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Oaklawn and Borgess form new collaborative partnership

Marshall-based Oaklawn and Kalamazoo-based Borgess Health Alliance Inc. have reached an
agreement to create a new organization called THINK Health LLC.

THINK Health LLC has been established effective immediately to allow Oaklawn and Borgess to
collaborate and design innovative approaches to improve patient care, officials for the two healthcare
organizations said.

Each hospital will remain independent of the other, with collaboration occurring through THINK
Health LLC, whose name reflects the concepts of transformation, healing, inspiration, nurture and
knowledge, the officials said.

THINK Health is a 50/50 partnership between Oaklawn and Borgess, and its creation takes the
Oaklawn and Borgess relationship down a new and exciting path, they said.

In the wake of ongoing change in health care, hospitals and health systems such as Oaklawn and
Borgess are seeking ways to work with other hospitals and health systems to improve patient care
and patient experience while reducing the cost of care. The strategic partnership is based on the
shared values of quality, care and community service.

The organization’s oversight committee will be made up of an equal number of individuals from
each hospital. The committee will evaluate strategic initiatives and make recommendations to a
Board of Managers made up of the CEO from each hospital, who will share the responsibility for
decision-making equally.

“THINK Health is a unique way for two high-quality health systems to work together for the
betterment of the community, while still remaining independent,” said Ginger Williams, M.D.,
Oaklawn’s President and CEO.

“We are very excited about this partnership with Borgess,” Williams said. “Our values line up
very well and we can see tremendous opportunities being developed together. This will be a great
expansion of our existing relationship with the excellent team at Borgess.”

“This forward-thinking collaboration allows us to work together with the common goal of
improving health-care services and access,” said Kathy A. Young, President and CEO of Borgess
Health.

“Our ability to deliver safe, high-quality care and enhance the patient experience for the
individuals we serve across the region is enhanced by working more closely with the caregivers
and physicians of Oaklawn Hospital,” Young said.

Marshall-based Oaklawn Hospital, the largest small hospital in Michigan, was founded in 1925
and today is licensed for 77 acute-care and 17 inpatient psychiatric beds. Its service area includes
Calhoun County and parts of Branch and Eaton counties.

Kalamazoo-based Borgess Health Alliance operates hospitals and related health care facilities,
serving more than 1 million people through owned or affiliated hospitals and satellite facilities in
more than a dozen cities in southwest Michigan.