South Haven (Mich.) Community Health System will become a part of Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Bronson Healthcare Group as early as Jan. 1, 2017, according to MiBiz.com.
Because South Haven is a public authority health system, it required public approval to legally affiliate with Bronson Healthcare. Voters supported the affiliation, passing the ballot question with 89 percent of the vote, according to the article.
According to the agreement, Bronson Healthcare will commit $18 million in five years to expand services and facilities at South Haven. The system will also contribute $1 million to a new fund dedicated to upgrading South Haven's existing facilities. The South Haven facility will also rebrand itself Bronson South Haven Hospital.
Prior to the proposed agreement, the two health systems had been collaborating on certain initiatives for more than 30 years.
South Haven began considering a potential partner in January 2015 after suffering financial setbacks.