By RICH ROODMAN

At Valley Medical Center’s Board meeting on Jan. 18, the CEOs of UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore a Strategic Alliance through which Valley would integrate into UW Medicine. The Board of Commissioners then unanimously decided to evaluate and pursue this administrative recommendation which was met by spontaneous applause from a standing-room-only crowd of community and business leaders, elected officials, physicians and staff.

Valley Medical Center and UW Medicine share a common mission and vision of providing outstanding clinical care with a firm commitment to patient safety and excellence. This decision provides exciting opportunities to explore what can be accomplished through combining efforts on important initiatives to benefit the residents of South King County.

If this Strategic Alliance advances, it will be the most significant achievement of my career as CEO of Valley Medical Center. When I was hired in 1983 to be the CEO of Valley General Hospital (as it was called at that time), I committed to ensuring that residents of this community had access to state-of-the-art facilities, technology and services as well as first-rate staff and physicians. While my management style may have been a little unconventional at times, my focus is as intense as it was 27 years ago. This Alliance will be the pinnacle of years of sound fiscal management that has allowed for tremendous growth of our facilities, clinical programs, community outreach, specialization and comprehensive subspecialty capabilities … and it will also be a new beginning.

As we face the challenges of healthcare reform, budget deficits and a recession that has left many both uninsured and underinsured, this Alliance will ensure that residents of this hospital district will continue to receive quality primary and specialty care close to home, irrespective of their financial capabilities. Residents will also gain access to enhanced services, research, medical teaching programs involving Residents and Fellows, in addition to clinical expertise from one of the top medical organizations in the country that trains tomorrow’s leading physicians and medical scientists today. I could not be more excited.

As we move forward with discussions with key stakeholders and the community, I am proud of what our staff and community have accomplished at Valley by being able to attract the world-class UW Medicine organization and I am thrilled about the possibilities of the future.

Remarkable things are truly happening at Valley Medical Center!

Rich Roodman is chief executive officer of Valley Medical Center.