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Courage Center and Allina Health Announce Partnership
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. & MINNEAPOLIS --(Business Wire)--
In a bold move meant to advance the care and services provided to the
disability community, Courage Center and Allina Health announced today
that their boards of directors have approved a proposed merger between
the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Courage Center. The
integration of these longstanding pillars of the health care
rehabilitation community will create a leading, integrated service for
individuals and families dealing with disabilities. The organizations
will immediately pursue integration planning which should culminate in
an official merger sometime in the spring of 2013.
Sister Kenny and the Courage Center have long histories of advocating
for the health and well-being of people with disabilities. The
partnership will allow full integration of the two organizations with
individuals and families benefitting from streamlined, coordinated
services. This will be a uniquely comprehensive continuum of care
including inpatient, outpatient and community-based rehabilitation
services designed to keep people healthy and independent. Courage
Center's clinical programs will merge with those of Sister Kenny, and
the organizations will look for opportunities to integrate clinical
care, community-based services, research, innovation, public policy and
advocacy.
"We are thrilled about what the coordinated strengths of our
organizations will mean to the community," said Penny Wheeler, MD, chief
clinical officer of Allina Health. "By combining the two, we blend the
clnical care expertise of Sister Kenny with the exceptional
programming, advocacy and community programs of Courage Center. In doing
so, we can coordinate care, improve health and positively affect the
lives of people with disabilities."
"As an advocate on behalf of people with disabilities, we recognize that
one of the challenges our clients face is a fragmented system of
rehabilitation services that is hard for both clients and providers to
navigate. By partnering to create a more seamless experience, we will
make it easier for our clients to get the care they need, which is key
to improving outcomes," said Jan Malcolm, chief executive officer of
Courage Center.
The overarching objective of this partnership is to succeed in meeting
the "triple aim" challenge of health reform: improving the experience of
care, improving the health of people with a broad range of permanent or
episodic disabilities, and reducing the per capita costs of health care
for this population.
"The integration of these two leading programs offers individuals living
with disabilities the benefits of a coordinated model of care that
combines great clinical care with supportive social services and broader
health and wellness programming," Dr. Wheeler continued.
Both organizations are committed to research and innovation in
rehabilitation and health and wellness services, including new care
models. The new partnership will continue to advocate on a broad range
of policy issues to advance the lives of people with disabilities.
About Courage Center
Courage Center is a non-profit rehabilitation and resource center that
advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to
health and independence. Courage Center specializes in treating brain
injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism and
disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Courage Center
offers advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the
efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors.
About Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, part of Allina Health
The Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute specializes in treating people
with spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, cancer, sports-related
injuries and neurological or muscular disorders. Each year more than
70,000 people receive services at nine Allina Health hospitals and 24
outpatient locations.
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness
and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and
communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit
health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to
end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies,
specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide
hospice care, oxygen and home medical equipment, and emergency medical
transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org.
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