Kaufman Hall Advises Children's Omaha and Nebraska Medicine on Advancing Pediatric Collaboration

SKOKIE, Ill. – December 13, 2016 – Children's Hospital & Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to explore building upon their current affiliation in an effort to enhance the care provided to children and families in the greater Omaha community and beyond.

Kaufman Hall is serving as the adviser to both organizations in exploring a more advanced collaboration. Bringing a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing children’s hospitals in today’s healthcare environment, Kaufman Hall’s experts are facilitating discussions regarding the most effective ways for Children’s Omaha and Nebraska Medicine to partner to achieve their mutual goals moving forward.

The two health systems are committed to improving the quality of care provided to pediatric patients and families, enhancing access to care, and improving care coordination and patient satisfaction. Ultimately, both Children's Omaha and Nebraska Medicine desire to make the delivery of care more efficient and reduce cost to the community with an eye toward creating a seamless experience for children and families.
"Both health systems are deeply committed to ensuring the community has access to the very best specialty and sub-specialty pediatric care, and we believe this proposed collaboration will help us better deliver on that commitment," said Richard Azizkhan, M.D., Children's president & CEO, in a press release issued on October 11.

"These discussions are a first step in exploring how we can strengthen our current relationship," said Dan DeBehnke, M.D., CEO of Nebraska Medicine in the same press release. "Our organizations have a decades-long history of working together. This is a great opportunity to determine how we can improve what we do together."

Children's Hospital & Medical Center also has a long-established relationship with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and UNMC will be involved in discussions about how to shape a better future for specialty and sub-specialty pediatric care in the region as well.

Leaders from Children's Omaha and UNMC say a full merger is not part of the discussion. Instead, they will look at how to better collaborate to provide patients and families with the most expert care, the best experience, and the most value.