Hinsdale, Ill.-based Adventist Midwest Health and Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Alexian Brothers Health System, which is part of St. Louis-based Ascension, have signed a definitive agreement to form an integrated healthcare system.
Under the agreement, which is pending regulatory approvals, the health systems' nine hospitals will join together to serve more than 3.8 million people.
To preserve their respective religious identities, the health systems will form a joint operating company. The joint operating company will also allow the two systems to integrate their operations, while maintaining separate ownership of their assets.
The network, which is aimed at providing more coordinated care, will include more than 3,000 physicians.
"This affiliation will bring to our communities a level of clinical integration for population health that has never existed, providing new healthcare options for our patients," said David L. Crane, president and CEO of Adventist Midwest. "By joining together, we'll offer new services and levels of care while reducing costs and enhancing value."
The systems anticipate the partnership will be finalized by the end of January 2015.
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