IRVING, TX--(Marketwire -01/11/12)- The respective Boards of Directors for VHA's New England and Northeast regions announced today they will consolidate the regions to create VHA New England, LLC. The newly formed regional network, which will maintain offices in Braintree, Mass., and Portland, Maine, consists of 36 VHA shareholder and partner members representing more than 80 acute care and critical access hospitals throughout the northeastern states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.
In development for more than a year, the consolidation is intended to drive individual and collective success among VHA members. "While a dual-region model has served our members well in the past, the time has come for united governance, which will further performance and provide greater member value," said Gerry Roche, area senior vice president, executive officer, VHA Northeast and New England Regions. Roche will retire in March as executive officer, but will serve as President and CEO of the Northeast Purchasing Coalition, the regional supply network which works collaboratively with VHA and Novation, VHA's contracting company. Roche will also assist in the merger transition process.
"This merger brings together some of the largest and most prestigious hospitals and health care organizations in the New England states," he explained. "It is designed to be member-inclusive with an all-member board, offering the potential for greater knowledge-sharing and accelerated improvements, which should have significant and positive impact in the communities served."
M. Michelle Hood, president and chief executive officer of Eastern Maine Healthcare in Brewer, Maine, was appointed by the boards of VHA New England and VHA Northeast to chair the new entity. The boards also named Richard Aubut, president and chief executive officer of South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA, as chair-elect.
"By consolidating these two strong regional networks, we have created an even more powerful and collaborative organization," Hood explained. "Our goal is to arm members with the most advanced tools, processes and learning initiatives available in industry today, enhancing performance and improving patient care and satisfaction.
"Today's challenging and evolving health care environment requires our hospitals and health systems to do everything possible to continue their quest for continuous performance improvement at every level," she added.
Roche emphasized that the merger will enhance the ability of the Northeast Purchasing Coalition to be successful. The Coalition's clinically focused supply chain strategies, peer-to-peer information sharing and ongoing collaborative supply chain initiatives have saved NPC members nearly $15 million or 15% in 2011 on NPC contracts.
About VHA Inc. Based in Irving, TX, VHA Inc. is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance, and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Since 1977, VHA has leveraged its expertise in analytics, contracting, consulting and networks to help members achieve their operational, clinical and financial objectives. In 2010, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.7 billion to members. VHA serves more than 1,350 hospitals and more than 30,000 non-acute care providers nationwide, coordinating delivery of its programs and services through its 15 regional offices. VHA has been ranked as one of the best places to work in healthcare by Modern Healthcare since the publication introduced this list in 2008.
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