Partnership maintains independence of both hospitals, increases resources for patients, and mutually strengthens medical education and research efforts
Hershey, Pa. -- Leaders for Penn State University, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and State College-based Mount Nittany Medical Center today (April 19) announced a new partnership to strengthen care and provide additional resources for patients in the Centre County region.
The agreement enhances the medical education and research efforts of both organizations and is a natural progression of the long-standing relationship between the three organizations.
Under the new agreement, Penn State, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Mount Nittany will set priorities and evaluate opportunities to collaborate on patient-care services and the recruitment of clinical specialists. Together Mount Nittany and Penn State, and its Medical Center, will explore growth in a number of clinical programs, including cancer, neurosurgery, pediatric sub-specialties, interventional cardiology and hematology.
The agreement also will enable Mount Nittany Medical Center's participation and access to research grants and core clinical research facilities through Penn State Hershey and Penn State University, as well as shared funding for clinical trial participation.
Thomas J. Murray, Mount Nittany Medical Center president and chief executive officer, and Harold L. Paz, Penn State University's senior vice president for health affairs, dean of Penn State College of Medicine and chief executive officer of Penn State Hershey Medical Center, along with Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, today (April 19) confirmed that the strategic affiliation agreement would enable the three organizations to further partner on a number of clinical, scientific and educational initiatives.
Under the collaborative agreement, both organizations maintain their independence but work together to expand and develop clinical specialty services and recruit world-class medical specialists who would practice at Mount Nittany Medical Center and serve as members of the Penn State College of Medicine faculty.
"The affiliation between Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State University and Penn State Hershey Medical Center is the next logical step in a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship. This expanded partnership will benefit our physicians, staff, hospital and most importantly our patients and community," said Murray. "It will enable Mount Nittany Medical Center to enlist the resources of a great university and academic health center to increase the breadth and depth of the outstanding medical services Mount Nittany already provides to our community."
"This partnership combines the clinical expertise and experience of Mount Nittany Medical Center's many respected and accomplished Centre County-based medical professionals with the resources of our world class Medical Center and College of Medicine," said Paz. "The agreement not only better-positions both of us to serve our patients in the Centre County region, it also strengthens the clinical and research programs for Penn State, our Medical Center and Mount Nittany Medical Center and enhances our medical education initiatives. We are extremely proud to be working together with a medical center that has such a firm commitment to its community. We look forward to partnering with Mount Nittany Medical Center to build upon the vital programs and services it currently provides to patients and families."
"Over the past century, Mount Nittany Medical Center has been the primary provider of outstanding patient care to thousands of Penn State employees and their families as well as the Centre County region we both serve," said Spanier. "As both Mount Nittany and our Penn State Hershey Medical Center have grown, so have the needs of this region. This affiliation provides even greater opportunities for both organizations to serve the region's significant medical needs."
Penn State and Mount Nittany Medical Center currently collaborate on a number of initiatives. Mount Nittany Medical Center was one of the founding members of the Penn State Cancer Institute, which brings the benefits of cancer-related research and education at Penn State College of Medicine to the care of patients at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the institute's other members, the Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network Cancer Services in Allentown and Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College.
Together, more than 4,300 new cancer patients yearly are treated through the institute's facilities. Richard Dixon of Centre Medical and Surgical Associates (CMSA) serves as director of the Mount Nittany Medical Center Penn State Cancer Institute program. Pankaj Kumar, a medical oncologist and hematologist who treats cancer patients at Mount Nittany, is a Penn State College of Medicine faculty member and was recruited jointly by Penn State and CMSA.
The Mount Nittany Medical Center School of Clinical Laboratory Science was granted preliminary accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science in spring 2004. Penn State is partnering with Mount Nittany Medical Center to provide many of the laboratory experiences for the students seeking career certification.
In 2004, Mount Nittany Medical Center and PSHMC, working jointly with CMSA, successfully recruited James Fick, associate professor of neurosurgery, to create a neurosurgery practice in State College. Fick specializes in the removal of brain and spinal tumors. He has medical privileges at Mount Nittany Medical Center and cares for patients there and at CMSA's clinical office practice.
"At a time when neurosurgeons are in short supply throughout Pennsylvania, we were successful in recruiting a board-certified neurosurgeon to Centre County. Without full cooperation between Penn State, Mount Nittany Medical Center and CMSA it likely would not have happened," said Murray. "Because of our collaborative recruiting approach, patients in Centre County now have access to a highly-skilled neurosurgical specialist."
Murray also explained how the partnership would further enhance physician recruitment and improve continuing medical education opportunities for current medical personnel.
"An academic association is important in recruiting and retaining the best physicians possible. Doctors with strong academic backgrounds may prefer to be in a private practice but still desire the benefits of a strong university medical center," said Murray. "Current physicians will have increased opportunity to work closely with the Medical Center in areas of teaching and research and to have access to programs and research protocols not available in most community hospitals."
The formal Mount Nittany/Penn State Hershey partnership also will serve to strengthen existing partnerships between the two health-care providers.
"Penn State and our Medical Center have a long-standing commitment to Centre County. This partnership only deepens our existing commitment to the patients and families of the region," said Craig Hillemeier, interim executive director and chief operating officer of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. "Combined with our Penn State Family Practice and Penn State Orthopedics already located on Park Avenue in State College, and our existing partnership with Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, the broadening of our relationship with Mount Nittany Medical Center means patients in the region will have access to comprehensive and outstanding care."
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Read more about Penn State's long-term relationship with Mount Nittany Medical Center at http://live.psu.edu/story/17405