Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Central Vermont Medical Center and Fletcher Allen Health Care Boards Vote to Pursue Affiliation
F O R R E L E A S E: Immediate (December 14, 2010)
C O N T A C T: Mike Noble
Fletcher Allen Health Care
802-847-2886
Susan Kruthers
Central Vermont Medical Center
802-371-4197
Central Vermont Medical Center and Fletcher Allen Health Care Boards Vote to Pursue Affiliation
BURLINGTON VT – The trustees of Central Vermont Medical Center and Fletcher Allen Health Care have voted to proceed with an affiliation agreement -- subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals -- as a way to provide better care to patients, improve health and reduce costs for Vermonters.
The Fletcher Allen board of trustees unanimously voted today, joining the CVMC board, which unanimously voted in favor of affiliation on December 7.
“This is a significant step in developing a coordinated health care system in Vermont that will improve care and reduce costs for Vermonters,” said Judy Tarr, president and chief executive officer of CVMC. “This affiliation builds on existing clinical partnerships and also closely aligns with the state and federal health care reform agendas that promote enhanced integration.”
“Like Judy, I believe that increased collaboration among hospitals and other providers in our state will benefit our patients,” said Melinda L. Estes, MD, president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen. “Through this affiliation, we will be able to work together on regional strategic planning and better coordinating the care we deliver in order to make the best use of our collective resources.”
Common Parent Organization
When complete, the affiliation will create a new parent organization – “Fletcher Allen Partners” –with governing powers over both Fletcher Allen and CVMC. Fletcher Allen Partners will have a board of trustees drawn from the membership of both organizations’ current boards and medical staffs. Fletcher Allen President and CEO Dr. Melinda Estes will serve as CEO of the system parent; CVMC President and CEO Judy Tarr will serve as Senior Vice President.
System Activities
The parent organization, over time, would carry out centralized activities for the benefit of patients of both CVMC and Fletcher Allen, such as:
- Regional strategic planning
- Joint quality and clinical initiatives
- Joint purchasing and supply chain management
- Tax-exempt bond borrowing
- Development of a common electronic health record platform
The parent organization would also have approval rights over significant matters of each organization such as budgets, strategic plans, and major financial decisions.
Existing Hospitals
Under the proposed affiliation, Fletcher Allen and CVMC will retain their current identities. Each party will remain a separate free-standing hospital with its own board, management, workforce, licensure, medical staff (including credentialing and governance), and endowment.
Next Steps
Central Vermont and Fletcher Allen will now engage in a due diligence process and seek regulatory approvals. This process is expected to take several months.
About CVMC
Central Vermont Medical Center consists of a not-for-profit acute care hospital offering a full spectrum of in-patient and out-patient services and 24-hour emergency care, National Life Cancer Treatment Center, Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing, and 17 medical group practices. Our mission is to work collaboratively to meet the needs and improve the health of the residents of central Vermont. Visit www.cvmc.org for additional information.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.FletcherAllen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.FletcherAllen.org/socialmedia.
