Emory Healthcare (EHC) and Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Douglas, Georgia, have strengthened their relationship by advancing CRMC as a quality collaborative member hospital in the Emory Healthcare Affiliate Network (EHAN). The organizations will also develop new clinical programs at CRMC with Emory’s consultation and support, starting with a new bariatric program.
Through the EHAN, Emory extends coordinated access to its highly specialized hospitals and ambulatory clinics. EHAN also offers educational opportunities to affiliate staff and providers and advances care capabilities in the affiliates’ communities through program development. Additionally, CRMC’s quality programming and educational training will be aligned with those across the EHC system of care through its membership in EHC’s regional quality collaborative. Throughout this collaboration, Coffee Regional Medical Center and Emory Healthcare will remain independent organizations.
Coffee Regional’s new bariatric surgery program will receive training, consultative services and additional support from the EHAN through EHC’s Department of Surgical Services. The new program is scheduled to open in October 2020.
“We’ve already seen the advantages of building relationships with Emory, who assisted Coffee Regional in the development of our Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program for heart care in 2018,” says Vicki Lewis, president and CEO of Coffee Regional Medical Center. “We’re excited to soon offer our community a comprehensive bariatrics program, and highly value our collaboration with Emory during this process.”
“Since becoming a member of Emory Healthcare’s Affiliate Network in 2017, Coffee Regional has gained access to Emory’s clinical consultation and health care industry knowledge offerings,” says Donald Brunn, senior vice president for network development at Emory Healthcare. “Strengthening Emory’s relationship with Coffee Regional in the clinical quality domain promises to measurably improve the patient and provider experience while making local care in Coffee’s communities more affordable.”
Coffee Regional Medical Center’s physicians and patients will also have preferred and expedited access to Emory’s growing offerings of telehealth programs.
“We are pleased to advance our affiliation with Coffee Regional Medical Center, its providers, staff and patients,” says Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, CEO of Emory Healthcare. “We are confident that our commitment to strengthening access to quality, affordable care in communities across the region through the Emory Healthcare Affiliate Network, will benefit the Coffee County community and surrounding areas.”