Pottsville, Pa.-based Schuylkill Health System and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network have signed a definitive agreement to merge.
Here are six things to know about the planned merger.
1. As part of the merger, LVHN plans to invest in building the medical staff at SHS and implement an EMR that integrates with the LVHN network.
2. In a prepared statement, Brian Nester, DO, LVHN's president and CEO, said LVHN is specifically committed to increasing the number of physicians in the community, including primary care and specialists, as well as maintaining many services that SHS already offers and further developing some of those services. These include maintaining services such as ER, obstetrics, surgery, behavioral health and expanding specialty services such as cardiology and orthopedics.
3. Anthony Baran, chairman of the SHS board of directors, expressed excitement about the deal. "This agreement will shape healthcare delivery right here in our community for generations to come. It is something our community not only expects but deserves," he said in a prepared statement.
4. This is not the first collaboration for the two organizations. They have previously worked together to care for patients suffering from burns and stroke through the use of telemedicine and other patients who require a higher level of specialized care, according to a news release.
5. Schuylkill Health first announced its intention to pursue some type of partnership with a larger health system in November 2014.
6. Schuylkill Health has about 1,300 employees and a medical staff of about 180 members. Lehigh Valley Health Network includes five hospital campuses — three in Allentown, one in Bethlehem, Pa., and one in Hazleton, Pa.; 14 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.
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