The agreement comes after a three-year search conducted by MSHA leadership as part of the organization’s 10-year strategic plan in response to the changes in today’s health care industry.

“We share a common goal to improve services while reducing costs during a time of challenge created by national health care reform,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs for Vanderbilt University and CEO of Vanderbilt Health system, in a statement. “As nonprofit organizations, we share a common mission to provide the highest-quality care for broad and diverse patient populations.”

According to the agreement, VUMC will assist MSHA by recruiting specialists and subspecialists to serve the area. It will introduce evidence-based care models that will help MSHA provide better care to patients with specific conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. VUMC is also a known research institution that will allow MSHA to take part in clinical trials that could benefit patients, as well as make advancements in medical research.

Additionally, the two organizations will work together to collaborate clinically, with emphasis on cardiovascular and oncology services, and to develop a statewide clinically integrated network to contract with payers for provided health care services.

“As national health care reform continues to change the landscape of our industry, affiliations like this one will become increasingly important as providers seek to deliver the highest quality care and the best patient experiences at the lowest possible cost,” said Clem Wilkes, MSHA board chairman, in a statement.
 

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