Jefferson Health and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital announce the integration of both organizations in a joint venture. Pictured here are Jefferson Health and Magee Rehabilitation leadership, along with patient Katie Samson.

Jefferson Health and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital announce the integration of both organizations in a joint venture. Pictured here are Jefferson Health and Magee Rehabilitation leadership, along with patient Katie Samson.

Jefferson Health and Magee Rehabilitation, two of Philadelphia’s nationally ranked hospitals, announce the integration of both organizations.

Under the terms of the combination agreement, Magee Rehabilitation—the 13th ranked rehabilitation hospital in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report—will apply its approach to rehabilitative medicine across the Jefferson Health enterprise, which now includes 14 hospitals across two states.

In turn, Jefferson Health, including Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, the 16th ranked hospital in the country, will expand certain services to Magee patients, such as JeffConnect telemedicine, notes a media release.

“Jefferson and Magee have a 40-year history of collaboration and cooperation. This next step was a natural progression given our similar goals to improve the lives of the patients we serve,” says Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, in the release.

“By fully integrating, patients will experience an enhanced continuum of care with access to high quality, cost-effective programs and specialized services, such as art, horticultural and music therapies, as well as the benefits of innovative research endeavors for rehabilitation medicine made possible by the comprehensive menu of expertise at our organizations,” he adds.

The transaction, effective January of 2018, marks Jefferson Health’s fourth in as many years, growing from a local three-hospital system in Philadelphia to a regional 14-hospital network in two states. Now, Jefferson Health provides care to patients at 14 hospitals and more than 50 outpatient locations.

Jefferson’s strong partnership with Magee began in 1978, when the organizations formed the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley, and through this affiliation, became designated as one of the nation’s 14 Model Spinal Cord Injury Centers by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. This year marks the 40th consecutive year of the designation and partnership, which includes also research, and collaboration in the areas of biomedical services; pharmacy; respiratory therapy; radiology interpretations; residency programs and other student education, the release continues.

“Officially reuniting with Jefferson brings more expertise, experience, and regional access to patients in need of physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and beyond that, facilitates easier transitions to any of the high-quality post-acute care services offered throughout Jefferson Health that a patient and family might need,” states Jack Carroll, PhD, MHA, president and CEO of Magee Rehabilitation.

Through joint board governance, Magee and Jefferson will expand existing rehabilitation services for patients.

[Source(s): Jefferson Health, Magee Rehabilitation, PR Newswire]