By Dee Longfellow
According to a release received from EEHealth, NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) and Edward-Elmhurst Health have come together to transform healthcare and set the standard for community-connected, expert care close to home.
Issued on Wednesday, Jan. 5, the release provided the following information:
What does it mean for you?
“The same doctors you know and trust will still be here, along with the high level of personalized care you expect,” according to the release. “Your doctor won’t change, but over time, you will have access to more resources and ways to make your care better, including:
• Top physicians in medicine sharing their expertise;
• Greater access to innovative medicine, research and technology;
• An expanded network of expert physicians, specialists and sub-specialists;
• Top-tier, expert clinical services and personalized care close to home; and,
• Expanded clinical services, including orthopedics, cardiology and behavioral health.”
What does this mean for your community?
According to the release, Edward-Elmhurst Health and NorthShore both want to see their communities flourish and each has created community investment funds of $100 million. Each fund is expected to generate millions of dollars annually to support organizations committed to enhancing community health and well-being, advancing health equity and supporting local economic growth.
What does the new, merged health system look like?
NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health is the third largest healthcare delivery system in Illinois. The new health system includes nine hospitals with nearly 2,400 beds, 25,000 team members, more than 6,000 best-in-class physicians and more than 300 local office locations, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties that stretch 69 miles from Lake County to Will County.
The system offers eight acute care hospitals, all of which are Magnet® recognized for nursing excellence, along with one behavioral health hospital. They include: Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Evanston Hospital, Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Highland Park Hospital, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville, Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Skokie Hospital and Swedish Hospital in Chicago.
What can you expect going forward?
The release assured that patients would continue to receive the excellent care and services they have today while over time benefiting from improved access to additional specialties and sub-specialties, a larger breadth of services and an improved experience through state-of-the-art solutions, seamlessly connected throughout the system. Existing physician and medical groups will be maintained, supported by leading-edge technology, research and Magnet-level nursing care.
“While a thoughtful approach to a new name and brand for the combined entity is underway, the new system will refer to itself as ‘NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health,’” the release read.
Hospital executives weigh in
Company executives talked about the merger as follows:
“Our combined organization offers significant promise for our patients, team members and communities,” said J.P. Gallagher, president and CEO of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health. “As we deepen our commitment to community connection and expand regional access to leading-edge, expert care in our patients’ backyards, we have the opportunity to create something truly differentiated and transformative.
“One of the things I’m most excited about is our mutual commitment to our communities. A prominent feature of our merger is the creation of new community investment funds. Each organization has committed $100 million to our respective communities. These funds will generate millions of dollars annually to enhance health and well-being, advance health equity and support local economic growth.”
“We have so much in common – our values, our cultures and our commitment to our people,” said Mary Lou Mastro, South Region CEO. “I am incredibly optimistic that as we bring together two outstanding, award-winning organizations, our future is unlimited and we will be successful.”
