DeKalb Health and Parkview Health to affiliate
AUBURN, IND. (March 5, 2019) – DeKalb Health and Parkview Health have signed a letter of intent to develop a strategic partnership. The two organizations share a commitment to delivering high quality, community-centric care, and the partnership will allow for the continued growth of healthcare services in DeKalb County.
“The DeKalb Health Board is pleased to be able to choose Parkview Health as our new partner,” said Doug Morrow, chair of the DeKalb Health Board of Directors. “Both organizations share the same commitment to provide high quality healthcare to their community. We view this decision as an opportunity to ensure the best healthcare for the DeKalb County community into the future.”
“A great deal of time was spent making sure Parkview is a good fit for DeKalb and vice versa. Ultimately, we knew that we shared the same objective: To do what is best for the residents of DeKalb County – and the entire region – to ensure ongoing, long-term access to high quality care,” said Dave Haist, chair of the Parkview Health Board of Directors.
“The decision to affiliate with Parkview Health will allow us to carry on our mission in a time where the healthcare industry is radically changing,” said Tasha Eicher, president and CEO, DeKalb Health. “We are looking forward to partnering with a health system that has demonstrated their commitment to high quality care and lives out their mission to provide excellent care to every person, every day. We believe the affiliation will strengthen our ability to provide high quality care to DeKalb County and preserve our service to the community for many years to come.”
“DeKalb and Parkview share a relentless commitment to excellence and establishing partnerships that strengthen the foundation of health and well-being for our communities,” said Mike Packnett, president and CEO, Parkview Health. “We also share a long-held dedication to investing time, talent and resources in the communities we serve. Together, we can honor DeKalb’s history and continue to build on its success, and we look forward to partnering with them to serve DeKalb County.”
DeKalb leaders considered how a larger health system could not only support and grow the hospital’s services but also contribute to ongoing projects within the community and enhance partnerships with area employers to identify opportunities to improve the value of healthcare. Leaders at some of the largest employers in DeKalb County weighed in on the significance of a partnership between DeKalb Health and Parkview Health.
“With the growing complexity of healthcare, affiliation with a larger organization was inevitable
to provide long-term, cost effective, comprehensive care for our community,” said Mark Millett, president and CEO of Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), and a member of DeKalb Health’s Corporate and Foundation Boards. SDI’s Butler Division includes a steelmaking complex in Butler, Ind., located in DeKalb County.
“The DeKalb Health board and leadership teams have used sound judgment in choosing Parkview as their partner,” Millett added. “Their values are aligned with DeKalb Health. They have the financial strength to invest in needed technology and infrastructure, and most importantly, they will provide a great home for the loyal, hardworking team members of DeKalb Health, who have served this community with passion and excellence for so long.”
Matt Fetter, CEO of Metal Technologies, Inc., a metal casting company headquartered in Auburn, echoed Millett’s sentiments. “The residents of DeKalb County are extremely proud of DeKalb Health and all they’ve accomplished in 55 years. Now, with the region’s largest employer here in our backyard, helping us to grow healthcare services and strengthen our community partnerships, we can celebrate DeKalb’s rich history and continue to grow alongside Parkview Health.
“As an employer, being part of a larger network lends credibility when recruiting employees to northeast Indiana and it adds to the quality of life for our existing employees in Auburn. Through numerous donations to the community and investments toward technological advancements in healthcare, Parkview has shown a willingness and commitment to giving back that aligns with our culture in DeKalb County.”
DeKalb Health opened its doors in 1964 and has operated for more than half a century as an independent community hospital serving the healthcare needs of DeKalb County and the surrounding communities. Employing more than 625, DeKalb Health is licensed by the State of Indiana as a non-profit, 56-bed, acute care healthcare facility, providing a variety of inpatient and outpatient services.
Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving a northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio population of more than 850,000. With more than 12,000 co-workers, Parkview Health’s mission is to improve health and inspire well-being in the communities it serves.
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Terri Christiansen, PIO | Marketing Director & PIO
DeKalb Health I 1316 E. 7th St. | Auburn, IN | 46706
O: 260.920.2555 I M: 260.908.0793