The Boards of St. Mary’s Health Care System, Athens Regional Health System and Athens Regional Medical Center have signed a Joint Resolution to explore the potential for future collaborations to better serve patients and the community.

An eight-person joint subcommittee consisting of four members from each hospital board has been formed to research and possibly pursue additional opportunities for the two health care systems to work together in the future. 

“Some immediate topics for discussion are projects such as working together on a Community Health Needs Assessment and then discussing how we can pool our resources and meet those needs together, when possible,” said Marilyn Farmer, chair of the board of trustees for Athens Regional Health System. “We will also review the benefits of becoming Accountable Care Organizations.” 

“Our board is very pleased to have an opportunity to explore collaborative efforts with Athens Regional that might improve healthcare results for our community, service area and patients,” said Bob Snipes, chair of St. Mary’s board of directors. “We feel this is a proper governance position for both boards to take to move both systems forward in the future.” 

“Although the hospitals’ staffs already work on several meaningful projects together, we wanted to get the boards to meet with some regularity, too,” explained Rob Hoyt, chair of Athens Regional Medical Center board of trustees. “Starting next month, we’ll have a regular forum to discuss possible collaborations for the betterment of the health of our region.” 

The joint subcommittee will be working closely with community physicians and the leadership of the two systems to identify areas of potential collaboration, Snipes added.