August 31, 2007

Today we announce that the boards of PeaceHealth/St. Joseph Hospital and Madrona Medical Group agreed earlier this week to explore potential affiliation of the organizations as a way to expand and deliver on shared mission, vision and values to the community.

The hospital and Madrona Medical Group approved a letter of intent to begin assessing possible affiliation, with a tentative timeline for completion by the end of this year.

The potential affiliation provides an opportunity to increase the seamlessness of care for all patients, for example, with a much more integrated approach to cancer care. In addition, the new structure would reduce duplication of costly technology and promote more efficient use of healthcare resources. For example, both organizations now provide hospitalist and imaging services, which could become consolidated programs.

We believe that by working together more closely, PeaceHealth/St. Joseph Hospital and Madrona Medical Group can improve healthcare delivery and overall health outcomes for the people of Northwest Washington.

Madrona Medical Group is an independent, physician-owned multi-specialty group of over 70 physicians and physician assistants and over 400 employees who offer primary and specialty care. Madrona has a pharmacy, laboratory radiology, endoscopy center and other healthcare services.

SJH is a not-for-profit mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, part of the PeaceHealth system which has services in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. In addition to the hospital, PeaceHealth’s local services include several physician clinics, an outpatient laboratory and a joint venture outpatient imaging service.