Jefferson, Lehigh Valley Well being Community Plan to Merge

At a time of accelerating scrutiny of well being system mergers, Philadelphia-based Jefferson Well being and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Well being Community (LVHN) have signed a non-binding letter of intent to merge. 

Upon closing of a deal, the mixed system would function 30 hospitals and greater than 700 websites of care, supported by greater than 62,000 employed school, clinicians and workers in Jap Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

The complementary capabilities can be additional strengthened by each organizations’ tutorial applications and studying surroundings, particularly of the Thomas Jefferson College, the nonprofit organizations stated. “It will improve alternatives for learners to obtain scientific coaching, sufferers to take part in scientific analysis inside the community, and supply extra alternative for well being plan beneficiaries,” a press launch stated.   

“The healthcare panorama and our communities’ wants are altering; it’s essential main methods evolve and make investments in the way forward for care and wellness—rising and defending entry to enhanced, reasonably priced, high-quality and progressive care, significantly for traditionally underserved sufferers,” stated Joseph Cacchione, M.D., CEO of Jefferson, in a press release.

“Combining Jefferson’s and LVHN’s sources will permit us to satisfy the altering wants of our various communities quicker, extra effectively and extra successfully. Collectively—with our mixed community of sources and websites of care, managed care experience, training and analysis capabilities—we could have the flexibility to make important enhancements to well being outcomes and tackle well being disparities on this area, and past, to the profit our communities, sufferers, physicians, school, workers, college students and well being plan members.”


Upon the closing of the transaction, Jefferson’s Cacchione will proceed to function CEO of the Jefferson Enterprise. LVHN President and CEO Brian Nester, D.O., M.B.A., will function government vice chairman/chief working officer and president of the legacy Lehigh Valley Well being Community. Baligh R. Yehia, M.D., will function government vice chairman/chief transformation officer and president of the legacy Jefferson Heath. The newly built-in Board of Trustees and management group can be comprised of members from each methods. The specifics can be labored out within the definitive settlement.