Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest School of Medicine will become the academic core of Atrium Health.
Atrium Health on Friday finalized its acquisition of Wake Forest Baptist Health, creating an expanded 42-hospital health system with a footprint in four states.
Under the acquisition, first announced in April 2019, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest School of Medicine will become the academic core of Atrium Health, which will build a medicine school in Charlotte, now the largest city in the nation without a 4-year medical school.
"As the healthcare field goes through the most transformative period in our lifetime, in addition to a new medical school, our vision is to build a 'Silicon Valley' for healthcare innovation spanning from Winston-Salem to Charlotte," said Eugene A. Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health.
"Everything we do will be focused on life changing care, for all, in urban and rural communities alike. And we will create jobs that provide inclusive opportunities to enhance the economic vitality of our entire region," he said.
The merger comes just days after rival Novant Health gained approval from county commissioners in Wilmington, N.C., for the $1.5 billion acquisition of county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
“Our vision is to build a 'Silicon Valley' for healthcare innovation spanning from Winston-Salem to Charlotte.”
Eugene A. Woods, President / CEO, Atrium Health.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The new Atrium Health will include 42 hospitals and more than 1,500 care venues, with a footprint in North and South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.
The merger comes just days after rival Novant Health gained approval for the $1.5 billion acquisition of New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.