Leaders from Emory Healthcare today announced the Atlanta health system has partnered with Stratus Healthcare, the largest alliance of healthcare providers in the southeastern United States, to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare in Georgia through jointly developed and mutually beneficial initiatives.

Formed in 2013, Stratus Healthcare currently consists of 21 hospitals and approximately 1,500 physicians. A non-equity partnership, Stratus Healthcare is a non-profit limited liability corporation pooling both human capital and financial resources to meet its mission and vision. Members of Stratus Healthcare work together in a formalized partnership to exchange best practices, combine resources, develop coordinated information systems, reduce costs and manage the health of populations in order to build systems of care that improve healthcare delivery and qualities in the communities each partner serves.

"Our focus in establishing this innovative partnership is to build strong institution-to-institution affiliations with hospitals and physicians across Georgia. Stratus Healthcare is one of the largest and most successful collaborative healthcare partnerships in the United States. We look forward to strengthening this well-established network with access to Emory’s highly specialized tertiary and quaternary services in order to benefit an even greater number of Georgians with complex healthcare needs," said Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, Emory University’s Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO of Emory Healthcare.

Stratus Healthcare exists to enhance the health and wellness of residents in the communities that Stratus members serve by improving the regional coordination of medical services for patients, employers and payors. Emory Healthcare will tailor a range of service agreements with Stratus Healthcare facilities, focusing on telemedicine, clinical research participation, knowledge transfer and education, workforce planning and enhanced clinical service offerings in ways that match each Stratus member’s unique needs.

"Emory Healthcare, like Stratus Healthcare, shares a common goal of providing patients with the right access to the right care, at the right cost. While rural and urban hospital systems face different challenges, access to quaternary care and select specialized tertiary care is a need in every community. We are pleased to announce the Emory Healthcare – Stratus Healthcare affiliation, and anticipate a stronger network of care for patients throughout our region," said Ninfa M. Saunders, DHA, President and CEO of Navicent Health in Macon, Ga., cofounder of Stratus Healthcare and Chair of the Strategic Initiatives Committee for Stratus Healthcare.

The affiliation will initially focus on four key areas:

• Coordination of Clinically Integrated Network activities: Collaboration on development of integrated care systems and information technology infrastructure.
• Provider relationships: Streamlined access to Emory’s quaternary and specialized tertiary services.
• Outpatient scheduling: Expedited access to Emory Clinic’s single and multi-specialty clinics.
• Electronic Medical Record Coordination: Emory and Stratus physicians will establish medical record connectivity to ensure coordination of care.

In addition, the partners plan to take advantage of clinical consultation and treatment services through telemedicine technology as well as Continuing Medical Education programming.

"With Emory Healthcare’s extensive specialized medical services and educational strengths, this enhanced collaborative will assist hospitals, health systems and physicians across the region in working together for the development of consistent best medical practices. Shared services will be designed to lower costs while improving value for patients, physicians, providers and payors," said Sen. Dean Burke, MD, (R-11) Chairman, Stratus Healthcare and Chief Medical Officer for Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge, Ga.

About Stratus Healthcare
Formed in 2013, Stratus Healthcare unites hospitals, health systems and physicians in order to increase quality of service while lowering costs for patients, physicians, providers and payors. Stratus Healthcare serves as a vehicle to keep healthcare local with the goal to improve outcomes, enhance the patient experience and increase efficiency as required by healthcare reform. Since its inception, Stratus Healthcare workgroups have developed clinical guidelines, telemedicine connections, transfer arrangements and sharing of outcomes data, as well as collective purchasing, integrated clinical networks and shared business resources. For more information, visit www.stratushealthcare.org.

About Emory Healthcare
Emory Healthcare is a non-profit, charitable, academic health care system consisting of six hospitals, multiple provider locations and more than 2,000 faculty, employed and network physicians in approximately 70 specialties.  As the most comprehensive health care system in Georgia and the only health network in the state that brings together a full range of hospitals, clinics and local practices, Emory Healthcare is committed to providing patients and families with better, more collaborative care for all of their medical needs. The Emory Healthcare Network encompasses teams of providers at our locations across Georgia, including Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Emory Rehabilitation Hospital and the Wesley Woods Center, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Emory Johns Creek Hospital, the Emory Clinic, and the Emory Healthcare Network physicians, ranging from primary to specialty care providers. Through our integrated, collaborative care network, we are dedicated to providing the standard of care that our patients expect and deserve. For more information, visit www.emoryhealthcare.org.