By Rick Ruggles
and Bob Glissmann
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS wrote:Creighton University Medical Center will remain open as a hospital after Alegent Health acquires it this summer, Alegent's CEO said Tuesday.
Richard Hachten, president and chief executive officer of Alegent, also said he doesn't expect layoffs.
Hachten and the Rev. Timothy Lannon, Creighton University's president, said nonbinding agreements have been signed by their institutions and Tenet Healthcare, the for-profit corporation that owns about three-fourths of the hospital. Creighton owns the rest.
Alegent will assume full ownership, but administrators declined to discuss the purchase price.
Alegent Creighton Health will be renamed shortly to reflect their further integration with CHI Nebraska. I would assume this rebranding will also extend to all of the other CHI Nebraska sites as well (St Elizabeth's and Nebraska Heart in Lincoln, St Francis in Grand Island, St Mary's in Nebraska City, Good Samaritan in Kearney). They will also likely clarify what the updated/expanded Bergan (aka "future academic medical center") will be named as well.
It will be interesting if they play off of the brand recognition of either Alegent or Creighton, or go with something completely new so that nobody feels snubbed...
Ben wrote:It will be interesting if they play off of the brand recognition of either Alegent or Creighton, or go with something completely new so that nobody feels snubbed...
Well, when two organizations merge, at least one of them will lose their identity. It's not always the weaker or the acquired firm, an example of which would be the "merger" of Norwest and Wells Fargo.
iamjacobm wrote:I have to imagine Creighton's name isn't going anywhere. Alegent can probably go.
I agree, Creighton's name will likely exist on the "academic medical center" (Bergan). The bigger question is what the CHI Nebraska overarching name will be (for all sites), and Creighton doesn't have any affiliation with the organization other than being the academic partner at a single site. Creighton doesn't have any ownership stake in any of the Alegent facilities, even Bergan, where their med school will be located.
Insurance = Alegent Creighton Affiliated Network powered by Aetna?
Alegent Creighton Health and the Catholic Health Initiatives organizations in Nebraska are integrating to create single, regional health network with a unified mission: nurturing the healing ministry of the Church while creating healthier communities. Headquartered in Omaha, the combined organization will consist of 16 hospitals, two stand-alone behavioral health facilities and more than 150 employed physician practice locations in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa. Nearly 15,900 employees comprise the workforce of this network that includes 2,820 licensed beds and serves as the primary teaching partner of Creighton University’s health sciences schools. In fiscal year 2013, the organization provided a combined $130.7 million in quantified community benefit including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With locations stretching from Kearney, Neb. to Missouri Valley, Iowa, the health network is the largest in Nebraska and serves residents of Nebraska, southwest Iowa and northern Kansas.
Coyote wrote:Rebranding comes out tomorrow. Talked with someone who works in the system and she thinks the brand naming will just be a spin off of 'CHI'
Coyote wrote:Rebranding comes out tomorrow. Talked with someone who works in the system and she thinks the brand naming will just be a spin off of 'CHI'
KETV wrote:The acute-care hospitals will now be known as:
CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Omaha, Neb.
CHI Health Bergan Mercy – Omaha, Neb.
CHI Health Good Samaritan – Kearney, Neb.
CHI Health Immanuel – Omaha, Neb.
CHI Health Lakeside – Omaha, Neb.
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs – Council Bluffs, Iowa
CHI Health Mercy Corning – Corning, Iowa
CHI Health Midlands – Papillion, Neb.
CHI Health Missouri Valley – Missouri Valley, Iowa
CHI Health Nebraska Heart – Lincoln, Neb.
CHI Health Plainview – Plainview, Neb.
CHI Health Schuyler – Schuyler, Neb.
CHI Health St. Elizabeth – Lincoln, Neb.
CHI Health St. Francis – Grand Island, Neb.
CHI Health St. Mary’s – Nebraska City, Neb.
The sign companies sure are kept continuously busy with all these new signs. Same with the print companies. I'm sure before the end of the decade the names will all change again.
I always think the same thing. Just like with all the companies that buy out companies that have stadium sponsorship deals. We had one here from Qwest to Centurylink. I know the old Candlestick changed a bunch of times, as did the Charges, Dolphins and others.
CHI has taken a beating lately with Methodist and UNMC getting all their fallout business, the Insurance the bought is not panning out like expected...
Expect an announcement very soon concerning their coverage.
RNcyanide wrote:Do we know if they've been successful at trying to strong-arm local insurers in other places they've taken over before?
There was talk that whatever deal was reached in Omaha would be what ends up happening between BCBS and CHI in Seattle and Houston. Omaha was basically the battle ground.
We are pleased to announce that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) has signed two agreements with UniNet Healthcare Network, the contracting entity for Denver-based CHI Health, that bring CHI back into our NEtwork BLUE provider network. As a result, UniNet-affiliated physicians in Omaha and CHI Health facilities across the state will again be contracting with BCBSNE for our health plans that utilize the NEtwork BLUE provider network. Both agreements, one for the Omaha-metro area and one for the rest of the state, are effective July 15, 2015.
This applies only to our health plans that use the NEtwork BLUE network. It does not apply to SelectBlue three-tier plans. CHI Health will remain fully out of network for members enrolled in SelectBlue plans. Members may continue to access care in the Select BlueChoice network which includes: Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine-Bellevue, Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital, Methodist Health System, Methodist Women’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Children’s Physicians, Fremont Health, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and SecureCare.
Throughout the negotiation process, BCBSNE advocated for an agreement that was fair and beneficial to our members and addressed CHI Health’s higher costs in Omaha. We are satisfied with the new agreements and welcome CHI Health facilities and physicians back into our Network BLUE PPO network.
We want to make sure members understand the impact of the new agreements. We invite members to call the number on the back of their BCBSNE member ID card with questions. One of our customer service representatives will be happy to help. We promise to continue to work on solutions to improve quality and affordability for all our members
Well I haven't needed or gone to my doctor since all this happened, so now I guess I could go back. Interesting to read the comments out in the web as a lot of people say they're not going back to the doctor after having change, moved records -- too late at lot are saying.
There are stirrings that CHI may be acquired by California based Dignity Health. The article reports on CHI's sluggish financial performance, and the fact that Nebraska and Iowa are one of their only profitable markets.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
lmdramos wrote:Wouldn't it be the other way around? CHI is a much larger organisation than Dignity Health
CHI has been bleeding money slowly. Like the article stated, Nebraska and Iowa are one of their only profitable markets, and the row with BCBS only hurt them more. They are ripe for acquisition.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
choke wrote:I don't think I can take another name change, especially Dignity Health. Bad name.
I don't care what their name is, as long as they work better than CHI and they treat their employees and patients better.
They have their flaws but Methodist recently dropped the ball on one of my co-workers (pretty much told him to go somewhere else after complications from an appendix surgery) and CHI ended up resolving his health issue.
lmdramos wrote:Wouldn't it be the other way around? CHI is a much larger organisation than Dignity Health
CHI has been bleeding money slowly. Like the article stated, Nebraska and Iowa are one of their only profitable markets, and the row with BCBS only hurt them more. They are ripe for acquisition.
Word within CHI Health upper management here around town is that it is being pitched internally as a "merger of equals". Dignity has the cash, CHI has the larger facility base. Its a bit of a complimentary fit, actually. CHI has more of an acute care hospital focus, where as Dignity is stronger in home health. And there's not much (or any) overlap in geography of their hospital bases, so regulators shouldn't be concerned about any anti-trust violations..