Adventist Midwest Health and Alexian Brothers Health System Sign Letter of Intent

The two organizations are pursuing a possible affiliation to create an integrated health care system in the Chicago area.

6/17/2014 | By Julie Busch

Alexian Brothers Health System (ABHS), part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health and Adventist Midwest Health (AMH), part of Adventist Health System, announce the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to form a joint operating company (JOC). The letter calls for the two health systems to pursue a possible affiliation under which four AMH hospitals and five ABHS hospitals in suburban Chicago will join forces to create an integrated health care system.

The JOC will allow the two separate organizations to preserve their respective religious identities and mission priorities, and to integrate their operations while maintaining separate ownership of their assets. The affiliation will result in a notably diverse physician provider network, bringing together more than 3,000 physicians to offer better coordinated, more comprehensive care for patients in the Chicago area.

"By affiliating with Adventist Midwest Health, we believe we will enhance the high-quality care ABHS currently provides by extending our reach and strengthening our position in the highly competitive Chicago health care market. At the same time, we will be taking another important step toward ensuring the long-term viability of the Alexian Brothers' 800-year healing mission. This affiliation is also an example of Ascension Health's strategic commitment to developing regional integrated systems of care," said Mark A. Frey, president and chief executive officer of Alexian Brothers Health System.

"Our affiliation will bring a new level of clinical integration for population health to our communities that has never existed before, resulting in new health care options for the patients we serve," said David L. Crane, president and chief executive officer of Adventist Midwest Health. "By joining together, we'll offer new services and levels of care while reducing costs and enhancing value to a combined population service area of more than 3.8 million potential patients."

The Letter of Intent is expected to lead to a Definitive Agreement, which will be subject to a due diligence process and review and approval from appropriate regulatory bodies. As approvals are obtained, ABHS and Adventist Midwest Health anticipate the partnership will be complete by early fall.

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The Immaculate Conception Province (the American Province) sponsors Alexian Brothers Health System, which provides services in acute care, residential elderly care, retirement centers, and AIDS ministry in Illinois, Missouri,Wisconsin, Tennessee, and also outside the USA in the Philippines and Hungary. On January 1, 2012 the Alexian Brothers Health System became part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexians

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