Three community hospitals have formed the not-for-profit Vermont Hospital Shared Service Network (VEHSSN). The Presidents and Board of Trustees of Copley Hospital in Morrisville, Gifford Medical Center in Randolph and Porter Medical Center in Middlebury created VEHSSN to enhance collaboration and the development of shared services among the three not-for-profit, rural Community Access Hospitals as permitted by law.
James Daily, President of Porter Medical Center, Melvyn Patashnick, President of Copley Hospital and Joseph Woodin, President of Gifford Medical Center, began talking late last year about establishing a non-profit entity that would enable the hospitals to legally work collaboratively. In February, they engaged Helms & Co., Inc., followed by Downs Rachlin & Martin PLLC in March, to formulate an organizational structure for the new collaborative. The hospitals funded the start up effort with an equal contribution of capital. VEHSSN’s purpose is to add value for the three hospitals through reduced expenses and improved quality. Any incremental costs related to the network are to be offset or exceeded by demonstrated cost savings, quality improvements and service enhancements.
Among the areas of collaboration VEHSSN is exploring are: the joint negotiation and purchase of medical insurance; shared service opportunities with information technology, cooperative recruitment and staffing of physicians and allied health professionals; and identifying other opportunities to enhance service, quality and/or productivity.
VEHSSN recently received a grant from the Vermont Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. The organization will work this summer to create implementation plans for collaboration and conduct evaluations as appropriate.
Source: Gifford Medical Center. 7/16/2009