Montage Health and SVMH approve partnership

Two major health care entities on the Central Coast are officially teaming up. On Thursday, Montage Health, the parent company of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, approved a partnership with Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare Services.

The move was approved by both boards of trustees, covering an affiliation with three Montage Health companies including Aspire Health Plan, Community Health Innovations and Coastal Management Services.

SVMH said it will end up with a 49 percent stake in the three companies and Montage Health will remain 51 percent ownership.

“While the two hospitals will remain totally independent, this partnership in the subsidiaries supports our strategic goals of making healthcare available and accessible to all Monterey County residents,” said John Mahoney, chair of the Montage Health Board of Trustees. “Together, we will be able to greatly enhance healthcare delivery throughout the county through coordination of care, disease management, and access to electronic health records, with the focus on health and wellness.”

The partnership went into effect on Thursday.