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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m M a r c h 2 0 14 • I nsIgh t | 37 i n s i g h t o n E c o n o m i c d E v E l o p m E n t B y M a r y B e t h M a t z e k O ne of the largest employers in the tri- county area is getting a new owner, but the change is designed to improve the health care delivered in the region. In mid-January, Community health network (Chn), which operates a small hospital in Berlin and 10 area clinics, announced it would become part of Appleton-based edaCare. Chn employs 800 and has clinics in green Lake, Waushara, Marquette and Fond du Lac counties in addition to the hospital in Berlin. edaCare is the new north's largest employer with 6,100 employees. It operates five hospitals including Appleton Medical Center and eda Clark Medical Center in neenah. John Feeney, CEO and president of Chn, says the change improves care for area residents since edaCare will install its Epic electronic medical record system in Chn facilities. "e electronic medical records on one platform will create seamless patient care and information will be easily shared as patients move from one facility to the next, such as from a clinic to the hospital," he says. "When our board was looking at partners, we wanted someone that put patients in the center of what they do and edaCare does that." As for edaCare, CEO and President Dean gruner says expanding the organization's footprint was a natural with Berlin being just over 35 minutes from eda Clark in neenah. "e move helps support services at eda Clark and Appleton Medical Center," he says. "It really struck us when we met with them that two of the physicians were talking to us about improving patient care, which is what drives us. It got our attention and we thought 'this is definitely someone we want to work with.'" As Chn looked for a partner — economic pressures make it difficult for small health care providers to remain independent — Feeney met with officials in new London, Waupaca and shawano, where edaCare operates rural hospitals, and came away impressed. "Everyone was working together to improve the health of the community and the care being offered," he says. gruner says area patients can still expect to get more than 90 percent of their health care needs met locally. "Our philosophy is to offer as much care locally to patients as possible and keep their health care close to home," he says. As part of the acquisition, which is expected to be complete by the summer, Chn's employees Expanding their reach ThedaCare, CHN team up to enhance local health care offerings Community Health Network, operator of a small hospital in Berlin and 10 regional clinics, will join forces with Appleton-based ThedaCare to strengthen itself and the way it provides health care to its patients. c o u r t e s y o f c o M M u n i t y H e a lt H n e t w o r k [continued] » J o h n Fe e n e y, C E O a n d p r e s i d e n t o f C o m m u n i t y H e a l t h N e t w o r k