COLVILLE, Wash., Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Providence Health Care announced today the acquisition of Northeast Washington Medical Group (NEWMG) – the largest multi-specialty medical group serving the tri-county region (Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties). The sale was finalized on January 1, 2013.

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Twenty-six physicians and seven advanced practice providers along with 118 employees will transition to Providence.  NEWMG providers currently care for approximately 24,000 patients throughout the tri-county region with annual patient visits totaling nearly 70,000. Physicians will continue seeing patients at current NEWMG clinic locations.

"Providence Health Care welcomes the physicians and staff of Northeast Washington Medical Group," said Robert Campbell, Chief Executive for Providence Mount Carmel Hospital and Providence St. Joseph's Hospital.

The group's new name is Providence Northeast Washington Medical Group. A locally based leadership team comprised of physicians and administrative leaders will guide the strategic vision as well as oversee day-to-day operations of the clinic, the hospital, and staff.  

"Local physicians will have a key role in strategic direction setting and management for the new group.  In addition, the leadership team will have a larger leadership role in designing care across the region, collaborating with other Spokane-based physicians to develop a truly integrated delivery system throughout the Inland Northwest," says Campbell.

The practice will work closely with Paul Larsen, MD, of Providence Medical Group-Chewelah as well as the management team of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital and Providence St. Joseph's Hospital to form an integrated delivery system of care in Stevens County.

Stevens County is one of the poorer counties in Washington State and the successful integration of NEWMG will enable Providence to expand access to primary care for the poor and vulnerable throughout the region. Enhanced care coordination will be made possible by participating in the medical home concept and other quality initiatives with Providence physicians throughout the system.  Patients will also benefit from better care coordination when specialist services in Spokane are needed. 

"Both Providence and NEWMG share a vision of developing a coordinated health care system that puts patients first, where physicians play an essential leadership role enabling providers to deliver greater value through enhanced quality, an exceptional patient experience and lower total costs," said Ron Rehn, current CEO of NEWMG.  "The community will specifically benefit through a more coordinated patient care experience which will ultimately translate into an increase in the breadth of clinical programs within Stevens County.  This means patients can receive more care closer to home."

NEWMG currently operates three clinics in northeast Washington and owns and operates a medical laboratory that conducts approximately 80 percent of the laboratory tests ordered by health care providers in the region.  In addition to laboratory services, pharmacy services are also part of NEWMG system of healthcare.  The main clinic is adjacent to Providence Mount Carmel Hospital and located at 1200 East Columbia Avenue in Colville; the Kettle Falls office is located at 840 South Meyers Street in Kettle Falls; and the third clinic, Garden Homes, Specialty Group, currently housing the internal medicine physicians and leased physical therapy space is located at 143 Garden Homes Drive in Colville.

About Providence Health Care:
In eastern Washington, the Providence Health Care regional network consists of 11 integrated health care organizations working together to provide quality health and human services for Inland Northwest residents. It includes Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital, Providence Holy Family Hospital, Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville and Providence St. Joseph's Hospital in Chewelah; and a full continuum of services including home health, assisted living, adult day health, skilled nursing, a physician division and PAML medical laboratories.  Providence Medical Group, the physician division of Providence Health Care, includes more than 300 primary care, specialty care and hospital-based medical providers serving patients throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. Physician clinics are located in Spokane and Stevens counties. For more information, visit www.phc.org. 

SOURCE Providence Health Care