Gilbert Medical Center

Description

On July 1, 2004 Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital and Palmerton Hospital entered into a historic decision combining their organizations to create a single integrated health care system. Prior to July 1, 2004 a joint leadership committee that was created to oversee the affiliation of the two hospitals selected Conrad Biege as chairman of the new corporation.In a special meeting on June 24, the chairpersons of the two hospitals signed the incorporation document creating Blue Mountain Health System. Conrad Biege stated, "This agreement marks a new beginning for the future of health care in this area."The formation of the Blue Mountain Health System ends an era of competition and begins a new era of cooperation between Carbon County's two hospitals. While competition in most industries is generally good for the consumer, competition in health care tends to result in duplication of services and in higher costs. Palmerton and Gnaden Huetten Hospitals are facing the same challenges as all hospitals across the nation straining under the burden of increasing labor costs, higher malpractice insurance premiums, increasing costs of pharmaceuticals and supplies, and declining reimbursement. In spite of these challenges, Palmerton and Gnaden Huetten Hospitals have been able to buy new medical equipment to keep pace with technology. By combining services, Blue Mountain Health System will not only be able to reduce the duplication of services but be able to provide new medical services while increasing access to care locally.

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