Lakeland HealthCare in St. Joseph, Mich., and Southwestern Medical Clinic in Berrien Springs, Mich., have agreed to merge after 18 months of discussions, according to a Lakeland Health news release.
The deal will integrate the non-profit, community-owned health system and the 70-physician multispecialty medical practice. The merger is intended to streamline the healthcare delivery system in the community and increase efficiencies, according to the report.
"Across the nation, our industry faces increasing costs, decreasing reimbursements, and increasing numbers of uninsured patients," Dan Hopp, chairman of the Lakeland HealthCare Board of Directors, said in the release. "In this changing healthcare environment, it is vital that Lakeland HealthCare and its medical staff examine ways to align their directions, goals, processes and procedures."
Read the release on the Lakeland HealthCare and Southwestern Medical Clinic merger.
The deal will integrate the non-profit, community-owned health system and the 70-physician multispecialty medical practice. The merger is intended to streamline the healthcare delivery system in the community and increase efficiencies, according to the report.
"Across the nation, our industry faces increasing costs, decreasing reimbursements, and increasing numbers of uninsured patients," Dan Hopp, chairman of the Lakeland HealthCare Board of Directors, said in the release. "In this changing healthcare environment, it is vital that Lakeland HealthCare and its medical staff examine ways to align their directions, goals, processes and procedures."
Read the release on the Lakeland HealthCare and Southwestern Medical Clinic merger.