SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Garden County Health Services of Oshkosh, Neb., will officially affiliate tomorrow with Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff, Neb. The affiliation plan was announced last January by the Garden County Health Services board of directors.

“Affiliation means we’ll become part of a larger, tertiary system,” said Jim Hansel, CEO of Garden County Health Services. “It’s a good move for our community because it secures health care services for the future.”

The Garden County Health Services board of directors chose to affiliate with Regional West from a number of options for improving the hospital’s financial viability in consideration of the dramatic changes in the health care industry.

“This is a natural transition for us to affiliate with Regional West. We have a strong relationship with them and through this affiliation we will be able to continue to provide quality safe care, right here at home,” said Hansel.

Local residents, Garden County commissioners, and board members took an active part in discussions and public forums about the future of local health care services and supported the decision to issue requests for proposals from three larger health care systems. The other systems were Sidney Regional Medical Center, Sidney, Neb., and Banner Health of Colorado.

“Garden County Health Services and Regional West have a long tradition of working together to make health care better in the panhandle. I look forward to continuing our important work on a new level of cooperation and integration," said Todd Sorensen, president and CEO of Regional West Health Services.
Steve Hodges, Regional West vice president of human resources said the affiliation will be beneficial to employees of the Oshkosh hospital.

“The current Garden County employees will become Regional West employees, allowing them greater access to training opportunities, enhanced technology and support services, and career development by flexible job sharing with Regional West. We look forward to those opportunities becoming a reality,” said Hodges.

The name of the hospital has changed to Regional West Garden County, and corporate colors and signage have changed to the Regional West Health Services brand.

Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center and Regional West Physicians Clinic. These organizations, with over 1,800 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.