Ten hospitals and hospital groups to collaborate on improving Kentucky's health, reduce cost of care and share best practices

Ten major hospitals and hospital groups have created the Kentucky Health Collaborative in an effort to reverse the state’s poor health statistics, share best practices and reduce the cost of care through greater operational efficiencies. The 10 and their headquarters towns are:

• Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Lexington
• Baptist Health, Louisville
• Ephraim McDowell Health, Danville
• LifePoint Health, Brentwood, Tenn.
• Norton Healthcare, Louisville
• Owensboro Health, Owensboro
• St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead
• St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Edgewood
• The Medical Center, Bowling Green
• UK HealthCare, Lexington

Appalachian Regional Healthcare will serve as the organization’s headquarters. The collaborative says it is still in early development, and many details are to be finalized, such as the issues it will tackle first. As it develops its structure needed, it will invite other members.

“The Kentucky Health Collaborative has created a governance structure that supports the inclusion and participation of healthcare providers regardless of location within the Commonwealth, size or profit structure, said its executive director, William 'Bill' L. Shepley. “The solutions we expect to develop through the collaborative have worked well for similar networks across the country, and I am honored to be a part of this important process.”