Pocono Health System (PHS) and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) announced on December 16, 2015 that they have signed an agreement for a full-asset merger, pending regulatory approvals. The PHS Board of Directors and LVHN Board of Trustees, authorized the agreement.
In May, the two organizations announced they had signed a letter of intent to merge subject to due diligence, the negotiation of definitive transaction documents and approval from regulators. Pending completion of regulatory approvals, the parties expect the proposed merger to take effect in the beginning of 2016.
“This agreement takes us one step closer to realizing this merger,” said Jeff Snyder, FACHE, FHFMA, President and CEO of Pocono Health System. “It will bring continued growth and expansion in health care services for Poconos residents, providing them greater access to the highest-quality clinical care, the most sophisticated technology and advanced health records systems, and the largest and most experienced physician network in the area.”
According to the terms in the agreement, LVHN anticipates developing with PHS a hospital of the future called Pocono Medical Center West in Pocono Township as was announced in late 2014 that incorporates the highest level of clinical competence to provide the highest quality care close to home. The combined entity will also create ambulatory health centers, develop and grow essential clinical services, recruit primary care physicians and increase access to specialists.
Brian Nester, DO, MBA, FACOEP, LVHN's president and CEO, said, “Pocono Health System is a highly-valued community hospital that cares deeply for the Pocono region. We, at Lehigh Valley Health Network, commend the leadership of Pocono Health System for their exceptional oversight of this vital community asset. We applaud their accomplishments and look forward to making a great system of care even better for our communities.”
The decision to unite builds upon a historical affiliation between the two organizations. They created partnerships that enabled the creation of a Trauma Center, provision of professional services in Radiation Oncology and Interventional Radiology and collaboration to provide services for the Monroe County Community Safety Program.
Pocono Medical Center (PMC) became an accredited Trauma Center in November 2008 with Lehigh Valley Health Network serving as the Level I Trauma partner. An agreement with LVHN to provide Interventional Radiology services commenced shortly thereafter. Most recently, an agreement was reached to have LVHN provide the professional services in Radiation Oncology at the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center beginning in March 2015. Also in 2015, Pocono Medical Center and the Children's Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital announced a partnership with the Monroe County Community Safety Program to educate and provide services in areas that include child car seat safety, distracted driving and accident prevention.
Pocono Medical Center is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year in East Stroudsburg. With more than 230 physicians and 2,000 employees, it is one of Monroe County's largest employers, offering a full complement of clinical and acute care services for Monroe and surrounding communities. It was recently recognized as being among the top 10% in Pennsylvania and as a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Pocono Medical Center's ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute offers cardiovascular services, including diagnostic cardiac catheterization and angioplasty, open-heart surgery, and minimally invasive heart procedures, as well as vascular surgery and cardiac rehabilitation services. The Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at PMC offers a variety of treatments and alternatives, including state-of-the-art radiation therapy. Pocono Medical Center is a fully accredited Level III Trauma Center.
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes five hospital campuses - three in Allentown including the region's only facility dedicated to orthopedic surgery, one in Bethlehem and one in Hazleton, Pa.; 13 health centers caring for communities in five counties; over 130 primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care at the region's busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Children's Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, the only children's hospital in the region, provides care in 28 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 20 consecutive years as one of America's Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Lehigh Valley Health Network's Cancer Center is the only cancer center in the region to have been selected as a National Cancer Center Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP, 2010-14).
For more information, visit lvhn.org
