Evanston Regional Hospital and University of Utah Health Team Up to Improve Access to Medical Specialties in Southwest Wyoming
New affiliation agreement lays out framework for how the two hospitals will collaborate to provide residents of Southwest Wyoming with access to specialists from one of the country’s top academic medical centers.
Officials from Evanston Regional Hospital announced a new partnership with Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health to extend the resources of a premier academic medical center to Evanston and the surrounding communities. The agreement formalizes a long tradition of collaboration between the two health care providers.
The agreement sets the stage for Evanston Regional Hospital to provide improved patient access for medical specialties like complex cardiovascular care, endocrinology, and dermatology. These efforts build on the recent telehealth TeleICU partnership between Evanston Regional Hospital and critical care specialists at the University of Utah Health.
The new affiliation agreement also offers Evanston Regional Hospital the opportunity to benefit from the work U of U Health is doing around staff development and business efficiency. This partnership will allow Evanston Regional Hospital to take advantage of both the educational opportunities and operating efficiencies associated with a large, academic medical center.
U of U Health officials are optimistic that the partnership will position both organizations for success in a rapidly evolving health care environment. “Inherent in our mission as a teaching hospital is our responsibility to share clinical best practices, research advances and provide our community partners with the educational resources we’ve developed as a university,” said Tad Morley, Executive Director of Outreach and Network Development. “We want to be a resource to improve the health and well-being of residents across the West.”
Gordon Crabtree, CEO of U of U Health, says the partnership makes sense because both organizations share a commitment providing high quality care. “We recognize that no one wants to leave his or her community when they get sick. The goal of this partnership is to enhance Evanston Regional Hospital’s ability to serve the residents in the region with high quality care and better access to specialty care not currently available,” he said.
Evanston Regional Hospital CEO, Jeremy Davis, echoed his facility’s support of the new affiliation, stating “Evanston Regional Hospital could not be more pleased with this new affiliation. This new partnership underscores our hospital’s commitment to offering quality healthcare close to home for our community.”
Both organizations emphasize the affiliation does not change ownership, local control and governance, or restrict patient choice in providers.