Two Bay area hospitals are partnering to improve access to health care.
Tampa General and Florida Hospital say their new agreement will let them develop clinical and wellness programs and provide more community-based health care services.
The agreement creates a new operating board with people from both facilities.
Joint projects could include an ambulatory care center, rehab and home health services, insurance products and a larger primary care network.
“We all believe in the future we have to focus on the total health care cost of an individual. That means we are going to have to provide services from the cradle to the grave and make sure we can manage those to lower our costs of health care,” said Mike Schultz, Florida Hospital.
Both hospitals are clear this does not mean a merger or a sale of either company.
Tampa General Hospital is the area's last independent facility.
Florida Hospital is part of the non-profit Adventist Health System.