Southwest Washington Health System of Vancouver, Wash., joined the Bellevue, Wash.-based PeaceHealth system Jan. 1. It now is called PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Alan Yordy, PeaceHealth's president and chief mission officer, said the affiliation will allow for the expansion of health care services and care access in southwest Washington. The arrangement also is expected to generate cost savings that will be invested into programs for the underserved.
Under the affiliation agreement, community governing boards will retain oversight and governance responsibilities for the medical center.
PeaceHealth Southwest is a not-for-profit organization that has two hospital campuses, clinics, a foundation and medical group. It began as a Catholic facility under the Sisters of Providence in 1858, and later became secular. Under PeaceHealth, it is once again Catholic.
PeaceHealth plans to establish a shared services center in the Vancouver area to house the system's executive offices and other nonclinical support services.