Leading Denver-Based Hospitals Plan to Partner

National Jewish Health and Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital
Announce Letter of Intent to Form Joint Operating Agreement

National Jewish Health, known worldwide for its treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and SCL Health System, the nonprofit parent of Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver’s largest private teaching hospital, today announced they have signed a letter of intent to create a new jointly managed entity that will expand high-quality, affordable health care for patients and families.

The goal of these organizations is to partner with one another to deliver patient-centered, innovative health care, as well as medical education and training. The agreement would also include a focus on cutting-edge clinical research, a key mission area for National Jewish Health. The letter of intent paves the way for National Jewish Health and SCL Health System, through Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, to develop and operate under a joint operating agreement. It is anticipated that this process will be completed in the first quarter of CY 2014.  

“National Jewish Health and Saint Joseph Hospital are recognized leaders in providing compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered health care,” said Michael Salem, M.D., President and CEO of National Jewish Health. “Our goal is to leverage our deep clinical expertise, our charitable missions and our commitment to excellence to create a partnership that will improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical care and provide the ultimate patient experience. At the same time, we will extend our focus on medical education and on research as key components of our mission. ”

“By coming together, we will align inpatient and outpatient care teams so all of our patients experience highly coordinated care that will improve their health and enrich their lives,” said Bain Farris, President and CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital. “Patients and families will benefit from access to a joint primary and specialty care network that is geographically robust and focused on every patient’s individual needs.”

“Through this partnership, we are committed to clinical excellence, improving patient care and access, increasing patient satisfaction and keeping the cost of care affordable,” said Michael A. Slubowski, President and CEO of SCL Health System.

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded 114 years ago as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive and coordinated care. To learn more, visit www.njhealth.org.

Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital was founded in Denver in 1873 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas as the first, private hospital in Colorado. Today, it continues as the largest private, teaching hospital in Denver. The hospital provides a tradition of health care that includes compassionate caregivers, stellar clinical expertise and an active partnership with Kaiser Permanente, as well as community physicians. Saint Joseph Hospital is recognized by the 2013 Healthgrades Clinical Excellence study as a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™, among the top five percent of hospitals nationwide for clinical performance. Saint Joseph Hospital is a member of SCL Health System.

SCL Health System is a faith-based, nonprofit health care organization operating nine hospitals, four safety net clinics, one children’s mental health treatment center and more than 190 ambulatory service centers in four states – California, Colorado, Kansas and Montana. Our $2.2 billion health network is dedicated to improving the health of the communities and individuals we serve, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. In 2012, SCL Health provided more than $250 million in community benefit, including services for the poor, health screenings, educational programs, community donations and research. SCL Health was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, who opened their first hospital in 1864. To learn more, visit www.sclhealthsystem.org.