Alpena Regional Medical Center to Join MidMichigan, a University of Michigan Health System Affiliate

Alpena Regional Medical Center (ARMC), a county-owned health system in northeast Michigan, has signed a letter of intent to join MidMichigan Health, a four-hospital regional nonprofit health system affiliated with the University of Michigan Health System. As part of MidMichigan, and with the University of Michigan affiliation, ARMC will receive improved access to financial and non-financial resources, support for physician recruitment and retention, continued clinical quality improvements and local and system-wide governance provisions, including two seats on the MidMichigan Health Board. All were important goals for the ARMC Board of Directors when embarking on the partnership process.

Juniper’s Role
Juniper was engaged by the Board of ARMC to conduct an assessment of the governmental health system’s future strategic options in the face of the pressures of healthcare reform and Michigan’s ongoing hospital consolidation. The Board determined that seeking a partner would best guarantee the long-term provision of quality healthcare to the communities that ARMC serves. Juniper executed a rigorous competitive process which elicited a wide range of potential partners and structures. This process included drafting information materials, conducting intensive reverse due diligence between the parties and negotiating the terms of the agreement. Juniper has extensive experience advising governmental hospitals and helped guide the Board through the nuances of public ownership in relation to ARMC’s process, including a satisfactory outcome for the county while achieving the Board’s objectives. Juniper will continue to assist ARMC through the completion of confirmatory due diligence, the negotiation of a definitive agreement and the receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals. Find out more details from this website.

Alpena Regional Medical Center
ARMC is a 139-bed, governmental acute care hospital located in Alpena, MI, in the northeast corner of Lower Michigan. ARMC serves a large, primarily rural area which covers 24 zip codes in six counties. It is a Sole Community Hospital, a Medicare designation based on its location, size, and distance from other hospitals. ARMC is the largest employer in Alpena, the commercial and cultural hub for the region. The system employs approximately 1,000, including 100 physicians, and is a major economic engine in northeast Michigan.

MidMichigan Health
MidMichigan is a four-hospital, regional nonprofit health system headquartered in Midland, MI. In 2013, the system became an affiliate of the University of Michigan Health System, a preeminent three-hospital academic medical system focused on patient care, education and world-class research. MidMichigan covers a 15-county region and employs nearly 6,000.

Additional Details
For additional details, please refer to the press release.