Formation of an Integrated Academic Health System
ECG congratulates Mountain Health Network, Marshall University, and Marshall Health on the official formation of Marshall Health Network, a new, integrated academic health system (AHS) in West Virginia. This announcement comes shortly after a joint community event to celebrate the new system at the Marshall University Medical Center on October 17.
This new system paves the way for improving multidisciplinary care, training the next generation of healthcare providers, and promoting research to raise the standard of care through breakthrough medicine. “This transformative initiative represents our unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare, education, and research for the betterment of our community and beyond,” said Marshall University’s president, Brad Smith. “Together, we will build a brighter, healthier future, where innovation and compassion converge to redefine healthcare excellence.”
Marshall Health Network now consists of four hospitals along with numerous ambulatory facilities, medical offices, and employed physician practices and their facilities—including the Marshall Health physician practice. The four hospitals, which were all part of Mountain Health Network—303-bed Cabell Huntington Hospital, 72-bed Hoops Family Children’s Center, 393-bed St. Mary’s Medical Center, and 101-bed Rivers Health—together house more than 800 beds.
The system's commitment is to improve the health and well-being of over one million children and adults in 23 counties in West Virginia, southern Ohio, and eastern Kentucky by understanding, respecting, and meeting their needs.
ECG’s Role
The parties jointly engaged ECG Management Consultants as their strategic adviser to evaluate the integration and facilitate the seamless formation of an AHS. ECG assisted the parties by:
- Defining a governance and leadership model for the new AHS.
- Articulating the vision for the new system, including long-term commitments to the academic missions of Marshall University and the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
- Quantifying the impact of Mountain Health Network’s transition to the new system.
- Determining the funds flow philosophy and developing and evaluating the impact of bringing together employed nonfaculty physicians with the faculty physicians of Marshall Health.
- Creating a detailed transition and communications plan to foster effective and efficient integration.
Marshall Health Network was officially formed on October 1, 2023.
For more information, please contact ECG directly.
Learn more about our Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transactions team.
Edited by: Matt Maslin
