Penn State University trustees have approved the proposed creation of a new nonprofit entity to contain the health system formed by the planned merger between Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and PinnacleHealth System in Harrisburg, Pa.
The nonprofit — tentatively named Penn State Health — would include the medical center, its cancer institute and Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, said A. Craig Hillemeier, MD, Penn State Hershey's CEO, at a board meeting Wednesday, according to a PennLive report. Once the two organizations complete their merger, the new nonprofit would also include PinnacleHealth facilities such as Harrisburg (Pa.) Hospital, in addition to other organizations that aren't currently part of PinnacleHealth or Penn State Hershey. Penn State Hershey and PinnacleHealth signed a letter of intent in June to form a new health system in central Pennsylvania.
"The creation of Penn State Health is another necessary step to effectively position the university's health enterprise for the future of healthcare," Mr. Hillemeier said. "By creating Penn State Health, we can bring together health care organizations of various size and clinical specialization to increase access to care, enhance quality and manage cost over a broader geographic and population base."