Corporate News and Events

Trinity Health Announces Merger Between Mount Carmel Health System and New Albany Surgical Hospital

Uniting Resources Would Create a Nationally Recognized Orthopedic and Neurological “Center of Excellence”

(Novi, Michigan) – Trinity Health today announced that its Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio will merge with New Albany Surgical Hospital with a goal toward creating a nationally recognized Orthopedic and Neurological “Center of Excellence.”

“In three years of existence, New Albany Surgical Hospital has quickly gained national and international recognition for excellent clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction scores,” said Michael Slubowski, president of hospital and health networks at Trinity Health. “We are pleased to have this world-class orthopedic and spine hospital join Mount Carmel Health System in providing even better service to our patients and their families.”

Under a letter of agreement signed on Sunday, December 17, 2006, complete ownership of New Albany Surgical Hospital will transfer to Mount Carmel Health System while the physicians of New Albany Surgical Hospital will continue to play a lead role in directing the care model that has led to the hospital’s great success over the past three years.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to join together for the benefit of patients across central Ohio and nationally,” said Claus von Zychlin, president and chief executive officer of Mount Carmel Health System. “The reputations and strengths of both organizations, along with the clinical skills and expertise of the orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who practice at our hospitals, set the stage for a nationally recognized program across Mount Carmel Health System.”

Orthopedic and neurological care at Mount Carmel will not be centralized at New Albany Surgical Hospital as a result of this merger.  Rather, the combined expertise and resources will be utilized to create an Orthopedic and Neurological “Center of Excellence” across the entire Mount Carmel Health System.

“New Albany Surgical Hospital has succeeded beyond what we imagined,” said Dr. Carl Berasi, chairman of New Albany Surgical Hospital. “But in order to grow and serve even more patients, we needed the resources and strength of a top-notch health system. The model we established has proven itself and can now contribute to care for patients across Mount Carmel Health System.”

New Albany Surgical Hospital was recently awarded the Press Ganey Summit Award, eligible only to facilities ranking in the top 5% for patient satisfaction for at least three years. It is one of only 14 inpatient facilities nationwide to receive the award this year, and the only inpatient facility in Ohio. Clinical outcomes and operational efficiency at the hospital have also been excellent.

For both Mount Carmel and New Albany Surgical Hospital, this merger represents an opportunity to share best practices in clinical care, customer service/patient satisfaction, and expertise in new clinical techniques. It is also an opportunity to complement both’s graduate medical education and nursing education as well as clinical research activities.

In addition, New Albany Surgical Hospital will convert to tax-exempt status like Mount Carmel Health System overall.

“The merger of New Albany Surgical Hospital with Mount Carmel will enable both of us to further our mission in serving the community,” said Michael Gonsiorowski, chairman of the Mount Carmel Health System Board of Trustees.

The transition in ownership should be relatively seamless for employees of both organizations since no immediate changes in management or staffing are planned.  New Albany Surgical Hospital will retain its own medical staff, although many of its physicians are also credentialed to practice at Mount Carmel. The name of New Albany Surgical Hospital will change in the near future to reflect its merger with Mount Carmel.

About Trinity Health
With hospitals in seven states, Trinity Health is the fourth-largest Catholic health care system in the nation. Based in Novi, Mich., the system owns or operates 45 hospitals, 384 outpatient facilities, numerous long-term care facilities, and home health offices and hospice programs. Employing approximately 45,100 full-time staff, Trinity Health has total revenues of $6.1 billion and reported $307 million in community benefit ministry in fiscal year 2006. For more information about Trinity Health, visit www.trinity-health.org.

About Mount Carmel Health System
Mount Carmel Health System has three other hospitals – Mount Carmel East, Mount Carmel West and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s – and offers a broad range of inpatient and outpatient programs and services.  MCHS also includes Mount Carmel College of Nursing, a Medicare Advantage health plan called MediGold, home care and medical equipment, hospice and palliative care.  MCHS has more than 8,000 employees, 1,500 physicians and 1,300 volunteers.  MCHS had almost 1 million patient visits in FY 06.  Founded in 1886, MCHS is a member of Trinity Health (Novi, Mich.), the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. based on operating revenue.

About New Albany Surgical Hospital
New Albany Surgical Hospital is a physician-founded specialty hospital dedicated to providing high quality care and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological diseases on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The goal of New Albany Surgical Hospital is to bring together skilled medical talent and cutting edge technology in a patient service oriented environment, and to offer superior patient care. The hospital currently employs nearly 300 people and is expected to exceed a volume of 7,000 surgical cases in 2006.

Since opening, the hospital has expanded to include a nonprofit foundation, a medical office building, urgent care facility, and a bio-skills lab. The hospital is located at the intersection of Route 62 and Smith’s Mill Road in New Albany, Ohio.