WellSpan Health and SpiriTrust Lutheran today announced plans to strengthen their longstanding history of collaboration by entering into a strategic partnership to improve access and drive down costs to high-quality home care and hospice services across the region. In addition, the two organizations will build on the successful relationship formed while jointly developing a patient Transition of Care Model between services offered by the two healthcare providers.
“We are committed to increasing access to high-quality care as part of our goal to lead the region in value. SpiriTrust Lutheran has been providing exceptional home care and hospice services in our communities for more than 40 years, and now we are excited to build upon our existing relationship in skilled nursing services to provide affordable care where it is most convenient for our friends and neighbors,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO of WellSpan Health. “By uniting the expertise of both organizations, we are accelerating a value-based approach through the continuum of care.”
“The partnership with WellSpan Health will provide us the opportunity to share our expertise and resources with a trusted community partner to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals, especially older adults, in the communities we serve,” said Robert L. Rundle, president and CEO of SpiriTrust Lutheran. “This strategic partnership positions our two organizations to leverage our collective strengths in home and community-based services and senior living options to ensure those served always receive the highest quality of care in the most cost-effective manner.”
Clinical teams from SpiriTrust Lutheran and WellSpan began working together in 2015 to develop the Transition of Care Model that helps prevent health complications from occurring during patient movement from an acute care hospital setting to a skilled care center and back home. In 2016, after months of research and planning, the joint clinical team introduced the model at SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Shrewsbury. Since that time, other SpiriTrust Lutheran skilled care centers have implemented the model.
At times throughout the past year, WellSpan Health has advised SpiriTrust Lutheran on various components of its COVID-19 response. In addition, a WellSpan physician serves as medical director for three SpiriTrust Lutheran Life Plan Communities (LPC) and other WellSpan physicians provide primary and specialty care for a significant number of residents at the six SpiriTrust Lutheran LPCs located in Adams, Franklin and York counties.
The two organizations officially entered into the formal agreement on November 20, 2020. Currently, joint planning efforts are underway to address the specifics of how these two healthcare organizations will work together to offer home care and hospice services, as well as skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.
