As we continue evaluating the transformative partnership first shared in November, President and CEO Aaron Robinson walks through the key elements of this opportunity in an eight-week video series. Each video focuses on a core topic or specific benefit that this partnership will provide to South County Health, our patients, and our community.
Together, the series highlights benefits that are unique to this model—bringing long-term resources, advanced technology, and clinical innovation to South County Health while preserving our nonprofit mission, local decision-making, and commitment to community-based care.
Week 1 - Strategic Rationale of Partnership & Timing
Why did South County Health choose this partnership after so many years of exploring partnerships, and why is now the right time for it?
Week 2 - Digital Modernization & EPIC Implementation
Why is digital modernization - particularly the implementation of EPIC, an electronic health records software - so critical to the future of South County Health?
In this video, President and CEO Aaron Robinson discusses why digital modernization is critical to the long-term success of South County Health—and why implementing EPIC is such an important step forward. As healthcare becomes increasingly data-driven and interconnected, having a modern, fully integrated electronic health record platform is essential to delivering coordinated, efficient, and high-quality care.
Aaron explains how EPIC will enhance care coordination across service lines, improve access to real-time patient information, reduce administrative burden for clinicians, and create a more seamless experience for patients. From scheduling and communication to clinical documentation, EPIC provides the digital infrastructure needed to support innovation, growth, and long-term sustainability.
Ultimately, this investment is about strengthening the foundation of South County Health and healthcare in southern Rhode Island —equipping our providers with the tools they need, improving the patient experience, and ensuring we remain a strong, independent, community-focused health system for years to come.
Week 3 - Technology, AI & Clinical Support
What are some practical examples of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might support our clinicians or improve the patient experience?
In this week's video, Aaron Robinson, President & CEO, explores how technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are shaping the future of care.
How can AI practically support our clinicians and enhance the patient experience? From reducing administrative burden and streamlining documentation to improving care coordination and delivering faster insights, AI has the potential to give our teams more time to focus on what matters most — our patients.
Watch as Aaron shares real-world examples including wearable devices and his vision for how innovation can strengthen clinical support and elevate care.
Week 4 - Nature of the Partnership
How is this transformational partnership fundamentally different than a traditional merger or acquisition?
In this segment of our partnership series, we address how this partnership is unlike a traditional merger that would require a "change in control".
Unlike a traditional merger—where governance, assets, and local decision-making are often transferred to a larger system—this non-traditional transformational partnership is structured to preserve South County Health’s nonprofit status, local governance, and commitment to serving our community first.
This model is built around collaboration with multiple partners and shared expertise—not ownership change. It allows South County Health to access advanced resources, digital modernization, and strategic support while maintaining local leadership, a local Board of Trustees, and local accountability.
This partnership is designed to strengthen South County Health for the future—without compromising who we are and the services we provide our community.
Week 5 - Philanthropy & Donor Stewardship
How does this partnership protect donor intent and ensure gifts continue to make a direct local impact?
In this segment of our partnership series, we address an important question from many donors and community members: What happens to funds raised through the South County Health Foundation?
The answer is clear: those funds remain here in our community.
The South County Health Foundation will continue to operate locally, ensuring that philanthropic support directly benefits the patients, programs, and services that serve southern Rhode Island. Most importantly, donor intent will continue to be honored in perpetuity, just as it always has.
In addition to protecting philanthropic support, the structure of this partnership also helps ensure that funds generated through operations and reinvestment can remain here in our community, supporting local healthcare services, programs, and future investments at South County Health.
Philanthropy has long played a vital role in strengthening South County Health. This partnership reinforces that commitment by ensuring that both philanthropic gifts and locally generated resources continue to support the care our community depends on.
Week 6 - The Value of South County Health — and This Partnership — for Our Partners
How does this partnership benefit our partners? What makes South County Health a strong fit for them?
In this week's video, Aaron, explains what made South County Health attractive to our partners including being 1 of 40 hospitals nationwide that met our clinical partners rigorous quality and safety thresholds for small, independent healthcare systems.
Additionally, together, we are working to develop a new transformational health partnership model for independent healthcare systems like South County Health—one that allows high-performing community health systems to remain locally governed while gaining access to advanced technology, digital modernization, and strategic capabilities that support long-term sustainability.
For our partners, South County Health represents an opportunity to help replicate a scalable model of quality care and innovation at a national level, offering other independent hospitals a viable path to remain strong and sustainable without needing to merge into larger health systems. In a challenging healthcare environment, this approach provides a new option—and renewed hope—for community-based healthcare organizations across the country which is of extraordinary value to both our clinical and strategic partners.
Week 7 - Future Growth & Service Line Evolution
How does this partnership position South County Health to evolve its service line offerings and expand access as community needs change, including services we may not currently offer?
Week 8 - Capital Investment & Long-Term Sustainability
How does this partnership position South County Health to invest in our facilities, technology, and infrastructure for the long term?
January 30, 2026
