Illinois hospitals finalize $160 million merger

Illinois-based hospital operator Evanston Northwestern Healthcare has acquired Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie, IL, and committed more than $160 million to the deal. As part of the deal, which still needs approval of regulators including the Federal Trade Commission, Evanston Northwestern will retire Rush North Shore's $54 million in debt and contribute $10 million to a community foundation. Evanston Northwestern will also commit $100 million in capital over the next several years that includes establishing an electronic medical record system at Rush North Shore.