Integration Update:

Christiana Care Health System, JHS Agree to Initiate Strategic Alliance
On November 8, 1997, Christiana Care Health System of Delaware signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic alliance with Jefferson Health System (JHS). The two-hospital, Wilmington-based organization has been a major healthcare provider for large portions of Delaware and nearby residents of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Annually, it has some 35,000 inpatient admissions and 6,000 births in the combined facilities of Wilmington Hospital and Christiana Hospital, which together are licensed for 1,000 acute care beds.Their services date back to 1888.

The new system is the former Medical Center of Delaware which, besides its hospitals, includes a large physician organization, Riverside Extended CarePavillion, a network of primary care centers, Visiting Nurse Association of Delaware, Eugene duPont Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute, and additional patient services. Wilmington Hospital has had a teaching affiliation with Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia since 1970.

The first meeting of the Steering Committee for this alliance will be held on December 4; after that, physician, ambulatory, managed care and home health teams will begin developmental tasks.

Task Force Teams Begin Work at Our Lady of Lourdes in New Jersey
After exploratory management discussions, a Steering Committee earlier this Fall met at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and established six task force teams to investigate opportunities for an alliance.

They include sponsorship/governance, physician/ambulatory, managed care contracting, pediatrics, oncology and academic relations.

Mid-County Senior Services Now Part of JHS
Mid-County Senior Services have become part of the Jefferson Health System. Mid-County facilities Mid County Senior Services in Media and The Adult Day Care Center at Barclay Square in Upper Darby, offer non-acute programs for older adults.