Arizona Board of Regents Approve UMC and University Physicians Healthcare Integration
On June 11, 2010, the Arizona Board of Regents approved subject to amendments an integration proposal submitted by University Medical Center (UMC) and University Physicians Healthcare (UPH). The boards of directors and management teams of both entities, in conjunction with the University of Arizona, worked to create the terms of the integration and submitted the proposal to the Regents. The integration was approved by the UMC and UPH Boards with the actual process of integration completed by June 2011.
The integration serves to enhance the existing partnership between UPH, UMC and the UA, supporting their mutual goals. This integration also will expand patient care, train new physicians and other health-care professionals, and continue advancing clinical science to diagnose and treat human disease.
A comprehensive market research and branding effort is under way to develop the brand of the new enterprise to position the new company among the very top academic health-care organizations.
The Regents approved subject to amendments the new company’s articles of incorporation, bylaws and Board of Directors. They also approved an agreement among Pima County, the new company and the Arizona Board of Regents regarding the operation and funding of University Physicians Hospital at Kino Campus.
Combining the clinical enterprise of both organizations offers many benefits, including coordination and integration of patient care, opportunities to create a combined electronic medical record, a stronger unified community presence and a much closer alignment with the UA College of Medicine. The integration also encourages joint strategic planning, funding and execution of key initiatives, as well as coordinated branding, marketing and philanthropic efforts.
University Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital affiliated with the UA College of Medicine and University Physicians Healthcare. UMC serves as the primary teaching hospital for the UA Colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. University Physicians Healthcare is a not-for-profit corporation created by the UA in 1985 as the medical practice for physicians at the UA College of Medicine.
