The consolidated system that emerges from the deal, with more than 15,000 employees, would provide integrated care services to a broad geographic area in Southeastern New England.
The announcement is the latest development in partnership talks that started in November. In a joint media release, the two health systems said they will develop an affiliation agreement, begin the regulatory approval process in both states, and undertake due diligence reviews.
The consolidated system that emerges from the deal, with more than 15,000 employees, would provide integrated care services to a broad geographic area in Southeastern New England.
Under an agreed-upon framework, Southcoast Health President and CEO Keith Hovan will be president and CEO of the new health system parent company; Care New England CEO Dennis Keefe will be CEO of the Population Health initiative for the unified system; Care New England's board will select the new chair of the system parent Board, and the Southcoast Health board vice chair will be vice chair. Southcoast Health and Care New England will each select 10 people to serve on the new system parent board of trustees.
Care New England includes Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, the VNA of Care New England, The Providence Center, CNE Wellness Center and Integra, a certified ACO created in collaboration with the Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corp.
Southcoast Health includes Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford; Tobey Hospital in Wareham; and Southcoast Behavioral Health in Dartmouth, a joint venture hospital with Acadia Healthcare.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.