TGH and Florida Hospital Partner Up

(Left to right) John Harding, President & CEO of Florida Hospital Tampa, Jim Burkhart, President & CEO of Tampa General Hospital, Mike Schultz, President & CEO of the Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Network, and Brian Adams, President & CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (photo courtesy of Florida Hospital North Pinellas)

TAMPA, Fla.– The top two ranked healthcare providers in Florida, Tampa General Hospital and Florida Hospital’s Tampa Bay Network, have agreed to jointly develop new clinical programs and services throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Area.

 
“Tampa General Hospital is an outstanding hospital that has been providing care for decades,” said Mike Schultz, president and CEO Florida Hospital’s Tampa Bay Network. “It is an honor to partner with them to develop programs that will allow Tampa residents to live healthier lives at a lower cost.”

FLORIDA HOSPITAL North Pinellas part of The Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Network (photo courtesy Florida Hospital North Pinellas

The new agreement will give residents of Tampa greater access to a spectrum of community-based healthcare services and broaden the geographic footprint of these two premier healthcare providers. Officials of both hospitals stress the agreement does not constitute a merger of existing operations or the sale of either one.
Jim Burkhart, president and CEO of Tampa General said, “We wanted a clinical partner that shared a common mission and philosophy and Florida Hospital is the perfect fit for us. Working together allows us to provide a wide range of services without duplicating efforts, which will help hold down the cost of medical care in the Greater Tampa Bay Area.”

Under the agreement, a new operating board made up of officials from both organizations will be created to determine the potential new services and how best to deliver that care to the community.

The newly created partnership will focus on creating new programs and enhancing existing services, but will have no authority over existing operations at either hospital system.
“This partnership allows us to combine resources while still meeting the healthcare needs of the community, ” said Schultz.

While specific plans will need to be determined by the newly formed partnership, some examples of potential joint prospects could include: an ambulatory care center, rehabilitation services, home health care services, wellness programs, post-acute care facilities, insurance products and an expanded network of primary care services.
“We are very excited by the services that could emerge from this new partnership,” said Burkhart.

The Florida Hospital Tampa Bay Network is a 1,035-bed system composed of Florida Hospital Tampa (the former University Community Hospital), Florida Hospital Carrollwood (the former University Community Hospital — Carrollwood), Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care (the former University Community Health Long Term Acute Care Hospital at Connerton),
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital North Pinellas (formerly Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital).

Tampa General is a 1,018-bed academic medical center on the west coast of Florida that serves as the region’s only center for Level l trauma care, comprehensive burn care and adult solid organ transplants. It is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. TGH is a comprehensive stroke centers in Florida and a state-certified spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation center.