Provena, Resurrection health care systems OK merger

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The new tower at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is one example of the investments made in the Joliet hospital. | Sun-Times Media

Updated: October 31, 2011 10:09AM

Provena Health, which includes Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Mercy Medical Center in Aurora , and Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. has agreed to merge with Resurrection Health Care.

The merger, which is expected to create the largest Catholic health provider in Illinois, comes after several months of talks.

“Together we see a bolder vision of healthcare,” said Sandra Bruce, president and CEO of Resurrection. “One that excels at the patient, resident and family experience. One that provides high quality and value across the continuum, in true partnership with our physicians and employees. And above all, one that delivers care with compassion, dignity and respect at every stage of life.”

Having filed a Certificate of Need application with the Illinois Health Facilities Services Review Board, the parties now await state approval.

“The more we talked, the more we realized that through collaboration and equal partnership, we take a major step toward achieving a long-common goal of ensuring for the future access to a vibrant Catholic health system which will enhance our abilities to meet the needs of the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Guy Wiebking, president and CEO of Proena Health.

The new system will encompass 12 hospitals, 28 long-term care and senior residential facilities, more than 50 primary and specialty care clinics and six home health agencies.

The merged company would have nearly $3 billion in operating revenues, 5,000 physicians and more than 22,000 employees.

In addition, the system includes Resurrection University, a fully-accredited, not-for-profit, Catholic-based specialty school for health sciences. In 2010, the health systems invested over $112 million in facility and technological enhancements.