St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center of Syracuse, N.Y., has signed a definitive agreement to merge with Trinity Health of Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health leaders expect the deal to close this summer.
Once the merger is complete, the 431-bed, nonprofit stand-alone hospital will benefit from the system's expertise in creating operating efficiencies and enhancing clinical excellence and it will gain greater access to capital resources, according to a press release. Trinity Health has 85 hospitals, 130 continuing care facilities and home health and hospice programs in 21 states.
Under Trinity Health's ownership, St. Joseph's would continue to manage and operate its facilities. St. Joseph's sponsorship would transfer to Trinity Health's sponsor, Catholic Health Ministries. St. Joseph's current sponsor, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, would continue to have a presence at St. Joseph's, including providing spiritual support to staff, according to the press release.
The proposed merger is subject to federal and state regulatory review and approval.
St. Joseph's and Trinity Health had considered a merger in 2013, but decided against the move in part because, at the time, Trinity Health was focused on consolidating with Newtown Square, Pa.-based Catholic Health East, a merger that had closed earlier in 2013. Rather than merge, St. Joseph's and Trinity Health signed an affiliation agreement that has been in place since 2014, through which they share best practices in care management, population health and other priority areas.