by
John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | August 05, 2022
Rush Health Systems has merged with Ochsner Health.
Rush Health Systems in east Mississippi and west Alabama has joined Ochsner Health under the new name Ochsner Rush Health.
The merger opens up access to specialty and subspecialty care for patients in these regions for cardiology, neurology, highly specialized stroke care, women’s services, cancer treatment and surgical oncology. This will allow them more care options closer to home.
Ochsner Health operates 40 hospitals and over 300 health and urgent care centers in Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South. It also cares for patients outside its facilities through its Connected Health digital medicine program. Joining it makes Ochsner Rush Health part of the largest health system in the Gulf South.
“By coming together, we’ll be able to do more to enhance and expand clinical services focused on the critical needs of the communities we serve while ensuring our patients have access to local, high-quality care for generations to come,” said Ochsner Rush Health CEO Larkin Kennedy.
Ochsner Rush Health is made up of seven hospitals and more than 30 clinics, with 250 staff and contracted physicians and 95 advanced practice providers.
Rush Health and Ochsner
agreed to merge in June 2021. The deal includes a rebranding of regional hospitals under Ochsner Rush Health, as well as an increase in minimum wage for its employees to $12 per hour.
Additionally, Ochsner Rush Health will have access to expanded telehealth, digital monitoring and clinical improvements guided by AI, and patients will be able to receive novel therapies, including new cancer treatments. Ochsner Health will share best practices and resources and use economies of scale to identify which programs and resources to invest more in locally.
“We are thrilled to bring the talent and knowledge of our physicians and providers together to benefit patients so that we can provide even more services for patients in east Mississippi and west Alabama,” said Ochsner chief medical officer Dr. Robert Hart.
Local community members, a physician and representatives from Ochsner Health will make up a governing board for Ochsner Rush Health. Staff will continue to include employed and independent physicians and will retain existing privileges.
Patients may continue to use existing insurance at all facilities.
