Lifespan and Brown University finalized agreements to expand their longtime affiliation, outlining new financial investments, academic and governance terms, and a new name for Rhode Island's largest health care system.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Lifespan and Brown University] - Amid ongoing headwinds facing the health care sector, Lifespan health system and Brown University have finalized terms on a set of expanded affiliation agreements to strengthen top-quality patient care, medical education and biomedical research in Rhode Island.
As part of the agreements, Lifespan will change its name to Brown University Health later this year through a rebranding effort to be developed over the next several months, enhancing its ability to recruit and retain world-class physicians and reflecting a deeper alignment between Lifespan's clinical care and Brown's academic and research focus.
The agreements also include reciprocal financial investments between Lifespan and Brown, which will continue as separate, independent organizations after the implementation of the Lifespan rebrand to Brown University Health. A $15 million to $25 million annual investment from Brown to Lifespan, totaling $150 million over seven years, will be devoted to strengthening Lifespan's financial capacity to sustain and advance the shared academic mission of the two organizations. Following that period, Lifespan will invest $15 million annually to support the Warren Alpert Medical School's education and research efforts.
Lifespan President and Chief Executive Officer John Fernandez and Brown President Christina H. Paxson shared details on the new agreements in a Thursday, June 20, event at Hasbro Children's Hospital. Fernandez said these continue to be difficult times in health care, and it is more important than ever that Lifespan solidify and strengthen ties between patient care delivery and Brown as its academic partner.
"We are excited to move forward with robust plans to expand our facilities and improve our systems and technology to be able to compete with new entrants to the health delivery market, such as national chains," Fernandez said. "This enhanced relationship with Brown is one part of the solution to ensure that our health system can continue to offer the people of Rhode Island the opportunity to access high-quality treatment close to home."
Paxson said the agreements advance Brown's goals to ensure that medical students, residents and fellows are learning from outstanding clinicians with opportunities to train using the latest technology and techniques. Brown's investments promise to accelerate improvements including the expansion of electronic health records, and the recruitment of talented academic and clinical leaders as care providers and department chairs for Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School and its affiliated hospitals.
"Brown and Lifespan are taking important steps to strengthen our longstanding affiliation with the goal of improving the health of families in Rhode Island, both through medical advances in care and state-of-the-art medical training for the next generation of physicians," Paxson said. "These agreements also strengthen the work we have been doing for several years to integrate research and break down barriers for physicians and scientists who translate discoveries in the lab into treatments benefitting patients."
The agreements follow votes by the Lifespan Board of Directors and the Corporation of Brown University, each of which approved a non-binding term sheet directing their leadership teams to negotiate an extension and expansion of the affiliation agreements between the organizations. Lifespan and Brown have long-standing affiliations, which designate Rhode Island Hospital as the principal teaching hospital for Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School, the only medical school in the state. The affiliation dates back to 1969, before a four-year medical program was established at the University.
