Delnor, CDH sign definitive merger agreement

Delnor Health System (Delnor) and Central DuPage Health (CDH) today announced they have signed a definitive agreement to merge. This follows the October 5th announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding developed by the Delnor and CDH Boards of Directors. A merger of the two organizations remains subject to regulatory review and approval which is expected to occur in the coming months.

"This is the next important step in achieving our vision to create a single, integrated health system," explained Thomas L. Wright, president and CEO of Delnor. "We are excited to bring together two top quality health systems to deliver the best in medical care for the patients and communities we serve."

"By signing today, we anticipate being able to implement our shared vision in the spring of 2011," said CDH CEO Luke McGuinness. "We are thrilled to be so close to realizing the benefit our patients and communities will receive once this integrated health system is fully functioning."

The goal of the proposed new entity is to expand exceptional healthcare in the western suburbs of Chicago by elevating the caliber and breadth of healthcare services available in the region, extending local access to care and creating a level of scale that will deliver even higher quality at a lower cost. Working in close collaboration with physicians on their respective medical staffs, the two management teams will create new opportunities for continued improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes. Patients will continue to have the same access to the physicians and hospitals they have come to trust, and will gain increased access to a broader range of clinical services.

Delnor and CDH will also carry on their essential roles in serving the healthcare needs of the communities they serve, including their strong commitments to charity care, wellness and prevention programs, and continued collaboration with community organizations and agencies.

As part of the regulatory review process, the hospitals will file with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the Illinois Attorney General. Until then, the two health systems will continue to function independently and engage in continued planning for the new health system.