Local & National News

Through this partnership, CHP will employ TCFM physicians in a model that allows for the physicians to retain the assets and management of their organization while establishing a joint council to oversee the operations of TCFM as well as integration between the two organizations.

Effective January 1, 2010, this agreement aligns Tri-City Family Medicine’s 16 primary care physicians, two cardiologists and one gastroenterologist with CHP. Through the joint operating council, the two organizations will align to oversee quality, service, resource management and patient safety efforts with a common mission of enhancing patient care.

TCFM’s practice operations and structure will remain as it currently stands, with the exception of Community Health Partners employing ancillary services employees due to regulatory requirements. All other employees will continue to be employed by TCFM.

“Both CHP and TCFM are committed to the belief that patients deserve access to personalized, coordinated and comprehensive primary care at convenient times and locations,” says Edwin Oley, President of CHP. “By working together as one – both physician and provider – we will be able to better act on this belief to benefit patients through enhanced access and continuity of care.”

Benefit to Patients
“We chose to partner with Community Health Partners because it is a strong organization that is part of Catholic Healthcare Partners, the largest healthcare system in Ohio. This type of bench strength enables Community Health Partners, to partner with physicians in new ways,” says Charles M. Butrey, M.D., Medical Director. “The model, which is unique to the community, allows for greater efficiencies because we as physicians will continue to manage our practices. In addition, by working together as physician and provider, we can reduce duplication of services and testing and thus, provide for high quality and cost effective care for our patients.”

This progressive new model will also enable TCFM physicians and CHP to create opportunities to improve health and wellness and chronic disease management outcomes – the new standard of healthcare delivery that is a growing expectation of patients and physicians.

As an example, the future adoption of a uniform electronic health record will coordinate patient health information across the continuum of care including primary care, outpatient services, inpatient services and rehabilitation.

This partnership will also create opportunities to establish additional contracts with managed care providers, allowing patients enhanced access to quality physicians who are part of a trusted, healthcare system committed to serving Lorain County.

Partnering in Providing Services to Eastern Portion of the County
As previously announced, Community Health Partners purchased 33 acres of property at the intersection of Interstate 90 and State Route 611 in Avon. CHP will involve TCFM to develop and finalize plans for the property as well as provide services at that location.

CHP and TCFM are committed to sharing those plans with the community once they are finalized.

Tri-City Family Medicine
TCFM, founded 1991, is a physician group specializing in Family Practice. Since its incorporation, TCFM has experienced significant growth resulting in multiple office locations. This growth is attributed to the quality of services provided to patients and their families.

TCFM’s network includes 16 primary care physicians and three specialists, including two cardiologists and one gastroenterologist, practicing in four locations including Avon, North Ridgeville, Amherst and Elyria.

TCFM physicians are currently accepting new patients and will continue to offer evening and weekend hours for patients. TCFM physicians will continue to practice in their current office locations – keeping healthcare for patients easily accessible in their local community.

Community Health Partners
Community Health Partners is a full service, not-for-profit, integrated healthcare delivery system, which provides inpatient, outpatient and ancillary services to Lorain County and surrounding counties through its two hospital facilities, physician offices in many local communities throughout the area and specialized facilities.

Community Health Partners is a member of Catholic Healthcare Partners. Catholic Healthcare Partners is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the U.S. With $5.05 billion in assets, CHP employs nearly 37,000 associates in more than 100 organizations, including 33 hospitals which serve the healthcare needs of people in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and contiguous states. Catholic Healthcare Partners was ranked 5th in a recent study that compared quality of care among 73 of the nation's largest healthcare systems.



Back