The Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) has approved the hospital conversion application, with conditions, submitted by Roger Williams Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Health Services of Rhode Island and CharterCARE Health Partners. In addition, he has also accepted the recommendation of the Health Services Council (HSC) to approve the change in effective control (CEC) application for the organizations involved.
This application was reviewed under the Hospital Conversions Act (HCA). The Act assures that the access, affordability and quality of care is maintained or improved after the affiliation takes place. The final decision provides a 58-page summary of HEALTH’s findings, a rationale for HEALTH’s decision, a set of conditions that must be met before the affiliation occurs and a list of actions and regular reports that must be submitted to HEALTH once the affiliation occurs. “HEALTH’s review of this application has been comprehensive and deliberate and incorporates input from the community,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “Our expectation is that CharterCARE will allow St. Joseph’s Health Services and Roger Williams Hospital and Medical Center to address challenges facing each institution and gain efficiencies under one organization so they can provide quality, affordable, accessible care.”
The application also needs approval from the Office of the Attorney General.
For a complete list of HCA requirements, visit http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/dar/regdocs/released/pdf/DOH/4378.pdf To view the original HCA application, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/merger/stjoerogerwilliams/application/questions.pdf To view HEALTH’s final HCA decision, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/merger/stjoerogerwilliams/ConversionDecision.pdf To view HEALTH’s final CEC decision, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/merger/stjoerogerwilliams/OwnershipDecisionPart1of2.pdf and http://www.health.ri.gov/merger/stjoerogerwilliams/OwnershipDecisionPart2of2.pdf