Dartmouth-Hitchcock, GraniteOne Health announce merger plans

Courtesy Ken Gallger

New England systems Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and GraniteOne Health intend to merge their systems, having signed a letter of intent and announcing their plans late last week.

No estimated date of completion for the deal has been revealed, but the newly-combined system would be known as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health GraniteOne.

THE IMPACT

The systems listed several mutual goals for the newly combined system including expanding access to care throughout New Hampshire. New Hampshire is one of two states Dartmouth-Hitchcock serves and is the sole state served by GraniteOne.

Others included answering a growing demand for services, especially in southern New Hampshire, and reinforcing healthcare services in rural areas as well as improving behavioral health and substance use disorder care services, boosting population health and addressing social determinants of health.

GraniteOne Health's Catholic Medical Center will adhere to its Catholic model of care and all organizations within the combined system will keep current names, identities, and local leadership.

THE TREND

January 2019 has already seen some significant movement in merger and acquisition activity. Cleveland Clinic closed two merger deals in Florida making them the parent system of Indian River Medical Center and Martin Health System, a three-hospital system. Moving forward, IRMC and Martin Health will continue all current operations, services and programs and patients will continue to see their same physicians and providers.

Additionally, Illinois hospital systems Loyola Medicine and Palos Health also announced merger plans roughly a week ago. Due diligence is expected to take several months and the terms of the LOI are not being disclosed. Palos Health will continue to operate as a not-for-profit corporation. The two systems had partnered for several years, having formed an academic affiliation in 2015 that enabled the expansion of services for Palos.

MORE OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health is a non-profit, regional academic health system whose flagship facility, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, is New Hampshire's only academic medical center. The system also includes Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, also known as CHaD, New Hampshire's only children's hospital. 

GraniteOne Health includes Catholic Medical Center in Mancheser, New Hampshire, and its renowned New England Heart & Vascular Institute. It also includes Huggins Hospital and Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough.

ON THE RECORD

"As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, it is important for health care systems to evaluate how we can best serve our patients and communities, and prepare for the future so we can continue to provide the high level of care that people expect," said Dr. Joanne M. Conroy, CEO and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. "By combining these two top health care organizations, we would create a patient-focused, unique and unparalleled option for New Hampshire that is responsive to community needs and patients' desire for cost-effective, high-quality care."

"For 15 years, our two organizations have worked closely together to improve the lives and health of our patients and their families," said Dr. Joseph Pepe, CEO of GraniteOne Health. "We have complementary visions for what health care in New Hampshire could be. Combining systems would allow us to advance that vision, expanding access to primary and specialty care for all New Hampshire residents, including vulnerable patients and communities."

Twitter: @BethJSanborn
Email the writer: beth.sanborn@himssmedia.com