Berger Health | Connections | Spring 2018

I t has been a busy start to the year for Berger Health System, our Board of Governors, and our City and County elected officials. We have worked extensively to identify the long-term needs for Berger, the community, and for local health care. Our partnership journey with OhioHealth continues to be a major focus. The timing is right to reflect on the work that got us here and discuss the work that lies ahead. Our effort to ensure that local health care remains vibrant is the culmination of a process we started in 2013. For nearly 18 months, we studied the regional market, competitors, peer organizations and the health care industry. We actively searched for solutions to the challenges we were facing and those we anticipated in the future. Based on this research, we determined we could do more with a single, well-positioned strategic partner. In April 2014, we launched a public request for proposal (RFP) process to identify the best strategic partner for Berger and our community. The right match Upon completing a detailed review and analysis of the RFP responses, OhioHealth was chosen as Berger’s partner, effective Jan. 1, 2015. While we have accomplished much through this partnership, we have quickly reached its limits due to our current governmental structure. This is why last year a group of community leaders asked for Circleville voter approval to change Berger’s ownership structure. Thanks to your support, this ballot measure passed by an overwhelming majority on Nov. 7, 2017. As a result, Berger now has the flexibility to grow, evolve and operate within a larger health system. Keeping health care local At the beginning of 2018, a work group representing Pickaway County citizens, city and county government, and Berger was formed. The group has made site visits to other community hospitals that have become part of OhioHealth. At these site visits, private citizens, board members and elected officials shared with our group the lessons they have learned while becoming part of OhioHealth. After extensive meetings, countless hours and much discussion, our work group developed an aligned perspective on what is needed to continue to offer vibrant, local health care for years to come. Recently, we shared this perspective with OhioHealth, officially starting negotiations for Berger to become part of the OhioHealth system. The negotiations are expected to continue into the fall. The future of local health care We will continue to share updates as soon as we can. You can go to the website created for this partnership journey, strongerberger.org , to learn more or you can always reach me at tim.colburn@bergerhealth.com . Thank you for your ongoing support of Berger Health System. We are excited about the future of local health care, and we look forward to sharing more soon. Tim Colburn President & CEO of Berger Health System tim.colburn@bergerhealth.com 740-420-8231 Time is right for partnership Nondiscrimination information Berger Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 740-474-2126 . ACHTUNG : Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen kostenlos sprachliche Hilfsdienstleistungen zur Verfügung. Rufnummer: 740-474-2126 . CONNECTIONS is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of BERGER HEALTH SYSTEM. Information comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your primary care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. bergerhealth.com 3