Lawrence General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Join Forces
Lawrence General Hospital, a regional hospital that sees nearly 300,000 patients in the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire, has joined the Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization (BIDCO), which according to a statement, “provides physician groups and hospitals the structure to contract, share risk, and build high-quality, cost-efficient care management systems together, with the goal of providing the highest quality care in the most cost-efficient way.”
As a member of BIDCO, Lawrence General will be able to access affordable specialty care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) when necessary. BIDMC President and CEO Kevin Tabb, said in a statement that the affiliation is a key part of the medical center’s strategy to create a “high-quality, high-value health system that supports care in the community and provides high-end tertiary care in Boston as needed.”
“This agreement is another important step in BIDMC’s development of a community-based network of physicians and hospitals committed to providing the right care in the right place at the right time,” Tabb said. “It is also right for residents of the Merrimack Valley because it allows their local hospital and physicians to remain independent.”
According to the report:
Lawrence General developed a clinical affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess in 2011, and, together with local physicians, provides cardiovascular, bariatric surgery, gynecologic oncology, and intensive and critical care services in the Merrimack Valley. This agreement allows Lawrence General to retain its independent status and local governing board while taking another step toward creating a coordinated system of care for its patients within the community.
“We find that residents of the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire are pleased to know they do not need to travel to Boston for the best care,” said Dianne J. Anderson, president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital. “Our expanded Beth Israel Deaconess affiliation will enhance our capabilities, and offer a smooth transfer if patients require complex specialty care with a coordinated, quick return to our hospital for follow up.”
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission will review the arrangement for LGH to join BIDCO, as required under Massachusetts’ 2012 health care reform law.
