Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) and Rush-Copley Medical Center (Rush-Copley) announced Thursday (June 15, 2016) they intend to redefine their existing relationship to expand academic medicine in Chicago’s western suburbs. Under their common parent, RUMC and Rush-Copley will fully integrate clinical, research, education and community priorities.

“Our 30-year partnership has stood the test of time with great success and we are excited to meaningfully enhance our work together,” said Dr. Larry Goodman, Chief Executive Officer of RUMC and President of Rush University. “We can continue to improve patient care by uniting under a shared vision for clinical coordination, health care education and research at every level.”

RUMC will expand clinical research, the training of future physicians and other providers and specialty medical programs at Rush-Copley. These programs will build upon existing clinical partnerships in stroke care, cancer and cardiovascular surgery.

“Our commitment to patients is strong, and enhancing our work together allows Rush-Copley to expand our personalized, community care with increased access to academic medicine,” said Barry Finn, president and chief executive officer of Rush-Copley. “This is a meaningful partnership for both of our organizations and is really unique in the marketplace. While others are consolidating services within systems, we are investing in new services and adding them to our community.”

Streamlining governance will help the Rush system toward its focused goal of providing a single-level of quality and commitment to the communities it serves. Greater integration is expected to enhance access to RUMC’s nationally ranked clinical programs. Specific initiatives are anticipated to include the following:

• Neurosciences clinical program development at Rush-Copley
• Neonatal and specialty pediatric program enhancement at Rush-Copley
• Expanded women’s health specialization and programming at Rush-Copley
• Consolidated Epic electronic medical records system at all facilities
• Emergency medicine physician residency program at Rush-Copley and RUMC
• Expanded opportunities for work force development, health care education and training throughout the Rush system

To accomplish these new initiatives, a Rush system board will be formed.  The board will oversee vision and strategy for the system. It will be led by the RUMC Chairman, William Goodyear. Dr. Larry Goodman will serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the new Rush system. Barry Finn will continue as CEO of Rush-Copley and will also serve as an executive officer of the Rush system.

Each organization has received numerous recognitions for quality, and both are recognized as “A” rated for safety, quality and patient experience by the Leapfrog Group. The Rush Obligated Group, which includes RUMC, Rush Oak Park Hospital, Inc. and Rush-Copley, currently holds strong ratings and last year received a positive financial outlook from the nation’s three leading bond rating agencies.

Rush Oak Park Hospital, Inc. and the other existing affiliates of RUMC and Rush-Copley will also be included within the redefined Rush system. Each medical center will maintain its name as well as its individual board.

The Rush academic health system will include more than 12,000 employees and more than 1,800 employed and private physicians.  It will have hospitals in Chicago, Oak Park and Aurora as well as numerous outpatient and ambulatory facilities throughout the Chicagoland area.  The new structure and organization is expected to be operational in early 2017.

About Rush University Medical Center

RUMC is a not-for-profit health care, education and research enterprise comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush University and Rush Oak Park Hospital. The mission of RUMC is to improve the health of the individuals and diverse communities we serve through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research, and community partnerships.

RUMC encompasses a 664-bed hospital serving adults and children. RUMC has more than 9,300 employees and faculty. Rush University, with more than 2,500 students is a health sciences university and is comprised of Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, and the Graduate College.

About Rush-Copley Medical Center

Rush-Copley provides advanced medicine with quality outcomes and extraordinary care to the greater Fox Valley community with over 2,500 clinical and professional staff and is comprised of Rush-Copley Medical Center, a 210-bed hospital in Aurora; Rush-Copley Medical Group a physician based organization that offers immediate care, primary care and specialty medicine; and Rush-Copley Healthcare Center in Yorkville that includes a 24/7 freestanding emergency center, occupational health and diagnostic services.