Forum, Diamond ink deal

All psychiatric programs now offered by Forum will remain in the community.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Diamond Healthcare, one of the nation's largest private health care firms, has been hired to manage and operate Forum Health's behavioral medicine programs.
At its meeting Tuesday, the Forum Board of Trustees approved the agreement with Diamond, Dr. Keith Ghezzi, Forum's interim president and chief executive officer, said.
The contract ensures that all psychiatric programs now offered by Forum will remain in the community, Dr. Ghezzi said in the Forum Flash, the hospital system's weekly newsletter.
Diamond Healthcare provides services at 82 hospitals and health care facilities, operates substance abuse programs, and provides employee assistance programs at some 225 corporations and workplaces throughout the country.
On Oct. 1, Diamond will begin to manage staff and day-to-day operations and deliver behavioral medicine services programs at all of Forum's facilities, including Northside Medical Center, Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren and Forum's network of outpatient facilities, Dr. Ghezzi said.
Also, the board approved a letter of intent that begins the process of creating a transition strategy between Forum and Diamond.
Dr. Ghezzi said Diamond brings expertise in many areas, including managed care contracting, quality monitoring, patient outcomes and cost containment strategies.
Details and rationale
Forum's Center for Behavioral Medicine provides mental health and chemical dependency services for children, adolescents, adults and families. Services include prevention and wellness activities, intervention resources and treatment programs in both inpatient and outpatient programs, Dr. Ghezzi said.
Dr. Ghezzi described the agreement with Diamond as an important step in Forum's efforts to focus its resources on core services and, where possible, find partners and other solutions for programs that are not central to Forum's mission.
He said Behavioral Medicine was one of the first programs identified for a new solution because of high costs, financial losses and the expertise needed to navigate the myriad of reimbursement policies, health plans, and government regulations.