NYU Langone Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center announced on Tuesday that they are entering into an affiliation agreement to form a clinically integrated health care provider network for the New York Metropolitan area. They expect to have regulatory approval by 2015.

Their goal is to stabilize health care delivery in Brooklyn. According to data, patients who have traveled to Manhattan for care in the past are now searching for high-quality, patient-centered care in their own neighborhoods.

"We have been working closely with Lutheran over the last several months to assess whether a partnership would benefit each of our institutions, the Brooklyn community and, most importantly, the patients and families who turn to us for help," Dr. Robert I. Grossman, dean and CEO of NYU Langone, said in a statement. "Today's agreement publicly confirms our confidence that an affiliation will allow both of our institutions to collaborate and share best practices to better meet the health care needs of the communities we serve."

As part of the agreement, they will develop system-wide IT infrastructure and connectivity to assist with clinical integration and population health management initiatives. They will also focus on other initiatives including maternal and child health, cancer services, cardiac and vascular services and physician network development.

Lutheran runs an extensive ambulatory practice network in four boroughs of New York along with its affiliated federally qualified health center, Lutheran Family Health Centers. NYU Langone also has many ambulatory sites throughout the area and has its main Manhattan hospital campuses.

NYU Langone largely based their decision to combine with Lutheran on the medical center's quality of programs. Grossman explained that it was imperative for them to work with an organization that has the same level of dedication to patient care that they do.

Lutheran was also a pioneer in expanding outpatient clinical services into its neighboring communities. "They truly set a standard that many other institutions, both here in New York City and, indeed, across the country, have followed," Grossman said in a statement.

NYU Langone and Lutheran already have a history together — they are partners in caring for patients who are currently being seen at NYU Langone's freestanding emergency department, NYU Langone-Cobble Hill. They have future plans to develop a new emergency and ambulatory care center at that location.

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