News & Media

October, 2009

CharterCARE Healh Partners RECEIVES FINAL APPROVAL:
ANNOUNCES BOARD OF TRUSTEES and TIMETABLE FOR COMMENCEMENT
OF INTEGRATED OPERATIONS

(North Providence, Rhode Island) CharterCARE Health Partners, the corporate entity managing the proposed affiliation of St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Medical Center, today welcomed approval of its affiliation proposal by the Rhode Island Attorney General, Patrick Lynch.

This approval follows a concurrent review and approval by the Rhode Island Department of Health and completes the regulatory scrutiny required by the Rhode Island Hospital Conversion Act.

"We are pleased to have successfully completed the first-ever affiliation of Rhode Island hospitals under the state's hospital conversion act", stated Kenneth Belcher, president of Roger Williams Medical Center and CEO of CharterCARE Health Partners. "We now begin a carefully planned process of system collaboration, integration and consolidation as we act to fulfill the promise and potential of our affiliation that has guided us throughout the regulatory review process."

Belcher also took the opportunity to announce the names of the 15 individuals who will serve on the CharterCARE Board of Trustees. They are:

Representing Roger Williams Medical Center: Edwin Santos, who will serve as chairman, Donald McQueen, Sheri Smith, Ph.D., Charles Maynard, Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., RN, Christopher Chilhas, MD, Elaine Jones, MD.

Representing St. Joseph Health Services: Rev. Monsignor Paul Theroux, who will serve as vice chairman, Judge Joseph R. Weisberger, Dr. Peter DeBlasio, Jr., Joseph R. DiStefano, Marshall Raucci, Jr., Daniel J. Ryan, Reverend Brian Shanley, OP, Kevin P. Stiles.

"This affiliation has always been about ensuring community access to quality care," said Edwin Santos, board chairman. "We thank both the Attorney General's office and the Department of Health for their guidance as we have worked with that goal in mind."

Monsignor Paul Theroux, vice chairman of the board added, "We are truly blessed that these individuals have agreed to continue as CharterCARE trustees. This requires a significant commitment of time and talent and their collective expertise will serve us well in the months ahead."

Belcher also announced that January, 2010 is the target date for the commencement of integrated operations of the two newly-affiliated hospitals.

According to John Fogarty, President of St. Joseph Health Services, who will also serve as Executive Vice President of CharterCARE Health Partners, "The interim period will be used to address a host of administrative, operational and clinical issues necessary to allow the two institutions to operate effectively under CharterCARE." Some of these deliverables will include:

Under this affiliation, CharterCARE Health Partners will be the new corporate parent of both St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island (which operates Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence and the St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care in Providence) and of Roger Williams Medical Center.

Both hospitals will continue to operate under their established identities and each will maintain a separate Board of Trustees responsible for monitoring clinical quality and performance improvement matters. In addition to their CharterCARE duties, Belcher will remain Chief Executive Officer of Roger Williams Medical Center and Fogarty will remain CEO of our Lady of Fatima and St. Joseph Hospitals.

CharterCARE Health Partners will operate a total of 579 licensed hospital beds, employ approximately 3,200 employees and have annual operating revenues of approximately
$330 million.