Kalamazoo, Mi – The Beacon health system, based in Indiana, has concluded a final agreement to acquire the Ascension health care system in southwest Michigan.
The agreement, which is expected to close this summer, includes the acquisition of four hospitals, 35 external clinics and an ambulatory surgery center.
Acquired hospitals include:
- Borgess Ascension Hospital in Kalamazoo
- Ascension Borgess Algan Hospital
- Borgess-Lee Hospital ascent in Dowagiac
- Borgess-Pipp Ascension Hospital in Plainwell
According to the CEO of Beacon Health, Kreg Gruber, Ascension approached Beacon last fall, about a year after Fusion of other Michigan Ascension hospitals With Henry Ford Health.
“The main objective of the Beacon health system is to provide exceptional care to our communities,” said Gruber. “The widening of our scope deeper in the southwest of Michigan is expanding access to high-quality affordable care for communities served by ascension, extends our service area and offers an opportunity for growth to further strengthen the health system.”
Kreg Gruber, CEO of Beacon Health System.Supplied by Beacon Health
Beacon Health was created in 2011 following a merger between the Memorial Hospital in South Bend and the Elkhart General Hospital.
During the 14 years that followed, he developed “organically and opportunistic,” said Gruber. Inspired by a community and autonomous approach, the health system has since acquired an intensive care establishment in Bremen, Indiana and Three Rivers Health in Michigan.
“We believe in strengthening local health care and we have done,” said Gruber. “Bremen is more successful today than they have never been.
“They see more patients than ever.
The same thing, said Gruber, has happened since Three Rivers Health joined the lap. Investments in the establishment, technology and people have all led the hospital to treat more patients than ever before.
While the organization is preparing to acquire four hospitals and 35 external clinics in southwest Michigan, Gruber has said that it is impatiently waiting to work with each local community to improve existing facilities.
“We don’t believe bigger, it’s better, we think better,” he said. “Our philosophy is that if it will work, it will work locally.”
The largest installation of the acquisition, Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo, is currently made up of 422 beds, 2,700 partners and 261 suppliers.
“We are not interested in coming and eliminating services,” said Gruber. “We are interested in coming and creating services.
“Over the years, at least according to what we have seen, Borgess has lost or has not been able to keep some of the doctors and key staff who have really succeeded in a health care organization.
Beacon Health System acquires four hospitals in southwest Michigan and 35 external clinics.Supplied by Beacon Health
Gruber said organizational leaders will go overtime to join new hospitals and clinics in their culture in the coming months.
“I think relationships are important,” he said. “I have a policy at the open door. Any employee can send an email, enter my office or say: “Hey, I would like to talk to Kreg. »»
From the patient’s point of view, the tag and ascent use the Electronic Health folder system.
Beacon is advanced in terms of patient -oriented digital planning, said Gruber. Ascension hospitals will be rationalized to match.
“I think there will be positive things they will notice,” he said. “Our goal is that these changes, even if they are hard at first, will ultimately bring satisfaction and value to people.”
Borgess has served southwest Michigan for over 135 years, so the change will be inevitable.
The Beacon Health System and Ascension teams undertake to work together to ensure a smooth transition for team members, doctors and consumers, officials said in a joint statement.
Current Ascension patients can expect to continue to receive the same level of care from providers in which they trust, with a minimum disturbance, if necessary, community care and services before and after the closing, according to the company.
“As a regional supplier, Beacon Health System is positioned to serve patients thanks to an integrated care provision system to ensure that southwest Michigan has access to sustainable and quality health care for a long time,” said Scott Cihak, chief of the Michigan ascent operation.
“After an in-depth review, we found that our organizations are well aligned culturally, which will rationalize the integration process,” he said. “Our communities are in good hands.”
The transaction must still be approved by the general prosecutors of Michigan and Indiana.
Beacon officials refused to disclose the sale price.
“We are grateful for our partnership and our long history of collaboration with Ascension Borgess,” said Laura Eller, Western spokesperson Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. “We are impatient to forge a solid relationship with the Beacon health system when we remain attached to our vision of health equity and our mission providing medical education, patient care and research through community partnerships.”
To find out more about acquisition, visit beacon.health/bright-fuature.
Do you want more news from the Kalamazoo region? Sign the Kalamazoo local news page or register for free “3 @ 3 kalamazoo»Daily newsletter.