VMC, UW Medicine 'Strategic Alliance' Approved 3-2 By Hospital Board; Moves to UW Board of Regents for June 9 Vote

The Valley Medical Center Board of Commissioners approved a draft strategic alliance with the University of Washington Medicine on Monday evening, according to an article in the Renton Reporter.

, the alliance is expected to strengthen the programs and services offered at the UW and VMC, both of which are public agencies. 

The agreement, if accepted by both parities, is not a merger; rather it provides an opportunity for the two programs to join and better benefit the community, said VMC Public Relations Manager Kim Blakeley last January.

Valley Medical during six public meetings, held across the district in February and March, and the Board reviewed and vetted the draft agreement during .

The alliance is not a done deal, yet.

The document is scheduled to go before the UW Board of Regents on June 9. If the agreement is approved, the strategic alliance will go into effect on July 1, the start of the UW's fiscal year.

If the any of the boards do not approve the agreement, it'll either go back to the drawing board, or be dropped altogether, Blakeley said easier this month.

Renton Patch will continue to cover the VMC, UW Medicine strategic alliance as it moves forward.