Hospital merger is a forward-thinking partnership, letter writers say

After reviewing your recent report on hospital mergers and acquisitions (“Taking a different path,” Jan. 28, p. S1), we offer a suggestion: It is time to update this important report to more accurately reflect our evolving healthcare landscape.

The chart that accompanies your annual report, with organizations categorized as either “buyers” or “sellers,” is inaccurate. Henry Ford is not buying Beaumont, and Beaumont is not selling. Our two not-for-profit organizations are merging to form a new health system. Like other systems that have decided to merge, we are creating a forward-thinking partnership designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Our partnership doesn’t fit a traditional mold. Instead, we are casting something new—coming together to create innovative models of care to improve population health at a lower cost, while refining the delivery system to achieve higher value.

It is time for our industry to break out of the buyer-seller mentality. We hope you will reflect these kinds of forward-thinking partnerships in future coverage.