The following hospital mergers, acquisitions and general transactions took place or were announced in April, beginning with the most recent.
1. Trinity Health expands network in New York
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health and St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, N.Y., entered into a definitive agreement for St. Joseph's to join Trinity's network.
2. Lafayette General Health partners with Ochsner Health System
Lafayette (La.) General Health and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System formed a strategic partnership focused on increasing access to care, improving quality and reducing healthcare costs.
3. Pennock Health Services to join Spectrum Health
Hastings, Mich.-based Pennock Health Services will integrate into Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health effective May 1.
4. Slidell Memorial Hospital, Ochsner Health System to form partnership
Slidell (La.) Memorial Hospital and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System signed a letter of intent to form a partnership.
5. Hackensack University Health Network, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center announce affiliation
Hackensack (N.J.) University Health Network and Englewood (N.J.) Hospital and Medical Center entered into a new clinical and academic affiliation.
6. Memorial Hermann acquires Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital
As part of an effort to increase access to convenient, high quality and comprehensive orthopedic care, Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System acquired Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital in Bellaire, Texas.
7. HCA deal for Louisiana hospital blocked by Tulane contract
Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America's relationship with Tulane University in New Orleans caused the hospital operator's discussions about taking over East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., to end.
8. Nobilis to acquire Victory Medical Center Houston
Houston-based Nobilis Health entered into an agreement to acquire Victory Medical Center Houston.
9. Lancaster General Health to become part of UPenn Health System
Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine finalized an agreement to acquire Lancaster (Pa.) General Health.
10. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System could operate Wallace Thompson Hospital
Spartanburg (S.C.) Regional Healthcare System could take over Union, S.C.-based Wallace Thomson Hospital and Ellen Sagar Nursing Home as part of a bankruptcy settlement plan for the Union Hospital
11. Optum acquires urgent care company
UnitedHealth Group's Optum division acquired MedExpress, an operator of urgent care clinics across the nation.
12. Stanford Health Care, ValleyCare merger approved
Stanford (Calif.) Health Care received approval from California Attorney General Kamala Harris to move forward with its acquisition of Pleasanton, Calif.-based ValleyCare Health System.
13. Boston Medical Center, Tufts push to complete merger deal this year
Boston Medical Center, the largest safety-net hospital in Massachusetts, and Tufts Medical Center in Boston are involved in merger negotiations and are working to have the deal completed by the end of 2015.
14. Meridian Health, Raritan Bay finalize merger
The boards of trustees of Neptune, N.J.-based Meridian Health and the parent organization of Perth Amboy, N.J-based Raritan Bay Medical Center approved a definitive merger agreement.
15. Scripps Health acquires North County Radiation Oncology Centers
San Diego-based Scripps Clinic Medical Group, part of Scripps Health, acquired CyberKnife of Southern California in Vista, Calif., Oncology Therapies of Vista and Pacific Radiation Oncology in Encinitas, Calif.
16. Palisades Medical Center to join Hackensack University Health Network
North Bergen, N.J.-based Palisades Medical Center signed a definitive agreement to join Hackensack (N.J.) University Health Network.
17. Shares of Ventas spike after announcing $1.75B Ardent deal
Chicago-based Ventas, a real estate investment trust, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services, which is owned by private equity funds managed by Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe.
18. 2 Ohio systems back out of merger talks
River Valley Health Partners in East Liverpool, Ohio, and Cincinnati-based Mercy Health withdrew a letter of intent to merge the two systems.
19. University of Vermont Health Network pursuing affiliation with Alice Hyde Medical Center
The University of Vermont Health Network in Burlington is pursuing a formal affiliation with Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, N.Y.
20. Valley Health System launches affiliation with Cleveland Clinic's heart and vascular institute
Ridgewood, N.J.-based Valley Health System announced an affiliation with Cleveland Clinic's Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute.
21. Details of Wellmont, Mountain States merger released
Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance are in exclusive merger talks.
22. Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic joins Rochester Regional Health System
Clifton Springs (N.Y.) Hospital & Clinic joined Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health System, making it the fifth hospital in the health system.
23. CHS divests 2 South Carolina hospitals
Subsidiaries of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems divested Chesterfield General Hospital in Cheraw, S.C., and Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville, S.C.
24. Robinson Health System to join University Hospitals
Ravenna, Ohio-based Robinson Health System is set to become a part of Cleveland-based University Hospitals under an agreement the two organizations reached.
25. IU Health La Porte in exclusive partnership talks with CHS subsidiary
IU Health La Porte (Ind.) Hospital and Knox, Ind.-based Starke Hospital, also part of Indianapolis-based IU Health, signed a non-binding letter of intent to partner with a subsidiary of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
26. Christ Hospital and Markey Cancer Center to affiliate
Cincinnati-based Christ Hospital and the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center in Lexington affiliated as part of a collaboration effort to expand access to cancer care.
More articles on healthcare transactions:
3 reasons hospitals are avoiding mergers and choosing to affiliate instead
AHA CEO Rich Umbdenstock defends consolidation in response to WSJ op-ed on 'hospital monopolies' under PPACA
Healthcare M&A activity: 8 key points