SALEM – Salem Regional Medical Center (SRMC) has announced its participation in a new network of independent rural hospitals, called the Ohio High Value Network (OHVN). The network’s foundation is a clinically integrated network (CIN), committed to caring for a population of more than 2.5 million patients; and features 25 independent Ohio hospitals and care sites in more than 115 cities and towns across the state, as well as a hospital in West Virginia.

Commitment to Independence

“CINs are a network of healthcare providers who work together on strengthening the availability, affordability and quality of care; while preserving the independence of each participating provider,” explained Anita Hackstedde, M.D., SRMC President/CEO. “Healthcare is transforming at a rapid pace, and hospitals must ensure that we are delivering the highest quality of care while reducing the cost of care and improving the health of our communities.

“As an independent community hospital, SRMC chose to join the OHVN network because we recognize the value of collaborating to share quality data and best practices, which ultimately benefits our patients. In addition, participation in OHVN’s clinical and business initiatives will allow us to gain economies of scale and provide greater access to larger networks and valuebased contracts, without giving up our ability to stay independent and tailor our decisions to our local communities.”

OHVN’s Operational Structure

The active management of the OHVN network will be led by principals from Cibolo Health, including Nathan H. White, president, and A. Clinton MacKinney, MD, chief medical officer. Cibolo Health helps independent rural hospitals create clinically integrated networks with their peers to overcome the obstacles rural healthcare providers often face.

OHVN is the third rural hospital network in the nation that is organized and operated by Cibolo Health. The first, the Rough Rider High-Value Network in North Dakota, launched in 2023; and the second, Headwaters High-Value Network in Minnesota, started in 2024.

The clinically integrated network will drive OHVN’s quality enhancement initiatives and care coordination efforts, and reduce administrative burdens for providers. As part of its launch, OHVN will form a Clinical Integration Committee to oversee the network’s clinical and quality initiatives, with one clinical representative from each member health system.

“The Clinical Integration Committee provides a forum for clinicians to share best practices that improve patient outcomes and collaborate on ways to ease burdens on medical providers,” MacKinney said. “These efforts will strengthen high-quality, advanced care in our member hospitals and invigorate the communities our members serve.”

Proven Benefits of Collaboration

Many OHVN members are already working together in one of several regional hospital collaborations in Ohio.

“We already know that working together not only provides benefits for our hospitals, but also for our patients, our staff and our communities,” said Jeff Graham, president and CEO of Adena Health based in Chillicothe, an OHVN founding member. “With the greater size and scope of the Ohio High Value Network, we can collaborate on more impactful areas that enhance all of our abilities to deliver high-quality, high-touch care and do so efficiently.”