Miller’s Health Systems and IU Health La Porte Hospital Announce Collaboration
The Boards of Directors of Miller’s Health Systems and IU Health La Porte Hospital recently approved a collaborative relationship that will lead to a new skilled nursing care facility to be built in La Porte. Under the terms of the agreement approved, Miller’s will become the operator of the hospital’s Continuing Care Center currently provided on the hospital’s 5th and 6th floors effective June 1. The services will be relocated to the new facility upon completion.
In announcing the decision, Thor Thordarson, President and CEO of La Porte Hospital, indicated that the hospital studied extensively the ways it could enhance continuity of care for patients as they complete their inpatient stays, but concluded that the two floors on which the current care center is located lack the space and some of the features needed and that a new free-standing skilled nursing facility was needed. “We then set about determining the most appropriate and cost-effective way of providing it. At the same time, we recognized, as many other hospitals have, that long term care is a unique field that requires specialized management and systems. That led us to consider whether developing a partnership with an organization that shares our values and dedication to the continuity and quality of care would be advantageous. We looked at many organizations, but one of them, Miller’s Health Systems, Inc., rose to the top.”
The new facility currently being designed is slated to be completed in 2015. Stated Patrick Boyle, Miller’s’ President and CEO, ”We believe this will be a positive opportunity for all involved, and are excited to be partnering with IU Health La Porte Hospital to make this important investment in the community.” He explained further that the La Porte project is one of several in the planning stages, including expansions at locations in Indianapolis, Warsaw, Plymouth, Logansport, Culver, and Walkerton. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with each of our communities, employing and caring for their citizens for many years. We are pleased to be able to make plans to invest more than $20 million at key locations over the next few years, and to welcome the La Porte community into our family of facilities.”
Miller’s Health Systems, based in the north central city of Warsaw, is a 100% employee-owned company with a 50 year history of service to Indiana seniors. With over 3,000 employees, the company runs 32 rehabilitation centers and 11 assisted living facilities around the State, along with a therapy company and a home health care company. Miller’s Health Systems ranks among the best in the State in CMS 5-Star ratings and Indiana State Department of Health Report Card scores.
Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital, a part of Indiana University Health, has provided leading care to La Porte and the surrounding community for more than 100 years. IU Health La Porte Hospital received Magnet® re-designation, recognizing nursing care among the nation’s top 6 percent of hospitals, while total hip replacement care is also nationally recognized. In addition, the stroke program earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers, and the cancer program received the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. To learn more about IU Health La Porte Hospital, visit http://iuhealth.org/laporte.
