The three health systems that founded Affilia Home Health in 2014 plan to amicably dissolve the partnership and reorganize home health services in their respective service areas, effective January 1, 2019.
As part of this reorganization, Tower Health will retain the Affilia employees in Tower Health's service area and those employees will join Home Health Care Management (HHCM), an organization that includes Berks Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), Pottstown VNA, and Advantage Home Care. At the same time, HHCM will become part of Tower Health, and its home health services will be delivered across the Tower Health service area under the brand Tower Health at Home.
"We have worked well with our partners in Affilia Home Health, LG Health/Penn Medicine and UPMC/Pinnacle. Our decision to leave reflects the different ways in which each organization seeks to meet its individual goals," said Clint Matthews, President and CEO, Tower Health. "For Tower Health, this action expands our ability to find ways of better managing the healthcare needs of the communities we serve. When HHCM becomes part of Tower Health, we will be able to focus our efforts on further advancing the quality and value of our home healthcare services. Home health plays a vitally important role in the continuum of care and advances our ability to provide access to the right care at the right time and the right place."
Tower Health does not anticipate this reorganization will affect any jobs. Care for its home health patients will continue without any interruptions. Over the next few months, Tower Health will work with Affilia and HHCM leadership and employees, referring physicians, and patients to assist with answering questions about the transition and to plan for 2019, with the goal of achieving a seamless transition.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a strong, regional, integrated healthcare provider/payer system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to a population of 2.5 million people. With approximately 14,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 22 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. Tower Health offers a connected network of 2,200 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across more than 230 convenient locations. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.