Twenty-six rural hospitals have launched the Ohio High Value Network for a clinically integrated system covering 2.5 million patients.
The network will share clinical and business initiatives, operations and best practices. It will collaborate to control contracting costs, OHVN said. It is expected to drive care coordination and reduce administrative burden.
The network features 25 Ohio hospitals and other care sites in more than 115 cities and towns serving 37 of Ohio’s 88 counties. It also includes a hospital in West Virginia.
The network is in discussions with other rural hospitals in Ohio interested in joining as members and expects to grow.
Why this matters
The Ohio High Value Network follows other rural hospital collaborations: The Rough Rider High-Value Network in North Dakota, launched in 2023, and the Headwaters High-Value Network in Minnesota, started in 2024.
All are operated by Cibolo Health, a for-profit company specializing in the financial processes of independent rural hospitals and medical practices. Their services include medical billing, coding and accounts receivable management.
The active daily management of the network will be led by principals from Cibolo Health, including Nathan H. White, president, and Dr. A. Clinton MacKinney, chief medical officer.
A Clinical Integration Committee will include a clinical representative from each health system.
The larger trend
With close to half of rural hospitals operating in the red, sharing services is seen as crucial to managing costs to keep doors open. Since 2013, 73 rural hospitals have reportedly closed and another 58 rural hospitals have ended inpatient services.
Many members of the Ohio High Value Network are already working together in one of several regional hospital collaborations in Ohio.
On the record
“We already know that working together not only provides benefits for our hospitals, but also for our patients, our employees and our communities,” said Jeff Graham, president and CEO of Chillicothe-based Adena Health. “It’s been a goal of mine for more than seven years to form this level of collaboration among our independent hospital systems. With the size and scope of the Ohio High Value Network, we can collaborate on even more impactful areas to enhance our ability to deliver advanced, high-quality care and do so efficiently.” Healthcare Finance News