UNMC and Clarkson Merge Hospital and
Clinical Operations with Formation of Nebraska Health System
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents, during a special
meeting Monday night in Lincoln, unanimously approved the
proposed merger of hospital and clinical operations between the
University of Nebraska Medical Center and Clarkson Regional
Health Services.
Effective Wednesday, the new health-care organization will be
known as Nebraska Health System. Clarkson President and Chief
Executive Officer Louis W. Burgher, M.D., Ph.D., has been
selected as president and CEO for NHS.
Regent approval was the final step in receiving the go-ahead
for the merger, which originated from efforts by both
organizations to resolve a legal dispute between Clarkson and the
University of Nebraska.
The Clarkson Hospital board of directors approved the merger
at its regular monthly meeting Sept. 15.
A signing ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, as
employees from both institutions will gather on Dewey Avenue to
witness the historic event. Following the signing ceremony,
employees will enjoy a picnic lunch to commemorate the occasion.
"The merger combines the efficiencies and experience of
private practice with the innovations associated with academic
medicine," said Dr. Burgher. "It is truly a combination
of the best of both worlds in the medical arena."
"This is an exciting time," said UNMC Chancellor
William O. Berndt, Ph.D. "Employees from both organizations
have the opportunity to participate in the development of a
world-class organization. We have created a quality health-care
system designed to meet people’s needs regardless of their age or
the complexity of their health problem."
Under terms of the merger, Dr. Burgher will be responsible for
hospital administration and be the primary advocate for
private-practice physicians. The academic and research functions
of UNMC are not part of the merger, and the deans of the various
UNMC colleges will have responsibility for all academic functions
within NHS.
"With this merger, we’ll see a new level of excellence of
academic, patient care and research programs," said Harold
M. Maurer, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine.
"Students will receive the best possible education they can.
The academic affiliation is the centerpiece of the merger. All
UNMC’s academic programs are dependent on having a large volume
of patients in the hospital and clinical settings. This merger
will mean more patients for our students to see and thus enhance
their educational experience."
Some of the highlights of NHS include:
–Nearly 600 physicians including representatives of every
medical specialty;
–More than 30 clinical sites in the Omaha-Council Bluffs
area;
–Local access to world-class specialized treatment such as
organ transplantation, burn care and cancer therapies;
–Specialty physicians providing medical services to patients
in more than 50 hospitals in the region;
–Greater access to health-care providers through an expanded
list of insurance plans.
"Both UNMC and Clarkson have strong traditions of
providing care to the people in our region," said L. Dennis
Smith, Ph.D., president of the University of Nebraska. "This
history of outreach will only be enhanced. The combination of
resources from two neighboring institutions — space, personnel,
equipment and financial strength — will position both
institutions to compete more effectively in today’s health care
environment."
Bruce Lauritzen, chairman of the Clarkson Regional Health
Services board of directors and president of First National Bank
of Omaha, said, "By merging, two strong health-care
organizations become even stronger."
A 12-member board — with equal representation from Clarkson
and UNMC — has been selected to lead NHS. In addition, Dr.
Burgher and Dr. Maurer will serve as non-voting members of the
board.
Representing UNMC on the board are: James Armitage, M.D.,
chairman and regents professor of the UNMC internal medicine
department; Dr. Berndt; James Massey, Scottsbluff, past president
of J.G. Elliott Co., an independent insurance agency, who has
served on the UNMC Board of Counselors; Harlan Noddle, Omaha,
chairman of Noddle Development Co. and chairman of the University
Hospital Board of Governors; Lt. Gov. Kim Robak; and Jan Thayer,
Grand Island, owner and manager of nursing homes and a consulting
agency.
Representing Clarkson on the board are: Mogens Bay, president
and CEO of Valmont Industries; Timothy Kingston, M.D., a partner
in Surgical Services of the the Great Plains, a Clarkson board
member and past president of the Clarkson medical staff;
Lauritzen; Kenneth Stinson, president and chairman of Kiewit
Construction Group, Inc., and a Clarkson board member; Lewis
Trowbridge, president of Mammel & Associates, Inc., a
Clarkson board member and Clarkson College board member; and a
member to be announced later.
"This is a win-win situation for both institutions and
the state of Nebraska," said John Payne, chairman of the
University of Nebraska Board of Regents. "Together, these
organizations can do more than they could do alone."
Clarkson Regional Health Services includes a 401-bed hospital,
18 clinical sites and a 275-member medical staff. Clarkson has
1,409 full-time, 349 part-time and 300 casual labor employees.
UNMC includes the 434-bed University Hospital, 13 clinical
sites and a 306-member physician group. UNMC has 6,231 employees,
including 2,837 in the hospital and clinics.