Northwestern Memorial HealthCare completes its formal plans to affiliate with Lake Forest Hospital

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has completed its formal plans to affiliate with Lake County's Lake Forest Hospital. Northwestern's health system has obtained both federal and state approvals to proceed with an affiliation agreement that will make Lake Forest Hospital a wholly owned entity of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare along with Northwestern Memorial Hospital on February 1, 2010. Also at that time, Lake Forest Hospital will become Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.  

"We are very excited about what the future holds for patients now that this affiliation is final," said Dean M. Harrison, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. "With all necessary approvals in place, we are positioned to move forward with developing plans to expand access to medical care, clinical trials, and a host of other healthcare services for patients in Lake and Cook counties and surrounding regions.

"Northwestern Memorial and Lake Forest hospitals had many similarities going into the affiliation agreement that will be enhanced," added Harrison, "particularly due to Northwestern's century-long ties to Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine."

Additionally both hospitals share:

• a patient and family-centered culture
• a commitment to clinical excellence and high quality standards
• an ongoing dedication to our neighboring communities to provide care regardless of one's ability to pay

"We are excited about the prospect of combining our strengths with an excellent institution such as Northwestern Memorial to create a health system that will provide broader access to care for patients in our region," said Thomas J. McAfee, president, Lake Forest Hospital.

On January 12, 2010, the Illinois Health Facilities and Service Review Board approved the Certificate of Exemption necessary to proceed with finalization of the affiliation.