Van Wert Health to Join OhioHealth as 14th Full Member Hospital
VAN WERT, Ohio — OhioHealth and Van Wert Health announced today that the board of directors of both organizations have voted to enter into a membership agreement that will make Van Wert Health a full member of the OhioHealth system.
Van Wert Health will become OhioHealth’s 14th full member hospital, a milestone that will be celebrated with a welcoming ceremony in early 2023. The event also marks the beginning of an integration period that is expected to continue throughout the coming year.
The affirmative vote by both boards occurred on December 14.
“OhioHealth is the best partner to deepen our commitment to patient safety, quality, and patient experience. We approached our discussions with them very purposefully, and we ultimately selected OhioHealth because they provide the greatest long-term financial stability along with their unwavering commitment to delivering healthcare locally,” said Tom Turnwald, chairman of the Van Wert Health Board of Trustees.
“OhioHealth and Van Wert Health share a vision to keep high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare in Van Wert County,” said John McWhorter, senior vice president and chief operating officer, OhioHealth. “Being part of the OhioHealth family ensures that Van Wert Health will continue to thrive thanks to the resources, scale and benefits inherent in a large, quality-driven health system like OhioHealth.”
The membership agreement will bring the 34-bed Van Wert Hospital, its physicians, associates and four outpatient centers and physician practices under the OhioHealth umbrella.
“At our core, we are here to care for the people in our communities,” said Jon Bagley, interim president and CEO, Van Wert Health. “Healthcare is broader than just what happens within the walls of a single facility. This affiliation provides the organizational scale and leadership talent needed to deliver exceptional patient care and to strengthen local access to services.
“Van Wert Health is a natural fit for OhioHealth as we share similar culture and values,” said Bruce Hagen, president, OhioHealth region. “We’re also impressed by their modern facilities, strong team of providers and associates and their unwavering commitment to providing quality care. We are very excited to welcome Van Wert into the OhioHealth family and for the opportunity to serve the Van Wert community.”
On December 14, the OhioHealth board of directors also voted to welcome Guernsey Health Systems into the OhioHealth family, which includes Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, OhioHealth’s 13th hospital. Southeastern Med, located in Cambridge, Ohio, has been renamed OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center as part of the membership agreement. A welcome celebration for Guernsey Health has been scheduled for January 11, 2023.
