or concerns to this email address:
feedback@cchwyo.org
