NW Ohio provider wants more open health care system

Mercy Health Partners in Northwest Ohio is negotiating with other local health-care providers to form a system so patients can pick their own hospitals and doctors instead of being steered to select ones. According to Steven Mickus, Mercy's president and chief executive, "Such a system not only will open up access to care so patients can better choose where they want to go, but it will decrease marketing and other expenses for participating hospital systems--and ultimately help rein in health-care costs." (Source: "Talks aim to let patients choose doctors, hospitals" Toledo Blade, Oct. 4, 2007.)