SSM Health to Acquire SLUCare Physician Group

The acquisition, expected to be finalized this summer, will transfer ownership of the physician group from Saint Louis University over to SSM Health.

SSM Health and Saint Louis University recently announced a new agreement for SSM Health-St. Louis to acquire SLUCare Physician Group in a move to "deepen their partnership to advance health equity, strengthen medical education, and improve the health of the St. Louis community and beyond."

SSM Health, a nonprofit, Catholic health system headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and the private, Jesuit research university have worked together for decades, along with SLUCare, to deliver care at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and, more recently, at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.

"Both SSM Health and Saint Louis University School of Medicine have a rich legacy of providing hope and healing to those in need across the St. Louis community," Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, president and CEO of SSM Health said in a statement. "We are thrilled to be taking this next step in our shared mission to ensure every patient gets the best care possible, while keeping that care affordable for the individuals and families we serve."

The acquisition, expected to be finalized this summer, will bring the academic medical expertise of SLUCare together with SSM Health's community-based healthcare model, and will transfer ownership of the physician group from Saint Louis University over to SSM Health following the finalized transaction.

"The integration of SLUCare into SSM Health will be one of the most comprehensive fully integrated academic and community-based physician groups in the region," Dr. Fred P. Pestello, president of Saint Louis University, said in a statement. It will also give the community seamless access to improved care, from primary and preventive services to specialized procedures and clinical trials.

"Saint Louis University School of Medicine has a long tradition of excellence in academic leadership, educating the doctors and scientists of the future, while advancing cutting-edge clinical research and patient care," Christine Jacobs, M.D., dean and vice president of medical affairs for the School of Medicine said in a statement. "This partnership will expand the scope of our primary and specialty healthcare, allowing greater access to clinical trials for our patients, while we educate diverse and committed future physicians for our region, and grow our research in the School of Medicine."

According to the organizations, current patients of SLUCare Physician Group providers won't experience any disruptions in the care they receive or locations they visit for care.

"Working together, we can better meet the comprehensive needs of patients, as well as employers and payors who are looking to partner with health systems that can offer the full range of healthcare services, including expanded breadth of specialists that an academic medical practice can provide," Jeremy Fotheringham, regional president of SSM Health, said in a statement. "Through seamless access and care coordination we'll be able to deliver unparalleled value and convenience."