Upland Hills Health recently strengthened its affiliation with SSM Health Care of Wisconsin. Following are the answers to some questions that community members may have in relation to the affiliation.
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What is SSM Health Care of WI?
SSM Health Care of Wisconsin serves an 18-county area in south-central Wisconsin. SSM owns and operates St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison and St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo and their two respective nursing homes, along with the now-under-construction St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital.
SSMHC/WI is also affiliated with Columbus Community Hospital,Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, Stoughton Hospital, and Boscobel Area Health Care. SSMHC/WI and its physician partner, Dean Clinic,collaborate in a number of health care services, including St. Mary’s Dean Ventures, which sponsors primary care clinics throughout the 18-county service area.
SSMHC/WI is a member of SSM Health Care. Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and based in St. Louis, Mo., SSM Health Care is one of the largest Catholic systems in the country and the first recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige award for quality. The system has 15 acute care hospitals and two nursing homes in four states: Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
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Will Upland Hills Health continue to be a “community hospital”?
Yes, the services currently offered at the hospital will continue and the focus will be on meeting the health care needs of Iowa County and surrounding communities.
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Will the local board have control of decisions regarding the hospital?
Yes. Seven members of the board are named by Upland Hills Health and two by SSM Health Care of Wisconsin. The Upland Hills Health Board will continue to have decision-making authority, with SSMHC/WI having limited approval powers, including certain future financial commitments.
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How is this affiliation different from the “limited” longstanding affiliation?
It expands the current relationship and provides the legal framework to allow the two organizations to work more closely together to enhance health care in the Upland Hills Health area. In this affiliation, SSM Health Care provides a financial investment. The new agreement also opens the door to expanded services and expertise from SSMHC/WI and its members and affiliates.
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What are the advantages of this affiliation to Upland Hills Healthand to the people it serves?
The affiliation helps enhance accessibility of health care services offered at Upland Hills Health. It makes available additional expertise and services.
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Does an Upland Hills Health patient who needs more advanced care have to go to St. Mary’s?
No, patients needing more advanced care may go to the hospital of their choice. Those choosing St. Mary’s, however, will benefit from the closer relationship, coordination of services and physician relationships between Upland Hills Health and St. Mary’s.
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What happens to the money that SSMHC/WI is investing in Upland Hills Health?
It will stay right in Upland Hills Health and be held in reserve to strengthen future patient services to our communities.
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What is a Critical Access Hospital?
A hospital can be designated as a CAH if it is located in a rural area, maintains no more than 25 inpatient beds, maintains an average length of stay of 96 hours per patient for acute inpatient care, and offers 24/7 emergency services. As with Upland Hills Health, a CAH may also be granted "swing-bed" approval to provide post-hospital Skilled Nursing Facility-level care in its inpatient beds.
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Why is SSMHC/WI investing 17%? How was that number determined?
The 17 percent represents SSM of Wisconsin’s standard investment in community hospitals. It allows the maximum benefit for Upland Hills Health while making sure all decisions remain local.
