Pocono Health System (PHS) and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) announced on May 28, 2015 that they have signed a letter of intent to merge, subject to due diligence, the negotiation of definitive transaction documents, and appropriate regulatory approvals. The Boards of Directors of both organizations, in separate meetings, authorized the letter of intent and expect the proposed merger to take effect in the first half of 2016.
The fully accredited Level III Trauma Center, Pocono Medical Center, with more than 200 physicians and more than 1,850 staff members, it is one of Monroe County's oldest and largest employers, offering a full complement of clinical and acute care services for Monroe and surrounding communities. PHS is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year in East Stroudsburg.
Lehigh Valley Health Network is one of America's Best Hospitals, recognized by U.S. News & World Report for 19 consecutive years, and includes four hospital facilities, two in Allentown, one in Bethlehem and one in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Twelve health centers caring for communities in five counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; and pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services. LVHN provides specialty care including but not limited to, trauma care, burn care, kidney and pancreas transplants, perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, 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.
"We believe that the residents of the Poconos region will greatly benefit from the merger of these two longstanding, high-quality healthcare systems,” said Jeff Snyder, President and CEO of PHS. “The combination of our two organizations will mean that Poconos residents will have greater access to the highest-quality clinical care in the region, the most qualified and capable physician network supported by the most sophisticated technology and advanced health records systems, all delivered locally through PMC, while being supported by the resources and scale of Lehigh Valley Health Network.”
Brian Nester, DO, MBA, FACOEP, LVHN's President and CEO, said the two organizations have a long history of productive partnerships in certain clinical areas, such as the affiliation to provide trauma and radiation oncology services to the region. He said together as a single, integrated system, they will accelerate steps to develop and grow to bring additional, affordable healthcare services to best serve the community.
“We look forward to developing with PMC a hospital of the future that incorporates the highest level of clinical competence to provide the highest quality care close to home.” Nester said in addition, LVHN looks forward to the opportunity to provide more integrated care to the Poconos region through population health management, which includes sharing a common electronic medical records system.
For more information on the above merger: Please contact Geoffrey M. Roche, Director of Community and Government Relations at (570) 476-3767 or groche@poconomedicalcenter.org
