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On September 7, The University of Kansas Hospital and Hays Medical Center (HaysMed) announced the two organizations have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to form a new partnership.

Q: Why is the partnership needed?

A: HaysMed and The University of Kansas Hospital share a long-term vision to extend comprehensive, high-quality, cost-efficient healthcare in a not-for-profit setting for Kansans and to transform healthcare delivery throughout the state. Both hospitals have well-earned reputations for quality patient outcomes. Through easily accessible, affordable and coordinated care, the two organizations are working to optimize health value and support population health management.

Q: How will this partnership benefit the community?
A: The two organizations formed a relationship based on similar mission and vision: to provide high level of care for Kansans.

Together, both organizations are working to:

• Sustain, support and enhance the primary and specialty services available at HaysMed

• Increase the recruitment of primary care and specialty care physicians
• Improve the health of the population in western Kansas
• Improve quality and patient experience across the state
• Explore opportunities to partner around telemedicine, clinical program development, physician recruitment, rural health training/residency development, and population health initiatives.
• Position both organizations to be better prepared for health care reform and new reimbursement models ahead.
• Expand opportunities to partner on additional funded, health improvement opportunities, such as the highly successful Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative, an innovative care delivery program to improve patient care in western Kansas.

Q: What will be the role of The University of Kansas Hospital in everyday operations at HaysMed?
A:   The everyday operations of HaysMed will not immediately change. The two organizations will form a new operations council. This council will plan how to advance the partnership’s goal of extending comprehensive, high-quality, cost-efficient healthcare in a not-for-profit setting for all citizens of Kansas and transforming healthcare delivery throughout Kansas.

Q: What does this mean for patients of HaysMed?
A:   Patients will continue to receive the services they now receive from their health care provider, along with additional resources for specialty care. Patients will be assured of a smooth and efficient transition if they require a higher level of care at The University of Kansas Hospital. 

Q: If I am hospitalized at The University of Kansas Hospital will I have access to my records at HaysMed?
A: While The University of Kansas Hospital and their affiliates use the EPIC platform and HaysMed uses Meditech, we will develop an easy and seamless transfer of information.

Q: Is Hays Med joining an already existing health system or are The University of Kansas Hospital HaysMed establishing the system?

A: HaysMed is joining The University of Kansas Health System. (The University of Kansas Hospital will formally transition to The University of Kansas Health System in January.)

• Staff at both organizations will continue to be employed by their current organization.
• John Jeter, MD, will continue as the CEO of Hays Medical Center, and Bob Page will continue as the president and CEO of The University of Kansas Hospital.
• A new operations council, made up of members from both organizations, will be formed and tasked with operationalizing the partnership.

Q: Will the HaysMed Board remain the same?
A: The existing HaysMed Board of Directors will remain on the board upon the execution of the partnership.

 Q: Which Board will have ultimate authority/ultimate decision making power?

A: The University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board will be the system board with final approval on key strategic, financial and operational issues. The HaysMed Board will continue to provide local leadership and guidance to ensure HaysMed meets the needs of the communities it serves.

Q: How does this affect the HaysMed and The University of Kansas Hospital physicians and other providers?
A: We anticipate that this formal partnership will deepen the referral relationships and processes already in place among providers in these regions.

Q: How does this affect the St. Rose and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital physicians and other providers?
A: The health care providers at St. Rose and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital will continue to provide care in their existing locations. As we begin to transform and enhance care and access, we’ll look to HaysMed to engage its physician partners and others in these initiatives. 

Q: Will EagleMed and other ambulance services change because of this affiliation?
A: No. EagleMed and all area ambulance services will remain the same and are not affected by this new affiliation. Effective and affordable transportation solutions are critical to ensure patients can receive the right care at the right time at the right location. Together, we will continue to work with organizations across the state to ensure we can meet this need.

Q: Will this affect the HaysMed Foundation?
A: The HaysMed Foundation will remain the same. All assets and donations will be used for projects benefitting HaysMed and our region. 

Q: Will all services HaysMed currently provide remain the same?
A: Yes. Together, both organizations will continue to evaluate and enhance services provided.

Q: Will HaysMed retain the name HaysMed/Hays Medical Center?
A: Yes. Hays Medical Center, Inc. is the legal name, and the organization does business as HaysMed.

Q: Does this partnership affect where I will be hospitalized?
A: No. Patients and families, as well as their physicians and other advisors, can always choose where to receive their healthcare services.

Q: Will the partnership affect the volunteers at HaysMed?
A: No. The rich history of the valuable work provided by volunteers will continue with even more opportunities in the future.

Q:  Will HaysMed’s relationship with local vendors change as a result of this new partnership? 

A:   This partnership will not affect HaysMed’s ability to use local vendors.

1. Did the University of Kansas Hospital purchase HaysMed?
   A: No.  The assets of HaysMed (building, equipment, investments, etc.) will remain under the ownership and control of Hays Medical Center, Inc. We are not selling HaysMed as part of the partnership.

Q: What is the next step in the process? 

A:  The Letter of Intent is a critical step. Over the next few months, the two organizations will work through critical details, and begin to plan how the partnership will be operationalized. We anticipate the partnership will be effective January 1, 2017, and will have more details at that time.

ORGANIZATIONS

Q:  Who is HaysMed?

HaysMed is a private, not-for-profit, 207-bed hospital in Hays, Kansas. They operate and partner with Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned, Kansas and co-own St. Rose Health Center in Great Bend, Kansas with Centura Health. HaysMed acts as the supporting hospital for the 24-Critical Access Hospitals in the Northwest Kansas Health Alliance, collaborating on outreach services in more than 30 locations. With more than 1,400 associates and 110 physicians, it is home to the DeBakey Heart Institute, Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute, Hays Orthopedic Institute, and Center for Health Improvement. HaysMed is NIAHO accredited by DNV Healthcare and ISO Certified, a Level 3 Trauma Center, an accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI and Primary Stroke Center. The hospital also features state-of-the-art robotic surgery, a dedicated breast care and wound-care management centers.  HaysMed is rated A2 Stable by Moody’s Investors Service, a bond credit rating business that analyzes financial performances of businesses. 

Q:  Who is The University of Kansas Hospital?
A:  The University of Kansas Hospital is the region’s premier academic medical center, providing a full range of care, from common to complex.  The constantly growing facility contains 756 staffed beds (plus 24 bassinets) and serves more than 33,000 inpatients annually.  Eleven of its medical and surgical specialty areas are ranked nationally by the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospital” lists, including Cancer (#25), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#38 tie), Diabetes & Endocrinology (#33), Ear, Nose & Throat (#31), Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (#35), Geriatrics (#13), Gynecology (#38), Neurology & Neurosurgery (#22), Orthopedics (#35), Pulmonology (#28) and Urology (#17). The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated program. The hospital has received Magnet nursing designation, reflecting the quality of care throughout the hospital, an honor awarded to only 7.8 percent of the hospitals nationwide. The hospital also houses the region’s only accredited burn center, the area’s only nationally accredited Level I Trauma Center and the area’s first Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center recognized by The Joint Commission.  For more information, visit kumed.com.

Q:  What is The University of Kansas Health System?

A:  The University of Kansas Health System was formed by The University of Kansas Hospital Authority, and includes The University of Kansas Hospital and The University of Kansas Physicians.  (They will formally begin using “The University of Kansas Health System” in January, 2017.)

NAME AND LOGO

Q: Will HaysMed retain the name HaysMed/Hays Medical Center?
A:  Yes. Hays Medical Center, Inc. is the legal name, and the organization does business as HaysMed.

Q:  Will the HaysMed logo remain the same?
A:  No logo changes are planned immediately. As we begin to operationalize this partnership, and as The University of Kansas Hospital transitions to The University of Kansas Health System, we’ll work through how we’ll describe the partnership through names and logos.

PHYSICIANS AND PARTNERS

Q:  Does this partnership affect other HaysMed area hospitals?
A:  No, this applies only to HaysMed.  The University of Kansas Hospital already partners with many of the HaysMed critical access network hospitals and communities through the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative.

Q:  Will Pawnee Valley and St. Rose Health Center also be partners of The University of Kansas Hospital?
A:  The partnership is between The University of Kansas Hospital and HaysMed; however, as we begin to transform and enhance care and access, we’ll look to HaysMed to engage its partners in these initiatives. 

Q:  Will our critical access hospitals also be affiliates of The University of Kansas Hospital?
A:  The partnership is between The University of Kansas Hospital and HaysMed; however, as we begin to transform and enhance care and access, we’ll look to HaysMed to engage its partners in these initiatives.