Hartford Healthcare in partnership talks with Day Kimball

File photo Hartford Healthcare's flagship, Hartford Hospital.

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Five-hospital health system Hartford Healthcare said Thursday that it is exploring a partnership with Putnam’s Day Kimball Healthcare that could lead to a formal affiliation.

Day Kimball CEO Robert Smanik said an affiliation with Hartford Healthcare would provide more comprehensive services to the rural area of Connecticut his hospital serves and help Day Kimball provide more efficient and coordinated care.

Hartford Healthcare and Day Kimball have signed a non-binding letter of intent that will allow them to outline proposed terms over the next several months.

They plan to first enter into management services agreements allowing Hartford Healthcare to manage some of Day Kimball’s operations, thereby reducing its costs. The two did not disclose which operations the HHC would manage.

They also plan to collaborate on quality and value initiatives, doctor recruitment and operational improvements, as they discuss a more formal integration. That includes Day Kimball doctors joining HHC’s Integrated Care Partners physician organization.

Besides the hospital, Day Kimball Healthcare includes health centers in four I-395 communities, homecare and hospice businesses and a medical group.

The parent company reported a $5.9 million loss from operations for the year ended Sept. 2014. The year before, it lost $8.9 million.