Presence Health to merge into Catholic giant Ascension's joint venture system

Catholic nonprofit system Ascension and Illinois Catholic system Presence Health have signed a non-binding letter of intent for Presence Health to join Ascension by merging into AMITA Health, the systems announced Tuesday.

AMITA is a joint venture of Ascension's Alexian Brothers Health System and Adventist Midwest Health, which is part of Adventist Health System.

As part of the deal, Presence Health's medical centers, outpatient facilities and other care sites will integrate into AMITA Health except for Presence Life Connections, which would join Ascension Living, Ascension's senior care subsidiary.

Both system's accountable care organizations will continue to work with AMITA Health.

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"Joining Ascension and AMITA Health is a natural evolution for Presence Health, especially given the mutual respect between our systems and our shared mission, vision and values to provide quality, faith-based care," said Michael Englehart, president and CEO of Presence Health. "We look forward to working together to engage in this joint effort to expand, and continue to deliver, quality care for our patients and residents, as well as provide additional clinical opportunities and patient care resources to all our physicians and associates."

A definitive agreement is pending due diligence and regulatory and canonical approval, the systems said.

Ascension is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the country, with 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. They operate 2,500 care sites including 141 hospitals across 22 states and the District of Columbia.

Presence Health is the largest Catholic health system in Illinois, with 12 hospitals and large physician network that together serve more than 4 million people.

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