Quality Improvement Organization and Renal Network to MergeCharleston, WV—The West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI) and the Trans-Atlantic Renal Council (TARC) have announced plans to merge in a move that will strengthen both organizations’ mission-based focus on improving the quality of health care. The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the merger.
“We are very excited about the joining of these two dynamic, talented organizations,” said WVMI Board Chair Derrick Latos, MD. “Having had the privilege of collaborating with board and staff from both WVMI and TARC, I can speak firsthand to the shared passion for improving health care quality and the tremendous potential for collaboration.”
TARC Board President Toros Kapoian, MD agreed. “It’s clear that this partnership is mutually beneficial to the future of WVMI and TARC and to the quality and value of the services we provide.”
TARC is the end-stage renal disease network that serves New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is responsible for monitoring the care provided to more than 15,000 patients in 152 dialysis facilities. WVMI and its Quality Insights affiliates are the federally designated Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contractors for West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware. QIOs review and improve the quality of medical care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. WVMI and Quality Insights also provide services throughout the United States on behalf of an array of federal, state and private customers.
“Our missions are strikingly similar, and our core competencies are in complete alignment,” John C. Wiesendanger, CEO of WVMI said. “Through this merger, we can leverage our collective experience, personnel and resources to the benefit of our customers, and most importantly, to the patients who will see the results of our work.”
The merged organizations will share corporate services, such as information technology, finance and human resources, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. However, they are committed to maintaining the local leadership and staff critical to making quality improvement happen, Wiesendanger said.
The merger coincides with the planned retirement of Joan Solanchick, TARC’s executive director. Christopher Brown, who has been with TARC for many years, will assume the executive director role.
“I am very pleased to leave TARC in the hands of a growing, dynamic organization under the leadership of a very capable executive director in Chris,” Solanchick said. “The future is bright for TARC and WVMI.”
WVMI, Quality Insights and TARC will maintain offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware. For more information, visit www.wvmi.org or www.tarcweb.org.