After receiving regulatory approval, Philadelphia-based Jefferson and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Well being Community (LVHN) have closed the merger deal introduced in December 2023.
Jefferson stated the system is now among the many high 15 largest nonprofit well being programs within the U.S. with 32 hospitals and greater than 700 websites of care in Japanese Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. It has grown quickly via acquisition over the previous few years, together with Abington Well being, Kennedy Well being System in New Jersey and Einstein Healthcare Community.
The mixed group, with annual income of round $15 billion, will now deal with integrating medical care, operations, and model id.
“We’re delighted to carry these two unimaginable organizations collectively as we glance forward in any respect the nice we are going to do for the communities we’re privileged to serve,” stated Joseph Cacchione, M.D., CEO of Jefferson, in an announcement. “This milestone is much more important as Jefferson celebrates its bicentennial, marking our longstanding dedication to enhancing lives via schooling, healthcare and discovery. As we create our third century, this can be a historic second for our 65,000 colleagues because it marks a brand new chapter in entry, innovation, fairness, and alternative for sufferers, college students and well being plan members. We’ve many extra milestones forward as we share data and combine our operations.”
In an interview with the Morning Name newspaper, Cacchione stated that LVHN will endure some kind of rebranding however last branding selections haven’t but occurred, Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson, stated throughout an interview forward of Thursday’s merger announcement.
“Over time there will likely be a branding conference that can embrace the Jefferson title and the Lehigh title. The Lehigh title will likely be preserved and won’t go away. The Lehigh Valley title has loads of model fairness, it’s a vital model — one of many causes for our entire plan,” Cacchione stated.”
Cacchione additionally spoke to the Morning Name about synergies between the 2 organizations. “Jefferson has the highest coronary heart transplantation program within the metropolis of Philadelphia proper now,” he stated. “We see the flexibility to search out sufferers earlier within the Lehigh Valley, get them plugged into our transplant program, the highest transplant program within the metropolis and expedite the folks’s path to cardiac transplantation.”
He additionally instructed the newspaper that for now there aren’t any plans to remove LVHN’s dwelling well being care program in favor of Bayada Dwelling Well being Care, which Jefferson has a enterprise partnership with.
Cacchione will proceed to function CEO of the Jefferson enterprise. Brian Nestor, D.O., M.B.A., former CEO of LVHN, will function govt vp/chief working officer. He’s joined on the management staff by Baligh R. Yehia, M.D., M.P.P., M.Sc, who will function president of the legacy Jefferson Well being and govt vp/chief transformation officer of the Jefferson enterprise. The newly built-in board of trustees and management staff is comprised of members from each programs.
“The mixture of our two world-class well being care establishments will permit us to set the course for care within the area by launching new medical packages, advancing well being fairness and constructing more healthy communities,” stated Yehia, in an announcement. “Jefferson Well being and Lehigh Valley Well being Community will work collectively to recruit and retain one of the best and brightest clinicians, providing them alternatives to advance their careers whereas offering distinctive care and exemplifying our unwavering dedication to enhancing the well being and well-being of the communities we serve.”
As a part of the mixing, the area LVHN serves will quickly have entry to Jefferson Well being Plans.
