CLEVELAND, June 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — University Hospitals (UH) and EMH Healthcare (EMH) have signed a letter of intent to officially explore an integration that will add EMH to the University Hospitals health system, officials announced Thursday.

“At the forefront of this discussion is how to best serve the health care needs of our communities,” said Dr. Donald Sheldon, EMH’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our focus will be on the benefits that patients will see through this agreement and the efficiencies we can realize that will keep quality health care affordable for our residents and businesses.”

University Hospitals will bring investments and new services as a major benefit to the new agreement including making EMH its flagship hospital based in Lorain County. Additional commitments may bring programs from internationally recognized centers of excellence such as UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital to the EMH campuses. UH’s academic-based mission will provide strong clinical research, leading-edge technology, innovative practices and initiatives that will enhance the patient experience and deliver the highest quality of care.

“Meeting the health care needs of our communities has been an unwavering commitment of University Hospitals since our founding in 1866,” said Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. “This new agreement will provide the residents of Lorain County the best opportunity to continue strengthening and improving the health of their community for years to come.”

EMH employs 2,100 Northeast Ohio residents and has campuses in Elyria, Amherst, Avon, Sheffield and North Ridgeville. University Hospitals employs 18,000 Ohio residents and its health system includes 10 hospitals and 20 outpatient health centers located throughout the region. Both organizations have won numerous recognitions for quality in patient care, safety and innovative practice. UH Case Medical Center, the academic medical center on the health system’s main campus, is one of only 13 hospitals in the country to rank in 12 of the U.S.News & World Report specialties for best outcomes in complex medical cases. UH’s internationally recognized Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital consistently ranks among the best children’s hospitals in the nation.

EMH Elyria Medical Center is a recipient of the Healthgrades “America’s 100 Best” Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013) and ranks among the top 2% in the nation for overall clinical excellence.

“I’m incredibly pleased to be having these discussions with University Hospitals. EMH has a 100-year history of providing exceptional services and medical expertise,” adds Dr. Sheldon. “Given the economic realities of today along with what health care reform will bring in the future, this new vision of becoming part of UH will help ensure that EMH continues to be a valuable resource for the communities we serve and links us to a nationally recognized name in health care while preserving and strengthening the independent practice of medicine.”

The evaluation process is expected to last several months and hospital leadership anticipates reaching a final agreement by the end of this year.

About EMH Healthcare
EMH Healthcare’s mission is to improve the health of our community through safe, high-quality and cost-effective care. To fulfill this mission, EMH Elyria Medical Center, EMH Amherst Campus, The EMH Center for Health & Fitness in Avon, and a multi-disciplinary medical staff provide services to meet the needs of the community. EMH Elyria Medical Center was founded in 1908 as a community hospital and is committed to providing expert care and exceptional caring to all. For more information, visit www.emh-healthcare.org.

About University Hospitals
University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women’s health, orthopaedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, Ohio’s only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association – McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety.

For more information, go to UHhospitals.org.

SOURCE University Hospitals