Hospitals join together to strengthen care delivery regionally
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Garry Faja

David Spivey

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Effective Feb. 1, 2008, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, based in Ann Arbor, and St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia will join to form an expanded regional health care system in southeast Michigan. Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) will now be comprised of St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital in Howell and St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital - all members of Trinity Health, based in Novi, Mich.

The newly expanded system will be the leading healthcare provider in the southeastern Michigan counties of Washtenaw, Livingston, western Wayne and southwestern Oakland. Collectively, the health system includes nearly 8,500 employees, 1,600 physicians, serves more than 1.5 million patients and provided more than $58 million in community benefit ministry to the communities served in 2007.

'By working together as the leading health care system in this area, our patients will experience advanced medical expertise in a patient-centered environment unmatched in the region,' said Garry C. Faja, president and CEO of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. 'This collaboration will allow us to strengthen our ability to deliver medically advanced and compassionate care to the many communities we serve.'

The hospitals in the new system will benefit patients by sharing best practices, medical breakthroughs, physician and professional expertise, technology advancements, quality and innovation, electronic medical records and excellence in the patient care experience.

'This strategic merger enables the hospitals in the system to strengthen health care locally with the additional capability to integrate the vast knowledge, technology and advancements of the system regionally,' said David Spivey, president and CEO of St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia. 'The advanced level of technology and services available will create a medical destination that is accessible for patients to receive care and physicians to practice medicine.'

Growth and Expansion

Both organizations have recently constructed new facilities to respond to community growth and need. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor recently opened a new 11-story East Tower that includes 356 private patient rooms, each 300 sq. ft. with personal bathrooms, patient media systems and the latest medical technology for staff. Within the last two years, the hospital has opened a new Surgery Pavilion, launched the use of CyberKnife(r), a revolutionary cancer care treatment - the first of its kind in Michigan and opened the St. Joseph Mercy Woodland Cancer Center in Brighton.

St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia recently opened the Our Lady of Hope Cancer Center, which provides a coordinated setting for cancer patients, including physician offices, chemotherapy, radiation therapy with IMRT technology, clinical research trial options, and a one-of-a-kind Image Recovery Center. The new Heart & Vascular Center provides the latest cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology technology available.

Additional capital investments, focused on reinvesting in our existing facilities, will continue to meet the needs of the communities served. Some of these investments include both facilities and technology:

• A second new seven-story North Tower at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital
• A new patient tower providing all private rooms at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia
• Expanded Emergency Center, Surgical Services and Radiology at St. Mary Mercy Hospital
• Expansion of the St. Joseph Mercy Center for Advanced Medicine and Surgery at the Canton Health Center

Michael Slubowski, president, Hospital and Health Networks, Trinity Health, said the combined strength of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and St. Mary Mercy Hospital creates synergies that will enhance quality of care and services across Southeast Michigan.

'In this challenging economy where increasing health care costs put access to quality services out of reach for more and more people, the most judicious course of action is to grow programs and services through partnerships with like-minded health systems,' Slubowski said. 'Saint Joseph Mercy and St. Mary Mercy have embarked on a bold and innovative move to enhance top-quality care and medical technology while reining in healthcare costs and streamlining operations.'

Added Faja, 'Together our systems provide the full complement of care that patients are seeking - the most advanced medical treatments and technology available provided with efficiency, compassion and understanding. We are confident this merger of remarkable organizations will accomplish this and more.'

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