Northwell Health in deal with Connecticut health group

Northwell Health and Western Connecticut Health Network have signed an agreement to jointly explore developing new clinical programs and services as well as sharing analytics.

As part of the deal, Northwell Health will provide the Danbury, Connecticut-based health care system with workforce development opportunities via its corporate university.

“This enables us to expand our footprint into western Connecticut and see where there might be areas where we can collaborate on clinical and non-clinical initiatives,” said Northwell spokesman Terry Lynam. “This helps us develop relationships with physicians in that region.”

Northwell has a small presence in Connecticut through Westchester Health Associates, a network of physicians and specialty practices it took over early last year. Westchester Health has more than 100 providers in 39 locations throughout Westchester and Putnam counties in New York and in Stamford, Connecticut.

Western Connecticut operates three hospitals — Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital and Norwalk Hospital — and employs nearly 6,300 people, including 1,900 clinical staff. The network also runs 70 Western Connecticut Medical Group medical and sub-specialty practices in 16 communities.

New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health is New York State’s largest private employer, with about 66,000 employees.

Northwell and Western Connecticut will continue to operate as independent health care networks, maintain their respective executive leadership teams and board governance structures, and be responsible for their own operations.