The following transactions between hospitals and physician groups took place within the past two weeks, beginning with the most recent.
1. Great River Health in Iowa Acquires Keokuk Clinic
Great River Health Systems in West Burlington, Iowa, agreed to acquire the Keokuk (Iowa) Clinic, effective Jan. 1, 2012. The physicians will remain on the medical staff of Keokuk Area Hospital. However, recent reports suggest Keokuk Area Hospital is in danger of closing, with only 10 days of cash on hand.
2. Steward Health Gets 150-Physican Practice to Leave Beth Israel
Boston-based, for-profit Steward Health Care System plans to affiliate with 150 physicians who are part of the Whittier Independent Practice Association, a group that is currently affiliated with the Beth Israel Deaconess Physicians Organization. The physician group wants to align with Steward beginning Jan. 1, but that falls short of the 180 day notice the group is required to give Beth Israel. The physicians could make up to $3 million more next year through access to a global payment contract Steward has with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
3. NorthShore Acquires 15-Physician Practice in Illinois
NorthShore University Health System, based in Evanston, Ill., edged out its local competitor and acquired a 15-physician practice. The system acquired Highland Park, Ill.-based Ravinia Associates in Internal Medicine. Evanston-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare had also expressed interest in buying the physician group, but a deal was never reached.
4. Alabama's Baptist Health Acquires Montgomery Cancer Center
Montgomery, Ala.-based Baptist Health formed an agreement to acquire Montgomery Cancer Center. Under the agreement, Baptist will acquire MCC, Montgomery Breast Center and Carmichael Imaging. MCC includes 13 physicians.
5. Wuesthoff Health System in Florida Acquires Osler Medical Group
Melbourne, Fla.-based Wuesthoff Health System signed a definitive agreement to acquire Osler Medical, a multispecialty physician group with 47 providers, effective Nov. 1. The physician group, also based in Melbourne, is now a subsidiary of Wuesthoff Health, which is part of Health Management Associates.
6. Memphis' Methodist Healthcare Acquires Internal Medicine Practice
Eastmoreland Internal Medicine joined Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, both of which are located in Memphis. The practice includes two physicians and 13 employees. The practice will remain in its current location on the Methodist University Hospital campus.
7. Heart Specialists of Ohio Joins Ohio State University Medical Center
Heart Specialists of Ohio, one of the few remaining independent cardiology groups in Columbus, joined Ohio State University Medical Center. The practice has eight physicians, four office locations and approximately 40,000 patients.
8. Illinois' Alexian Brothers and Cardiovascular Associates Form Heart Institute
Cardiovascular Associates, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., and Alexian Brothers Health System, based in Arlington Heights, Ill., formed a definitive agreement to form the Alexian Brothers Heart and Vascular Institute. Cardiovascular Associates includes 17 specialists and has sites at four locations.
9. Memphis' Methodist Healthcare, West Clinic Partner for Cancer Service Line
Memphis-based Methodist Healthcare formed a partnership with The West Clinic to create a comprehensive and integrated cancer service line. The West Clinic has eight locations across the region with 33 specialists and 400 employees. Approximately 110 of West Clinic's direct patient care employees will become associates of Methodist. Physicians and administrative staff will remain with the West Clinic.
10. Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Southwestern Vermont Health Join to Form Physician Group
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, based in Lebanon, N.H., and Southwestern Vermont Health Care formed an agreement to develop a multi-specialty physician group. Bennington-based SVHC and D-HH began discussions to form the group in May. The new physician group, which has tentatively been named Dartmouth-Hitchcock Bennington, will combine the variety of practices that are currently operated by SVHC with those of D-HH. The arrangement is expected to be completed by summer 2012.
11. Northwestern Orthopaedic Institute Joins NorthShore University HealthSystem in Illinois
The physicians from Northwestern Orthopaedic Institute recently joined NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Ill. The nearly two dozen orthopedic surgeons of NOI will now practice at NorthShore. The surgeons focus on several subspecialties, including joint replacement, sports medicine, extremities care and spine surgery.
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