On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Wheaton, MN City Council voted to approve a management contract involving Wheaton Community Hospital and Medical Center and MeritCare Health System, based in Fargo, ND

Under the contract, MeritCare will provide managemetn/consulting services in several areas including information technology, access to high-quality health care services and maintaining and increasing services provided to the community.  If all contingencies are met, a definitive affiliation agreement is expected to follow.  No date has been set.

"Wheaton Hospital will remain a community facility dedicated to the care of patients in our area.  The affiliation with MeritCare will provide us additional resources to continue to fulfill our Mission.  This is an exciting opportunity." says Jesse Tischer, CEO/adminstrator of Wheaton Community Hospital and Medical Center.

Community hospitals across the country face considerable challenges, including increasingly complex health care regulations, finance and overall operations.

"For several reasons-and two in particular- MeritCare emerged as the leader," says Tischer.  "First, MeritCare shares our goal of sustaining - and enhancing - quality health care in Wheaton for years to come.  Second, MeritCare has an impressive and lengthy track record when it comes to managing community hospitals."

With the management contract, Tischer will continue as CEO/administrator and will be employed by MeritCare.  All employees will keep their jobs and no changes are expected in services.  Patients will continue to be able to choose their healthcare provider.  With affiliation, all employees will be offered employment with MeritCare.

Benefits of a MeritCare partnership include:

• Continued availability of local care.
• Access to additional services/specialists.  MeritCare has more than 479 doctors in 73 specialties.
• Advanced information technology.
• Efficiencies that come with being part of a larger health system such as management/consulting services and improved purchasing power.
•  Readily available expertise to help address today's increasingly complex healthcare environment.