Published on October 28, 2011
Genesis, Radiology Group Announces Joint Venture
Genesis Health System has entered into a joint venture with Radiology Group of Davenport that will expand services to patients and bring them more coordinated care.
The joint venture, effective Jan. 1, builds upon a long and successful relationship between the two organizations.
Genesis and Radiology Group will become partners in the Bettendorf Imaging Center at 4017 Devils Glen Road and the Radiology Group Imaging Center at 1970 E. 53rd St. in Davenport. The two imaging centers will continue to provide outpatient radiology services but under a new name -- Genesis Imaging Center.
The 13 board-certified radiologists of Radiology Group will remain independent physicians, but Radiology Group will be the exclusive provider of radiology services for Genesis Health System.
“The Radiology Group has been serving the community for over 65 years and has been at this location developing expertise in the delivery of outpatient radiology services for the past 12 years,” said Flo Spyrow, Senior Vice President, Genesis Health System. “That expertise will now become part of the Genesis family as we continue to offer convenient access to health care and high-quality and costeffective services to our community.”
With the expanded relationship, Radiology Group will now provide radiology services for Genesis, Illini Campus in Silvis. There will be increased services at all Genesis campuses.
“This begins a new chapter for Radiology Group,” said radiologist Jeff Goree, M.D., of Radiology Group. “We’ve been working separately but together over the years and are now truly together in this joint venture. We look forward to continuing to provide first-class care for our patients throughout the Quad Cities.”
The more than 40 employees of Radiology Group will become Genesis employees. There will be no loss of jobs.
“The Radiology Group has been the primary provider of radiology services to Genesis Health System for many years, and this deepening relationship between the two organizations will improve the continuity, coordination and management of patient care across the health system,” Spyrow said. “This relationship will continue to provide our patients with excellent service and high quality outpatient radiology services, in addition to expanded inpatient services.”
More integration between outpatient and inpatient electronic medical records will “speed up delivery of care and make it more efficient,” Dr. Goree said. A $250,000 fiberoptic cable built several years ago to link the Radiology Group Imaging Center and Genesis, East was an early collaboration.
Preparing for health care reform
The two organizations also will be better positioned for health care reform. The Affordable Care Act will make it necessary for physicians, insurance companies and other health care providers to work together and focus on keeping people healthy vs. treating illness.
Michael Bohl, administrator of Radiology Group, said closer alignments between key physician groups and health systems are a growing trend in health care.
“It is happening all over the country,” Bohl said. “Because of changes in reimbursement and increasing regulation, the whole medical environment is going through an evolutionary, if not revolutionary, change. Partnerships like this have happened in a lot of places already.”
Bohl added, “As we see the changes in health care, we see a lot of value in building a strategic relationship with Genesis. This is more than us being an independent contractor for the hospital. We’re creating a less-fragmented, more consolidated system.’’
Spyrow added, “Genesis has been very successful in aligning with key physician groups throughout the Quad Cities, and this partnership is consistent with that strategic direction and goal.”
