Mercy Health Partners Leading the Way in Health Care     Business Venture, Fall 1998           Darryl Lippman, president and CEO of Mercy Health Partners, has had a profound influence on Northwest Ohio's health care scene since he was recruited to join St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in October 1989. He also established St. Vincent and Mercy Health Partners as leaders in community development efforts benefiting the city of Toledo. "I accepted the CEO position at St. Vincent because I knew I was joining a first-class organization, and I saw opportunities to contribute to St. Vincent's success, benefiting the city of Toledo and Northwest Ohio," Lippman said. Starting from a single hospital with few outpatient facilities and assets totaling $215 million in 1989, Lippman led the building of a health care system that has become the largest employer in Northwest Ohio with assets of more than $812 million today. Mercy Health Partners - which includes St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, St. Charles Mercy Hospital, Riverside Mercy Hospital, and Mercy Hospitals of Tiffin and Willard as well as 83 outpatient locations - now employs more than 7,500 people. The system also includes two home health agencies, three housing facilities for the elderly and other health care-related programs. The size of his organization does not impress Lippman. "We remain very focused on our mission to provide quality care to all, with a special emphasis on the underserved," he said. "Size is only important to us to the extent that it assists us with our mission. Achieving efficiencies from economies of scale, for example, improves our capability to assist the communities we serve." Lippman credits his success "to the support of the Sisters and boards of trustees, excellent administrative and medical staffs, dedicated employees, loyal volunteers and patients, and a loving and understanding family." His collaborative style has been instrumental in concluding a number of significant transactions that have established Mercy Health Partners' comprehensive health system. He emphasized his pride in Mercy Health Partners' contributions toward moderating health care costs for the Northwest Ohio community. Media articles in the past few years have reported on his efforts to reduce duplication and excess hospital bed capacity. These efforts include: The acquisition and consolidation of Parkview Hospital with St. Vincent in 1994. The merger of St. Vincent with Catholic Healthcare Partners in 1995, forming the current regional organization. The 1996 restructuring of Mercy Hospital of Toledo into Mercy Healthcare Center, an outpatient and regional support campus that currently houses more than 900 people. The merger of Riverside Hospital with Mercy Health Partners in 1997. The recently announced agreements with the Medical College of Ohio to establish The Children's Health Alliance and jointly operate Coghlin Rehabilitation Hospital. In all of these transactions, Lippman said he is proud of the proactive approach taken by Mercy Health Partners' board of trustees. "Boards of trustees that do not make the difficult decisions when necessary do their communities a major disservice," stated Lippman. "We have been fortunate to have boards that have addressed the issues head on and have made decisions based on mission and a strong community perspective." Ted Jenkins, chairman of the Mercy Health Partners board, said, "Darryl constantly challenges the board to anticipate changes in our environment. His visionary leadership, commitment to mission, sensitivity to employees, and hard-charging work ethic have all been instrumental in achieving the system's successes." Added Joe Magliochetti, president and COO of Dana Corporation and past chairman of St. Vincent's board of trustees, "Darryl is effective because he has been able to attract and retain top executive and physician talent. He is committed to excellence, and has been a decisive change agent while also maintaining high respect from employees and physicians alike. These qualities are very unique within a national environment of dramatic change in the health care arena. Darryl has been an asset to the St. Vincent Mercy medical organization and the community." Lippman also said he is proud of his collaboration with hospital colleagues from throughout Northwest Ohio. While at St. Vincent, he spearheaded the establishment of United Health Partnership, an alliance of 16 regional hospitals. "It is extremely important to have an open and respectful relationship with other colleagues, especially in this era of change and uncertainty," he added. With a significant role in supporting Toledo's revival, Lippman was instrumental in establishing the Cherry-Bancroft-Summit Corridors Coalition, a coalition of 14 organizations that includes representatives of community development corporations, churches, schools, and hospitals in Toledo's central city area. A drive on Cherry Street and the surrounding area shows the impact St. Vincent has had on neighborhood development. This impact includes sponsoring needed health care services, such as opening the Family Care Center on the comer of Franklin and Bancroft in 1994. Today, the center provides more than 66,000 patient visits per year. According to Lippman, Mercy Health Partners' hospitals have also established needed school health programs, support for neighborhood housing improvements, and assistance to numerous community service agencies. "We have been blessed to have a mission that emphasizes community service, and the good fortune to have the financial success to make these services possible," Lippman said. "We think of Mercy Health Partners as an economic development partner," said Betty A. Amison, president of the Toledo Old Town Community Organization. She pointed out examples of Mercy Health Partners' hospitals support for neighborhood and community development success, contributing land to construct new housing, making possible the AutoZone store on Cherry Street, and supporting other community-friendly business ventures, resulting in new jobs and taxes for the city of Toledo. Lippman added that Mercy Health Partners' total economic impact to all of Northwest Ohio exceeds $1 billion per year. "We are very proud of our working relationships with health and other community agencies in all the communities we serve," Lippman stated. Examples of recognition of St. Vincent's leadership role in community services include being named Ohio's Partner of the Year in 1994 by the Community Development Corporation Association; selected by Leadership Toledo for its 1995 Distinguished Community Leadership Award; and recipient of The Tree of Life Community Service Award by The National Jewish Fund in 1996. Lippman is quick to add that all of the Mercy Health Partners' hospitals have received similar community service recognition. Optimistic about the future, Lippman explained, "Mercy Health Partners is fortunate to have the commitment of so many caring and dedicated people, and that really makes a difference. I am confident that we are well-prepared for the 21st century. Those of us in health care face increasing pressures and challenges, but with our system's ongoing commitment to mission and team effort, we will continue to provide the kind of health care leadership that is so important to the communities we serve."