Local hospitals form health network

Sturgis Hospital and Three Rivers Health this week announced the formation of St. Joseph County Health Network.
The network is intended to ensure St. Joseph County hospitals have the kind of financial stability a larger system would have, without sacrificing local delivery of care or understanding of needs and concerns of the county, according to hospital administrators.
The board of directors for the St. Joseph County Health Network consists of seven members. Three are appointed by the Sturgis Hospital Board of Directors and three by Three Rivers Health Board of Directors, plus one at- large board member from the county.
Both hospital CEOs, Rob LaBarge of Sturgis Hospital and William Russell of Three Rivers Health, met with local media this week to outline benefits of the network.
Russell said the hospitals can be more effective working together than competing. He added that there are several opportunities to examine and strengthen service offerings and competitive position with larger health systems.