Edward, Elmhurst Memorial finalize merger, announce leaders

NAPERVILLE and ELMHURST, Ill., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Edward Hospital & Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare announced that they have finalized their merger effective today.  Leadership appointments were also announced.

The merger creates one of the larger integrated health systems in the state comprised of three hospitals – Edward, Elmhurst Memorial and Linden Oaks at Edward – with revenues of about $1 billion and more than 50 outpatient locations across a service area of 1.7 million residents.  The system employs nearly 7,700 and has more than 1,680 physicians on staff.  System naming/branding will be determined and communicated in the coming months.

"This is an historic day for residents of our communities because it brings together and strengthens important community-focused institutions with long histories of serving the western and southwestern suburbs," said Pam Davis, CEO of the new system.  "While Elmhurst Memorial and Edward are already nationally recognized for quality and patient satisfaction, our collaboration will lead to even higher quality, and improved services and efficiencies for our patients as we meet the challenges of healthcare reform."

Emphasis on quality, efficiency, access to care

Three key system priorities will improve healthcare in our communities:

• Quality.  While already nationally recognized for quality achievements, the merger will improve quality and coordination of care throughout the region as our physicians, nurses and other clinical staff share best practices and clinical protocols, and closely measure and report results.
• Efficiency.  The system will focus on becoming more efficient through process improvement and economies of scale in order to deliver more convenience for patients, stem the tide of rising healthcare costs and stay viable even as reimbursement to hospitals and physicians is reduced.
• Access to care.  The system provides patients access to a larger, stronger network of independent and affiliated physicians and services.

The merger will build upon the success of Illinois Health Partners – a partnership with DuPage Medical Group and many independent physicians – to jointly manage the care of more than 100,000 HMO patients in the region.  DuPage Medical Group has more than 400 physicians, including a strong presence in the communities also served by Elmhurst Memorial and Edward.

System leaders named

In May, Mary Lou ("Lou") Mastro was named President & CEO of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare effective July 1.  Gina Sharp was promoted to President of Linden Oaks at Edward, replacing Mastro.  CEO Davis also announced two additional key members of the new system's leadership team, including:

• Chris Mollet, System Executive Vice President and General Counsel
• Vince Pryor, System Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Board of Trustees named

The system's 13-member Board of Trustees has been named:

• Ron Schubel, Chair, of Naperville – retired, Molex Incorporated
• David Atchison, Vice Chair, of Oak Brook – President and CEO, Ponder & Co.
• Joseph Beatty, Trustee, of Evanston – former President and CEO, Telular Corporation
• David Brueggen, Trustee, of Elmhurst – retired, Anson Industries
• Pam Davis, Trustee, of Naperville – System CEO
• Joe DePaulo, Trustee, of Naperville – President, Clow Airport
• Brian Hagan, Trustee, of Elmhurst – Executive Vice President, First American Bank, Elk Grove Village
• Thomas Kloet, Trustee, of Elmhurst and Toronto – CEO, TMX Group
• Mary Kay Ladone, Trustee, of Lisle – Vice President, Investor Relations, Baxter International
• Rocco Martino, Trustee, of Burr Ridge – Partner, LaSalle Capital Group
• Ronald Nyberg, Trustee, of Naperville – Partner, Nyberg & Cassioppi
• Robert Platt, Trustee, of Elmhurst – CEO, Mostardi Platt
• Timothy Rivelli, Trustee, of Hinsdale – Partner, Winston & Strawn

The system's three hospitals, 50 locations, 7,700 employees and 1,700 staff physicians provide comprehensive healthcare to 1.7 million residents in the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago.  Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, founded in 1926, opened a new, 866,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art acute care hospital in 2011, with 259 private patient rooms, a modern emergency department and technologically advanced surgical suites.  Elmhurst Memorial is one of 20 acute care hospitals worldwide designated as a Planetree patient-centered healthcare organization.  For more information, visit www.emhc.org.  Edward Hospital in Naperville, established in 1907, has 309 private patient rooms and offers access to complex medical specialties and innovative programming, including advanced cardiac care at Edward Heart Hospital, the most up-to-date cancer diagnosis and treatment at Edward Cancer Center and world class stroke care through the Edward Neurosciences Institute in affiliation with the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation.  Edward has been designated as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, and is one of only three hospitals in DuPage County and the only one serving Will County to have earned the prestigious recognition.  For more information, visit www.edward.org.  Linden Oaks at Edward is a 108-bed behavioral health hospital on Edward's Naperville campus with outpatient locations in Naperville, Plainfield, St. Charles, Woodridge and Yorkville.  For more information, visit www.edward.org/lindenoaks.

SOURCE Edward Hospital