U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Alonso’s decision announced on June 14 paves the way for the creation of Advocate NorthShore Health Partners (ANHP) by denying the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request to block the merger. ANHP will create an innovative care delivery model focused on expanding access, unifying quality and lowering overall cost of care for patients.
“Judge Alonso’s decision reaffirmed what we have wholeheartedly believed since day one —this merger is a big win for consumers and for health care in our country as the shift to value takes hold,” said Jim Skogsbergh, Advocate’s President and CEO. “We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work together to deliver on our commitment of making health care more affordable while raising the standard of care.”
ANHP combines two health systems recognized nationally for delivering top quality health care. Advocate is consistently named among the top five large health systems in the U.S. based on quality and efficiency, ranked among the largest Accountable Care Organizations in the nation and leads the way in population health management and clinical integration.
Likewise, NorthShore University HealthSystem’s (NorthShore) reputation and excellence in quality, safety, clinical expertise, and translational research have made it a formidable leader. NorthShore was among the first in the U.S. to successfully launch a system-wide electronic medical record, lauded by healthcare institutions nationwide.
“We believe that by bringing together our two very strong and complementary institutions we are creating a patient-centered ‘system of systems’ that will deliver exceptional care and unprecedented access for those who matter most – our patients,” said Mark Neaman, North- Shore’s President and CEO.
ANHP, the parent company for both organizations, will serve more than three million patients annually, making it the 11th largest not-for-profit health care system in the United States. Skogsbergh and Neaman will serve as co-CEOs of ANHP for a designated timeframe. The ANHP Board of Directors will be comprised of an equal number of members from both Advocate and NorthShore; and the organizations are consolidating financial statements.
Advocate and NorthShore first announced their intentions to merge in September 2014. After a 15-month review, the FTC opposed the merger in December 2015 setting the stage for a federal court hearing in April 2016, culminating in the decision.
About Advocate Health Care
Advocate Health Care is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. A national leader in population health management, Advocate is one of the largest Accountable Care Organizations in the country. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care and 12 hospitals, including two of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, the state’s largest integrated children’s network, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), three Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health and hospice companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Advocate Health Care trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $783 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2014.
About NorthShore University HealthSystem
NorthShore University HealthSystem is an integrated healthcare delivery system consistently named among the nation’s best. The NorthShore system, including its four hospitals – Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie – is consistently ranked as a Top 15 Teaching Hospital System in the U.S. NorthShore also includes a 900 physician multispecialty group practice, NorthShore Medical Group, located in 100-plus offices across Chicago and many of the Northern Suburbs. NorthShore is a Magnet recognized organization, the first in Illinois designated as an entire system to receive this prestigious honor that demonstrates excellence in nursing and high standards in patient care. The system also supports the NorthShore Research Institute; the NorthShore Philanthropic Foundation; and NorthShore Home & Hospice Services.
