Two local health care providers have approved an agreement to work together with the vision of sustaining and enhancing health care services in central Minnesota.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Family Medical Center, a multi-specialty primary care clinic, became an affiliate of Unity Family Healthcare (UFH), a comprehensive health care organization

that includes St. Gabriel’s Hospital and several other entities in central Minnesota. Family Medical Center has 21 health care providers specializing in family practice, internal medicine obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics and general surgery.

“What brought us together was a shared vision to form an integrated health care organization that will be recognized for delivering high-quality, patientcentered health care services,” said Carl Vaagenes, UFH president/CEO.

Ryan Kray, MD, president of Family Medical Center, said the integration is all about best serving the patients.

“As physicians, we recognized the benefits to our patients of a closer relationship with the hospital,” Dr. Kray said. “Our goal of doing all we can to improve the health of people of central Minnesota has never wavered.”

The impact of the alignment is significant. The UFH system includes medical facilities from Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center and the Avon Medical Clinic in the south all the way north to the Randall Lakes Area Clinic; and east to Community Medical Center in Pierz, all leading the way through UFH’s home base in Little Falls and cornerstone facilities - St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Little Falls Orthopedics and Family Medical Center. UFH is sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives, a national health care ministry dedicated to healthy communities.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to better serve our patients,” said Dr. Kray of the agreement. “It’s a ‘win-win-win’ situation for the people of Morrison County, the hospital and our clinic.”