WellStar Health System Acquires Rights to the Center for Health Transformation

MARIETTA, Ga., Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WellStar Health System has acquired the rights to the trademark, trade name and website address of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), the healthcare think tank established by former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich in 2003. The CHT was a for-profit entity whose primary mission was to be a non-partisan collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st century intelligent health system that saves lives and saves money for all Americans.

Through WellStar's leadership, the CHT will begin as an invitation-only, collaborative network limited to 20 non-competing, not-for-profit health systems, which will evaluate and share best transformational and innovative practices aimed at delivering higher quality healthcare at lower costs and with increased access for all Americans.

"The Center for Health Transformation will be a collaboration of top-tier health systems to meet in a non-partisan manner with a goal of discovering and sharing best practice solutions to improve quality, decrease costs and improve access," said Reynold Jennings, president & CEO of WellStar. "As the fifth most integrated healthcare delivery system in the country, WellStar values the original intent of the Center and is dedicated to continuing this mission."

Robin T. Wilson, M.D., WellStar's senior vice president for medical management and Chief Health Innovation Officer, has been named executive director of the CHT. Dr. Wilson, who received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee's Center for the Health Sciences and a master's degree in health administration from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, has been with WellStar for three years. He is dual-board certified, a certified physician executive and a fellow in the American Institute of Healthcare Quality.

The CHT will operate as an independent, member controlled, non-partisan, not-for-profit entity with funding coming from memberships. To be considered for membership, health systems must be not-for-profit, a multi-facility health system with complimentary ancillary services, and commit to active participation by its president/CEO and other senior executives. The members will decide which national experts, such as Speaker Gingrich, to invite into a Board of Advisors.

Initially, the membership will concentrate on the southeast United States to include Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

"WellStar is striving to be a transformer of healthcare and not simply a transactor," said Jennings. "Building on the original mission of the CHT allows the best and brightest in the industry to come together and shape the future of healthcare delivery in our country."

The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare.  WellStar, a not-for-profit health system, includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; Urgent Care Centers; Acworth Health Park; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit the new wellstar.org.

SOURCE WellStar Health System