Ascension, radiologists form joint venture to open series of freestanding imaging centers
A multi-state diagnostic radiology network is forming a joint venture with one Catholic hospital giant to open several imaging centers in the Midwest.
Premier Radiology and Ascension Wisconsin unveiled the partnership Tuesday, with plans to target the Badger State’s Milwaukee and Racine metro areas. The imaging provider—which offers MRI, PET/CT, ultrasound, mammography, x-ray and other services—has already opened a new center for Ascension in Mount Pleasant, with another in the works in Milwaukee.
Further freestanding imaging centers are slated for Brown Deer, Franklin, Wauwatosa and Glendale according to Premier Radiology’s website.
“We are proud of our partnership with Ascension Wisconsin and the opportunity to bring affordable, outpatient imaging services to the region,” Chad Calendine, MD, president of Premier, said in a statement. “As we continue to grow, we look forward to caring for patients together and living our mission—providing compassionate, quality healthcare.”
Ascension Wisconsin includes 24 hospital campuses and is part of the much larger, St. Louis-based organization with 150 hospitals in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In the announcement, hospital officials said their goal is to provide imaging services in a convenient, cost-effective manner. Premier Radiology offers them access to more than 90 board-certified, subspecialized radiologists through both Radiology Partners and Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, they noted.
Under the arrangement, Premier Radiology will also start managing operations at existing Ascension Wisconsin outpatient sites. They’ll offer the hospital system’s patients same-day appointments, with studies available for ordering physicians before patients even leave the office, and complete reports within hours, according to the announcement.
“Premier Radiology shares our commitment to providing convenient access to care at an affordable cost,” added Bernie Sherry, ministry market executive for Ascension Wisconsin. “We look forward to working together to make healthcare more accessible for the communities we’re privileged to serve.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.