Two Georgia health systems — Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center — are exploring a merger to create a combined system that would have nearly 1,400 beds, more than 16,000 employees and nearly 3,500 physicians on staff.
Here are five things to know about the deal:
1. Sandy Springs, Ga.-based Northside Hospital healthcare system includes three acute care hospitals in Georgia and more than 150 care sites across the state. Lawrenceville, Ga.-based Gwinnett Medical Center healthcare network includes two acute care hospitals in the state.
2. The two systems have approved a letter of intent to begin exclusive discussions to combine their operations.
3. The leaders of the two systems said that the merger is the best way to prepare for the future needs of patients and their families.
4. "Our service offerings complement each other," said Gwinnet Medical Center CEO Philip Wolfe. "Northside Hospital is a regional and national leader in women's health and cancer care, while Gwinnett Medical Center is a leader in cardiac care, trauma care and sports medicine. Going forward, our strategy will be to leverage our respective strengths in our expanded footprint and provide the total spectrum of healthcare to patients not only in our market area, but throughout Georgia and the Southeast."
5. The systems are targeting early 2016 as a potential closing date for the deal.
More articles on healthcare industry transactions:
31 hospital transactions and partnerships in August
University Hospitals inks merger deal with Samaritan Regional Health System
South Carolina hospital on verge of closure secures new owner