BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke's to form integrated Missouri-based health system

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BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke's Health System have signed a letter of intent to form an integrated, academic, Missouri-based health system. The integrated health system will expand healthcare access for more than six million residents in Missouri and beyond, according to both organizations.

With approximately $10 billion in revenue, BJC and Saint Luke's are coming together to advance their vision of becoming the premier Midwest destination for patient care, clinical research and medical education, the organizations said. The new health system will offer an exceptional place to work and practice medicine. 

The closing is expected to occur by the end of 2023 as the organizations work toward reaching a definitive agreement in the coming months. The letter of intent was unanimously approved by both health systems' boards of directors.

Upon closing, the integrated health system will continue to serve BJC and Saint Luke's distinct markets, maintain their existing brands and operate from dual headquarters -- one in St. Louis serving eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, and one in Kansas City serving western Missouri and portions of Kansas.

The integrated health system's leadership team and board of directors will include representation from both BJC and Saint Luke's. Richard Liekweg, president and CEO of BJC, will serve as CEO of the integrated health system, with the initial board chair of the integrated system coming from Saint Luke's.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The integration of the two nonprofit health systems will advance their shared mission to improve population health, expand access to patient care and accelerate clinical innovation and research.

Together, they will enhance the quality of, access to, and affordability of patient care, while improving health and reducing health disparities, the organizations said. The best-in-class integrated model is expected to attract, retain and train exceptional talent, they said.

THE LARGER TREND

BJC HealthCare is among the largest nonprofit healthcare organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri regions.

BJC includes 14 hospitals. BJC's nationally recognized academic hospitals, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, are affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine. 

Saint Luke's Health System is a faith-based, not-for-profit, aligned health system with more than 14 hospitals and campuses in Missouri and Kansas. 

ON THE RECORD

"Together with Saint Luke's, we have an exciting opportunity to reinforce our commitment to providing extraordinary care to Missourians and our neighboring communities," said BJC HealthCare president and CEO Richard Liekweg. "Amid the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, this is the right time to build on our established relationship with Saint Luke's. With an even stronger financial foundation, we will further invest in our teams, advance the use of technologies and data to support our providers and caregivers, and improve the health of our communities.

"These are opportunities that we can better achieve together. I am confident that BJC and Saint Luke's together will be even better positioned to extend our legacy of clinical discovery and deliver medical breakthroughs well into the future."

"Both Saint Luke's and BJC have well-established reputations for delivering exceptional care and elevating the health of the people we serve," said Saint Luke's Health System president and CEO Dr. Melinda Estes. "Our integrated health system, with complementary expertise and a team of world-class physicians and caregivers, will set a new national standard for medical education and research.

"Through our decade-long relationship as a member of the BJC Collaborative, we've established mutual trust and respect, so the opportunity to come together as a single integrated system that can accelerate innovation to better serve patients is a logical next step. Together, we will advance our shared mission to continue improving the health of our patients."

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org