Resurrection Health teams up with Cherokee Health Systems

Resurrection Health announced this month a merger with Knoxville-based Cherokee Health Systems, Tennessee’s largest network of community health centers. The merger will become official in June 2016.

“Cherokee and Resurrection share a commitment to fighting health disparities among the marginalized through the delivery of high-quality care. We have long admired Cherokee from afar,” said Rick Donlon, CEO of Resurrection Health. “We’re excited to benefit from their strong leadership, impressive infrastructure and pioneering work of integrating primary care with behavioral health. Together, Resurrection and Cherokee will be able to provide our Memphis patients with an even higher quality of care.”

Cherokee, which has more than 500,000 patient visits each year, has operations in Knoxville, Chattanooga and 12 East Tennessee counties. The merger will allow Cherokee to expand its integrated care model into West Tennessee. Additionally, Cherokee’s status as a federally qualified health center will provide funding stability to the partnership.

Resurrection Health, which has strengthened the primary care safety net in the Memphis area, also excels at recruiting, training and retaining top-tier physicians, particularly through the organization’s residency program, Resurrection Family Medicine. This allows Resurrection Health to provide a pipeline of talent that will ensure the long-term viability of the partnership’s operations in Memphis and throughout Tennessee.

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with Resurrection Health to serve the people of Memphis and the surrounding area,” said Dennis Freeman, Ph.D., CEO of Cherokee Health Systems. “Cherokee Health Systems and Resurrection Health are remarkably aligned in corporate values and mission. We are eager to support the great work they are already doing.”

Moving forward, clinics in Whitehaven, Frayser and Parkway Village will continue to do business as Resurrection Health under the Cherokee umbrella. Other details, including potential expansions into other markets, have yet to be determined.