Relationship will enhance community-based health care in Franklin County and surrounding communities
Summit Health and WellSpan Health announced today that they have completed their affiliation.
Effective today, Nov. 1, Summit Health is officially part of WellSpan Health – a regional nonprofit health care organization that now enhances community-based health care across central Pennsylvania and within Franklin County and its surrounding communities.
With the addition of Summit Health, WellSpan Health is now comprised of more than 19,000 employees, approximately 1,500 physicians and advanced practice clinicians and more than 170 patient care locations – including eight respected hospitals.
The affiliation follows seven months of due diligence by both community boards of directors and senior leaders, as well as approval by local, state and federal regulatory agencies, according to Pat O’Donnell, president and CEO of Summit Health, and Kevin H. Mosser, M.D., president and CEO of WellSpan Health.
They noted that Summit and WellSpan share a vision of transforming health care by improving outcomes and patient experience while managing costs.
“The completion of this affiliation marks the beginning of a bright future for health care in Franklin County,” O’Donnell said. “We are thrilled to join WellSpan Health, and to share with our community enhanced services.”
O’Donnell will be a member of WellSpan Health’s executive management team and will continue to lead services in Franklin County.
Mosser added that the affiliation makes formal a collaborative relationship that has existed between the two organizations for many years.
WellSpan and Summit have worked together to bring radiation oncology, neurology, tele-stroke and perinatology services to Franklin County, in addition to their partnership in a regional reference laboratory and a behavioral health managed care organization.
“By joining together, we now have the ability to leverage the best of both organizations to further enhance care locally and across the entire region,” Mosser said.
Together, WellSpan and Summit Health will pursue the following goals:
- Strengthen a model of care that is based on an individual’s relationship with a primary care physician and coordinates all the care an individual requires across the lifespan.
- Provide an opportunity to share best practices in quality improvement, care redesign, chronic disease management and patient experience.
- Build upon Summit Health’s strong reputation as a provider of high-quality, local clinical care and a trusted nonprofit community partner.
- Train and recruit more physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses and other essential care providers to Franklin County and surrounding communities, in order to address a projected shortage of physicians and health care professionals.
- Invest in new services, facilities and technology for the long-term health of residents in Franklin County and surrounding communities.
- Support Summit Health’s passionate commitment to the physical and economic health of Franklin County and surrounding communities.
- Provide enhanced opportunities for effective population health management and value-based contracting to meet the needs of patients and payors.
Charitable Foundation
As part of the affiliation agreement, a new charitable foundation will be established for the purpose of raising funds and using them to provide support for Summit Health and its tax-exempt subsidiaries and their related activities in Franklin County and the surrounding communities. All charitable donations currently held or pledged to Summit Health will be retained by Summit Health or, at Summit Health’s discretion, transferred to the new foundation and used only to provide this support.
WellSpan has established similar community-based philanthropic foundations in Adams, York, Lancaster and Lebanon counties.
Governance Structure
Summit Health will continue to be governed by a local board of directors, which will have a formal relationship with the WellSpan Health board of directors. Four members of the Summit Health board – Philip Fague, R. William Happel, Nancy Meyers and Cheryl Plummer – will join the WellSpan Health board.
For more information, visit SummitHealth.org/Affiliation. For WellSpan services in Franklin County and the surrounding communities, visit WellSpan.org/Franklin.
About Summit Health
Summit Health is a nonprofit health system that is dedicated to building a healthier community. As Franklin County's leading healthcare provider, Summit Health operates two award-winning hospitals in Chambersburg and Waynesboro, 33 outpatient specialty and primary-care practices throughout Franklin County, lab and imaging services, a fitness center, and two walk-in care centers. Visit SummitHealth.org.
About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of approximately 1,500 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians, a regional behavioral health organization, a home care organization, eight respected hospitals, more than 19,000 employees, and more than 170 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities. Visit WellSpan.org.