Medical Center Board approves partnership with UnityPoint Clinic

After a special closed session meeting on May 13, 2014, the board of trustees of Greene County Medical Center approved a partnership with UnityPoint Clinic. This partnership will allow UnityPoint Clinic to place a family medicine clinic in Jefferson, Iowa.

This strategic partnership comes nearly six weeks after Greene County Medical Center broke ground on a $22.5 million project, which includes a new addition and extensive renovations to the medical center in Jefferson.

“Upgrading the facilities is one piece of the puzzle. Another important piece is providing better care coordination for our patients. Our long time affiliation with UnityPoint Health – Des Moines and now this partnership with UnityPoint Clinic will allow us to use resources and expertise from one of the country’s largest health systems,” said Jim Schleisman, board chair.

The Greene County Medical Center board of trustees directed CEO Carl Behne to negotiate a final agreement with UnityPoint Clinic. In the coming weeks, Greene County Medical Center and UnityPoint Clinic are expected to finalize such an agreement.

“The board provided a clear and unambiguous directive. It is imperative that we have providers affiliated with the medical center who share our vision for patient-centered, physician-driven care. That is what is at the heart of this partnership,” said Behne.

The board also authorized a new three-year, $240,000 per year agreement with UnityPoint Health – Des Moines that reflects this new alignment of resources dedicated to serving Greene County Medical Center.