ROCKPORT and BELFAST — Following work last year to move Pen Bay Healthcare and Waldo County Healthcare toward greater collaboration, which thus far has resulted in the integration of more than 40 clinical and non-clinical programs between them, both organizations Wednesday announced a plan to form a new parent company, which will be the Knox and Waldo County member of MaineHealth.

In a press release, Pen Bay Healthcare Board Chairman David Williams said that both PBH and WCH will remain separate organizations, each with their own operations and medical staff. The formal partnership is intended to allow both organizations and their medical staffs to continue to work closely together to develop integrated services and operations "which will enhance patient care, improve the health of people in the communities they serve and control the rising cost of healthcare."

Pen Bay Healthcare includes Pen Bay Medical Center and Pen Bay Physicians Associates, both in Rockport, Quarry Hill Retirement Community in Camden, and Rockland-based Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice and the Knox Center for Long Term Care.

Waldo County Healthcare serves Waldo County residents through Waldo County General Hospital, five rural health centers, home health and hospice services, public health nursing, physicians' offices and educational programs.

Both PBH and WCH are members of the MaineHealth system.

The parent organization will be formed with the intention that the two organizations will continue to find additional ways to collaborate and bring the best of services to the community. Over the next year, the organizations, their medical staff and the community will be engaged in a strategic planning process to determine local health care needs and how best to meet those needs as one organization.

"We are very excited about the possibilities this new partnership creates," said Williams in the release.

Waldo County Healthcare Board of Trustees Chairman Lee Woodward said, "The boards of both organizations see this as a major step forward for our community and our health care programs. We can continue to collaborate to provide the best health care services for our patients."

According to Mark Biscone, CEO of WCH, and interim CEO of PBH since March 14, 2014, more than 85 percent of hospitals in the U.S. today are part of networks.

"By joining forces with MaineHealth, our organizations have already been able to save millions of dollars through large group purchases of supplies and technology and shared resources and expertise. This new partnership is a natural extension for the Midcoast," said Biscone in the release.

"By working together WCH and PBH will be able to do more for our Knox and Waldo [counties] patients and be more cost efficient at the same time. And that's our goal," said Biscone.

Related story:

 • Pen Bay Healthcare appoints longtime area executive as interim CEO

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655