PLANS for a three-way merger between Louisville-based Jewish Hospital & St.Mary’s Healthcare, Lexington-based Saint Joseph Health System, and the University of Louisville Hospital fell through earlier this month due to the University of Louisville failing to garner the necessary approvals from the state, but the remaining two entities have moved forward to form a new organization, KentuckyOne Health.
“This is an historic day for the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Bob Hewett, chair of the board for Kentucky-One Health. “The people of Kentucky face significant health threats, not just from disease, but also from issues related to access to preventive and advanced medical care and a severe shortage of physicians. We believe that this new health system will make for a healthier Kentucky.”
Hewett introduced Ruth W. Brinkley, FACHE, 59, as the president and chief executive officer of the new organization. Brinkley is a nationally recognized healthcare leader and former executive at Ascension Health and Catholic Health Initiatives.
“Ruth Brinkley has the experience and the vision to lead this new organization into the future,” Hewett said. “She brings valuable executive experience in a national system as well as academic medical centers and community hospitals. Ruth’s background shows a proven track record in improving the healthcare delivery system to better serve people and communities.”
KentuckyOne Health is a nonprofit charitable organization that will honor both the Jewish and Catholic heritages of its two sponsors, Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services and Catholic Health Initiatives. As part of Kentucky-One Health, historically Jewish facilities will remain Jewish and historically Catholic facilities will remain Catholic.
Catholic Health Initiatives will invest $320 million to launch KentuckyOne Health. The new system plans to invest in an integrated electronic health record system and other IT improvements plus make additional facility, equipment and telehealth investments in communities across the state.
KentuckyOne Health encompasses 80-plus locations, 2,500 staff physicians and more than 13,000 employees across Kentucky and southern Indiana.
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