MultiCare, a nonprofit health system operating 12 hospitals across Washington state, is entering into a joint venture with Atlas Healthcare Partners, a national ambulatory surgery center (ASC) development and management company.
Established in 2018, Phoenix-based Atlas partnered with Banner Health to develop and manage Banner’s ASC network in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. In the first five years as partners, Atlas led the expansion of Banner’s ASC network from eight to 30 centers with additional ASCs under development.
MultiCare is the third health system to form a joint venture with Atlas since 2019, joining Banner Health and Michigan-based Corewell Health.
Atlas also has teamed up with MedAxiom to create a cardiovascular-focused ASC joint venture called MedAtlas CV. “MedAtlas CV will provide a better experience for physicians and patients through strategic alignments, including bridging the gap between health systems and physicians,” said Jerry Blackwell, M.D., M.B.A., MedAxiom president and CEO, when it was announced. “The combination of Atlas’ expertise in ASC development and management, and MedAxiom’s deep insights into cardiovascular care delivery, ensures high-quality clinical and patient outcomes.”
“We are very proud and excited to work with MultiCare. We’ve found strong cultural alignment between the two organizations and believe that the Atlas’ mission to provide exceptional care and outstanding customer service to patients and physicians complements and supports MultiCare’s vision to be the Pacific Northwest’s highest value system of health,” said Aric Burke, CEO of Atlas Healthcare Partners, in a statement. “The Atlas joint venture ASC model aligns MultiCare, physicians, and Atlas to deliver high-quality patient outcomes and experience in an affordable outpatient setting. Atlas also focuses on providing a highly efficient service for physicians with an opportunity to invest in and partner in the ASC operations.”
Prior to founding Atlas, Burke served as the West Market President for United Surgical Partners International (USPI), the largest ASC management company in the industry.
“ASCs are essential for us to provide the highest quality and highest value healthcare to our communities,” said Mark Mariani, M.D., vice president, MultiCare Surgery Centers, in a statement. “We are committed to maintaining and expanding access to surgical care in the region with an outstanding partner that helps us deliver on our vision and mission. Partnering with Atlas provides the team and expertise to develop, manage, and scale our ASC network quickly and effectively.”
