SANTA ROSA, Calif. – On Monday, March 31, leaders of Redwood Regional Medical Group, the North Bay’s largest integrated physician-owned medical group specializing in radiology and cancer care, finalized an agreement to transfer the major portion of its operations in a five-county area to the fast-growing St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare/Annadel Medical Group and to St. Joseph Health.

This major milestone follows nine months of collaboration and negotiation between St. Joseph Health and Annadel representatives and Redwood Regional physicians who, since the mid-1950s, have filled vital health care needs for the people of Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, Lake and northern Marin counties.

Effective on Tuesday, April 1, 19 of Redwood Regional’s 31 physicians will join Annadel Medical Group, while the outpatient imaging studies and oncology treatment provided by the group will continue through Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and its parent organization, St. Joseph Health.

Twelve radiologists who have been part of Redwood Regional have formed a new group, Redwood Radiology Group, and will continue to provide diagnostic and interventional radiology services throughout the area.

Redwood Regional has served more than 500 patients per day out of eight area locations, a practice that Annadel Medical Group and St. Joseph Health, in collaboration with Redwood Radiology Group, will maintain.

With no interruption in care, patients can continue to access services from Annadel and St. Joseph Health at Redwood Regional’s pre-existing Sotoyome Street and Fountaingrove campuses in Santa Rosa, and at established sites in Petaluma, Healdsburg, Napa, Ukiah, Lakeport and Novato.

Collectively, these sites employ approximately 200 individuals who have been hired either by St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare or St. Joseph Health.

The physicians of Redwood Radiology will continue to be headquartered at 121 Sotoyome Street in Santa Rosa.

“North Bay communities have depended upon Redwood Regional Medical Group to provide advanced cancer care, surgical services, and radiology studies for many decades,” said Bob Just, regional chief operating officer of St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, the medical practice foundation with which Annadel Medical Group partners. “The distinguished physicians and staff at Redwood have long been recognized for providing essential health care services throughout the region, and we are proud to partner with them to uphold the high quality of care their patients have come to expect.”

Leaders of all parties involved in the transition finalized terms of their agreement on Monday, March 31, bringing to fruition a process that began in July 2013.

This new partnership, consistent with nationwide health care trends toward greater integration between physician groups, hospitals, outpatient services and health systems, reinforces the parties’ shared capacity and mission to promote health and quality of life in the North Bay region.

Wayne Keiser, MD, an oncologist with Redwood Regional since 1977 who has presided over his medical group’s board of directors, cited his colleagues’ dedication to sustaining the work begun by Redwood’s founders and all who have since worked to expand access to their care.

“We are committed to our North Bay communities, to our patients, and to their ongoing care,” said Dr. Keiser, who along with radiologist Robert Feiwell, MD, has served as a co-chief executive for the group. “We look forward to an exceptional partnership with St. Joseph Health and a seamless transition for patients and their families.”