UnityPoint Health



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 16, 2013Media Contact: UnityPoint HealthUnityPoint Health – Des MoinesLaura SinnardAmy VarcoeDirector – Public Relations & CommunicationsMedia Relations Specialist515-241-3600515-205-6090laura.sinnard@amy.varcoe@ Iowa Health System is changing name to UnityPoint HealthIncludes physician group UnityPoint Clinic, home care provider UnityPoint at Home and regional hospital organization Iowa Health – Des Moines Des Moines, IA—Iowa Health System (IHS), the nation’s fifth largest non-denominational health system, is now UnityPoint Health (), a new name that reflects the way its hospitals, physicians and home care entities are transforming health care delivery through patient-centered coordinated care. This overall system name also includes the former Iowa Health Physicians & Clinics (now UnityPoint Clinic), and Iowa Health Home Care (now UnityPoint at Home and UnityPoint Hospice.) Together, in Central Iowa, Iowa Methodist; Iowa Lutheran; Blank Children’s Hospital; Methodist West Hospital; John Stoddard Cancer Center; UnityPoint Clinic- Central Iowa; and UnityPoint at Home form UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. In 1993, UnityPoint Health got its start here in Des Moines, when Iowa Methodist and Iowa Lutheran merged to form Iowa Health System. At the time, the merger created the state’s largest provider of hospital and related health services. Since then UnityPoint Health has grown to encompass eight major geographic regions in Iowa and Illinois. “Over the years, as our team-based approach has developed and our services have expanded, we have become a point of unity for the patient. Our new brand is an expression of what we mean to our patients: people who work together to provide the best outcome for every patient every time,” said Bill Leaver, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health.The new name and brand logo were unveiled to system leaders and employees earlier today. This change symbolizes the difference between the former hospital-centered health care process to one that more effectively addressed the total care of all patients, whether they were at a clinic, a hospital or home. The move to a physician-led organization focusing on patient care coordination is ongoing.“The way we deliver health care is fundamentally changing,” said Eric Crowell, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines (formerly Iowa Health – Des Moines). “And as a result, a name was needed and reflects our new way of providing care by putting the patient at the center of everything we do. Our team of doctors, specialists and home care providers are united in purpose to achieve best outcomes for our patients. Now, the system’s brand name better expresses that.” The change to become UnityPoint Health follows several years of innovation and discussions between the organization’s regions, board of directors, physician leadership and management teams regarding health care changes and how to best position the organization for the future.Dr. Alan Kaplan, president and CEO of UnityPoint Clinic and senior vice president and Chief Clinical Officer of UnityPoint Health, said “For the patient, care coordination is much more than a physician making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment at a moment in time. It means having a doctor who leads a team to help the patient over the time it takes to get well and stay well. It sounds simple, and from the patient perspective it should be. The challenge for organizations is to transform from the traditional way of delivering healthcare to one in which everyone is truly aligned and focused on what really matters—you. UnityPoint Health is doing that.”The strategic plan of UnityPoint Health is focused on a new care coordination model, expansion and organizational growth at the system and local level. There will be no change in management, structure or staff involved in this brand change. Overall, UnityPoint Health employs more than 24,000 individuals throughout Iowa and Illinois, and each region will maintain its existing leadership and local boards of directors.Today, UnityPoint Health is one of the nation’s most integrated health systems. Through relationships with more than 900 physicians and providers working in more than 280 UnityPoint Clinics, 29 hospitals in metropolitan and rural communities and home care services throughout its eight regions, UnityPoint Health provides care throughout Iowa and Illinois. The eight regions within UnityPoint Health (named for the largest city within that region) are: Des Moines, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA, Dubuque, IA, Fort Dodge, IA, Peoria, IL, the Quad Cities, Sioux City, IA, and Waterloo, IA. “While the name of our organization will change to reflect our focus on integrated care coordination, UnityPoint Health will continue to deliver the best outcome for every patient, every time,” Leaver said. “It’s our mission and commitment to patients and families. UnityPoint Health is a leader in health care. We are far ahead of other health systems and the time to announce our progress is now.” ###About UnityPoint HealthUnityPoint Health is one of the nation’s most integrated health systems. Our physician-led team of professionals communicates clearly and effectively to address a patient’s health care in the most appropriate setting: whether that is a clinic, a hospital or at home. Through relationships with more than 280 physician clinics, 29 hospitals in metropolitan and rural communities and home care services throughout its eight regions, UnityPoint Health provides care throughout Iowa and Illinois. UnityPoint Health entities employ more than 24,000 employees, working toward innovative advancements to deliver the Best Outcome for Every Patient Every Time. Each year, through more than 4 million patient visits, UnityPoint Health, UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint at Home provide a full range of coordinated care to patients and families. With annual revenues of $2.7 billion, UnityPoint Health is the nation’s 15th largest nonprofit health system and the fifth largest nondenominational health system in America. UnityPoint Health provides community benefit programs and services to improve the health of people in its communities.About UnityPoint Health – Des MoinesUnityPoint Health – Des Moines provides comprehensive, coordinated care to patients throughout the Greater Des Moines area through our clinics, hospitals and home care services. UnityPoint Health – Des Moines includes Iowa Methodist Medical Center; Iowa Lutheran Hospital; Methodist West Hospital; Blank Children’s Hospital including pediatric sub-specialty clinics; John Stoddard Cancer Center; UnityPoint Clinic; UnityPoint at Home and UnityPoint Hospice. UnityPoint Clinic – Central Iowa provides care in a number of areas including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, sports medicine, cardiology, pediatric sub-specialties, liver disease, surgery, and psychiatry. While UnityPoint at Home serves the critical role of coordinating with UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint Health hospitals to surround the patient with all the resources and care necessary to achieve wellness at home. Whether the patient is learning to manage a chronic disease, transitioning home from the hospital, or rehabilitating after an injury or surgery, UnityPoint at Home allows the patient to continue the level of care necessary to help restore health, well-being and independence, all from the comfort of home. In addition, UnityPoint Hospice provides compassionate hospice care for patients at home or at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines.UnityPoint Health – Des Moines has more than 6,900 employees and 1,000 physicians providing care to care to patients throughout central Iowa. In 2012, the UntiyPoint Health hospitals delivered more than 4,300 babies, admitted 32,600 patients and had more than 83,000 emergency visits. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download