The board for West Bend-based SynergyHealth announced that it will enter into “in-depth” affiliation discussions with Froedtert & Community Health.
Synergy had considered becoming affiliated with Froedtert, Aurora Health Care or Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Aurora withdrew its bid for an affiliation with SynergyHealth.
Froedtert is in the process of merging with Columbia St. Mary’s to form a health care system called Progressive Health. As part of SynergyHealth’s possible affiliation with Froedtert, St. Joseph’s Hospital in the Town of Polk, the West Bend Clinic and SynergyHealth staff would become part of Froedtert & Community Health and the Progressive Health organization.
“After a careful and thorough review, Froedtert & Community Health emerged as a strong partner that is committed to investing not only in St. Joseph’s Hospital and the West Bend Clinic but also our community,” said SynergyHealth chief executive officer Gregory Banaszynski. “We look forward to structuring an agreement with Froedtert that will enable us to control costs, improve services and develop a stronger health care infrastructure in Washington County.”
SynergyHealth said it will enter into in-depth discussions with Froedtert & Community Health with the intent of finalizing an affiliation agreement in the next 90 days.
“This partnership with SynergyHealth provides an outstanding opportunity to strengthen health care in West Bend and Washington County by working with the leadership of St. Joseph’s Hospital, the West Bend Clinic, and the community,” said Froedtert & Community Health CEO William Petasnick. “Once an affiliation agreement is finalized, we plan to recruit additional physicians and expand services while investing in clinical integration to improve the coordination of care.”
The SynergyHealth board said it determined an affiliation provides the best opportunity for the organization to serve the future health care needs of Washington County.
“Looking to the future, consolidations in health care called into question our long-term ability to compete and survive as a small, independent health system,” said SynergyHealth board chairman Thomas Johnson. “By affiliating with Froedtert & Community Health we will be able to produce a more cost-effective health care product for local businesses and residents, while bringing the benefits of advanced technology and specialized care to Washington County.”
SynergyHealth said the affiliation with Froedtert & Community Health is “intended to enable it to achieve strong economies of scale to lower costs, avoid costly duplication of facilities and services, improve access to capital to bring needed services into the community and compete more effectively in a rapidly consolidating marketplace.”
