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UC to control West Chester hospital

Alignment gives West Chester Medical Center the chance to have a stronger training component.

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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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For those complaining, the medical center would not have survived. This community needs the hospital and its previous managment and affiliation were not the right fit. UC will be able to leverage its academic and professional base to attract patients and physicians.

ADB
4:21 PM, 3/7/2010

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well that's the end of West Chester Medical Center

tdc
1:16 PM, 3/7/2010

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If UC takes this over it will be the down fall of the hospital. Many of you may not know that at University hospital you may not sue for any malpractice for any reason because they have mis-used a state law originally set up for the protection of other state workers. What they say is "If any student is with any doctor then the doctor cannot be sued because at that time he was teaching and therefore an employee of the state.

That's just nuts.

fastwillys
11:15 AM, 3/7/2010

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