Sioux City's Mercy joins hospital alliance - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Sioux City's Mercy Medical Center is joining more than 50 hospitals and 160 clinics in Iowa to improve quality of care while cutting costs.

The facilities belong to four major hospital systems; Mercy Health Network, University of Iowa Health Care, Genesis Health System, and Mercy-Cedar Rapids.       

They announced Thursday, they're forming University of Iowa Health Alliance.           

The new group will share costs such as expensive information technology systems, coordinate patient care, and use data to track outcomes and best practices.

"We think this alliance is going to make a big difference in the delivery of care in Iowa, and we look forward to promoting, not only its existence, but helping it grow," said Mercy President Bob Peebles.

Officials say the group was planned before the U.S. Supreme Court health care ruling, Thursday.

It came in response to market pressures to cut costs and improve outcomes.