Celebrating Success: The Methodist Fremont Health Partnership

Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” 

This month we are celebrating the one-year anniversary of our partnership with Methodist Fremont Health, and I can say with confidence that working together has indeed led to great success.

The past year has been filled with clinical growth, financial gains and IT integration. But more importantly, we’ve welcomed a quality health care system to the Methodist family.

A clear choice

When we learned Fremont Health was seeking a strategic partner for its health care journey, we were very interested. We had a long relationship with them in services such as cardiology and other collaborative efforts. We felt it was a unique opportunity to grow the system, it was ideal geographically, and we could incorporate Fremont Health with very little increase in overhead. We felt it was a perfect fit, and we are grateful they concurred.

Working collaboratively has allowed us to go faster than many of us expected. Fremont’s leaders have been open and eager to what we have brought to the table while adding great value to our discussions and integration. I have been very impressed by the leadership team in Fremont and those of the other hospitals in our system. There has been great camaraderie both professionally and personally, and the level of collaboration is unmatched. 

Past experience and growth

Our experience with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is an advantage we brought to the table when we began conversations with Fremont Health. We had a partnership model that worked and continues to be effective today. We also certainly understand that each community is unique and not everyone and everything works everywhere. Health care is still a local phenomenon, but the bottom line is the same: Quality care should be experienced across the health system. 

We are already seeing growth opportunities at Methodist Fremont Health, as our maternal-fetal medicine specialists are operating a satellite location, and vascular services will be available by the end of 2019.

Much like with our satellite offerings in Council Bluffs, we are taking care to our patients. By offering these specialized services, we are creating health care that is convenient, accessible and valuable to patients in western Iowa and Dodge County.

Our hope is that just as western Iowa views Methodist Jennie Edmundson as a great partner, area hospitals will see the same in Fremont.

Looking ahead

We are also excited about two independent clinics in Fremont joining Methodist Physicians Clinic. These physicians have been providing outstanding care in the community for many years, and they see the value in becoming a part of the Methodist family. I think that is a tremendous statement to the community and how they view this partnership.

While much work has been done in the past year – there is more to come in 2020. The most recent integration involved the conversion of Methodist Fremont Health employees to our email and calendar system, which has already enhanced communication and meeting efforts.

The next 12 to 15 months promise to bring even more change as Methodist Fremont Health transitions to Cerner for its clinical and financial systems.

There have certainly been some bumps along the way – which was to be expected – but I know I speak for many in our organization when I say we could not be more pleased with how well this partnership has unfolded.  

Much of the credit goes to the leadership team in Fremont, which has helped guide this process. I also want to extend my gratitude to the staff, employees and physicians who have been beside us every step of the way. Your support and adaptability has been admirable – we wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished in the past year, and I look forward to the successful collaboration to come. If the first year has been any indication, our partnership with Fremont will continue to benefit not only the health system but also the patients who rely on us to always provide The Meaning of Care.

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