Washington Hospital Healthcare System Announces Strategic Relationship with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Fremont, Calif., June 13, 2013- Yesterday, the Washington Township Health Care District Board of Directors voted to approve a collaborative relationship with UCSF. The goal is to create a comprehensive and integrated regional health care network that serves the needs of the residents of our community now and in the future.

“There is unprecedented transformation that is occurring in health care, and we believe our Health Care District needs to be part of a larger regional network to ensure that residents of our district can have access to the quality health care they need, when they need it now and in the future,” said Nancy Farber, CEO of Washington Hospital. “We are pleased to announce the beginning of a collaborative relationship between UCSF and Washington Hospital Healthcare System. The intent is to create an integrated regional health care network to best serve our patients and continue to be successful in the future.”

This relationship will help to facilitate referrals for Washington Hospital patients to specialty services at UCSF when needed and will also offer an opportunity to share best practices to further enhance the quality of care and reduce costs.

Collaboration paves the way for expanded access to specialized physicians locally, the potential to have clinical training programs for medical education students at Washington Hospital, as well as new avenues for the recruitment of physicians.

Additionally, as Washington transitions to an electronic medical record (EMR), using the same company that UCSF used to implement theirs, the relationship will allow for improved communications between the two healthcare systems. While following compliant privacy guidelines that protect patient privacy, the EMR will facilitate the delivery of care and improve patient and physician communications.

As part of this agreement, a Joint Operations Committee that will include representatives of both organizations will meet regularly to discuss collaborative initiatives, and improving the quality and efficiency of both organizations. A Steering Committee, composed of senior leadership from both organizations, will provide guidance to the Joint Operations Committee on key issues.

“Our growing relationship with Washington Township will be the foundation of a regional system of care, the goal of which is to provide the Bay Area community with better care at lower cost,” said Mark R. Laret, CEO of UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. “UCSF has a strong tradition of aligning with community hospitals in order to better serve local needs through a combined expertise in health care. ”

This relationship is not a merger or acquisition. Washington will retain its independent governance as a health care district with the mission of meeting the health care needs of our community. “We’ve selected a strong partner that we believe is the best fit for Washington Hospital Healthcare System. As two public entities, we both share a mission that creates the foundation for further discussion around enhanced services for the residents of Washington Township Health Care District ,” said Ms. Farber.

About Washington Township Health Care District

Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 389-bed acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; Washington Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.

About UCSF Medical Center

UCSF Medical Center consistently ranks as one of the top hospitals in the United States. Recognized for innovative treatments, advanced technology, collaboration among health care professionals and scientists, and a highly compassionate patient care team, UCSF Medical Center serves as the academic medical center of the University of California San Francisco. The medical center's nationally preeminent programs include children's health, the brain and nervous system, organ transplantation, women's health and cancer. It operates as a selfsupporting enterprise within UCSF and generates its own revenues to cover the operating costs of providing patient care.