Carson Tahoe Health and University of Utah Health Care Team Up to Improve Access to Medical Specialties in Nevada

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Erin Meyering

New affiliation agreement lays out framework for how the two hospitals will collaborate to ensure residents of the greater Carson City region have access to specialists from one of the country’s top academic medical centers.

(Carson City, Nevada) – Officials from Carson Tahoe Health (CTH) today announced a new partnership with Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health Care that will extend the resources of a premier academic medical center to Carson City, Douglas County, Dayton and the surrounding communities. The agreement formalizes a long tradition of collaboration between the two health care providers.

“Health care is changing very rapidly and the key to continued success for an independent hospital system like ours is finding the right partner,” said Ed Epperson, President and CEO of Carson Tahoe Health. “University of Utah Health Care has a national reputation as a provider of accessible, higher-level coordinated care in a cost effective environment – all the qualities we’re looking for in a partner.”

The agreement sets the stage for CTH to provide improved patient access for high-risk medical specialties like advanced cancer care, clinical trials, complex cardiovascular care, neurosciences, and transplant services. These efforts may include expanded use of telehealth services, as well as satellite clinics staffed by University of Utah specialists.

“Complex neurological care is a great example of where we have a growing need to serve our community with enhanced services,” said Dr. Richard Rodriguez, Chief Medical Office for Carson Tahoe Health. “This partnership will provide greater access to the University’s Neurosciences Center and give our patients the ability to participate in leading-edge treatments only available through larger academic centers.”

The agreement also offers Carson Tahoe the opportunity to benefit from the work the University of Utah is doing around staff development and business efficiency, according to Epperson. “Running a great hospital requires talented healers and talented business leaders. If the hospital is not financially healthy, it can’t serve the community. This partnership will allow us to take advantage of both the educational opportunities and operating efficiencies associated with a large, academic medical center.”

University of Utah Health Care officials are optimistic that the partnership will position both organizations for success in a rapidly evolving health care environment. “Inherent in our mission as a teaching hospital is our responsibility to share clinical best practices, research advances, and provide our community partners with the educational resources we’ve developed as a university,” said Dr. Sean Mulvihill, CEO of the University of Utah Medical Group. “We want to be a resource to improve the health and well-being of residents across the West.”

David Entwistle, CEO of University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, says the partnership makes sense because both organizations share a commitment providing high quality care. “We recognize that no one wants to leave his or her community when they get sick. The goal of this partnership is to enhance CTH’s ability to serve the residents in the region with high quality care and better access to specialty care not currently available,” he said.

Both organizations emphasize the affiliation does not change ownership, local control and governance, or restrict patient choice in providers.