The Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center today signed new contracts that provide stability to clinical and educational programs. The contracts replace an agreement signed in November 2006 that was scheduled to expire in June.
The deal includes a long-term teaching agreement between the two organizations for the education of medical students. The five-year contract is automatically renewable.
An agreement transfers sole sponsorship of 50 residency training programs to the DMC, as opposed to the previous co-sponsorship by Wayne State and the DMC. Sole sponsorship is the current national model and is expected to create several educational and administrative efficiencies. Wayne State School of Medicine faculty members will have a teaching contract for the residency programs.
The DMC and Wayne State also signed a three-year clinical services contract for the 10 Wayne State University Physician Group practices that provide patient care and administrative services in the DMC’s eight hospitals. Those practices include (internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, pathology, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, radiation/oncology, and surgery).
The contracts are the culmination of months of negotiations.
I’m proud of the commitment that the DMC and Wayne State are making together,” said Valerie Parisi, M.D., interim dean of the WSU School of Medicine. “These agreements provide great stability for Wayne State students, residents and faculty, as well as patients of the DMC.”
This contract not only cements the future of what has been a more than 100-year partnership between the DMC and Wayne State,” said Mike Duggan, CEO and President of the DMC. “It is a testament to the unwavering commitment of both of our organizations to the city of Detroit, training our nation’s future physicians and caring for people most in need.”
“To the residents, this agreement represents a renewal and stabilization of a great partnership. This partnership has served well both the training of resident physicians and its community at large. Those of us who have personally benefited are excited to see that future residents will continue to have this terrific training opportunity,” said Resident Council President Mark Hoeprich, M.D (a current fifth-year neurosurgery resident).
As part of the agreement, Wayne State will receive a reduction in its compensation from the DMC over the next three years. This is due in part to the evolving DMC-Wayne State relationship in which both entities have forged additional relationships with other clinical and academic institutions.
This evolution of our partnership allows us to continue providing educational opportunities and clinical services that are critical to Detroit,” said WSU President Jay Noren, M.D. “While it is reduced from where it once was, it is still a very important and constructive relationship. It is also consistent with the strategic direction of both DMC and Wayne State to expand their respective networks of clinical partnerships with other institutions to ensure stability in all aspects of medical education, research and patient care. ”
These are very difficult economic times, so in negotiations we tried to put ourselves in the other organization’s shoes,” said Dr. Parisi. “In the end, the compromises we made allow both entities to focus on our shared mission of serving vulnerable populations and preparing the next generation of physicians.”
