LMH Health, the University of Kansas Health System and three other Kansas health systems have joined forces to form Astra Health, a collaboration aiming to improve care, reduce costs and better serve rural communities.
LMH, KU and Amberwell Health in Atchison, Newman Regional Health in Emporia, and Salina Regional Health Center are all independent health systems.
They’re aligning to preserve that independence “while leveraging shared resources that no individual organization could efficiently develop on its own,” Dr. Shelly Kortkamp, CEO of LMH, said in a Tuesday announcement.
“In addition to improving access, Astra Health will pursue innovative strategies that reduce the overall cost of healthcare,” Kortkamp said. “One of its first initiatives will be the development of direct-to-employer health plan solutions, providing employers with high-quality, lower-cost healthcare options while improving access and affordability for employees and their families.”
The companies will also share information to create shared quality metrics, according to an Astra Health news release.
“Our communities expect excellent care close to home, and they want their hospital to remain strong and independent,” Kortkamp said. “Astra Health allows us to invest together in quality improvement, data resources, and innovation that will help our local hospitals continue to thrive as we deliver exceptional care for the people who depend on us.”
Altogether, the five hospitals serve more than 500,000 patients per year, “touching nearly every county in Kansas,” according to the news release. Learn more at astrahealthks.com.
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