By Bethany Nolan, For The Times-Mail
bnolan@heraldt.com
BLOOMINGTON - Bloomington Hospital and Clarian Health Partners signed an agreement Thursday morning that kicks off an 18-month process likely to end in a merger between the two.
Clarian Health owns or is affiliated with 21 hospitals and health centers in Indiana, including Bedford Regional Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, Clarian West Medical Center and Clarian North Medical Center.
"This is a huge milestone ... for Bloomington Hospital," hospital president and CEO Mark Moore said following the agreement announcement. "And it will set our direction for the next 104 years." The hospital celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.
Now, the hospital and Clarian will work with a 25-member community task force and Illinois-based health care strategy and financial advisory firm Kaufman, Hall & Associates to develop a coordinated health care plan for the two organizations.
Moore said he expects that work will begin within the next 30 to 60 days.
He pledged to keep hospital employees, local officials and the larger community in the hospital's 10-county service area up to date throughout the planning process. That could include regular written updates and/or community forums, he said.
Indiana University President Michael McRobbie, who sits on Clarian Health's board of directors, pointed out Clarian Health was established through a partnership involving IU Hospital and helps bring the expertise of IU's School of Medicine to every corner of the state.
"This new agreement promises to connect local patients with the state's largest and most comprehensive health system," McRobbie said. "It has the potential to further enhance the quality of care here at Bloomington Hospital."
And Clarian Health Partners president and CEO Dan Evans said he was grateful for the "flexibility and foresightedness" of the local officials who have worked toward the agreement.
"Here is our goal at Clarian Health Partners," he said. "Our goal is to be preeminent ... to be the best in the country."
The hospital's job is to improve community health by utilizing evidence-based medicine and the latest technology, all of which must be readily available locally, Evans said.
Moore said he believes what he described as Bloomington Hospital's strong position in the area and Clarian's network - which also includes Methodist Hospital and the Riley Hospital for Children - is a "perfect fit."
Hospital officials have made it clear the decision to merge with Clarian Health is separate than that of a new facility, an issue currently being studied by a facilities task force. The hospital's long-range plans could involve renovating its current site on West Second Street or building a new hospital on an 85-acre tract of land it already owns off Ind. 46.
There is organized community opposition to moving the hospital from the near west side of town.