Samaritan Regional Health System will be absorbed into University Hospitals’ $3.5 billion health system, the healthcare providers announced on Tuesday.
Samaritan and University Hospitals of Ohio are in the process of signing a letter of intent, according to a statement.
The move joins Samaritan Hospital’s 55-bed acute-care, inpatient facility to University Hospital’s integrated network of 15 hospitals, including relationships with Southwest General and St. John Medical Center, and 29 outpatient health centers located throughout the Northeast Ohio region, according to the statement.
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“University Hospitals’ culture is similar to ours at Samaritan, and we feel an integration will be beneficial for all,” CEO and President Danny Boggs said in a statement.
A special committee comprised of SRHS Board and medical staff leaders with assistance from healthcare consultants, explored the affiliation.
The evaluation process for the integration is expected to last several months and to be completed by mid-year after final board and regulatory approvals.
UH employs 25,000 Ohio residents and is the second largest employer in Northeast Ohio, according to the statement.
Twitter: @SusanMorseHFN