(Commonwealth of Kentucky) A new state-wide alliance among 10 Kentucky healthcare systems known as the Kentucky Health Collaborative today announced their 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 rollout 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,” says 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, KY
• Baptist Health, Louisville, KY
• Ephraim McDowell Health, Danville, KY
• LifePoint Health, Brentwood, TN
• Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY
• St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead, KY
• St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Edgewood, KY
• The Medical Center, Bowling Green, KY
• UK HealthCare, Lexington, KY
• Owensboro Health, Owensboro, KY
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.
In addition, the Collaborative’s steering committee has hired William “Bill” L. Shepley as the organization’s inaugural Executive Director. Mr. Shepley, who has more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare executive, has devoted his career to developing and managing multi- facility 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 Mr. 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.”