Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care are exploring a merger that would make it the largest Catholic health care network in the United States. The two health care systems have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore the possibility merging, according to a press release.
The combination would also make Provena and Resurrection Health Care one of the State’s largest health systems, including 12 hospitals, 28 senior and long-term care facilities, over 50 specialty care and primary clinics and six home health agencies, according to the press release. These facilities are located the city of Chicago and in suburbs such as Aurora, Danville, Des Plains, Elgin, Evanston, Joliet, Kankakee, Rockford and Urbana.
The Boards and Sponsoring Congregations of Resurrection and Provena are still talking about the benefits of merging and how it will proceed, said Lisa Lagger, System Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing.
“At this point we are only exploring the possibility of a merger. We have signed a Letter of Intent which means that we begin a process called due diligence,” Lagger said.
Due diligence is a process when both sides examine each other’s facility and health care system to determine if the two are compatible to merge, Lagger added.
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If the merger were to happen, one of the benefits would be that the combined medical staff of the two health care systems is nearly 5,000 physicians supported by 22,000 employees, according to the press release.
“By working together, we not only increase access to outstanding care and compassionate service to our patients and community residents, but leverage the benefits of our advanced continuums of care within the new Health Reform law,” said Guy Wiebking, President and CEO of Provena Health, in the press release.
The merger would also combine Resurrection Health Care’s and Provena Health’s 2010 operating revenues, which is nearly $3 billion, according to the press release.
According to the press release, both health care systems have been collaborating as partners for about three years in Alverno Clinical Laboratories in Hammond, IN.
“As providers of Catholic health services, we have a special calling to work together for the benefit of all we serve, improving access, enhancing capabilities and stewarding our resources,” Wiebking said in the press release.
If the merger were to happen, it would not effect the location of the current Urbana facility, the Provena Covenant Medical Center.
“With or without the merger, we will continue to provide services for the greater Urbana region that we have been doing for the past 100 years,” Lagger said.
