La Crosse, Wis.-based Emplify Health by Gundersen and Viroqua, Wis.-based Vernon Health signed a letter of intent to explore an affiliation to strengthen their long-term partnership and community care.
The letter of intent opens discussion between the two parties and a collaborative evaluation process that will take multiple months, according to a March 27 news release shared with Becker’s.
Patient care and services at both organizations will not be affected during the discussions. Emplify Health and Vernon Health have also extended their Epic Community Connect EHR partnership to August 2027.
“Relationships like these are vital to delivering the best care and ensuring long-term sustainability,” Heather Schimmers, Emplify Health president, said in the release. “Emplify Health by Gundersen and Vernon Health are similar in many ways. We share a common culture and care philosophy, and this exploration represents an opportunity to build on our decades long partnership to better serve our communities.”
Emplify Health is a nonprofit system that was formed through a merger between La Crosse-based Gundersen Health System and Green Bay, Wis.-based Bellin Health. It has 11 hospitals, more than 100 clinics and 15,000 employees, including over 1,400 clinicians.
Vernon Health is a nonprofit, independent health system with a hospital, four clinics and three retail pharmacies, the release said.
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