CHI and Immanuel Finalize Agreement on Alegent Creighton Health

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Immanuel, which have had a visionary partnership in Omaha under the name Alegent Health since 1996, have finalized an agreement that makes CHI the sole sponsor of Alegent Creighton Health. This follows a decision by the Immanuel Board of Directors announced in June to focus its ministry on senior care programs and services for seniors and their families and to seek new opportunities to serve the community.

Under the terms of the agreement, CHI and Immanuel have ended their 1996 agreement and Immanuel has resigned as a member of Alegent Creighton Health. This includes Immanuel Medical Center and its affiliates in the Omaha area. CHI becomes the sole member and sponsor of ACH.

As part of this transaction, CHI and Immanuel signed a joint development agreement to establish a strategic collaboration to address the housing, health care and human services needs of seniors and their families throughout Nebraska and Iowa, including skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day care, senior wellness and Programs for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE). Details of the collaboration are under development.

“Immanuel and CHI have enjoyed a long and productive partnership as sponsors of Alegent,” said Kevin Lofton, president and CEO of CHI. “We are excited about beginning a new collaborative relationship with Immanuel that will advance our faith-based missions and build on CHI’s existing Nebraska ministries to expand access to quality care for Nebraska and Iowa residents.

“We welcome the Alegent Creighton Health leadership and staff and the Alegent Creighton Clinic physicians into CHI with the confidence that we’re better together in delivering quality care and improving the health of those we serve in new and innovative ways,” Lofton added.

Eric Gurley, Immanuel president and CEO, said, “This transition will allow Immanuel to not only continue to meet the retirement housing, programs and service needs of seniors and their families in Omaha and Lincoln, but to enhance and expand our mission in the communities beyond eastern Nebraska by complementing the care continuum of CHI hospital systems throughout Nebraska and Iowa.”

Richard A. Hachten II, president and CEO of Alegent Creighton Health, assumes the additional role of a senior vice president of operations for CHI. “We have greatly appreciated the support of both of our sponsors since 1996 as we have together built our extraordinarily successful healthcare ministry on the 125- year faith traditions of our founders. We take great pride in our collaborative accomplishments. Likewise, we look forward to a bright future with expanded opportunities with CHI as our sole sponsor as we together continue building our faith-based network to better serve the region,” Hachten said.

The decision by Immanuel to resign its sponsorship reflects a growing national trend toward specialization and consolidation in the wake of national health reform. While Immanuel will improve and expand its senior services in Nebraska and Iowa, CHI will bring national resources and expertise to an already strong regional health delivery system, which now includes acute-care facilities in Nebraska and Iowa.

About Catholic Health Initiatives: Catholic Health Initiatives is a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Englewood, Colo. The faith-based system operates in 19 states and includes 76 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; two community health-services organizations; two accredited nursing colleges; and home health agencies. In fiscal year 2011, CHI provided more than $612 million in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With annual revenues of more than $10.5 billion, CHI is the nation's second-largest Catholic health care system. For more information, visit www.catholichealthinitiatives.org

About Immanuel: Immanuel owns and operates five independent and assisted living retirement campuses in Omaha, Papillion and Lincoln, NE, and Immanuel Pathways in Council Bluffs, IA. All built on Immanuel’s 125-year legacy of providing Christ-centered services, and allowing anyone to become a part of something bigger without ever losing themselves. At Immanuel, we believe there’s nothing in life more rewarding than helping others live theirs to the fullest. For more information, visit www.immanuelcommunities.com.

About Alegent Creighton Health: With a commitment to providing high-quality care and an exceptional patient experience, Alegent Creighton Health physicians and employees are focused on caring for the body, mind and spirit of every person. Patients find a continuum of care at Alegent Creighton Health, from primary care through geriatrics. With the blessing of our sponsor Catholic Health Initiatives, Alegent Creighton Health is the largest not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare provider in Nebraska and southwest Iowa with 11 acute care hospitals, a specialty spine hospital, freestanding inpatient psychiatric and skilled nursing facilities and more than 100 Alegent Creighton Clinic locations. As the primary teaching partner of Creighton University’s health sciences schools, Alegent Creighton Health and Alegent Creighton Clinic are committed to teaching the health professionals of the future. For more information about Alegent Creighton Health, visit www.AlegentCreighton.com.