Jefferson and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Pennsylvania based health care providers, recently signed a nonbinding agreement to create an integrated care delivery system.
The system will have more than 700 locations in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey including 30 hospitals, and will employ more than 62,000 faculty, clinicians and staff.
It will be able to reduce costs, create clinical services lines that meet patient needs and address health disparities, expand academic programs and clinical research, strengthen patient choice within the LVHN service area, create pathways for health professionals to acquire additional degrees and for new graduates to find positions, and create sustainable cash flow and improved financial stability.
Jefferson and LVHN will operate as separate companies until the deal closes. The agreement is expected to close in 2024, pending regulatory reviews and closing conditions.
After closing, the board of trustees and leadership team will be comprised of members from both systems. Jefferson’s CEO, Dr. Joe Cacchione, will serve as CEO of the Jefferson Enterprise. LVHN’s Dr. Brian A. Nester will serve as executive vice president/chief operating officer and president of the legacy Lehigh Valley Health Network. Dr. Baligh R. Yehia will serve as executive vice president/chief transformation officer and president of the legacy Jefferson Health.