Thursday, April 27, 2017
St. Mary's Medical Center|SCL Health (St. Mary's), the region's top hospital, and Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado), one of the nation's top 10 children's hospitals, announced today they have entered into a formal Care Alliance collaboration to provide children and their families with the highest level of coordinated medical care as close to home as possible.
St. Mary's Medical Center president, Brian Davidson M.D., said "We're very excited about the new Care Alliance with Children's. This will improve our ability to deliver the highest quality pediatric care right here in the Grand Valley. It is very much in keeping with our Right Care. Right Time. Right Place. philosophy."
The formal agreement establishes a standing Child Care Alliance Council between the two hospitals. The council's work will include streamlining care coordination to help reduce costs, improve quality, support collaborative case management, and advance research and knowledge sharing. Of key significance, the alliance means that local kids and their families will rarely have to travel out-of-town to access some of the best minds in pediatric care for their children and young adults.
"We are proud to partner with St. Mary's Medical Center," said Jena Hausmann, chief executive officer of Children's Hospital Colorado. "We believe all children should benefit from the knowledge and expertise of our pediatric experts, regardless of where they choose to receive care. The ultimate goal of this alliance is to provide the highest quality pediatric care in the local community, and to streamline coordination," added Hausmann.
The joint Child Care Alliance Council is made up of senior level leaders from both St. Mary's Medical Clinic and Children's Hospital Colorado. The first order of business for the Council is to conduct assessments and prioritize needs. "Our work together will build over time, but this collaboration signals a priority focus on pediatric care at St. Mary's. As the leading medical facility in the region we believe in our duty to help fill gaps in community care. It is extremely difficult for a family to be away from home and work when their child has medical or surgical needs. That's why this collaboration is so significant," says Dr. Davidson.
Children's Hospital Colorado has a long history of partnering with community hospitals to provide pediatric care close to home.
Joint Child Care Collaboration Council Goals
• Explore, define, and measure outcomes
• Expand pediatric patient care in the most cost effective ways
• Keep care local while improving access to specialized pediatric and neonatal care
• Align goals and resources with the not-for-profit missions of both hospitals
Special Areas of Specific Focus
• Healing environments that engage and empower children and young adults
• Nursery and Pediatric Unit support (NICU and pediatric units) size, education, protocols and staff training and education
• Specialty outreach : pediatric clinic and telemedicine
• On Call : telephone consults and advice
• Training and mentoring
• Academic appointments
• Dedicated Neonatal and Pediatric Ambassadors
• Research Consortium
