April 21, 2009

BroMenn, Advocate Health Care Continue Partnership Talks

BroMenn Healthcare and Advocate Health Care announced this week that they have extended their Letter of Intent (LOI) as they continue to explore a partnership. An extension of the LOI, first signed by both organizations in late December 2008, provides additional time to investigate opportunities to strengthen health care services and resources for the individuals, families and communities throughout BroMenn's central Illinois service area.

"We believe that a partnership with Advocate could not only support, but strengthen our commitment to the community and enhance our tradition of providing quality care close to home," said Roger Hunt, president and chief executive officer, BroMenn Healthcare.

Due to the confidential nature of ongoing discussions, details surrounding the specific elements of the proposed partnership continue to be unavailable. However, senior leadership from both organizations say that a strategic partnership would allow both not-for-profit health providers to strengthen and align their missions.

"As faith-based organizations, we are committed to the communities we are privileged to serve. Our discussions to-date show many similarities in our two organizations," said Jim Skogsbergh, president and chief executive officer, Advocate Health Care. "We are excited about the potential partnership and opportunities to further our health care ministry and healing mission."

Additional steps, including a definitive agreement, application with the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and regulatory approvals, will be required to formalize a partnership.

The BroMenn Healthcare System, headquartered in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois has more than 2,000 employees and has been in business for more than 110 years.  The BroMenn System is comprised of BroMenn Regional Medical Center, a 225-bed hospital renowned for its neuro, cardiac, orthopedic and women's services; Eureka Community Hospital, a 25-bed Critical Access; BroMenn Physicians Management Corporation, comprised of 11 medical practices with specialties ranging from primary care and occupational medicine to cardiology, neurology and behavioral health; and the BroMenn Provider Network, a Physician Hospital Organization (PHO). BroMenn also offers residencies in Neurosurgery, Family Practice and Clinical Pastoral Education.

Advocate Health Care, a nationally-ranked health system, is the largest health care provider in Illinois. Advocate operates more than 200 sites of care across metropolitan Chicago, including nine  acute care hospitals, two children's hospitals, four Level I trauma centers (the state's highest designation in trauma care), a home health care company and the region's largest medical group. As a non-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed more than $344 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland in 2007.