A new state-wide alliance among 10 healthcare systems will be known as the Kentucky Health Collaborative
The group, which includes St. Elizabeth Healthcare, has identified primary objectives of raising the standards of care, addressing the Commonwealth’s poor health statistics, and reducing the cost of care through greater efficiencies.
The founding health systems’ chief executive officers are serving on a steering committee that is guiding the formation and development of the Collaborative.
“As we begin to roll out our new vision for St. Elizabeth, to lead Northern Kentucky to become one of the healthiest communities in America, this Collaborative will help us achieve this vision not only for Northern Kentucky, but all of Kentucky,” said Garren Colvin, St. Elizabeth President and CEO. “Through the Collaborative, all of our organizations will be able to accomplish collectively what no single one of our organizations could do alone.”
The 10 initial health systems who have signed on as charter members of the new Collaborative are:
*Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Lexington
*Baptist Health, Louisville
*Ephraim McDowell Health, Danville
*LifePoint Health, Brentwood, TN
*Norton Healthcare, Louisville
*St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead
*St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Edgewood
*The Medical Center, Bowling Green
*UK HealthCare, Lexington,
*Owensboro Health, Owensboro
The Collaborative’s steering committee has hired William “Bill” L. Shepley as the organization’s inaugural Executive Director. Shepley, who has more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare executive, has devoted his career to developing and managing multifacility alliances and networks to guide organizations through changes in the healthcare delivery system.
“The opportunity to lead the Kentucky Health Collaborative is one of the proudest moments of my career,” said Shepley. “The Kentucky Health Collaborative has created a governance structure that supports the inclusion and participation of healthcare providers regardless of location within the state, size or profit structure. The solutions we expect to develop through the Collaborative have worked well for similar networks across the country, and I am honored to be a part of this important process.”
As the Collaborative develops the systems and infrastructure needed to accomplish its goals, the opportunity to join will extend to a wider pool of potential members throughout the state.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare