Community Health Center of Branch County Enters Into Innovative Partnership with ProMedica

Community Health Center of Branch County (CHC), a nonprofit county-owned hospital in Coldwater, MI, has entered into an innovative partnership with ProMedica, a 13-hospital integrated nonprofit health system based in Toledo, OH, to protect and expand healthcare services in south-central Michigan. As part of the partnership, ProMedica is now managing the hospital and has further committed to acquire CHC from the county under negotiated terms within the next three years. This pioneering structure retains and grows health services in Branch County, provides significant resources for physician recruitment and delivers other operational support. Notably, upon acquiring CHC, ProMedica will fully fund the hospital’s significantly underfunded pension liability. ProMedica was unanimously selected by both the CHC Board and the County Board of Commissioners.

Juniper’s Role
CHC engaged Juniper to conduct a rigorous strategic partnership process. Despite evolving market and internal dynamics that stressed CHC, Juniper was successful in bringing forward a variety of alternatives for the consideration of CHC and Branch County. In addition to working with ProMedica to construct the phased partnership, Juniper assisted CHC with the navigation of elements inherent to county ownership, vetted several alternative structures and assisted CHC through the local governmental approval process.

Community Health Center of Branch County
CHC is a county-owned nonprofit hospital located in south-central Coldwater, MI, near the Indiana border. The hospital provides inpatient, outpatient, emergency care and surgery services, in addition to operating a home health agency and primary care clinics. CHC is the second largest employer in the county and provides significant impact to the local economy.

ProMedica
ProMedica is a $2.6 billion-revenue, 13-hospital nonprofit healthcare organization based in Toledo, OH. ProMedica has more than 15,000 employees and nearly 1,900 physicians serving 27 counties in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The integrated system offers comprehensive diagnostic, medical and surgical specialties in heart and vascular, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, and women and pediatric services, in addition to continuum services such as long-term care, rehabilitation services and Paramount Health Care, ProMedica’s locally-owned insurance company.

Additional Details
For additional information, please visit the CHC website.