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UC to control West Chester hospital

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 9:07 AM Monday, March 8, 2010

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A recent change to the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati could broaden the scope of medical care at one local hospital.

As part of a binding memorandum between the University of Cincinnati, Jewish Health Systems Inc. and The Fort Hamilton Hospital, UC will be the last original member of the Health Alliance and therefore take 100 percent interest in West Chester Medical Center as of March 31.

West Chester Medical Center — which will be rebranded with University Hospital into a new system called UC Health — now has the opportunity to evolve into a community hospital with an academic background, said David Stern, UC College of Medicine dean.

Stern said he envisions beefing up West Chester’s oncology, cardiovascular and women’s health departments to offer “a special depth in West Chester because we see that as something ... needed in the community,” he said.

The local hospital, which opened in May 2009, also could become more of an academic campus, with a heavier teaching component evolving over time between community and university physicians and the medical students at UC, Stern said.

Stern said they are toying with name changes, which could include emphasizing the two medical offices, ambulatory surgical center, imaging center and precision radio-therapy associated with the hospital.

“We (at UC) view this as a wonderful opportunity to participate in the growth of a community hospital and making this an asset to this community,” Stern said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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