Proctor Selling First Care Clinics, Primary Care Services to OSF
By: Alexandra Sutter WMBD/WYZZ
Updated: February 27, 2013
OSF Healthcare Systems will soon be in
charge of five Proctor First Care Centers and three primary care offices.
Proctor said it's a proactive decision
that will help its patients in the long run. Proctor CEO and President Paul
Macek said it is simple running out of resources. He said the changing trends
in healthcare are the reason it's selling some of its services. He said, "The
thing we continue to see is that the Medicare program wretches down on how much
they pay hospitals to take care of patients and we know that, that trend is
going to continue."
For the 30,000 people that rely on
Proctor's services, Macek said they have nothing to worry about. He said
patients will still have access to the doctors they've grown to trust. He said,
"There will be no interruption, no interruption in service for patients and
families that have access to the Proctor primary care physicians."
OSF Healthcare Systems President and
CEO Dr. Gerald McShane said he shares the same goal as Macek. Both providers
said they want the process to have no impact on patients. Dr. McShane said, "All
the insurance plans and payers, our intention is to keep those the same and we
believe that will happen."
They said the sale is purely a clinical
decision. Details like branding and naming will be figured out with time.
They said the most important point is
that Proctor's medical care will continue as it always has.
Dr. McShane said, "There can be no
difference in the day before or the day after to the patients so we're going to
make it as seamless as possible."
Macek said, "So from a patient
perspective, it will be business as usual. From a physician perspective, it
will be business as usual. From an employee perspective, it will be business as
usual."
The sale is expected to be final by
the end of April. Proctor will continue to operate its hospital, the Hult
Education Center and the Illinois Addictions Recovery Center.
Meantime, Peoria's Methodist Medical Center is suing OSF Healthcare and OSF St. Francis Medical Center for anti-competitive business practices. OSF said the suit is without merit.
